1. Mark 16;1-8; The Joy of Cross
a paradox may be defined as “A statement opposed to common sense, yet in fact true.”
We find many such statements in the life and teachings of Jesus.
And the Cross stands as the greatest of all paradoxes

2. Today many Christians across the world are celebrating the culmination of the Easter story, the Resurrection of Jesus .
We have the benefit of the scriptures, but imagine for a moment the depth of despair , sadness and fear that engulfed the first disciples who had left their homes and livelihoods . They had no knowledge of the resurrection

3. From the moment of His resurrection, Jesus followers were transformed from being scared, sad, dejected and reticent .To men and women who were bursting with joy, and whose hearts were on fire for Christ

4. Marks account of the empty tomb is particularly important because the empty tomb was crucial in convincing these first disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead and that He was indeed alive just as he had said He would.

5. Why was it necessary for Jesus to go to the Cross
Why was it necessary for Jesus to go to the Cross? The disobedience of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden led to sin that separated humanity for his creator God

6. Christ came to the earth . . . . . . in order that we might go to Heaven.
He was born in the flesh that we might be born of the Spirit.
Christ accepted poverty being born in a manger so that we may be made rich.
He was rejected by people that we might be accepted of God.
He was put to death so that we can be made alive.

7. The Cross was the darkest hour in history, yet it was the time of greatest light. Though the sun refused to shine and God hid His face from Christ, the Cross was the means by which Christ really became ‘the light of the world’ (John 8:12). In the Cross we see man’s hatred for Christ, yet we see Christ’s love for man. There we see human vengeance as they cry for His blood, yet we see divine forgiveness as Jesus prays, ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34).

8. The great St Paul sums up the Cross in these words: in his ist letter to the Corinthians; ‘For the preaching of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing , but to those who are being saved , it is the power of God’ –I Corinthians 1:18

9. On the first Good Friday there were three men each on a cross
One Died in sin. This is the robber who joined the taunts against Jesus
The other died to sin acknowledging his guilt, recognizing that Jesus was the son of God . This man ended up in paradise.
The third man died for sin – This was the man Jesus who endured the Cross , for mine sin and yours that we might have eternal life. This is the joy of the Cross that the writer to the book of Hebrews refers to when he says in Heb 12

10. ‘ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[a] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[b] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

11. Belief in the resurrection transforms lives
. May that be true of all of us here today. Just as the lives of the first disciples were transformed. So may it be that we too might be light in the darkness,

12. When I look at the Blood
When I look at the blood all I see is love, love, love. When I stop at the cross I can see the love of God.
But I can’t see competition. I can’t see hierarchy. I can’t see pride or prejudice or the abuse of authority. I can’t see lust for power. I can’t see manipulation. I can’t see rage or anger or selfish ambition.

13. I can’t see unforgiveness. I can’t see hate or envy
I can’t see unforgiveness. I can’t see hate or envy. I can’t see stupid fighting or bitterness, or jealousy. I can’t see empire building. I can’t see self-importance. I can’t see back-stabbing or vanity or arrogance.
I see surrender, sacrifice, salvation, humility, righteousness, faithfulness, grace, forgiveness, love! Love … love…
When I stop! … at the cross I can see the love of God.