WEBVTT

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 We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe.

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! Yet at the very same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.

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 This is probably the most well-known quote by the late pastor Timothy Keller.

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 He loved to say this.

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 He always found ways to intertwine it into his books.

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 He always found ways to intertwine it into his sermons.

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 If you're familiar with his work, with his sermons, you've definitely heard this quote before.

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 We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe.

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 Yet at the very same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.

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 How does this quote even make sense?

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 Can these things coexist? Can they come together?

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 Can they come together?

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 See, in our culture, we are told that someone is only useful to us until they are not.

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 If they start to cause us problems or we begin to not like them anymore, we are to offload them.

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 So we can find someone better or something better.

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 And obviously, we need to protect ourselves and others from abuse.

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 But that's another conversation.

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 See, the mindset that I'm talking about here, that I'm describing,

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 is that we only need to surround ourselves with people who please us.

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 We can never live by Timothy Keller's quote.

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 We can never do it.

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 But the thing is, as we reflected on this text, God is not like our culture.

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 God is not like us.

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 He does not think like us.

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 With this, God is able to live by this quote.

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 He can do it.

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 See, today is Good Friday.

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 As Daniel said, Palm Sunday has happened.

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 The triumphant entry has happened.

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 Jesus has talked with his disciples in the upper room discourse.

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 The betrayal of Jesus has happened.

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 Jesus has been abandoned by his friends.

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 He's been flogged.

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 There's been a fake trial.

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 And now, we come to him crucified on the cross.

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 How does this quote, we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe,

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 yet at the very same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope make any sense?

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 How does it make any sense?

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 Well, the passage we're going to look at this morning shows us exactly how this makes sense.

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 So, if you have your Bible, turn with me to Matthew chapter 27, verses 45 to 56.

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 If you do not have a Bible, there's some at the back.

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 Feel free to get up at any time and to grab one.

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 So, we're going to look at this.

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 And we're going to look at it in three ways.

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 And we're going to look at it in point one, forsaken Jesus.

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 Point two, the triumphant Jesus.

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 And point three, first witnesses.

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 So, point one, look with me at verses 45 to 50.

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 Now, from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

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 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying,

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 Eli, Eli, let me step back to me.

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 That is, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, this man is calling Elijah.

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 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge and filled it with sour wine

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 and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.

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 But the others said, wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.

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 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

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 So, a couple of things to clarify here.

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 In verse 45, it says the sixth hour.

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 That's 12 p.m., lunchtime.

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 And the ninth hour is 3 p.m.

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 The bystanders, when they hear Jesus say, Eli, Eli, most likely misheard him.

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 And they heard Elijah.

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 It would have been easy to mishear Jesus in this moment because you've got to think about it.

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 He's being crucified with two other people.

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 And they're screaming and they're riling, they're mocking him.

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 And then there's all the commotion around Jesus.

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 It would be hard to hear.

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 It would be like if we are standing on one side of the room and on the other someone is saying something

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 and there's commotion everywhere.

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 It would be hard to hear that person properly.

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 And lastly, it says sour wine.

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 Sour wine is a cheap drink that soldiers drank and then lower income people drank.

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 It actually hydrated you but at the same time got you a bit drunk.

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 So let's focus now in on verses 45 and 46.

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 Now from the sixth hour, there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

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 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying,

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 Eli, Eli, let me sabathone.

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 That is, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

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 See, up to this point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is called God, Father.

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 And now, he calls him, my God.

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 What is going on?

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 See, our current sermon series that we're going through, we're going through the book of Romans.

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 And in the book of Romans, Paul, the apostle who's the writer of it, builds a case.

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 That no matter who you are, you have fallen short of the glory of God.

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 As he says in Romans chapter 3, verse 23.

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 See, if you are an unbeliever, one who does not follow God,

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 whether you live a life of sensual indulgence or are the best member of society,

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 you have fallen short of the glory of God.

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 If you are a follower of one of the major religions of this world,

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 and follow it to a T, you do everything it says,

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 you have fallen short of the glory of God.

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 If you are here and you call yourself a Christian,

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 and live a super pious life, and trust in all your own works,

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 you have fallen short of the glory of God.

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 See, not a single person is right before God.

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 All deserve God's righteous wrath,

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 as it's said in the Gospel of John that we read about.

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 God is perfectly holy.

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 And anything that is not perfectly holy,

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 God has to forsake.

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 If he didn't, he would not be perfectly holy.

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 Oftentimes, when we think of sin,

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 or we hear people talk about sin,

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 we think that it's just, oh, are we just breaking rules?

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 It's just these rules that have been put in place.

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 It's like how parents make rules for their children.

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 But that's not the case.

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 John Stott, who was a famous pastor, famous writer,

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 famous preacher in the UK,

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 in his book, The Cross of Christ,

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 he quotes Emile Brunner, who says this,

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 Sin is defiance, arrogance,

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 the desire to be equal of God,

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 the assertion of human independence over against God,

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 the constitution of the autonomous reason,

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 morality and culture.

