Resurrected with Christ
If you don’t experience what Jesus went through for you, you’ll never fully live in what He’s offering to you. Psalm 22 gives us a prophetic window into the suffering of Christ—not just what happened, but what He felt—so that when you see it personally, grace becomes real, freedom becomes natural, and His resurrection life begins to flow through you.
What if the issue isn’t whether God is willing—but whether we actually know what’s been freely given to us?
Part 1
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Part 2
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
We recently celebrated the greatest event in human history, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I want to take you somewhere deeper than just a celebration today. Not just remembering what Jesus did—but experiencing it, personally. Because if you don’t experience what He went through for you, you’ll never fully live in what He’s offering to you. That’s really the heart of this message.
A Personal Gospel, Not a Distant One
I was thinking back to my own salvation experience. I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. I didn’t have a framework for the gospel. I had exposure to New Age ideas, different philosophies, but not the truth of Jesus. I went through a season of demonic darkness—substance abuse, confusion, what I would call a kind of spiritual fog.
I remember coming to a place where I knew—I knew—that I was headed toward eternal separation from God. What struck me was this: I didn’t argue with it. I knew it was just. I knew it was the result of my life.
But then I met Jesus.
There was a moment I’ll never forget. Sitting on my couch, I had what I can only describe as a vision. I saw Jesus, back in time, on the cross—and somehow, He could see me in the future. And what He communicated to me was this:
“I would have done this if you were the only one.”
That changed everything. The gospel became personal. In that moment, everything made sense and I could feel salvation and cleansing of darkness working in me. And that’s what I want for you—not just theology, not just knowledge, but a personal encounter with what Christ suffered for you. You might not have a vision, but you can have a heart connection and an inner revelation of His presence.
Why the World Is Still Missing It
Here’s the reality: a lot of people, even Christians, know the basic gospel message. They know God loves them, that they’re sinners, that Jesus died and rose again, and that if they say yes, they’re saved. But they don’t know the effect of the gospel.
They don’t know that they’ve been washed, given a new nature, made one with God, and established in righteousness. As I said in the message, “They know the gospel of salvation… but they don’t know that He’s washed you and cleansed you… that He’s made Himself one with you.”
Because of that, they don’t live free. The world is starving, not just for truth, but for a revelation of how good God actually is. And the doorway into that is understanding what He went through for you.
Jesus Knew What Was Coming
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, what we celebrate as Palm Sunday, He knew exactly what was ahead. He wasn’t caught off guard. Within days, He would pray, “Father, if there’s any way, let this cup pass from me… nevertheless not my will, but your will.”
He knew the cross wasn’t just physical suffering. It was something far deeper.
The Moment of Darkness — Matthew 27:45–46
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
From noon to 3 PM, darkness covered the land. And Jesus cries out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” That’s not just a quote—it’s an experience.
“He ain’t just quoting scripture here. This is happening.”
At that moment, Jesus became sin. God made Him to be sin and poured His judgment against sin into Christ. Why? “He was forsaken so you could be accepted.”
This is substitution. He became like you so you could become like Him.
Psalm 22 — The Emotional Reality of the Cross
When Jesus cried out those words, He was living out Psalm 22. This is not just a psalm, it is a prophetic window into what Christ experienced on the cross. We get an accurate historical record, with some insight of Christ’s experince on the cross, from the Gospels. But we get a look into His mind and emotional state from the Psalms. This is where we move from history to heart-level revelation.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me?”
He felt separation, distance, silence. He entered into the very thing we fear most, so we would never have to live there.
“All those who see Me ridicule Me… He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him…”
He was mocked, shamed, and publicly humiliated.
“They pierced My hands and My feet… I can count all My bones… My heart is like wax…”
This is not poetic exaggeration, it is prophetic detail. 1000 years before Jesus, David describes the cross.
“Many bulls have surrounded Me… They gape at Me like a roaring lion…”
This wasn’t just human suffering. It was spiritual. Demonic, hellish opposition pressing in.
When this becomes real to you, sin loses its grip, fear loses its voice, and condemnation loses its power. This is where grace becomes real empowerment.
Even in suffering, He sees the outcome. He sees redemption. He sees you. And hope begins to rise.
From the Cross to the Resurrection
Jesus didn’t stay in that place. He went into the grave—and then He rose. That brings us to the second part of this message.
