WEBVTT

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 Good morning, Watermark.

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 Our scripture reading for today is from the book of Matthew, chapter 27 and 28.

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 Starting in verse 62, we read,

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 The next day, that is after the day of preparation,

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 the chief priests and the parrises gathered before Pilate and said,

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 Sir, we remember how that imposter said while he was still alive.

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 After three days I will rise.

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 Therefore, order the tomb to be made secure until the third day.

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 Lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people,

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 He has risen from the dead, and the last fraud will be worse than the first.

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 Pilate said to them,

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 You have a guard of soldiers. Go. Make it secure as you can.

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 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

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 Now, after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week,

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 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

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 And behold, there was a great earthquake,

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 for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven

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 and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

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 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

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 And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men.

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 But the angel said to the woman,

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 Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

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 He is not here, for he has risen.

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 And he said, Come, see the place where he lay.

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 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead.

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 And behold, he is going before you to Galilee.

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 There you will see him.

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 See, I have told you.

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 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy

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 and ran to tell his disciples.

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 And behold, Jesus met them and said, Greetings.

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 And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.

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 Then Jesus said to them,

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 Do not be afraid.

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 Go and tell my brothers to go to the Galilee,

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 and there they will see me.

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 While they were going, behold,

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 some of the guard went into the city

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 and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

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 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel,

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 they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said,

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 Tell people his disciples came by night

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 and stole him away while we were asleep.

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 And if this comes to the governor's ears,

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 we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.

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 So they took the money and did as they were directed.

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 And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Great.

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 Thank you, Riza.

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 Good morning, everybody.

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 Great to see if you're new to Watermark.

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 My name is Kevin.

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 And great to have you with us this morning.

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 Before we start, great to see so many guests and visitors.

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 Welcome.

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 Lovely to have you with us.

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 Also great to see Andrew and Akasha with little Ezekiel back.

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 Ezekiel's two months old.

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 And great to have you guys back, part of the family.

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 And also great to have Sarah.

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 Sarah was a Watermark many years ago,

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 nine, ten years ago.

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 Moved to Singapore and back visiting.

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 Great to have you with us today, Sarah.

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 Let's pray as we consider this scripture together.

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 Won't you join me as we pray together?

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 Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit,

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 we celebrate in the fullest sense of the word,

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 the wonder of Easter.

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 And God, as we come to your word this morning,

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 I pray that you will speak to us.

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 Not just speak to our minds,

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 but you will speak to our hearts.

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 We pray, God, that you will take what is written in your word

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 and you will write it in our hearts.

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 And God, you will give us fresh hope

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 and fresh confidence and fresh conviction

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 about who you are

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 and for those of us that are in Christ,

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 who we are in you.

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 God, we pray that you will be with us in our midst

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 in your wonderful and gracious name.

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 Amen.

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 Many years ago, Professor Cyril Edwin Joad,

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 who was once the head of philosophy and psychology

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 at University of London,

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 he was also a public figure, a broadcaster.

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 He was asked the question,

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 of all the people in history,

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 who would you most like to interview

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 and what question would you like to ask them?

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 And at this stage in his life,

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 Joad had abandoned his Christian faith.

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 He considered himself an agnostic.

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 And he answered the question,

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 I would most like to meet Jesus Christ.

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 And the question I would ask him

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 is the most important question in all the world,

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 did you or did you not rise from the dead?

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 Well, Professor Joad is right when he says

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 this is the most important question in all the world.

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 Because upon the veracity or the truthfulness

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 of Christianity's claim that Jesus Christ died and rose again,

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 upon the truthfulness of that claim,

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 as Jesus said would happen,

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 as the Old Testament said would happen,

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 Christianity stands or falls.

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 In fact, the Apostle Paul,

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 one of the early leaders in the church

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 and a guy who wrote much of the New Testament,

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 said that if Jesus' resurrection is proved false,

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 we, our Christians, are the most pitied of all people in the world

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 because our faith is futile.

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 Our belief is delusional.

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 Our hope is baseless.

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 In fact, it is no hope at all.

