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John 19:38-20:30 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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It's such a great reminder of the life that we have in Christ.
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And I know we have a lot of visitors with us, so no matter what brought you today,
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whether it was to check a religious box like Christmas, or maybe you were drug here by your family or your friends,
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and you'd rather be somewhere else,
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maybe just start going through the motions of,
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I'm just here on Sunday, and this is just what we do, but your heart's really kind of cold
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and just needs to be revived. I pray that God's Word would do that for you this morning.
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And it's really interesting, when you read the Gospels,
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a lot of the people that Jesus encounters, a lot of people that Jesus changes,
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are people who seemingly run into Him by accident.
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That wasn't a plan, it just sort of happened.
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And Jesus changed them forever.
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So no matter why you came today or why you're here,
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perhaps there's more that lies in store for you than expected this Easter.
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But I want to read over the story of the resurrection here in John
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with the hope that it will have a great bearing on your soul today.
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That as we read it, the Holy Spirit would use the Word of God
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to convict you, to challenge you,
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to awaken you to your need for a risen Savior in your life,
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to remind those of us who do belong to Christ
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that it's not just a Jesus of the past that we worship,
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but one that's living, active, and who is returning one day.
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But particularly, why is resurrection so important?
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I kind of want to bring it to your attention
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by confronting our greatest fear.
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And that fear would be death.
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The modern mood is to live life as if death was not waiting for us at the end.
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We do all we can to ignore the thought of death, to avoid it.
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A lot of us, like I said, we eat healthy, we exercise,
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we try to sleep well, take medication, whatever it may be.
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But not only can we not defeat death,
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we just can't seem to escape it.
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Everything around us, we live in a world that's just decaying before our eyes,
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and we with it.
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We can't really outrun death.
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Death makes us uncomfortable because it makes us feel weak, vulnerable, and unable.
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It confronts how small and how little our strength is.
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But we are not very powerful at all.
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So death is the enemy that wins at every turn.
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No matter who we are, it catches us.
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And some of us have been able to avoid it a lot of our lives.
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As a young boy, I began being acquainted with the idea of death
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as I've watched two of my great-grandparents die,
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three of my grandparents, my uncle,
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and then a couple years ago, my own father.
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I'm thankful to say that all six of these people were believers in Christ.
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That's why the hope we have of resurrection.
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And so, as we confront the idea of death,
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as we find ourselves running from it, avoiding it, ignoring it,
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the Bible, unlike us, confronts it head-on.
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It doesn't try to get around the issue at all.
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If you read the earlier chapters of the book of Genesis,
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right in the beginning of the Bible,
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right after chapter 3, after the fall,
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you'll see all these references, this phrase is just repeated,
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and he died, and he died, and he died,
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which was not a part of the original plan, right, of mankind.
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But we, myself, and you, we have sinned and rebelled against God.
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But have you ever stopped and thought about the question,
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why death?
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Like, why is death the answer or the consequence?
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Don Carson, a guy I respect and appreciate a lot,
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a pastor up in Canada, he wrote,
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But why death?
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And he said,
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Death is God's limit on creatures whose sin is they want to be gods.
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Death is God's limit on creatures whose sin is they want to be gods.
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By death, we learn that we are mortal,
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that we are not God at all.
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Death is God's determination to set a limit
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on the arrogance of man.
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We think and live as if we were God.
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Like, I will declare what's right.
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I will live the way that I want to live,
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regardless of what God says.
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And in our own day, even just insane things,
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where people think that they are God,
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they can, like, declare
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what's right from wrong,
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declare what gender they are,
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declare all sorts of manner of things
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that just say that,
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hey, I am omnipotent,
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and I can decide what I want to do.
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But death declares otherwise.
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It says that we are not invincible.
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We are mortal,
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and we will taste death
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because of sin.
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We live our lives, right,
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just thinking that we can somehow avoid it.
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But death is something that man,
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you and I included,
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we have freely bought on ourselves.
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You and I, right,
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by our sin and rebellion against God.
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And the Scripture speaks of physical death,
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which we all will face, probably,
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as well as, more importantly,
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spiritual death.
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Sin brought about spiritual death in us.
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That's Ephesians chapter 2.
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And so, this is why I want to confront
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the idea of death today.
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This is why resurrection is so important
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to the life of the follower of Jesus.
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And we're going to look at John's account.
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All right?
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But John was a disciple of Christ,
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but he wasn't just an eyewitness.
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He was a very close observer
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of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
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And he wrote in chapter 19, verse 35,
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he says,
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He who saw it has bore witness.
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His testimony is true.
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And he knows that he is telling the truth
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that you may believe.
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And earlier on,
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if we want to just connect the dots here,
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in chapter 19,
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verses 1 through 37,
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it speaks of the crucifixion of Jesus.
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This is where,
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it's more than just an innocent man
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dying on a cross.
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There is more than meets the eye.
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In the spiritual realms,
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Jesus is bearing the wrath of God,
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standing in our place,
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taking our punishment that we deserve,
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and bearing the just wrath of God
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on our behalf,
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though he was innocent.
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And so,
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Jesus was fulfilling on the cross
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a substitutionary work
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that was foretold by the prophet Isaiah.
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But he was wounded
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for our transgressions.
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He was crushed for our iniquities.
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And upon him was the chastisement
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that brought us peace.
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And by his stripes,
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we are healed.
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Spoken 700 years before that event,
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Christ is fulfilling that prophecy,
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the punishment of our sins.
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And John uses the phrase,
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the king,
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referring to Jesus
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almost 13 times in his gospel.
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And isn't it such a fitting description?
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Jesus walks through this gospel
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in the most royal
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and dignified manner
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amidst the unimaginable,
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unjust suffering,
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torture,
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ridicule,
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and persecution.
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He handles it just like a king.
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And so,
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he appears to us
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on the outside,
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weak and vulnerable
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and dying.
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In reality,
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he is God's king.
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And all throughout
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these last few chapters of John,
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it's undeniable
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that Jesus is in control.
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Even if it seems like
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he's not on the outside.
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He told Pilate,
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Pilate told him,
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I have the power
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to release you.
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I have the power
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to set you free
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or to not execute you.
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And Jesus basically told him,
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you have no power
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whatsoever
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except what's been granted
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to you
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from above.
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Jesus was totally in control
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of his life,
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his death,
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and now his resurrection.
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So,
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he is the king.
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So,
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that's where we're going to get
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some of our points from today.
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But before we get into our text,
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it is important for us to remember,
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I'm just going to make a note of this,
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but you'll understand why.
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The resurrection is so important.