In Psalm 22, something shifts. Jesus begins to remember. He begins to declare, “I will declare Your name to My brethren.”
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Jesus didn’t just die for you—He died as you. So that you were crucified with Him, buried with Him, and raised with Him. You have already been raised from the dead spiritually.
Now His life is in you. “The life of Christ is in you. Literally.”
Jesus didn’t just come back to life and open the door to Heaven, He entered the heavenly Holy of Holies with His own blood and secured eternal redemption. Once. For all who will believe.
Living from Resurrection Power
This is your reality now. You are not trying to stay saved or become righteous or get close to God. You are already united with Him, sustained by Him, and empowered by His Spirit.
“Your works add nothing to it… your works are just the fruit.”
This isn’t just about heaven someday—it’s about life right now. Healing in your body, freedom in your mind, peace in your soul, confidence in your identity.
Final Thought
If you want to live free, go back and read Matthew 27, Psalm 22, and Psalm 18. Read them slowly and personally. Let the Holy Spirit show you what Jesus experienced for you, what He accomplished for you, and what now lives in you.
“Let the Word echo back to you who you are and what He’s done for you.”
The resurrection is not just something we celebrate once a year. It is the life we now live from. Jesus entered your darkness so you could live in His light. He took your death so you could walk in His life, and now His Spirit lives in you—live from it!
Splagchnizomai - Jesus Was Moved with Compassion for People
In Acts 2 and Hebrews 1, we discover that many of David's Psalms have prophetic significance. David's prophetic Messianic Psalms uniquely connect with the heart of Jesus and express what he would experience during his trial, beating, crucifixion, time in Hades, and his resurrection.
For instance, Psalm 18 provides a powerful firsthand account of the resurrection of Christ, while Psalm 22 expresses the experience of Christ on the cross. Similarly, Psalm 110 reveals Christ's heart while in the heart of the earth after his death.
While Matthew records the words of Christ on the cross, we can gain even more insights into his experience by looking at the Psalms that Jesus identifies with. Studying these Psalms can help us personalize and appreciate the suffering Christ endured for our sake.
“Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.””
The word compassion is derived from the Greek word 'splagchnizomai,' which means to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion. This word emphasizes the deep emotional response that one experiences towards another person's suffering. It is not just a feeling or obligation, but a deep sense of empathy that demands action.
Jesus demonstrated this type of compassion in his ministry. He was moved with compassion for the sick, the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed. He didn't just sympathize with their plight, but he took action to heal, feed, and liberate them. His compassion was not just a passive feeling; it was an active force that drove him to serve others selflessly. Jesus saw the people's pain and suffering and couldn't help but act. This deep sense of compassion was what fueled his ministry, and it's what we should emulate as his followers.
In the book of Hebrews, we are encouraged to fix our eyes on Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus is not just the leader of our faith, but He is also the reason for our faith. He is the One who endured the cross and overcame the power of sin and death, so that we could have new life in Him.
One of the key aspects of Jesus' ministry on earth was His compassion for people. When people asked Him if He was willing to heal them, He always responded with a resounding "I am willing." This willingness was not just a simple desire to help people, but it was born out of a deep love and compassion for those who were suffering.
Jesus' love and compassion for people moved Him to action. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and reached out to those who were marginalized by society. He did not just do these things because it was the right thing to do, but because He genuinely cared about the people He was ministering to.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to love others in the same way that He loved us. Jesus' love was not just a sentimental feeling, but it was a deep and sacrificial love that was willing to lay down His life for others. This kind of love is not just a warm and fuzzy feeling, but it is a powerful force that can change lives and transform communities.
When we love others with the same kind of love that Jesus had for us, we create an atmosphere for the power of God to move in our midst. Love is not just a nice sentiment, but it is a powerful force that can overcome hate, division, and fear. When we love one another, we demonstrate to the world that we are followers of Jesus and that we belong to Him.
Jesus' love for people was not just a personal mission, but it was also a strategy to advance the Kingdom of God. He called His disciples to love one another as He loved them, and He prayed for unity among His followers so that the world would know that God had sent Him. Unity is the strategy, and love is the power that drives us forward in our mission to reach the world with the message of the Gospel.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and let us love one another as He loved us. Let us be moved with compassion for those who are hurting and marginalized, and let us demonstrate the power of God through our love for one another. May we be united in our mission to reach the world with the message of the Gospel, and may we be empowered by the love of Christ to make a difference in our communities and in our world.