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 This is what happened in the garden,

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 way back in the book of Genesis,

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 in the Old Testament, in chapter 3,

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 which caused the fall of humanity.

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 It was not a simple rule being broken.

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 It was the desire to defy God's holiness,

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 to be equal with him.

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 It was not an event that is often caricatured

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 as simply eating an apple,

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 and that's what did us all in.

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 But someone may push back.

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 Isn't God a loving God?

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 Didn't it say in Keller's quote that I'm loved?

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 See, the God that you are talking about, Matt,

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 does not sound like a loving God.

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 To quote John Stott one more time in his book,

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 he says this,

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 God is love.

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 Yet, we have to remember

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 that his love is holy love.

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 Love which yearns over sinners,

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 while at the same time,

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 refusing to condone their sin.

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 In a marriage, we make vows.

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 If you're married, you make vows.

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 And you make vows with this person

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 that you're standing in front of,

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 and these vows are a sign

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 of your deep love for that person.

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 And if you are a member of this marriage,

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 if you completely disregard the vows

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 or the commitment you make to that person,

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 it falls apart.

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 The love is gone.

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 If the spouse is allowed to run rampant

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 and plainly disregards the vows

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 or the commitment,

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 that is not love,

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 that is indifference.

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 See, God is a God of love

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 because he is perfectly holy.

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 And he cannot just sit back

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 and let humanity completely disregard him.

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 He has to give out his wrath

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 and forsake humanity.

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 So this leaves us with the question,

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 what is going on

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 when Jesus says on the cross,

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 my God, my God,

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 why have you forsaken me?

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 Why is he even there in the first place?

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 Isn't he the son of God?

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 See, as I referred to in Genesis,

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 when humanity falls in the garden,

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 God in his justice

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 curses humanity and sends it out.

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 That now they would experience death.

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 And this death is a physical death

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 and a spiritual death,

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 a separation from God.

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 And since then,

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 humanity has been under his curse,

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 this curse that he gives.

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 But God, at the same time,

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 in his loving kindness,

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 promises he would provide humanity a way out,

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 that he would save humanity.

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 And the rest of the Old Testament

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 plays this out before us.

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 In the prophets, it's promised

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 that God would send a Savior

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 to save his people.

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 They prophesy about it.

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 It's spoken about.

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 It has been spoken about long ago.

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 And when this Savior

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 came into the world

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 on Christmas,

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 in the middle of the night,

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 and now we see this Savior

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 hanging from a tree,

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 cursed in the middle of the day,

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 but there is darkness.

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 Douglas Webster writes,

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 at the birth of the Son of God,

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 there was brightness at midnight.

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 At the death of the Son of God,

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 there was darkness at noon.

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 Those words,

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 my God,

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 my God,

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 why have you forsaken me?

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 Tell us something so profound.

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 They tell us

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 how much we are loved by God.

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 God, in his love for the world,

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 sent his only Son

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 to take our place,

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 to experience the death

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 we so rightly deserved

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 because of our defiance of him.

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 This curse,

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 sorry,

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 this curse could not be fulfilled

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 by merely a human

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 because that would lower

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 the seriousness of it,

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 of the sin.

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 It could only be fulfilled

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 by someone who is perfectly holy.

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 And this curse

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 could not be fulfilled

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 by just a God

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 because it was a human sin

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 and the curse

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 is on humanity.

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 God had to come

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 in the form of man

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 and in the form of God,

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 fully God

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 and fully human.

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 God had to experience

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 human physical death

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 and spiritual death.

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 Jesus,

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 who is,

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 who is God and man,

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 fully God

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 and fully man,

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 becomes utterly forsaken

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 by God

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 so we would not have to be.

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 He experienced

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 the crushing weight

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 of sin

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 of the world

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 and God forsakes him

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 because God

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 cannot look on sin

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 because he is perfectly holy.

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 That is why he cries out,

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 my God,

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 my God,

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 why have you forsaken me?

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 See,

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 he could only say,

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 my God

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 and not my Father

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 in this moment

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 because God

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 has turned away from him.

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 God sees the sin

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 that Jesus now puts on himself

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 but it's not Jesus' sin.

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 It is our sin.

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 It is my sin.

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 It is your sin.

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 It is the sin

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 of the whole world.

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 And Jesus in this moment

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 experiences a separation

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 from God,

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 the spiritual death.

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 In moments,

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 in moments,

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 in a couple of moments,

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 he'll experience

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 the physical death.

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 See,

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 in this moment,

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 before this moment,

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 he experienced

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 this deep love

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 with the Father

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 that he could commune

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 with the Father

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 and then in this moment,

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 when he stands

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 before God

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 in our place,

00:13:05.460 --> 00:13:06.700
 he can only say,

00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:07.399
 my God.