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If Jesus had just remained in the tomb,
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if he had simply just died on the cross,
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the work of salvation
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would be in vain.
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All that he said,
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all that he promised,
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all that he did would be in vain.
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He would just be another dead Messiah.
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But Jesus had to be vindicated.
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Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15,
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if Christ has not been raised,
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your faith is futile,
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and you are still dead in your sins.
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It's a very scary thought.
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So,
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we can't,
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isn't it amazing
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that so much of
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what we talk about
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in the church
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and in the Christian life
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is just,
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just alone on the cross,
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which is vital and important,
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but it wasn't really so
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in the early church.
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They spoke of the resurrection
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just as much
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as they spoke about the cross.
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So,
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it challenged us today
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to speak of the resurrection
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in everyday life
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and how different
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it would impact us.
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So,
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as we look at
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the resurrection of Christ
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here in chapter 19
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and end of 20 of John,
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we'll just kind of do it
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scene by scene.
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But we'll start
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in chapter 19,
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verse 38,
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and this is point number one.
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There's just three points.
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Point number one,
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the king is buried.
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The king is buried.
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19,
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verse 38,
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After these things,
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Joseph of Arimathea,
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who was a disciple of Jesus,
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but secretly for fear
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of the Jews,
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asked Pilate
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that he might take away
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the body of Jesus.
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And Pilate gave him permission.
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So,
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he came and took away
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his body.
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Nicodemus also,
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who earlier had come
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to Jesus by night,
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came bringing a mixture
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of myrrh and aloes,
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about 75 pounds in weight.
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So,
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they took the body of Jesus
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and bound it in linen cloths
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with the spices,
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as is the burial custom
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of the Jews.
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Now,
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in the place
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where he was crucified,
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there was a garden.
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And in the garden,
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a new tomb,
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in which no one
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had yet been laid.
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So,
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because of the Jewish
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day of preparation,
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since the tomb
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was close at hand,
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they laid Jesus there.
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So,
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let's stop
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and make some observations.
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So,
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first,
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it mentions these two men,
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Joseph of Arimathea
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and Nicodemus.
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Joseph was a wealthy member
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of the Jewish ruling council,
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according to Matthew 27.
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And he humbly asked Pilate
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for the body,
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for Jesus' body.
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And it says in Luke,
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chapter 23,
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it says about Joseph,
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he was a member
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of the council,
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a good and righteous man
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who had consented
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to the decision
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and action.
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And he was looking
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for the kingdom of God.
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This man went to Pilate
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and asked for the body
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of Jesus.
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So,
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it implies here
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that Joseph
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was indeed
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a believer.
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In fact,
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he's called
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as much
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a rich man
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from Arimathea
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named Joseph
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who also
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was a disciple
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of Jesus.
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And then secondly,
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Nicodemus,
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the reluctant
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but believing
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Pharisee,
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a member
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of the Sanhedrin.
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He was the one
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who spoke to Jesus
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in John chapter 3.
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And later
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in the Gospel of John,
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he confronted
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the Pharisees
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unjust,
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seeking to trap
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Jesus.
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He said to them
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in Jesus' defense,
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does our law
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judge a man
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without first
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giving him a hearing
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and learning
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what he does?
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So,
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we see that eventually,
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more than likely,
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Nicodemus came
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full circle
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and became
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a true believer
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of Christ.
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And then we see
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there's preparation
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for the body
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in these verses.
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The final burial
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preparations,
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the final ones,
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were left undone
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due to the Jewish
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day of preparation,
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which was
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beginning of
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the Sabbath,
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when all work
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had to cease,
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especially dealing
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with a burial.
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Right?
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So,
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they did minimal
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preparation
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on the body
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and they rushed
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it into the tomb.
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About 75 pounds
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of spices
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they used.
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Myrth,
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which is like
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this gummy
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resin that they
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would grind down
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to powder
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and sort of
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throw it over
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the body
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to kind of
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stifle
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the smell.
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linen cloth
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that were just
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wrapped around
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the body.
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And then it says
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the tomb,
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which is more
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than likely
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either rock-hewn
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or some sort
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of natural
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cave that
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existed that
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made it like
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a vault
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where a big
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heavy stone
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would be rolled
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over the entrance.
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And all of this,
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believe it or not,
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happened that the
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scripture would be
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fulfilled.
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The Old Testament
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scripture of
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Isaiah 53
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foretelling of
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the burial
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of the Messiah.
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It says,
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they made his
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grave with the
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wicked and
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with the rich
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man in his
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death.
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Although the
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suffering servant
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mentioned in
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Isaiah was
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condemned as a
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criminal,
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there's the
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with the wicked
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part,
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he was buried
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in the expensive
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tomb belonging
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to that rich
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man,
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Joseph.
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So amazingly,
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right,
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we see these
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things being
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fulfilled before
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our eyes.
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This gets us
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to point number
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two,
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which we start
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in chapter 20.
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Point number
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two,
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the empty
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tomb of
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the king.
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The empty
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tomb of
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the king.
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This is
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verses 1
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through 18.
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We'll start
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with just a
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piece of it.
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It says,
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Now on the
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first day of
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the week,
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Mary Magdalene
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came to the
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tomb early,
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while it was
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still dark,
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and saw that
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the stone had
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been taken
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away from
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the tomb.
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So she ran
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and went to
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Simon Peter
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and the other
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disciple,
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the one whom
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Jesus loved,
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and said to
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them,
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They have
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taken the
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Lord out
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of the
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tomb,
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and we do
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not know
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where they
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have laid
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him.
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So Peter
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went out
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with the
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other disciple,
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and they
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were going
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toward the
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tomb,
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both of
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them running
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together.
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But the
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other disciple
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outran Peter
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and reached
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the tomb
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first.
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And stooping
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in,
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he saw
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linen cloths
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lying there,
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but he did
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not go in.
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Then Simon
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Peter came
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following him
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and went
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into the
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tomb.
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He saw
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linen cloths
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lying there,
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and the
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face cloth
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which had
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been on
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Jesus'
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head,
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not lying
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with the
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linen cloths,
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but folded
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up in its
15:41
place by
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itself.
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Then the
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other
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disciple,
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who reached
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the tomb
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first,
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also went
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in.
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He saw
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and believed.
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For as
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yet he did
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not understand
15:54
the scripture,
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that he
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must rise
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from death.
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And the
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disciples went
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back to
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their homes.
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So we
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see that
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Mary Magdalene
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reports on
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the empty
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tomb.
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It was the
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first day of
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the week,
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which we
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would call
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Sunday,
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but the
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Jews didn't
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name their
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days,
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they numbered
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their days.
