Eternal Life!

For Saturday, April 25, 2026:

Romans 8:11 NLT: “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

Two important things happened between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. First, the sins of the world were heaped upon Jesus, who was otherwise sinless. His primary mission in coming to earth was the rescue of mankind from our sin problem. I believe this occurred when Jesus declared, “It is finished.” His mission had been accomplished. He would take those sins to the place of the dead, leaving mankind spotless, eligible to take up residence in God’s heavenly Kingdom.

And on resurrection Sunday, Jesus was raised from the dead and walked out of the tomb. He proved to everyone that there is life after this life, and that death is not the end. Believers, those who call Jesus “Lord,” will receive that same reward. We call it Assurance of Salvation.

If you’re looking for a guarantee of someday seeing heaven from the inside, here it is. No other religion can promise Assurance of Salvation. This scripture quotes the words of Jesus, which we know to be true! They’re in the Bible, which is also truth!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Good Friday!

For Good Friday, April 3, 2026:

Matthew 27:20 NLT: “The leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.”

Many people had pilgrimaged to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover at the Temple. So Jesus’ trial before Pilate was witnessed by many. The custom was to release one prisoner on that special day, giving them a second chance. Barabbas was a horrible man, but the priests convinced the crowd to ask for him rather than Jesus.

Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?”

They shouted back, “Crucify him!”

This dialog went back a forth a number of times. Pilate literally washed his hands of the matter, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” Pilate’s wife had suffered a nightmare over what was about to happen. The guards took Jesus to be flogged, and eventually crucified. It’s a horrible death. The body grows weak, collapses and dies of asphyxiation, unable to support itself to take in one more breath.

Jesus was fully God and fully human. We sadly remember the human part dying on this day. Our spiritual mentor, our life coach, was gone. His body was quickly placed in a tomb donated by Joseph of Arimathea, and secured with a huge stone. No further work could be done as the Sabbath (Saturday) was drawing near. The women would finish preparing the body on Sunday.

The fully human part will remain in the grave, at least until Sunday. But what will the God-part be doing?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Good Friday!

For Good Friday, April 18, 2025:

John 19:6 NLT: “When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Today, we remember the day Jesus was crucified. The previous night, he was betrayed, arrested, denied, interrogated and flogged. He was declared innocent by Roman standards, but found guilty of Jewish Law for calling himself the Son of God. It was his own people, the priests and temple workers, who shouted, “Crucify him!”

On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That’s what it felt like at the time. Jesus had lived his life on earth perfectly, but now the sins of the world were heaped upon him. As he died, he took those sins of the world to the place of the dead and left them there. Jesus himself would be resurrected three days later.

This absence of sin allows mankind to spend eternity with Jesus and his Father. If we repent and return to the Lord, our sins can be forgiven, and we get to see heaven from the inside. This is a major plank in our theological platform.

With Jesus, everything will be OK!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Good Friday!

For Friday, March 29, 2024:

Mark 15:39 NLT: “When the Roman centurion who stood facing Jesus heard his cry and saw how he had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’”

Today we celebrate Good Friday, honoring the day our Savior was mocked, beaten and murdered. He gave it all for mankind, so our sins could be forgiven – blotted out, wiped away, as if sin had never occurred. And now sinless, we could join the heavenly multitude. Remember, God’s desire is that all would repent and return, and join him in the hereafter.

On the cross, Jesus shouted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Enough had gone wrong and Jesus was about to die! It’s easy to understand Jesus’ perception that God had removed his hand of protection from his Son. But God had not abandoned him.

All the sins of the world had been piled on Jesus, and he was to take sin to Sheol, the place of the dead, thereby leaving believers pure and innocent, suitable to take up residence with God Almighty! From Sheol, Jesus would be resurrected, given a life after this life, and eventually ascend into heaven. God had not abandoned his Son! Sin and death were conquered at the same time! Our job is to accept the grace of God, to accept the forgiveness, the new life, and have faith that Jesus’ promises to us are true!

I’m always amazed at the speed with which these events took place. It all started after supper on Thursday night, and ended at 3pm on Friday, not even 24 hours! It must have been a whirlwind of activity. Six trials, the beatings and mocking, then up the hill, on the cross and Jesus soon gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ body would need to be taken down quickly, as Shabbat started at sundown, and then no more work could be done.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Great Exchange!

For Good Friday, April 7, 2023:

Mark 15:39 NLT: “When the Centurion who stood facing Jesus saw how he had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’”

This is Good Friday. We remember when our Savior was falsely accused, betrayed, endured a mock trial, numerous beatings and was sentenced to die by crucifixion. If it wasn’t for the Great Exchange, there would be nothing good about this day.

