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Jesus died on a cross...yet that wasn't the end of his story. The resurrection is often thought of as only a piece of evidence that Jesus is who he said he was. Yet the twist in the Christian faith is not only that Jesus did actually rise from the dead; it's what that actually means for both Jesus, and for you. Bible reading: Luke 24:1-6 (NIV 2011) On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!

If Jesus is who he says he is - God, in the flesh - then it means he must have chosen to come to earth to live as a man. But why did he do that? What's the meaning and purpose of his life? And what does it have to do with us? Bible Reading: Luke 23:44-46 (NIV 2011) 44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Who do you think Jesus is? The Bible makes an astonishing claim; that you can only understand who you are when you understand who he is. His story explains your story. Bible reading: Luke 5:17-32 (NIV 2011) 17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

The meaning of your life is...how would you answer that question? The reality is that there are only two possible options. In fact, there are only Two ways to live. Bible Reading: Luke 10:25-28 (NIV 2011) 25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself..” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”