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This is why
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it's the
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first day of
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the week,
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which we
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would call
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Sunday.
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Mary Magdalene
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is the one
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that Jesus
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healed of
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demonic
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possession,
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and she
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just followed
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Jesus out
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of joy
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and gratitude
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for what
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he had
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done,
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even followed
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him to
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the foot
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of the
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cross.
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When a
16:30
lot of
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the other
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disciples
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were hiding,
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she actually
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went to
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the foot
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of the
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cross,
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and that's
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seen in
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Matthew 28.
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John also
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implies,
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right here,
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that she
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got there
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while it
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was still
16:42
dark.
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So low
16:44
visibility,
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but explains
16:47
that this
16:47
large stone
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had been
16:48
rolled back,
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right,
16:50
by the
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angel of
16:51
the Lord,
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which
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revealed that
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the soldiers
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that had
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been there
16:55
had already
16:55
gone.
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They had
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fled the
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scene.
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So she's
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seeing the
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aftermath of
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the resurrection.
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Have you
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ever thought
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about this?
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The stone
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being rolled
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away,
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that wasn't
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so that
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Jesus could
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get out.
17:11
That was
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for us
17:13
to say
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that he
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actually has
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been risen.
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As we'll
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see in a
17:17
little while,
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Jesus appears
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to his
17:19
disciples when
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they were
17:20
behind locked
17:21
doors.
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So Jesus
17:23
and his
17:23
resurrection
17:23
body didn't
17:24
need the
17:25
stone removed,
17:27
but the
17:28
fact that it
17:29
would be
17:29
there for
17:29
our faith
17:30
that he
17:31
is gone,
17:31
he's no
17:32
longer here.
17:34
So they
17:34
fled,
17:35
the soldiers
17:35
fled to
17:36
save their
17:36
own skin
17:37
and conspired
17:38
with the
17:39
chief priest
17:39
to cover it
17:40
up.
17:40
That's in
17:40
Matthew 28
17:41
verses 11
17:43
through 15.
17:43
So Mary
17:44
runs and
17:45
tells the
17:45
other
17:45
disciples.
17:47
So just
17:47
imagine what's
17:48
going through
17:48
her mind
17:49
right now.
17:49
But the
17:50
thought of
17:51
resurrection
17:52
is not
17:52
on her
17:52
mind.
17:54
She thinks
17:54
that just
17:54
something has
17:55
happened.
17:55
She thinks
17:56
that someone
17:56
has taken
17:57
his body.
17:58
So what
17:59
is going
18:00
on?
18:01
Could be
18:01
what she
18:02
is thinking.
18:02
But she
18:02
tells Peter
18:03
and John,
18:04
says they
18:04
ran to the
18:05
tomb right
18:06
away to
18:06
explore what
18:07
Mary had
18:07
said.
18:08
I think
18:09
it's really
18:09
funny that
18:09
John mentions
18:10
that he
18:10
outran Peter
18:11
twice.
18:14
So either
18:14
his brotherly
18:15
way of just
18:16
saying he
18:16
was faster
18:17
than Peter
18:17
or he
18:19
was just
18:19
immensely
18:20
eager.
18:21
Or perhaps
18:21
Peter was
18:22
just a
18:22
bigger guy
18:23
and not
18:23
as nimble
18:24
as John.
18:24
Who knows?
18:25
But just
18:26
the detail
18:27
of the
18:27
account.
18:28
But upon
18:29
arriving at
18:29
the tomb,
18:30
John went
18:30
in and
18:31
Peter
18:31
saw it.
18:32
And the
18:32
Greek actually
18:33
means they
18:33
peeped in.
18:35
And at
18:36
first it was
18:37
Peter.
18:37
Peter saw
18:38
it.
18:39
And when
18:40
he saw
18:40
it, he
18:40
was confused.
18:42
He was
18:42
bewildered.
18:43
He was just
18:43
like, what
18:45
is going
18:45
on?
18:46
John stayed
18:48
there and
18:49
looked a
18:49
little closer
18:50
and first
18:52
observed that
18:53
he said he
18:53
saw the
18:54
linen cloths
18:55
lying there.
18:58
The Greek
18:58
seems to
18:59
suggest that
19:00
the garments
19:01
had not been
19:01
just thrown
19:02
around all
19:02
over the
19:03
place.
19:04
And if
19:04
you were
19:04
like taking
19:05
off clothes
19:05
and you
19:06
just threw
19:06
the linen
19:07
cloths
19:08
everywhere,
19:09
strewned
19:09
out, but
19:10
they were
19:10
laying exactly
19:11
where the
19:12
body had
19:12
Jesus had
19:13
been laid.
19:15
It's almost
19:15
as if the
19:16
body just
19:16
withdrew
19:16
itself from
19:18
the wrappings
19:19
and it
19:19
just collapsed
19:20
where it
19:20
was.
19:21
That's like
19:21
what it's
19:22
implying.
19:22
That's just
19:23
crazy.
19:24
Crazy.
19:26
And also
19:27
it's all
19:28
the head
19:29
cloth,
19:29
right?
19:30
Just rolled
19:31
up and
19:32
sitting over
19:32
by itself
19:33
somewhere
19:34
else.
19:36
Right?
19:36
Nice and
19:37
neat.
19:39
And again,
19:40
the body
19:40
just seemed
19:41
to have
19:41
withdrawn
19:42
itself.
19:42
So secondly,
19:43
the face
19:44
cloth put
19:45
over by
19:45
its own
19:46
in a
19:46
different
19:46
place.
19:47
And it
19:47
says that
19:47
John,
19:48
seeing this
19:49
astounding
19:50
sight,
19:51
saw and
19:52
believed.
19:54
It was
19:54
like sufficient
19:55
for him to
19:56
at least
19:56
believe that
19:58
Jesus had
19:58
risen from
19:59
the dead.
20:00
But then it
20:01
says that they
20:02
still did not
20:02
understand the
20:03
scripture,
20:04
so it must
20:05
imply that he
20:05
at least
20:06
believed that
20:06
Christ had
20:07
risen,
20:07
even though he
20:08
didn't fully
20:08
know what
20:09
that implied.
20:10
and it
20:12
says that
20:13
they didn't
20:13
know the
20:14
scriptures,
20:14
the Old
20:15
Testament
20:15
scriptures that
20:16
spoke of
20:17
the Messiah
20:17
and how he
20:18
would rise
20:19
from death.
20:21
Right?
20:22
So just a
20:23
quick thing
20:24
for us to
20:24
think about,
20:25
will you be
20:27
found faithful
20:28
or will you
20:29
be found in
20:29
unbelief when
20:30
God fulfills
20:31
his word?
