The True and Better Adam

12 …sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…

- Romans 5:12

Their origins were miraculous.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

- Genesis 1:26

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

- John 1:9-13

They were tempted.

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

- Genesis 2:16-17

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

- Genesis 3:1-5

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

- Matthew 4:1

Adam failed. Jesus succeeded.

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

- Genesis 3:6-7

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

- Matthew 4:8-10

Adam blamed. Jesus took the blame.

12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

- Genesis 3:11-12

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

- 1 Peter 2:22-24

The sin of Adam brought death. The sacrifice of Christ brings life.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Romans 5:18-21

The Better Adam

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

- Genesis 3:1

The enemy attacks what God said so you question who God is

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.

- Genesis 3:6 (NLT)

When we stop trusting God we start replacing Him

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

- Romans 5:12 (NLT)

19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

- Romans 5:19 (NLT)

When you live in Christ Adam no longer defines you

9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

- Genesis 3:9 (NLT)

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. - 

- Romans 5:18 (NLT)

I Want More Love

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

- John 15:4-10

We’re already loved.

9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you…

- John 15:9a

We don’t always experience God’s love.

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

- Romans 7:15

Jesus told us to abide in Him.

We can live with a greater awareness of God’s love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love…

- John 15:10a

When we abide, we thrive.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

- John 15:4-5

I Want More Joy

Life is hard.

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. 

- John 16:1-4

We’re supposed to “take heart.”

32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

- John 16:32-33

Jesus wants to give us joy.

16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 

- John 16:16

18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice…

- John 16:18-22a

We can look back at the Resurrection - and we can look forward to the reunion.

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice… 

- John 16:22a

When God gives us joy, nothing can take it away.

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

- John 16:32-33

…and no one will take your joy from you.

- John 16:22b

I Want More Joy

“And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

- Acts 7:59-60

“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

- John 16: 22, 24

1.    Joy is Eternal

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C.S. Lewis

“Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit.”

- Genesis 1:11-12 (NLT)

“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that have life.” - Genesis 1:20

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”

- Genesis 1:26

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

- Genesis 2:7

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation (temporary pleasures), but be filled with the Spirit…”

- Ephesians 5:18

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace……”

- Galatians 5:22

2.    Joy is seeing Jesus for who He is and what He has done

“…but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”

- John 16:22b

“A little while, and you will not see Me (and you will have sorrow); and again a little while, and you will see Me (and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you).”

- John 16:16, 22

17 “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”

31 “And then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him”

32 “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

- Luke 24:13-35 (portions)

“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

- John 1:29

“so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.”

- Hebrews 9:28

“then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

- Hebrews 10:17

3.    Faith is your access to Joy

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

- John 16:24

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for”

- Hebrews 11:1

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

- Ephesians 2:8-9

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

- Romans 5:8

I Want More Peace

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

- John 14:27, ESV

Peace from God.

“...my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…”

- John 14:27

Peace with God.

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

- John 14:23

Peace in God.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you...

- John 14:26-27b

We find peace when we focus on God.

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

- Isaiah 26:3, ESV

I Want More Peace

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

- John 14:27, ESV

Peace from God.

“...my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you…”

- John 14:27

Peace with God.

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

- John 14:23

Peace in God.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you...

- John 14:26-27b

We find peace when we focus on God.

3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

- Isaiah 26:3, ESV

Where is Jesus?

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

- John 20:1-2, NIV

People are searching for the Savior.

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

- John 20:3-7

The tomb was empty because the Cross was effective.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

- John 10:11,18

28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. - Matthew 26:28

We can respond to the Good News of the Resurrection.

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

- John 20:11-13

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

- John 20:14-18

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

- John 20:19-20

31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

- John 20:31

Life is waiting for all who believe.

Where is Jesus?

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

- John 20:1-2

We’re all searching for Jesus… We just don’t realize it.

3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed…

- John 20:3-8

The empty tomb was proof the cross worked.

Jesus is closer than you think.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

- John 20:11-16

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me….

- John 20:10-11, 14

Worth It? - The Holy Habit of Devotion

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

- Luke 7:36–38 (ESV)

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

- John 12:1-3 (ESV)

When you see His value, you pour without hesitation.

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.

- Luke 7:47 (ESV)
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume

- John 12:3 (ESV)

What you call waste, heaven calls worship.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

- Luke 7:39 (ESV)
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,
5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[a] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

- John 12:4–6 (ESV)

True devotion always finds His feet.

“And standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.”

- Luke 7:38 (ESV)
“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

- John 12:3 (ESV)

Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

- Isaiah 53:12 (ESV)