00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:09.080
 He experiences

00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:11.179
 the utter

00:13:11.179 --> 00:13:16.039
 separation of God.

00:13:16.039 --> 00:13:17.419
 See,

00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.339
 it's like a courtroom.

00:13:19.419 --> 00:13:19.620
 See,

00:13:19.699 --> 00:13:20.339
 we stand

00:13:20.339 --> 00:13:21.059
 on trial

00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:21.919
 before God,

00:13:23.199 --> 00:13:24.120
 completely guilty.

00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:25.360
 The case is closed

00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.019
 and we wait

00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.699
 for the gavel

00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:27.319
 to drop

00:13:27.319 --> 00:13:28.079
 as the judge

00:13:28.079 --> 00:13:29.259
 gives his sentence.

00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:31.439
 But at the last minute,

00:13:31.599 --> 00:13:32.799
 Jesus takes our place.

00:13:33.339 --> 00:13:33.919
 He says,

00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:34.759
 I will stand

00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:35.599
 in their place

00:13:35.599 --> 00:13:37.159
 and then we go free

00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.159
 while he continues

00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:38.939
 to stand there.

00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:39.980
 See,

00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:40.939
 some people might ask,

00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:41.099
 well,

00:13:41.120 --> 00:13:42.339
 did he actually die?

00:13:42.659 --> 00:13:43.879
 Did Jesus actually die?

00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:45.320
 The thing that's

00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:46.120
 very interesting

00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:47.419
 is that all historians

00:13:47.419 --> 00:13:48.740
 who have researched

00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:50.120
 during this time

00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:50.759
 of the Romans

00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:52.399
 can confidently agree

00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:52.860
 on this.

00:13:52.939 --> 00:13:53.659
 Jesus died.

00:13:54.360 --> 00:13:54.500
 See,

00:13:54.559 --> 00:13:55.399
 the Romans knew

00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.539
 how to kill people.

00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:57.960
 They crucified

00:13:57.960 --> 00:13:59.120
 thousands of people.

00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:01.100
 They knew how to do it

00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:02.379
 and do it effectively.

00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:03.620
 Also,

00:14:04.019 --> 00:14:04.820
 who would put

00:14:04.820 --> 00:14:05.399
 their faith

00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:06.059
 and trust

00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:07.179
 in a guy

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:08.440
 who is half dead

00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.320
 and who would

00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:10.500
 most likely have died

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.419
 a couple days later

00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:12.440
 from being flogged

00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:14.080
 and then being crucified.

00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:15.320
 There's no way

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.100
 you can survive it.

00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:16.780
 It's impossible.

00:14:17.920 --> 00:14:19.480
 But how does this affect me?

00:14:19.740 --> 00:14:19.900
 Well,

00:14:19.940 --> 00:14:20.440
 this brings us

00:14:20.440 --> 00:14:21.120
 to point two.

00:14:21.580 --> 00:14:22.420
 Triumphant Jesus.

00:14:22.760 --> 00:14:23.340
 Look with me

00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:25.640
 at verses 51 to 54.

00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:29.140
 And behold,

00:14:29.880 --> 00:14:30.460
 the curtain

00:14:30.460 --> 00:14:31.240
 of the temple

00:14:31.240 --> 00:14:32.420
 was torn in two

00:14:32.420 --> 00:14:33.500
 from top to bottom

00:14:33.500 --> 00:14:34.920
 and the earth shook

00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:36.100
 and the rocks were split.

00:14:36.640 --> 00:14:37.220
 The tombs

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.540
 also were opened

00:14:38.540 --> 00:14:40.000
 and many bodies

00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:40.660
 of the saints

00:14:40.660 --> 00:14:41.680
 who had fallen asleep

00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.360
 were raised.

00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:43.580
 And coming out

00:14:43.580 --> 00:14:44.400
 of the tombs

00:14:44.400 --> 00:14:46.260
 after his resurrection

00:14:46.260 --> 00:14:47.440
 they went into

00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:48.340
 the holy city

00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:50.040
 and appeared to many.

00:14:51.280 --> 00:14:52.400
 When the centurion

00:14:52.400 --> 00:14:53.080
 and those

00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:53.920
 who were with him

00:14:53.920 --> 00:14:55.060
 keeping watch

00:14:55.060 --> 00:14:55.660
 over Jesus

00:14:55.660 --> 00:14:56.640
 saw the earthquakes

00:14:56.640 --> 00:14:58.000
 and what took place

00:14:58.000 --> 00:14:58.840
 they were filled

00:14:58.840 --> 00:14:59.400
 with awe

00:14:59.400 --> 00:14:59.980
 and said,

00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:00.920
 Truly,

00:15:01.640 --> 00:15:02.500
 this was

00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:03.640
 the Son of God.