20:34
Are you
20:35
surprised or
20:37
caught off guard
20:38
when God
20:38
actually fulfills
20:39
one of his
20:40
promises?
20:40
promises?
20:43
Do you
20:44
patiently wait
20:44
in faith for
20:45
God to
20:46
deliver on
20:46
his promises?
20:48
This is a
20:49
lesson for us.
20:50
It says they
20:51
didn't know the
20:51
scriptures.
20:52
They didn't
20:52
believe the
20:52
scripture.
20:53
Right?
20:54
And now this
20:54
is being fulfilled
20:55
right in front
20:56
of them.
20:58
But see,
20:58
this is very
20:59
important.
21:00
The resurrection,
21:01
this could go
21:01
on forever,
21:02
I'll just make
21:02
it really brief,
21:03
but the
21:04
resurrection is
21:05
needed because
21:05
it vindicated
21:06
Jesus.
21:08
It showed,
21:09
it proved,
21:09
it declared
21:10
Jesus to be
21:11
true and
21:11
right.
21:12
Right?
21:13
That he was
21:14
indeed the
21:15
son of God
21:15
and all the
21:16
claims that
21:16
he made.
21:18
Again,
21:18
he would just
21:18
be another
21:19
dead Messiah.
21:21
It says in
21:22
Romans 1,
21:23
verse 3,
21:24
Jesus was
21:25
declared to be
21:26
the son of
21:26
God in
21:27
power,
21:28
according to
21:29
the spirit of
21:30
holiness by
21:31
his resurrection
21:32
from the
21:33
dead,
21:34
Jesus Christ,
21:35
our Lord.
21:35
Lord.
21:36
So Jesus
21:37
didn't become
21:38
the son of
21:38
God at
21:39
the resurrection.
21:40
The resurrection
21:41
was the
21:41
powerful demonstration
21:42
that he was
21:43
indeed,
21:44
eternally,
21:45
the son of
21:46
God.
21:47
And so
21:47
after this
21:48
account,
21:49
all the other
21:50
disciples went
21:50
home,
21:51
but Mary
21:52
lingered.
21:54
We don't
21:54
know why
21:55
exactly,
21:55
maybe to
21:56
grieve,
21:56
or maybe
21:56
because she
21:57
was exhausted,
21:57
because I
21:58
just think
21:58
about the
21:58
back and
22:00
forth.
22:01
So she's
22:01
just sitting
22:02
there,
22:02
same thing
22:03
they're thinking,
22:04
what is going
22:04
on?
22:05
Look at
22:06
verse 11.
22:07
It says,
22:07
Mary stood
22:08
weeping outside
22:09
the tomb,
22:10
and as she
22:11
wept,
22:11
she stopped
22:12
to look into
22:13
the tomb,
22:15
and she
22:15
saw two
22:16
angels in
22:17
white,
22:18
sitting where
22:18
the body of
22:19
Jesus had
22:19
lain,
22:20
one at the
22:21
head and
22:22
one at the
22:22
feet.
22:23
They said
22:24
to her,
22:24
woman,
22:25
why are you
22:26
weeping?
22:27
She said
22:28
to them,
22:28
they have
22:29
taken away
22:30
my Lord,
22:31
and I do
22:31
not know
22:32
where they
22:33
have laid
22:33
him.
22:35
So,
22:36
we see
22:36
Mary here,
22:37
brokenhearted,
22:39
confused,
22:40
didn't leave
22:41
the tomb
22:41
until she
22:42
found out
22:42
what happened
22:43
to Jesus'
22:44
body.
22:45
And they
22:46
asked her,
22:46
why are
22:47
you weeping
22:47
when she
22:48
encounters
22:49
these majestic
22:50
beings?
22:53
And Mary
22:53
answers again
22:54
that they
22:55
did not
22:55
understand
22:56
the scriptures.
22:57
So the
22:57
appearance of
22:58
the angels
22:59
throughout the
22:59
life of
22:59
Christ,
23:00
at his
23:00
temptation,
23:01
at his
23:02
birth,
23:02
now at his
23:04
resurrection,
23:04
they were
23:05
even with
23:05
him in
23:05
the garden
23:06
of
23:06
Gethsemane.
23:07
So it's
23:07
just consistent
23:08
with the
23:08
ministry of
23:09
Jesus.
23:10
But imagine,
23:11
try to,
23:12
being in
23:13
her place,
23:15
heart pumping,
23:16
shock,
23:17
adrenaline running
23:18
through your
23:18
body,
23:19
and asking,
23:19
is this
23:19
really happening?
23:23
Did Jesus
23:23
actually do
23:25
what he was
23:25
going to say
23:26
he did?
23:26
And then
23:28
immediately,
23:29
verse 14,
23:31
having said
23:32
this,
23:32
right away,
23:33
she turned
23:33
around and
23:34
saw Jesus
23:34
standing,
23:36
but she
23:36
did not
23:37
know that
23:38
it was
23:38
Jesus.
23:39
And Jesus
23:40
said to
23:40
her,
23:41
woman,
23:42
why are
23:43
you weeping?
23:44
Whom are
23:44
you seeking?
23:46
Supposing him
23:47
to be the
23:47
gardener,
23:48
she said to
23:48
him,
23:49
sir,
23:50
if you
23:50
have carried
23:50
him away,
23:51
tell me
23:52
where you
23:53
have laid
23:53
him,
23:53
and I
23:54
will take
23:54
him away.
23:55
And Jesus
23:56
said to
23:56
her,
23:57
Mary.
23:59
She turned
24:00
and said
24:00
to him
24:01
in Aramaic,
24:02
Rabboni,
24:03
which means
24:04
teacher.
24:06
Jesus said
24:06
to her,
24:07
do not
24:07
cling to
24:08
me,
24:09
for I
24:09
have not
24:09
yet ascended
24:10
to the
24:10
Father.
24:11
But go
24:12
to my
24:12
brothers and
24:13
say to
24:13
them,
24:14
I am
24:14
ascending
24:15
to my
24:15
Father and
24:16
your
24:16
Father,
24:17
to my
24:18
God and
24:19
your
24:19
God.
24:20
So
24:21
suddenly,
24:22
right,
24:22
she whips
24:22
around and
24:23
saw Jesus
24:23
standing there,
24:24
and she
24:25
didn't
24:25
recognize
24:26
him,
24:26
but he
24:26
asked the
24:27
same
24:27
question
24:27
that the
24:27
angels
24:28
asked,
24:28
why are
24:28
you
24:28
weeping?