In the Great Exchange, the sins of the world were piled on Jesus, and he took all sin to the place of the dead. Then, since mankind was without sin at that point, we were deemed acceptable to spend eternity with our Father in heaven. We are given this eternal gift because of our faith in Jesus. Jesus took sin away from us and exchanged it for our heavenly residence! No, it’s not an even trade. Seems like believers are the beneficiaries of Jesus’ extreme generosity!

Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb. Just as prophesied, we would see him again in three days. Truly this man was the Son of God!

You can’t keep a good man down!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Maundy Thursday!

For Thursday, April 6, 2023:

Matthew 26:26 NLT: “As the twelve were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘Take this and eat it, for this is my body.’”

Jesus knew the hour was coming when he would fulfill his mission, dying to forgive the sins of mankind. He taught and preached and told many parables in those last days. He confronted the errant religious leaders.

This is Maundy Thursday, the night Jesus was to be betrayed. He chose to spend it with the twelve. As they ate their final meal together, Jesus passed out bread and wine, and said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” So, following his instructions, we do the same today in remembrance of our Savior. We call it Holy Communion.

That night Jesus would be betrayed by Judas, arrested, and tried before priests, elders and eventually Pilate. Pilate offered the mob a choice: Which man should he would release? When it came to Jesus, the crowd shouted, “Crucify him, crucify him!” The journey to Golgotha had begun.

Tomorrow’s Friday, but remember that Sunday’s coming!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Good Friday!

For Good Friday, April 15, 2022:

Matthew 27:54 NRSV: “Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’”

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the cruel execution of Jesus. The name is somewhat confusing. It’s a very bad day since Jesus was killed by those seeking power and money. But we know now that when he died, he took the sins of the world to the place of the dead – including your sins and my sins! So for us, this is a good day!

It was also a good day for God. Jesus’ primary mission was to redeem mankind, to reconcile the schism between God and humans, so the religious leaders and the Romans were actually fulfilling God’s vast eternal plan! They played right into his hand!

God chose to rescue mankind; Jesus made it so!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

God's Plan Fulfilled!

For Friday, April 2, 2021

John 19:30 NLT: “Jesus said, ‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

This is Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified. Since Jesus died that day, why do we call it ‘good?’ Let’s look at the scenario.

The stuff we would call “bad” was prophesied in the Bible long ago, so everything that happened that day was a part of God’s plan. (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53) And if God’s plan is being fulfilled, how can that be so bad?

Jesus had been sent to earth on a mission trip to rescue mankind. On Good Friday, he took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, leaving the believers pure, clothed in garments of white. And as I often say, death is not the end! If you read ahead, three days later Jesus was resurrected, he rose from the dead! In that one event, he conquered both sin and death, and therefore our heavenly afterlife is assured!

Fulfillment of God’s plan is always good. It gives us hope!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Holy Week - We Know the Future!

April 18, 2011 Monday Message:

This is Holy Week. Many of you will visit church more than once this week. Holy week actually started yesterday, with Palm Sunday. Let’s look at what happened during this week 2000 years ago.

It’s Pesach, the Passover week, so Jesus and his disciples returned to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. As they finished Thursday’s Passover meal, Jesus took common items from the dinner table, bread and wine, and instituted The Lord’s Supper, known also as Holy Communion or the Eucharist. Jesus said to do this so as not to forget him, “in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

On the surface, Good Friday seems anything but good. This is the day Jesus was beaten and crucified. But it is good that Jesus took our sin to the grave, it’s good that as he took away our sin, his righteousness covered us, and it’s good that the Father’s plan was being fulfilled.

Friday was Jesus’ first day in the place of the dead; Saturday was the second, and Sunday the third. And on that third day, “God had him up, alive, and out where he could be seen.” Acts 10:40 MSG

Each year as we transition from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, I’m reminded of Dr. Tony Campolo’s famous story, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’!” No matter how bad Friday looks, we know everything will be fixed by Sunday. We know the future!

At any given point in time, God’s plan may not make sense to us. But only God knows the entire plan; only God can see the big picture. “My thoughts are not your thoughts; your ways are not My ways,” says the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

So our mission is to trust in the Lord, and lean not on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 Everything will be all right in the end. If everything is not all right, it is not the end.

May you and your loved ones have a safe and blessed Easter.
He is risen; He is risen indeed!

Norton Lawellin