Locked rooms, lonely hearts, and a world ripping apart at the seams—sound familiar? This Easter we’ll trace some raw encounters with the risen Jesus and discover how the empty tomb still shatters anxiety, loneliness, division, guilt, suffering, marginalization, and even utter hopelessness. From a breakfast fire on a Galilean beach to a whispered name in a quiet garden, every scene delivers hope that our culture is starving for. If you’ve ever wondered whether faith can speak into our current crises, political uncertainity, loneliness epidemic, sinful lives, or the ache of meaninglessness, this message is your invitation. Come hear why scars remain on a glorified body and how they can heal the ones on yours.

Baptism is being immersed in water as a symbolic act to identify with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. It symbolizes our new life in Christ and is a declaration that we are a disciple of Christ and have chosen to follow His Way. It points towards the work of God’s grace in our lives at salvation.

Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 6:3-4 – Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Romans 6:13 – Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

Colossians 2:12 –  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Galatians 3:27 – And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

Matthew 28:19-20 – Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Matthew 3:15 – But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.”

Acts 22:15-16 –  For you are to be his witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard. What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.

1. Spirit of God at Creation: Desiring to Make New

Genesis 1:2 – The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

2. Noah’s Ark: Saved from Judgement 

1 Peter 3:20-21 – Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood. And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you…

3. Red Sea: Deliverance from Egypt

1 Corinthians 10:1-2 – All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground. In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 

4. Crossing the Jordan River: Promises of God with New Life

Joshua 4:20 – It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River.

5. Tabernacle Wash Basin: Cleansing to Holiness

Exodus 30:20 – They must wash with water whenever they go into the Tabernacle to appear before the Lord and when they approach the altar to burn up their special gifts to the Lord

6. Naaman’s Healing: Obedience

2 Kings 5:13 – But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” 

1. John’s Baptism

Luke 3:3 – Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River, preaching that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.

2. Jesus’ Baptism

Matthew 3:16-17 – After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

3. After Peter’s Sermon

Acts 2:41 – Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

4. The Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8:35-38 – So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.