24:30
She
24:31
didn't
24:31
recognize
24:31
Jesus,
24:32
maybe because
24:32
it was
24:32
early dawn,
24:33
still outside,
24:34
maybe the
24:34
tears blurred
24:35
her vision,
24:37
didn't expect
24:37
to run into
24:38
Jesus,
24:40
but maybe
24:40
even his
24:41
resurrected
24:41
body looked
24:42
a little
24:43
different,
24:44
not for
24:45
sure,
24:45
we don't
24:46
know,
24:47
but what
24:47
any cause,
24:48
Mary didn't
24:48
recognize him
24:48
at first until
24:49
she said
24:50
his name,
24:51
her name,
24:52
said Mary,
24:53
and then
24:54
he recognized
24:55
I've heard
24:56
him say
24:56
my name
24:57
before,
24:57
this is
24:58
him,
24:59
right,
25:00
very clear
25:01
that when
25:01
Jesus calls
25:02
us,
25:02
he calls
25:03
us
25:03
personally,
25:04
that we
25:05
know his
25:05
name,
25:06
Jesus said
25:06
that earlier,
25:07
my sheep
25:07
know my
25:09
voice,
25:10
I call
25:10
them and
25:11
I give
25:11
them eternal
25:12
life,
25:13
and then
25:14
he says,
25:14
go and
25:15
tell them
25:15
that I'm
25:16
ascending
25:17
to the
25:17
Father,
25:18
right,
25:19
Jesus wanted
25:20
them to know
25:20
that he was
25:21
going to go
25:21
back,
25:21
so he
25:22
said,
25:22
go and
25:22
tell the
25:23
others
25:23
what you've
25:24
seen,
25:25
go and
25:25
tell them
25:25
that I
25:26
am indeed
25:26
alive,
25:28
and so
25:29
we keep
25:30
going,
25:31
we get to
25:31
number three
25:32
here,
25:32
this is the
25:32
last point,
25:34
the king
25:34
appears to
25:35
his hiding
25:36
disciples,
25:37
the king
25:38
appears to
25:39
his hiding
25:39
disciples,
25:40
this is in
25:40
verse,
25:41
sorry,
25:41
in verse
25:42
18,
25:43
Mary Magdalene
25:44
went and
25:45
announced to
25:45
the disciples,
25:46
I have
25:46
seen the
25:47
Lord,
25:49
and that he
25:50
had said
25:50
these things
25:51
to her,
25:52
on the
25:53
evening of
25:53
that day,
25:54
the first
25:54
day of
25:54
the week,
25:55
the doors
25:55
being locked
25:56
were the
25:58
disciples,
26:00
were for
26:00
fear of
26:01
the Jews,
26:02
Jesus came
26:03
and stood
26:04
among them
26:04
and said to
26:06
them,
26:06
peace be
26:07
with you,
26:08
and when he
26:09
had said
26:09
this,
26:09
he showed
26:10
them his
26:10
hands and
26:11
his side,
26:12
then the
26:13
disciples were
26:14
glad when
26:14
they saw
26:15
the Lord,
26:16
Jesus said
26:17
to them
26:17
again,
26:18
peace be
26:19
with you,
26:20
as the
26:21
father has
26:21
sent me,
26:22
even so
26:22
I am
26:23
sending
26:23
you,
26:24
and when
26:25
he had
26:25
said this,
26:26
he breathed
26:26
on them
26:27
and said
26:27
to them,
26:28
receive the
26:29
Holy Spirit,
26:31
if you
26:31
forgive the
26:32
sins of
26:32
any,
26:33
they are
26:33
forgiven,
26:34
if you
26:35
withhold the
26:35
forgiveness
26:36
from any,
26:37
it will be
26:37
withheld,
26:39
and so,
26:40
let's walk
26:41
through this
26:41
quickly together,
26:43
so these
26:44
fearful
26:44
disciples,
26:45
like they
26:45
ran away,
26:46
when Jesus
26:47
was arrested,
26:48
they fled
26:49
the scene
26:50
and left
26:50
Jesus to
26:51
be alone,
26:52
to face
26:53
all of
26:53
this alone,
26:56
it says
26:56
that they
26:56
ran and
26:57
fled,
26:57
they forsook
26:58
him in
26:58
Matthew chapter
27:00
26,
27:01
so they
27:01
were not
27:02
brave,
27:02
they were
27:03
weak,
27:03
their faith
27:04
was weak,
27:05
let's not
27:06
be quick to
27:06
judge,
27:07
because we
27:09
don't know
27:09
what we
27:10
would have
27:10
done,
27:11
we hope
27:11
that we
27:12
would have
27:12
stuck with
27:13
Christ,
27:13
but don't
27:15
be too
27:15
quick to
27:15
judge the
27:16
disciples who
27:17
ran away
27:17
in fear
27:18
of their
27:18
lives,
27:19
but they're
27:20
hiding behind
27:21
locked doors,
27:23
feeling afraid,
27:24
confused,
27:25
bewildered,
27:26
and especially
27:27
after hearing
27:27
Mary,
27:27
like what
27:28
is going
27:28
on?
27:30
So they're
27:31
traumatized,
27:31
and they're
27:32
fearful of
27:32
what's
27:33
happened,
27:34
but Jesus
27:34
appears to
27:35
them,
27:35
I love that,
27:36
just sort
27:36
of behind
27:37
the locked
27:37
doors,
27:38
he just
27:38
sort of
27:38
appears,
27:39
standing
27:39
there,
27:40
talking to
27:41
them,
27:41
and he
27:41
says,
27:41
peace,
27:42
be with
27:43
you,
27:44
be still,
27:45
rest
27:45
easy,
27:47
all is
27:47
well,
27:48
because I
27:48
mean,
27:48
obviously they
27:49
would have
27:49
been frightened,
27:50
they would
27:50
have been
27:50
scared,
27:51
as would
27:52
all of
27:53
us if
27:53
we saw
27:53
something so
27:54
supernatural,
27:56
because it
27:57
really is
27:57
me,
27:58
I'm alive,
28:00
touch me,
28:01
look,
28:02
see my
28:03
hands and
28:04
my feet,
28:06
and he
28:06
reminds them
28:07
of the
28:07
events of
28:08
the cross,
28:08
that he
28:09
was the
28:10
crucified
28:10
sacrifice,
28:12
but now he
28:12
is the
28:13
risen Lord,
28:14
that he
28:15
has overcome
28:15
the world
28:16
and secured
28:17
their place
28:18
in heaven,
28:19
and then he
28:19
says to
28:20
them,
28:20
he breathes
28:21
on them,
28:22
it says,
28:23
receive the
28:23
Holy Spirit,
28:25
now we
28:25
know if we
28:26
read the
28:26
book of
28:26
Acts,
28:27
the Holy
28:27
Spirit came
28:28
on them
28:28
at Pentecost,
28:29
almost 40
28:30
days later,
28:31
so this is
28:32
best understood
28:33
as a kind
28:33
of active
28:34
parable
28:34
pointing
28:35
forward
28:35
to the
28:36
full
28:37
endowment
28:38
of the
28:39
Holy Spirit,
28:40
the pledge
28:40
of the
28:41
Spirit,
28:41
Spirit,
28:41
and then
28:42
lastly,
28:43
in this
28:44
section,
28:44
he commissions
28:45
them,
28:46
he says,
28:46
the Father
28:46
sends me,
28:48
so I
28:48
now am
28:49
sending
28:49
you to
28:50
go out
28:51
into this
28:51
dark,
28:52
dying world
28:53
and to
28:53
proclaim the
28:54
message of
28:55
forgiveness
28:55
of sins
28:56
and reconciliation
28:57
with God
28:58
through the
28:59
Savior.