00:15:05.300 --> 00:15:06.560
 Three main things

00:15:06.560 --> 00:15:07.620
 happen in this section.

00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:10.160
 The curtain

00:15:10.160 --> 00:15:10.780
 of the temple

00:15:10.780 --> 00:15:11.820
 is torn in two.

00:15:12.440 --> 00:15:13.440
 Dead people

00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.080
 are raised

00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:15.620
 and Romans

00:15:15.620 --> 00:15:16.660
 confess

00:15:16.660 --> 00:15:17.280
 that Jesus

00:15:17.280 --> 00:15:18.340
 is the Son of God.

00:15:19.180 --> 00:15:19.900
 So the temple

00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:20.500
 was made up

00:15:20.500 --> 00:15:21.360
 of two sections.

00:15:22.020 --> 00:15:22.400
 There was

00:15:22.400 --> 00:15:23.320
 the main section

00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:23.980
 where the daily

00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:25.020
 ceremonial rituals

00:15:25.020 --> 00:15:25.600
 would happen

00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:26.360
 for the cleansing

00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.100
 of the people.

00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:28.740
 And then there

00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:29.940
 is the other section

00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.920
 which was called

00:15:30.920 --> 00:15:32.080
 the Holy of Holies

00:15:32.080 --> 00:15:33.560
 which the curtain

00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:35.580
 separates

00:15:35.580 --> 00:15:36.380
 the two rooms.

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:37.420
 Separates the people

00:15:37.420 --> 00:15:38.040
 from God

00:15:38.040 --> 00:15:38.700
 in a sense.

00:15:38.700 --> 00:15:39.940
 the high priest

00:15:39.940 --> 00:15:41.379
 would go in

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.100
 once a year

00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.060
 only once a year

00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:43.860
 into this section

00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.780
 the Holy of Holies

00:15:44.780 --> 00:15:46.040
 to make atonement

00:15:46.040 --> 00:15:47.100
 with animal blood

00:15:47.100 --> 00:15:47.980
 for his sins

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.100
 and the sins

00:15:49.100 --> 00:15:49.540
 of the people

00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:50.040
 of Israel.

00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.120
 If anyone

00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:53.840
 else went in there

00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:54.560
 they would be

00:15:54.560 --> 00:15:55.500
 sentenced to death.

00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:56.560
 The role

00:15:56.560 --> 00:15:57.360
 of the high priest

00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:58.180
 was to represent

00:15:58.180 --> 00:15:58.800
 the people

00:15:58.800 --> 00:15:59.360
 of Israel.

00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:00.160
 No one

00:16:00.160 --> 00:16:00.720
 could have

00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:01.440
 direct access

00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:02.000
 to God.

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:03.080
 They needed

00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:03.940
 a representative.

00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:06.060
 But the problem

00:16:06.060 --> 00:16:07.160
 with this atonement

00:16:07.160 --> 00:16:08.520
 is that it would

00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:09.480
 never suffice.

00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:11.340
 It had to happen

00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:12.380
 annually because

00:16:12.380 --> 00:16:13.620
 of animal blood

00:16:13.620 --> 00:16:14.580
 could never pay

00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:15.500
 the price of sin.

00:16:16.180 --> 00:16:16.900
 So the people

00:16:16.900 --> 00:16:17.420
 were stuck

00:16:17.420 --> 00:16:18.580
 in a continual cycle.

00:16:19.960 --> 00:16:20.720
 So what does it

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:21.440
 mean that the curtain

00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:22.400
 was torn from top

00:16:22.400 --> 00:16:22.820
 to bottom

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.320
 when Jesus

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:24.460
 breathes his last?

00:16:25.420 --> 00:16:26.600
 See because humanity

00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:27.660
 can never rid

00:16:27.660 --> 00:16:28.680
 themselves of sin

00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.560
 they can never

00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.100
 have access

00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:30.800
 to God.

00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:32.160
 God can never

00:16:32.160 --> 00:16:32.920
 allow that

00:16:32.919 --> 00:16:33.539
 since he is

00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:34.240
 perfectly holy.

00:16:35.500 --> 00:16:36.179
 When Jesus

00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:37.360
 stood in our place

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.379
 and went to the

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.240
 cross as a

00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.479
 sinless sacrifice

00:16:40.479 --> 00:16:41.939
 he opened the

00:16:41.939 --> 00:16:42.819
 way for those

00:16:42.819 --> 00:16:43.299
 who put their

00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:44.059
 faith and trust

00:16:44.059 --> 00:16:44.959
 in him as

00:16:44.959 --> 00:16:45.679
 Lord and Savior

00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:47.559
 to have access

00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.079
 to God.

00:16:48.219 --> 00:16:48.979
 See no longer

00:16:48.979 --> 00:16:50.000
 was there separation

00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.199
 as the curtain

00:16:51.199 --> 00:16:51.819
 represented.