We Can Know What Jesus Was Thinking On The Cross
In Acts 2 and Hebrews 1, we discover that many of David's Psalms have prophetic significance. David's prophetic Messianic Psalms uniquely connect with the heart of Jesus and express what he would experience during his trial, beating, crucifixion, time in Hades, and his resurrection.
For instance, Psalm 18 provides a powerful firsthand account of the resurrection of Christ, while Psalm 22 expresses the experience of Christ on the cross. Similarly, Psalm 110 reveals Christ's heart while in the heart of the earth after his death.
While Matthew records the words of Christ on the cross, we can gain even more insights into his experience by looking at the Psalms that Jesus identifies with. Studying these Psalms can help us personalize and appreciate the suffering Christ endured for our sake.
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”
In Acts 2 and Hebrews 1, we discover that many of David's Psalms have prophetic significance. David's prophetic Messianic Psalms uniquely connect with the heart of Jesus and express what he would experience during his trial, beating, crucifixion, time in Hades, and his resurrection.
For instance, Psalm 18 provides a powerful firsthand account of the resurrection of Christ, while Psalm 22 expresses the experience of Christ on the cross. Similarly, Psalm 110 reveals Christ's heart while in the heart of the earth after his death.
While Matthew records the words of Christ on the cross, we can gain even more insights into his experience by looking at the Psalms that Jesus identifies with. Studying these Psalms can help us personalize and appreciate the suffering Christ endured for our sake.
Matthew 27:45-46 describes how, from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness covered the land, and Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
By walking through Psalm 22, we can gain a deeper understanding of what Christ experienced on the cross. We can pause and imagine standing at the foot of Christ's cross and envision him undergoing all of this, as he bears the punishment for our sins.
Psalm 22
1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?
2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them.
5 They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.
6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
7 All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”
9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.
10 I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God.
11 Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.
13 They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me!
20 Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog.
21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me.
22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard.
25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly; I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the world Shall remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations Shall worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth Shall eat and worship; All those who go down to the dust Shall bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep himself alive.
30 A posterity shall serve Him. It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.
The Heart of Jesus: Enduring for the Joy Set Before Him
Jesus knew that God had sent him into the world to die on the cross and save sinners. The last week of his earthly life was heart-wrenching and painful, but he endured it for us. Jesus asked God if there was a different plan, not wanting to be forsaken by his Father, but he still endured. He endured the shame of the cross for the joy set before him, which is us. Thank you for joining us today. We pray that today's journey through Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane encourages you and gives you hope to remain faithful.
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame...”
One of the most meaningful aspects of Christ’s incarnation is that he emptied himself (Philippians 2:7) and laid down a facet of his eternal glory (John 17:5) to become like you and me. Jesus was a human being tempted and wrestled with life situations like you and me. Why? Because God gave humankind dominion over creation, humanity was responsible for the infractions and injustices, so only a human could atone and reconcile.
No one could accomplish this impossible task, so miraculously, God became human to bear the burden of the penalty for the injustice against God’s righteousness and the effects of sin, which is death.
The touching part to me is that Jesus did this willingly. Knowing the horror of being tried, judged, and punished for all humanity, Jesus still said yes and stayed the course.
Jesus intimately knew the prophecies of the suffering Messiah. He knew David was prophesying his experience in the grave in many Psalms. He knew he would be forsaken by God and descend into the center of the earth (Matthew 12:39).
He knew he would be unjustly accused, judged, and punished by man. He knew he would be nailed to a cross. He knew God would change him into sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). He knew God was going pour out all of his wrath toward sin, and he would experience all the effects and wages of sin. Finally, he knew he would pass into Hades / Sheol and had to use his faith to believe that God’s promises to him would still come to pass.
Knowing all that, he still endured the death of the cross for the joy it brought him to think of you receiving eternal life through what he was doing. The thought of you in his eternal kingdom, free from sin and death, brought Jesus such great joy that he stayed the course and died in your place.
Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.
Consider Jesus’ mindset in these passages.
