On this Easter Sunday, lead pastor Johnny K. shares about the hope, joy, peace and love that only a resurrected Jesus can provide.

You can follow Jesus and be asked to do something that is too hard for you. As Jesus prayed the most impactful words “yet not my will but yours Lord”, He showed us how prayer and surrender is the battle, not the preparation. So if we want deeper spiritual formation, we need to walk with others and we have to go to the Garden.

Jesus gives an up close and far away timeline of the realities followers of Christ will face. Calling believers to be on guard and faithful to Him, no matter the cost or opposition they may face from those closest to them.

The day after his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus is confronted by the religious authorities who have conspired to trap and eliminate him. “Should we pay the tax to Ceasar?” they demand. But really they are asking if Jesus is the Messiah, a revolutionary. He is. But as his response reveals, he is not at all the type of revolutionary and messiah that they imagine.

Jesus enters Jerusalem and heads to the Temple for a series of interactions with the religious leaders of Israel.

Just after Jesus has foretold his suffering death for a third time, James & John request seats of honor when Jesus comes into his “glory.” But Jesus’ kingdom is a different sort than they are thinking and overturns every culture’s vision of greatness. He calls them, and all his followers, to be servants of all, for even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom (Mark 10:45).

A father brings his suffering son to Jesus and asks for help and healing. Jesus tells him with faith anything is possible. The father replies, I believe, help my unbelief. In a life of suffering and loss, we wrestle with faith and doubt–we wonder why, why God…? Mercifully the God of the Bible draws near those who admit their unbelief and bring their needs and doubts to him.

In Mark 8, Jesus reveals that he will suffer, be rejected, killed and rise from the dead. And he calls all of his disciples to deny their self, take up the cross, and follow him.