00:16:52.479 --> 00:16:53.419
 Notice that it

00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:54.039
 was torn from

00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.959
 top to bottom

00:16:54.959 --> 00:16:55.779
 as it says

00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:57.059
 not from bottom

00:16:57.059 --> 00:16:57.740
 to the top.

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.480
 See this represents

00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:00.679
 that it is God

00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:02.120
 who tore the

00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.439
 curtain

00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:03.240
 not man.

00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.299
 If it was man

00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:04.799
 it would be

00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:05.340
 from the bottom

00:17:05.340 --> 00:17:05.740
 up.

00:17:06.080 --> 00:17:06.779
 But it's God

00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.720
 it's top down.

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:09.420
 God opens the

00:17:09.420 --> 00:17:10.080
 way out of

00:17:10.080 --> 00:17:10.820
 sheer grace

00:17:10.820 --> 00:17:11.460
 and of sheer

00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:11.880
 love.

00:17:12.600 --> 00:17:13.019
 But you might

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:13.840
 be lost

00:17:13.840 --> 00:17:14.559
 and just

00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:15.059
 thinking about

00:17:15.059 --> 00:17:15.440
 well Matt

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:15.980
 it says

00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.860
 dead bodies

00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:17.519
 were raised.

00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:18.980
 See only

00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:20.019
 Matthew's gospel

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:20.820
 speaks of this

00:17:20.820 --> 00:17:21.640
 moment that it's

00:17:21.640 --> 00:17:22.000
 happening.

00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.059
 I don't want to

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:23.799
 distract from

00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:24.500
 what it means

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.700
 because Jesus

00:17:25.700 --> 00:17:26.420
 rose from the

00:17:26.420 --> 00:17:27.680
 dead and

00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:29.100
 then there would

00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:29.940
 be nothing wrong

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.460
 in saying that

00:17:30.460 --> 00:17:30.920
 this happened

00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:31.400
 if Jesus

00:17:31.400 --> 00:17:31.980
 truly rose

00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.279
 from the

00:17:32.279 --> 00:17:32.519
 dead.

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.680
 But notice

00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:34.759
 in verse 23

00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.539
 it says

00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:36.019
 and coming

00:17:36.019 --> 00:17:36.559
 out of the

00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.380
 tombs after

00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:38.200
 his resurrection

00:17:38.200 --> 00:17:39.600
 they went

00:17:39.600 --> 00:17:40.059
 into the

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:41.079
 holy city

00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.980
 Jerusalem

00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:42.940
 and appeared

00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:43.380
 to many.

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:44.759
 See this

00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:45.819
 happens three

00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:46.559
 days later

00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:47.559
 after Jesus

00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.980
 rises from

00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:49.360
 the dead

00:17:49.360 --> 00:17:49.840
 on Easter

00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:50.259
 morning.

00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:52.059
 Because of

00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:52.360
 Jesus'

00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:53.259
 finished work

00:17:53.259 --> 00:17:54.240
 the curse

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.740
 of death

00:17:54.740 --> 00:17:55.500
 no longer

00:17:55.500 --> 00:17:56.559
 has hold

00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.380
 on humanity

00:17:57.380 --> 00:17:58.260
 when they

00:17:58.260 --> 00:17:58.760
 trust in

00:17:58.760 --> 00:17:58.980
 Jesus'

00:17:59.160 --> 00:17:59.520
 work.

00:18:00.080 --> 00:18:00.700
 No longer

00:18:00.700 --> 00:18:01.440
 is humanity

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:01.980
 under the

00:18:01.980 --> 00:18:02.440
 burden of

00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:03.080
 physical and

00:18:03.080 --> 00:18:03.860
 spiritual death.

00:18:04.300 --> 00:18:04.740
 God has

00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.440
 provided a

00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:06.800
 way out of

00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:07.220
 his deep

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:08.100
 love and

00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:08.540
 that's through

00:18:08.540 --> 00:18:09.080
 his son.

00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:10.780
 The people

00:18:10.780 --> 00:18:11.420
 being risen

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:11.800
 from the

00:18:11.800 --> 00:18:12.180
 dead in

00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:12.760
 this moment

00:18:12.760 --> 00:18:15.340
 signals that

00:18:15.340 --> 00:18:16.180
 those who

00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:16.620
 trust in

00:18:16.620 --> 00:18:17.300
 Christ will

00:18:17.300 --> 00:18:18.180
 also face

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:19.120
 a resurrection.

00:18:19.800 --> 00:18:20.140
 They will

00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:21.160
 face eternal

00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:21.580
 life.

00:18:22.300 --> 00:18:22.860
 And lastly

00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:23.260
 in this

00:18:23.260 --> 00:18:24.640
 section we

00:18:24.640 --> 00:18:25.040
 see the

00:18:25.040 --> 00:18:25.780
 Roman soldiers

00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.379
 in verse

00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.879
 54 saying

00:18:27.879 --> 00:18:28.519
 truly this

00:18:28.519 --> 00:18:28.839
 is the

00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:29.180
 son of

00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:29.500
 God.