29:00
The message
29:01
of the
29:01
gospel has
29:02
to go
29:02
forth to
29:03
all ethnos,
29:05
all nations,
29:06
all peoples,
29:07
and so
29:08
watch with
29:09
great anticipation
29:10
in the
29:10
years,
29:11
to come
29:11
to see
29:12
how God
29:13
is going
29:14
to reach
29:14
the unreached
29:15
of the
29:16
world.
29:18
And though
29:18
the initial
29:19
establishment of
29:19
the church
29:20
fell to the
29:20
apostles,
29:21
I hope that
29:21
you feel
29:22
that weight
29:22
to advance
29:24
the name
29:24
of Christ,
29:25
the kingdom
29:25
of Christ,
29:26
no matter
29:26
where you
29:26
are in
29:27
your life
29:28
to those
29:28
who are
29:29
around you.
29:29
It continues
29:30
to this
29:30
day.
29:32
So then
29:32
we'll wrap
29:33
it up,
29:33
we'll keep
29:33
going in
29:34
verse 24
29:34
and we'll
29:35
land the
29:36
plane.
29:38
Can't leave
29:38
this out.
29:39
Now Thomas,
29:40
one of the
29:40
twelve,
29:41
called the
29:42
twin,
29:43
was not
29:43
with them
29:44
when Jesus
29:44
came.
29:46
So the
29:46
other disciples
29:46
told him,
29:47
we have
29:47
seen the
29:48
Lord,
29:49
but he
29:49
said to
29:49
them,
29:50
unless I
29:51
see his
29:52
hands in
29:52
the mark
29:53
of the
29:53
nails,
29:54
and place
29:55
my finger
29:55
into the
29:56
mark of
29:56
the nails,
29:57
and place
29:58
my hand
29:58
into his
29:59
side,
30:00
I will
30:00
never believe.
30:02
That might
30:03
be a lot
30:03
of us
30:03
saying that.
30:04
eight
30:06
days later,
30:06
his
30:07
disciples
30:07
were
30:07
again
30:08
inside,
30:09
and
30:10
Thomas
30:10
was
30:10
with
30:10
them.
30:11
Although
30:11
the doors
30:12
were
30:12
locked,
30:13
Jesus
30:14
came and
30:14
stood among
30:15
them and
30:15
said,
30:16
peace be
30:16
with you.
30:18
And then
30:18
he said to
30:19
Thomas,
30:19
put your
30:20
finger here
30:21
and see
30:22
my hands.
30:23
Put out
30:24
your hand
30:25
and place
30:25
it in
30:26
my side.
30:27
Do not
30:28
disbelieve,
30:29
but believe.
30:30
And
30:31
Thomas
30:31
answered
30:32
him,
30:32
my
30:33
Lord
30:33
and
30:34
my
30:34
God.
30:36
Jesus
30:37
said to
30:37
him,
30:38
have
30:38
you
30:39
believed
30:39
because
30:39
you
30:40
have
30:40
seen
30:40
me?
30:41
Blessed
30:42
are
30:42
those
30:43
who
30:43
have
30:44
not
30:44
seen
30:44
and
30:45
yet
30:45
have
30:45
believed.
30:48
Man,
30:49
eight
30:49
days
30:49
later,
30:50
right,
30:51
Thomas
30:51
was like,
30:52
I don't
30:52
buy it,
30:52
guys,
30:53
unless I
30:53
can see
30:54
him and
30:54
touch
30:54
him,
30:54
as
30:55
y'all
30:55
did.
30:56
He
30:57
probably
30:57
kicked
30:57
himself.
30:58
Imagine
30:58
like an
30:58
event you
30:59
would not
30:59
want to
30:59
miss out
31:00
on,
31:00
like,
31:01
I
31:01
missed
31:01
it.
31:02
So
31:03
Jesus
31:03
appears
31:04
to
31:04
him,
31:05
especially,
31:06
right,
31:07
and shows
31:07
him.
31:09
Thomas
31:10
had
31:10
known to
31:10
have been
31:10
loyal,
31:11
but
31:11
sometimes
31:11
pessimistic.
31:13
And
31:13
Jesus
31:13
doesn't
31:14
rebuke
31:14
him.
31:15
He
31:15
doesn't
31:15
like,
31:15
you
31:15
know,
31:16
to
31:16
say,
31:16
come
31:16
on,
31:17
Thomas.
31:17
He
31:17
just
31:18
simply,
31:19
humbly
31:20
shows
31:20
him
31:20
compassion
31:21
and
31:22
offers
31:22
proof
31:22
of
31:23
his
31:23
resurrection.
31:25
And
31:25
so
31:25
Thomas'
31:26
response
31:27
is
31:27
astounding.
31:28
what other
31:29
response
31:29
could you
31:30
have to
31:30
someone who
31:31
has risen
31:31
from the
31:32
dead?
31:33
He
31:33
understood
31:34
more.
31:36
He's
31:36
standing,
31:37
God in
31:37
flesh,
31:38
standing right
31:39
in front of
31:39
him,
31:39
the crucified
31:40
Christ,
31:41
but now
31:41
the risen
31:42
Lord.
31:42
And his
31:42
response is,
31:43
my Lord
31:44
and my
31:45
God,
31:47
declares
31:47
that Jesus,
31:48
the man in
31:49
front of him,
31:49
is divine,
31:51
risen from
31:52
the dead.
31:53
God.