Matthew 26:1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, 2 “You know that after two days are the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”
Matthew 26:12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. 13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”
Even though his disciples didn’t fully understand what was coming, Jesus did. We see his humanity the night he is arrested.
Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” 39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” 40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, [h]if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour [i]is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”
It amazes me that Jesus asked God to change his plan. I describe this aspect of Christ’s suffering in the video, and I pray you take the time to watch it. It will bless you. Grown men were crying when I preached this sermon because they were personally identifying with Christ’s work on their behalf. I pray it’s meaningful for you as well.
As a result of Christ’s complete work, we have unhindered access to God when we need help. Jesus knows how to help us because he’s been like us. He’s been through what you’re going through. He knows what it’s like to face the challenges of life that you’re facing. He wants to help you from a place of empathy, not judgment.
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Even in the midst of your darkness, especially in the midst of your darkness, you can go to God for mercy, comfort, and strength. He loves you and will never leave you.
The video above is a Palm Sunday sermon, I pray it is a blessing to you.
How to be a King
You are a king and a priest of God's kingdom that shall reign in this life. He has raised you with Christ and seated you in Heavenly places. You are a co-heir of everything Jesus inherited in his resurrection and ascension.
That sounds wonderful, it sounds very spiritual, but what does it mean to you now? Do you actually know how to live within those realities in this present life?
You are a king and a priest of God's kingdom that shall reign in this life. He has raised you with Christ and seated you in Heavenly places. You are a co-heir of everything Jesus inherited in his resurrection and ascension.
That sounds wonderful, it sounds very spiritual, but what does it mean to you now? Do you actually know how to live within those realities in this present life?
Ultimately the truest expression of your kingship and priesthood as a representative of God on this planet is expressed as you are yielded to the continual leading of God's spirit within you. He will lead you and guide you through a proper expression of your priestly duties and kingly authority.
I'd like to focus on one perspective for the remainder of this article. Under the Old Covenant, priests offered sacrifices for the people as a temporary system of atonement, that was the primary reason and function of priests. The king was to guide the nation of Israel in the precepts and ordinances of God ensuring adherence to God's law.
Under this better covenant, there are no more sacrifices to preside over since Jesus is the once and for all sacrifice. Under the New Covenant Jesus is ruling as the eternal king. So the roles have changed.
Of course, the great commission is a guide for expressing our authority and priestly duties but I believe Romans 14:17 gives us insight into the content of the impact we are to have as representatives of God.
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Essentially the Apostle Paul is saying, living in God's kingdom isn't about rules and regulations, it's about righteousness, peace and joy. I believe this gives definition to how we exercise our authority as representatives of God. We preside over and rule within righteousness, peace and joy.
RIGHTEOUSNESS
We don't preside over sacrifices, we point people to the eternally sufficient sacrifice. Within this sacrifice lies forgiveness, holiness and eternal righteousness. Righteousness simply means "as a man ought to be" and "the condition acceptable to God." If there are no sacrifices to execute and Jesus is the king, we display our kingship by bringing people into a direct experience with righteousness. Essentially, we preach the Gospel. We help people understand faith righteousness.
PEACE
Peace or shalom is described as a state of wholeness. If a wall had no missing bricks and it is complete, it's in a state of shalom. If a relationship between two people has no issues and noting between them, it's at shalom. We now have peace with God, there is nothing in the way of a relationship with him. He has forgiven everyone through the sacrifice of Christ, now God is pleading to the world through us, "God is no longer holding your sin against you, be reconciled to God."
JOY
Joy means cheerful or glad. Once you've properly represented God in righteousness and peace, people will be glad. Encourage them to be cheerful. Encourage them to be thankful. Remind them of the gift of righteousness and bring them into joy. It's not your role to make people happy but you may need to remind them there's reason to be joyful.
It's pretty simple, the Gospel is good news, it's the power to bring people into an experience of God's transformative grace. Represent him well! Start in the mirror, then with your family, friends and coworkers. If the opportunity arises, be aware of your own state of righteousness and peace with God so you can give joy to those whom God's spirit would inspire you to exercise your priesthood and kingship.
Life Group Discussion
1. What did you get out of this message?
2. What does it mean to you to be a king and priest in God's kingdom in this life?
3. Do you feel you can clearly articulate faith-righteousness to people?
4. What's your favorite aspect of the Gospel message?