00:18:30.980 --> 00:18:31.339
 See we

00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:31.859
 shouldn't put

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:33.859
 that much

00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:35.139
 stock in

00:18:35.139 --> 00:18:35.399
 that they

00:18:35.399 --> 00:18:36.039
 say this.

00:18:36.619 --> 00:18:36.940
 That they

00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:37.619
 actually confess

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:38.019
 that Jesus

00:18:38.019 --> 00:18:38.539
 is Lord.

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.339
 Because Romans

00:18:39.339 --> 00:18:40.500
 believed that

00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.859
 the people

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:41.539
 around them

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.000
 some people

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.220
 in their

00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:42.759
 culture were

00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:43.200
 gods.

00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:44.700
 If you

00:18:44.700 --> 00:18:45.200
 just look at

00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:45.940
 their emperors

00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:46.440
 that gives

00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:46.779
 us an

00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:47.259
 example.

00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:48.019
 Hence why

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:48.740
 the emperors

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:49.460
 always demanded

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:49.879
 worship.

00:18:50.519 --> 00:18:50.980
 Because they

00:18:50.980 --> 00:18:51.839
 viewed themselves

00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:52.619
 as God.

00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:53.960
 But Matthew

00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:54.899
 includes this

00:18:54.899 --> 00:18:55.359
 because it

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:55.779
 represents

00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.639
 something very

00:18:56.639 --> 00:18:57.199
 profound.

00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.299
 The religious

00:18:59.299 --> 00:19:00.179
 leaders and

00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:00.879
 most of the

00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:01.519
 Jewish people

00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:01.879
 would have

00:19:01.879 --> 00:19:02.659
 left by now

00:19:02.659 --> 00:19:03.599
 because they

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:03.919
 have to go

00:19:03.919 --> 00:19:04.240
 do the

00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:04.639
 Passover

00:19:04.639 --> 00:19:05.579
 sacrifice and

00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:06.159
 prepare for

00:19:06.159 --> 00:19:07.459
 the Passover.

00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.179
 Which is

00:19:09.179 --> 00:19:10.019
 interesting because

00:19:10.019 --> 00:19:10.619
 this happens

00:19:10.619 --> 00:19:11.099
 right when

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:12.139
 Jesus breathes

00:19:12.139 --> 00:19:12.679
 his last.

00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:13.619
 You can make

00:19:13.619 --> 00:19:14.159
 a whole sermon

00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:14.699
 out of that.

00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.259
 See only the

00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:16.879
 Romans,

00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:18.139
 Jesus'

00:19:18.339 --> 00:19:18.819
 disciples,

00:19:19.059 --> 00:19:20.039
 any passerby

00:19:20.039 --> 00:19:20.539
 is present

00:19:20.539 --> 00:19:21.159
 in this moment.

00:19:21.639 --> 00:19:22.199
 Up to this

00:19:22.199 --> 00:19:23.379
 point only the

00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:23.859
 people of

00:19:23.859 --> 00:19:24.439
 Israel were

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.440
 considered God's

00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:25.759
 people.

00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:26.559
 But they

00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.220
 had utterly

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.059
 gone astray.

00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:29.480
 They had

00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:31.059
 become lost

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:31.360
 in their

00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:31.860
 pride,

00:19:32.539 --> 00:19:32.940
 lost in

00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:33.380
 their self

00:19:33.380 --> 00:19:33.759
 works,

00:19:34.140 --> 00:19:35.360
 relying on

00:19:35.360 --> 00:19:35.980
 following the

00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:36.680
 law to make

00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:37.160
 them right

00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:37.799
 before God

00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.259
 instead of

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.220
 relying on

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:39.980
 God himself.

00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:41.759
 But here we

00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.220
 see the

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:42.940
 Gentiles,

00:19:43.340 --> 00:19:44.180
 non-believers,

00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:45.360
 saying this

00:19:45.360 --> 00:19:45.740
 was the

00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:46.420
 Son of God.

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:47.420
 What Matthew

00:19:47.420 --> 00:19:48.299
 is doing is

00:19:48.299 --> 00:19:48.920
 showing that

00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.759
 through Jesus'

00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.480
 death,

00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.559
 no longer

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.119
 do you need

00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.619
 to be an

00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:53.480
 ethnic Jew

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.460
 to be God's

00:19:54.460 --> 00:19:54.779
 people.

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.019
 Now it's

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.859
 open to all

00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.839
 who trust in

00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.559
 Jesus as their

00:19:58.559 --> 00:19:59.279
 Lord and Savior

00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.119
 with their lives.