31:54
And so
31:54
does a
31:54
passage like
31:55
this just
31:55
give you
31:55
chills?
31:57
Does it
31:58
make you
31:58
joyful and
31:59
inspire hope?
31:59
Does it
32:00
terrify you,
32:01
fearful?
32:03
What
32:03
Jesus say
32:04
to you
32:04
today,
32:04
why are
32:05
you
32:05
crying?
32:06
Stop
32:07
your
32:07
doubting
32:07
and
32:08
believe.
32:09
Because
32:10
a lot
32:11
of us
32:11
live life
32:12
in that
32:12
sort of
32:13
defeat,
32:13
as if
32:13
Jesus
32:14
had just
32:14
stayed
32:14
in the
32:15
tomb.
32:16
So
32:17
how does
32:18
this
32:18
impact
32:18
us?
32:19
We
32:19
learn
32:19
something
32:19
very
32:20
important
32:20
here
32:20
about
32:21
the
32:21
nature
32:22
of
32:22
faith.
32:23
We've
32:23
been
32:23
taught
32:24
by
32:24
society
32:25
that
32:25
seeing
32:25
is
32:26
believing.
32:27
Very
32:28
clearly
32:28
Jesus
32:29
says
32:29
that
32:29
it
32:29
is
32:29
not.
32:30
You
32:30
don't
32:31
have
32:31
to
32:31
see
32:31
Jesus
32:32
in
32:32
the
32:32
flesh
32:32
to
32:33
believe
32:33
in
32:33
him.
32:34
None
32:34
of
32:34
us
32:35
have.
32:36
Jesus
32:38
states
32:39
that
32:39
just
32:39
seeing
32:39
him
32:40
isn't
32:40
necessary
32:40
for
32:41
belief,
32:42
but
32:42
faith
32:43
in
32:43
God
32:43
doesn't
32:44
depend
32:44
on
32:44
seeing
32:44
him,
32:45
but
32:45
trusting
32:45
!
32:45
in
32:45
this
32:46
person
32:46
and
32:46
his
32:46
work
32:47
for
32:48
our
32:48
behalf
32:48
by
32:49
faith
32:49
is
32:49
sufficient
32:50
for
32:51
salvation.
32:53
And so
32:53
Peter wrote
32:54
in 1 Peter 1
32:55
verse 8,
32:57
so I
32:57
imagine that
32:59
Peter remembers
32:59
this scene
33:00
and he's
33:01
like using
33:02
it as a
33:02
reference.
33:03
He remembers
33:04
what Jesus
33:05
told Thomas.
33:06
1 Peter
33:07
chapter 1
33:08
verse 8,
33:09
though you
33:09
have not
33:10
seen
33:10
him,
33:11
you
33:12
love
33:12
him.
33:13
Though
33:13
you
33:14
do not
33:14
see
33:14
him
33:14
now,
33:15
you
33:15
believe
33:15
in
33:16
him
33:16
and
33:17
rejoice
33:17
with
33:17
the
33:18
joy
33:18
that
33:18
is
33:18
inexpressible
33:19
and
33:19
filled
33:20
with
33:20
glory,
33:21
obtaining
33:22
the
33:22
outcome
33:22
of your
33:23
faith,
33:23
the
33:24
salvation
33:24
of
33:25
your
33:25
souls.
33:27
So,
33:28
blessed
33:29
are those
33:29
who have
33:30
not
33:30
seen
33:30
me,
33:31
Jesus
33:31
says,
33:31
and yet
33:32
will
33:32
believe.
33:35
In 1
33:35
Corinthians
33:35
chapter 15,
33:37
I'll read
33:37
you just
33:37
a section
33:38
of this,
33:38
but Jesus
33:39
appeared
33:40
to many
33:43
people
33:43
other than
33:44
the disciples,
33:46
all according
33:46
to the
33:47
scriptures,
33:47
all according
33:48
to the
33:48
fulfillment
33:49
of what
33:49
God had
33:50
spoken
33:50
hundreds
33:50
and hundreds
33:51
of years
33:51
earlier.
33:53
Paul wrote
33:53
in 1
33:54
Corinthians
33:54
15
33:55
verse 3,
33:57
For I
33:57
delivered
33:58
to you
33:58
as first
33:59
importance
33:59
what I
34:00
also
34:01
received,
34:02
that Christ
34:03
died
34:03
for our
34:04
sins
34:04
in
34:05
accordance
34:05
with
34:05
the
34:06
scriptures,
34:07
that he
34:07
was
34:07
buried
34:08
and then
34:08
he
34:08
was
34:09
raised
34:09
on
34:09
the
34:09
third
34:10
day
34:10
according
34:10
to
34:11
the
34:11
scriptures,
34:13
that he
34:13
appeared
34:13
to Cephas,
34:15
then to
34:15
the twelve,
34:17
then he
34:17
appeared to
34:18
more than
34:18
five hundred
34:19
brothers
34:20
at one
34:21
time,
34:22
most of
34:22
whom are
34:23
still alive,
34:24
though some
34:25
have fallen
34:25
asleep,
34:27
then he
34:27
appeared to
34:28
James,
34:29
then to
34:29
all the
34:30
apostles,
34:31
and last
34:31
of all,
34:32
as to
34:32
one untimely
34:33
born,
34:33
he also
34:34
appeared
34:35
to
34:35
me.
34:36
So,
34:37
amazingly,
34:38
back in
34:39
this day,
34:39
he says he
34:40
appeared to
34:40
all these
34:41
people,
34:41
and a lot
34:41
of them
34:41
are still
34:42
alive,
34:42
go ask
34:42
them,
34:43
they saw
34:44
him,
34:45
and then
34:46
Paul clues
34:47
himself at
34:47
the very
34:48
end,
34:48
and then
34:48
finally he
34:49
appeared to
34:49
me on
34:50
the Damascus
34:51
road,
34:52
right?
34:53
So,
34:54
some quick
34:54
application,
34:55
and then we'll
34:55
wrap it up.
34:57
Each one of
34:57
these could be
34:57
their own
34:58
sermon,
34:58
but I'll
34:58
wrap it up
34:59
really
34:59
quickly,
34:59
but because
35:01
Jesus is
35:02
alive,
35:03
we can be
35:04
sure of
35:04
our eternal
35:05
life.
35:07
Every now
35:07
and then a
35:08
Bible writer
35:08
may tell
35:09
you why
35:10
they wrote
35:11
the book.
35:12
At the end,
35:13
look at
35:13
chapter 20,
35:14
verse 30.
35:17
Now Jesus
35:18
did many
35:18
other signs
35:19
in the
35:19
presence of
35:20
the disciples,
35:21
which are
35:22
not written
35:22
in this
35:23
book,
35:23
but these
35:24
are written
35:25
so that you
35:25
may believe
35:26
that Jesus
35:27
is the
35:27
Christ,
35:28
the Son
35:29
of God,
35:30
and that
35:30
by believing
35:31
you may
35:32
have life
35:32
in His
35:33
name.
35:35
So does
35:35
the thought
35:36
of death
35:36
scare you?
35:37
Does the
35:37
consequences,
35:39
the thought
35:39
of facing
35:40
the consequences
35:41
of your
35:41
own sin
35:42
frighten
35:43
you?
35:44
You can
35:45
know by
35:46
believing
35:47
and throwing
35:47
your life
35:48
completely
35:48
in the
35:49
risen Son
35:49
of God
35:50
that He
35:51
will save
35:51
you,
35:52
He will
35:52
deliver
35:52
you.
35:53
It says
35:53
He will
35:54
give you
35:54
eternal
35:55
life.
35:56
If you
35:57
believe in
35:57
His
35:57
crucifixion,
35:59
His
35:59
paying the
35:59
price for
36:00
your sin.
36:02
So that's
36:02
the hope
36:02
we have
36:03
when we
36:03
pass away
36:04
that we
36:04
will be
36:04
raised.
36:06
Right?
36:06
Jesus
36:06
said around
36:08
the death
36:09
of Lazarus,
36:10
I am
36:11
the resurrection
36:12
and the
36:13
life.
36:14
Whoever
36:14
believes in
36:15
Me,
36:15
though he
36:16
die,
36:16
yet shall
36:17
he live.
36:18
And everyone
36:19
who lives
36:19
and believes
36:20
in Me
36:20
shall never
36:21
die.
36:22
Do you
36:22
believe this?
36:24
So because
36:25
of a living
36:26
Savior,
36:26
we can
36:26
taunt
36:27
death.
36:28
Saying as
36:29
it says in
36:29
1 Corinthians
36:30
15,
36:30
death is
36:31
swallowed up
36:31
in victory.
36:33
Oh death,
36:34
where is
36:34
your victory?
36:35
Oh death,
36:36
where is
36:36
your sting?
36:39
Secondly,
36:40
you can be
36:40
assured that
36:41
Christ will
36:42
return.
36:43
He has
36:43
fulfilled His
36:44
word so
36:45
far,
36:45
every bit
36:46
of what He
36:47
said.
36:48
The entire
36:48
New Testament
36:49
entirely depends
36:50
on the
36:50
assumption that
36:51
Jesus is
36:51
alive,
36:53
living,
36:53
reigning at the
36:54
right hand of
36:54
the Father
36:55
and that
36:55
He one
36:56
day will
36:56
return.
36:58
1 Thessalonians
36:59
chapter 4
37:00
verse 14
37:00
through 17
37:01
mentions that
37:02
because Jesus
37:03
is risen,
37:04
He will
37:04
return.
37:06
And when He
37:06
comes back,
37:07
He's coming
37:08
back to save
37:08
those who
37:09
have hoped
37:09
in Him
37:09
and to
37:10
judge those
37:11
who have
37:13
rejected Him.
37:15
To judge
37:16
and to make
37:16
war.
37:17
It says that
37:18
He will
37:18
judge the
37:19
world and
37:20
righteousness
37:21
in Acts
37:22
17.
37:23
So that
37:24
gives us
37:24
authority
37:25
unlike anyone
37:26
else.
37:26
Like why?
37:27
Why is
37:28
Jesus a big
37:28
deal?
37:29
Because He's
37:29
alive,
37:30
He's
37:30
returning,
37:31
and you
37:31
will have
37:31
to reckon
37:32
with Him
37:32
one day,
37:34
either as
37:35
His friend
37:37
on His
37:37
terms or
37:38
enemies on
37:38
your terms.
37:40
Then lastly,
37:42
because He
37:43
lives,
37:44
because of
37:44
the resurrection,
37:45
we can
37:45
possess as
37:47
followers of
37:48
Christ the
37:48
greatest
37:48
motivation for
37:49
living.
37:51
You don't
37:52
have to spend
37:52
your days and
37:53
years searching
37:53
for the right
37:54
thing to live
37:55
your life for.
37:56
All things
37:57
are in vain.
37:58
All things
37:58
will perish
37:59
and fail.
38:00
But if we
38:00
wrap up our
38:01
whole life in
38:02
following the
38:03
living Christ,
38:03
we can even
38:05
recklessly throw
38:06
our lives away
38:07
for Christ.
38:08
And it will
38:09
not be in
38:09
vain.
38:11
Right?
38:11
We can live
38:12
for Him,
38:12
sharing the
38:13
gospel with
38:13
the dark
38:14
and dying
38:14
world around
38:15
us,
38:16
because we
38:16
live for
38:18
an unconquerable
38:19
immortal.
38:21
Savior.
38:22
You don't
38:23
have to live
38:23
your life
38:24
filled and
38:24
paralyzed with
38:25
fear,
38:26
anxiety,
38:27
depression.
38:28
You don't
38:28
have to,
38:28
because Christ
38:29
is alive.
38:31
Think about
38:31
this.
38:32
All the
38:33
disciples ran.
38:34
They were
38:34
afraid of
38:35
death.
38:35
They were
38:35
afraid of
38:36
facing punishment.
38:38
What happened?
38:40
You know,
38:40
we all know
38:41
how most of
38:41
them died.
38:42
They all
38:42
died martyrs.
38:44
What changed
38:45
them?
38:46
What made
38:46
them into
38:47
this fearless
38:47
band of
38:49
followers who
38:49
declared Christ
38:50
boldly,
38:52
almost a
38:52
complete 180
38:53
in a short
38:54
amount of
38:54
time.
38:55
They knew
38:56
that Jesus
38:57
was living,
38:59
and they
38:59
were happy
38:59
to live and
39:00
die for
39:01
Him.
39:01
Bold witnesses.
39:03
So in
39:03
other words,
39:06
in one of my
39:06
own fathers and
39:07
one of my
39:07
grandfathers'
39:08
favorite old
39:09
hymns,
39:10
because He
39:11
lives, I
39:11
can face
39:12
tomorrow.
39:13
Because He
39:14
lives, all
39:15
fear is
39:15
gone.
39:17
Because I
39:17
know He
39:18
holds the
39:18
future.
39:19
life is
39:20
worth living
39:21
just because
39:22
He lives.
39:24
So, let's
39:26
pray together.
39:27
Let's go.