00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:01.759
 And as the

00:20:01.759 --> 00:20:02.559
 sun began to

00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:02.900
 set,

00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:04.480
 when everything

00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.960
 from the

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.119
 outside appears

00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:06.819
 that Jesus

00:20:06.819 --> 00:20:07.599
 had failed,

00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:08.660
 that he was a

00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:08.960
 liar,

00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.940
 that he was a

00:20:09.940 --> 00:20:10.759
 crazy person

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.379
 who claimed to

00:20:11.379 --> 00:20:11.859
 be God,

00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.200
 a blasphemer,

00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:15.039
 but in reality

00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.559
 Jesus was truly

00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:17.240
 triumphant.

00:20:17.240 --> 00:20:18.960
 through the

00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.500
 cross,

00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.660
 a way for

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.299
 sins to be

00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:21.980
 forgiven has

00:20:21.980 --> 00:20:22.700
 been provided

00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.420
 out of sheer

00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:23.980
 love and

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.420
 grace.

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:25.680
 Through the

00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:26.140
 cross,

00:20:26.259 --> 00:20:26.859
 a promise

00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:27.640
 that death

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.500
 no longer

00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:28.900
 has the

00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:29.559
 final say

00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:29.880
 has been

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.200
 given.

00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:31.200
 And through

00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.960
 the cross,

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:32.839
 a salvation

00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.299
 has been

00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:33.859
 offered to

00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.299
 all,

00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.620
 not by a

00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:35.839
 certain

00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:36.859
 nationality,

00:20:37.220 --> 00:20:37.779
 but by being

00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.359
 a follower

00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.039
 of Christ.

00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.839
 And then

00:20:40.839 --> 00:20:41.299
 lastly,

00:20:41.539 --> 00:20:42.000
 we come to

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.440
 our last

00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.779
 point,

00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:44.079
 first witnesses.

00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.339
 Something that

00:20:46.339 --> 00:20:46.599
 would have

00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:47.220
 been unheard of

00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.920
 of for an

00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:49.799
 ancient biographer

00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:51.220
 to write was

00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:51.779
 to include

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.519
 women as

00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:53.019
 having an

00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.860
 important role

00:20:53.860 --> 00:20:54.920
 in a story,

00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.019
 in a biography,

00:20:56.360 --> 00:20:56.860
 or to give

00:20:56.860 --> 00:20:57.600
 testimony.

00:20:57.700 --> 00:20:57.920
 It would have

00:20:57.920 --> 00:20:58.380
 been considered

00:20:58.380 --> 00:20:59.100
 worthless in

00:20:59.100 --> 00:20:59.620
 that time.

00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:00.960
 But here we

00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.579
 see Matthew

00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.480
 including women.

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.440
 Look with me

00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:03.819
 at verses

00:21:03.819 --> 00:21:05.420
 55 and 56.

00:21:06.860 --> 00:21:07.620
 There were

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:08.299
 also many

00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.000
 women there

00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.880
 looking on

00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.779
 from a distance

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:11.600
 who had

00:21:11.600 --> 00:21:12.440
 followed Jesus

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.299
 from Galilee,

00:21:13.600 --> 00:21:14.299
 ministering to

00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:14.519
 him,

00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:15.420
 among whom

00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:16.279
 were Mary

00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:17.039
 Magdalene,

00:21:17.660 --> 00:21:18.139
 Mary the

00:21:18.139 --> 00:21:18.539
 mother of

00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:18.920
 James,

00:21:19.139 --> 00:21:19.680
 and Joseph

00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:20.299
 the mother

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.660
 of the

00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:21.299
 sons of

00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.859
 Zebedee.

00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.240
 If you

00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:23.960
 ever wonder,

00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:24.819
 this is kind

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:26.059
 of like a

00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:26.680
 Bible geek

00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:27.119
 moment,

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:29.119
 why certain

00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:29.720
 books,

00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:30.420
 other books

00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:31.000
 aren't included

00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:31.579
 in the Bible.

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:32.879
 One, it's

00:21:32.879 --> 00:21:33.359
 because they

00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:33.660
 are written

00:21:33.660 --> 00:21:34.519
 many, many

00:21:34.519 --> 00:21:35.180
 years later,

00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.180
 but another

00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:36.740
 reason is

00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:37.259
 because they

00:21:37.259 --> 00:21:38.200
 downplay this

00:21:38.200 --> 00:21:39.180
 very fact that

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.819
 women were the

00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:41.799
 first witnesses,

00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:42.980
 that women were

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.539
 present.

00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:45.180
 because in

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.240
 ancient times,

00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:46.579
 it was

00:21:46.579 --> 00:21:46.940
 considered

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.920
 embarrassing to

00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:48.420
 have this

00:21:48.420 --> 00:21:48.819
 point.

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:50.000
 With Matthew

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.839
 including this

00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.099
 in his

00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.799
 gospel, as

00:21:51.799 --> 00:21:52.259
 the other

00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.099
 gospels also

00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.099
 include, it

00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:54.899
 shows us that

00:21:54.899 --> 00:21:55.639
 this biography

00:21:55.639 --> 00:21:56.319
 is trustworthy.

00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:58.000
 It shows us

00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:58.259
 that the

00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.940
 disciples were

00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.839
 willing to

00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:00.279
 show their

00:22:00.279 --> 00:22:01.200
 weaknesses and

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:01.899
 flaws to

00:22:01.899 --> 00:22:02.920
 face ridicule

00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:03.819
 for having the

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.559
 testimony of

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.559
 women because

00:22:05.559 --> 00:22:06.379
 it was fact.

00:22:07.899 --> 00:22:08.319
 That the

00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:09.019
 power of the

00:22:09.019 --> 00:22:09.799
 gospel message

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.200
 is more

00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.859
 powerful than

00:22:10.859 --> 00:22:11.619
 any other

00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:12.599
 human power.

00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:13.819
 Jesus' death

00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.579
 on the cross

00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.139
 and then his

00:22:15.139 --> 00:22:15.699
 resurrection

00:22:15.699 --> 00:22:16.299
 three days

00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:16.939
 later show

00:22:16.939 --> 00:22:18.000
 us that we

00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:18.359
 are more

00:22:18.359 --> 00:22:19.879
 sinful and

00:22:19.879 --> 00:22:20.419
 flawed in

00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:21.879
 ourselves than

00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:22.179
 we ever

00:22:22.179 --> 00:22:22.919
 dared believe.

00:22:23.439 --> 00:22:23.879
 Yet at the

00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:24.519
 very same

00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.159
 time, we

00:22:25.159 --> 00:22:25.480
 are more

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:26.059
 loved and

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.759
 accepted in

00:22:26.759 --> 00:22:27.439
 Jesus Christ

00:22:27.439 --> 00:22:27.740
 than we

00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:28.119
 ever dared

00:22:28.119 --> 00:22:28.480
 hope.

00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.559
 The cross

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.519
 shows us

00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.339
 the depths

00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:31.980
 of how much

00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:32.699
 we are lost,

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:33.819
 but it also

00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.639
 shows us how

00:22:34.639 --> 00:22:35.139
 much we are

00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:35.539
 loved.

00:22:36.119 --> 00:22:36.419
 See, if you

00:22:36.419 --> 00:22:38.379
 are here and

00:22:38.379 --> 00:22:39.000
 seeking after

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.899
 God or just

00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.519
 checking out

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.399
 what the heck

00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:41.859
 do Christians

00:22:41.859 --> 00:22:42.480
 do on this

00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.599
 holiday, I

00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.200
 challenge you

00:22:44.200 --> 00:22:44.680
 to look to

00:22:44.680 --> 00:22:45.299
 the cross.

00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.019
 Research the

00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.460
 cross.

00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:48.440
 Read good

00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:49.099
 books on the

00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:49.839
 cross, ones

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:50.240
 that aren't

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:50.920
 influenced by

00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.380
 the culture

00:22:51.380 --> 00:22:52.000
 but influenced

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.539
 on seeking

00:22:52.539 --> 00:22:53.039
 truth.

00:22:53.900 --> 00:22:54.759
 There's a

00:22:54.759 --> 00:22:55.259
 reason why

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:56.120
 these disciples,

00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:57.319
 after witnessing

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.140
 Jesus being

00:22:58.140 --> 00:22:59.519
 crucified, go

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.160
 into hiding

00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.559
 and are

00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.019
 terrified.

00:23:01.880 --> 00:23:02.120
 And then

00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:02.640
 three days

00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:03.640
 later, they

00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:04.079
 have this

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.120
 unshakable

00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.880
 boldness and

00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:06.339
 confidence.

00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.759
 It's because

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.440
 their Lord and

00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:10.099
 Savior went to

00:23:10.099 --> 00:23:11.259
 the cross and

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.660
 three days

00:23:11.660 --> 00:23:13.040
 later rose

00:23:13.040 --> 00:23:13.960
 again and

00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:14.340
 the tomb

00:23:14.340 --> 00:23:14.860
 was empty.

00:23:15.220 --> 00:23:15.700
 That is the

00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:16.340
 power of the

00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:16.820
 cross.

00:23:17.320 --> 00:23:18.100
 The cross is

00:23:18.100 --> 00:23:18.700
 this great

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.500
 hope that

00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:20.100
 anyone who

00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:20.540
 comes to

00:23:20.540 --> 00:23:21.140
 Jesus as

00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:21.480
 their Lord

00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:21.980
 and Savior

00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:22.820
 will be

00:23:22.820 --> 00:23:23.840
 saved and

00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:24.180
 have this

00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:24.720
 hope of

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:25.480
 eternal life.

00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:27.140
 who

00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.140


00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.140


00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.140


00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.140


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