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 And that's what Matthew wants us to see

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 in the passage that Reza read to us this morning.

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 Matthew wants those of us

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 that consider ourselves followers of Jesus

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 to live with conviction and certainty

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 regarding the historical reality of Christ's death and resurrection.

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 Some of us may be here this morning.

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 Maybe you've got doubts

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 about whether the resurrection of Jesus really happened

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 or whether it was something metaphorical,

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 something that happened in people's hearts.

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 Maybe some of us here consider ourselves Christians,

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 but just the grind of life,

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 the everyday difficulty of life,

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 kind of makes us wonder,

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 what's the relevance of it anyway?

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 I mean, why does it really matter?

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 Maybe you've been a follower of Jesus,

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 but as you've been reading and thinking,

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 the narrative of our culture

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 has put doubts in your mind.

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 Well, today, Matthew wants us

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 to have greater conviction and certainty

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 regarding the resurrection of Jesus.

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 And so he does that in this passage

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 by showing us two things.

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 Firstly, he wants to show us

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 the extensive effort of the religious leaders.

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 And secondly, he wants to show us

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 the matchless power of God.

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 So let's look at those two things in turn.

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 Firstly, the extensive effort of the religious leaders.

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 If you've got your Bible or your bulletin

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 open up in front of us,

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 we're going to be looking at the scripture

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 and diving into it.

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 But our passage today that Reza read to us

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 has three clear sections to it.

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 It's broken down there in the bulletin for you.

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 In the first section, verse 62 to 66,

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 tells us about how the religious leaders,

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 is their extensive efforts to avert or forestall

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 or even stop the resurrection of Jesus happening.

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 And in the last section, in chapter 28, verses 11 to 15,

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 we see the extensive effort of the religious leaders

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 to discredit the resurrection once they know about it.

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 And so look at verse 62 with me.

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 It says,

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 The next day, that is the day after the preparation,

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 the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate

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 and they said to him,

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 Sir, we remember how that imposter said

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 while he was still alive,

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 after three days I will rise.

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 Therefore, order the tomb to be made secure.

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 Now immediately we should be struck

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 by the urgency of the religious leaders

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 to crush any idea that Jesus would rise from the dead.

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 Matthew tells us that the day after Jesus died,

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 which is a Saturday,

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 which is a Jewish Sabbath,

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 the day of rest where no Jew should do any work

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 or gather before anyone else,

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 and especially on this day,

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 which is the Passover Sabbath,

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 the one day in the year

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 where all the religious leaders should be either at home

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 or gathering with God's people in the temple,

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 these religious leaders are hustling and bustling,

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 very busy with activity,

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 gathering before Pilate,

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 a non-Jew,

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 as they make this attempt

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 to cover over Jesus' resurrection.

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 And they gather before Pilate

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 and they ask that the tomb be securely sealed and guarded.

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 John Stott calls this

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 an astonishing breach of Sabbath law

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 that no other incident in the Gospels

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 show how clearly desperate the authorities were

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 to eliminate Jesus.

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 You'll no doubt remember,

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 if you're familiar with the Gospels,

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 how often Jesus gets in trouble

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 with these very religious leaders

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 for breaking the Sabbath law

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 because he's often healing somebody that's sick

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 or raising somebody back to life.

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 Here these same religious leaders

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 are breaking Sabbath law

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 to make sure that Jesus stays well and truly dead.

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 And notice what they call Pilate.

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 Did you notice the first word?

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 Sir, they say.

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 In Greek, the word is kiriia.

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 It's a word that honors somebody in authority.

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 It's a word of submission.

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 But it's a word that means Lord.

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 In fact, in Matthew's Gospel,

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 it only ever refers to Jesus

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 or God himself.

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 And yet here,

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 the religious leaders go to Pilate

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 and call him Lord.

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 Matthew wants us to see

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 that the authorities

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 are submitting themselves to Pilate

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 the way believers are submitted,

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 are meant to submit themselves to God alone.

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 Now, in this passage,

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 they come to Pilate and they say,

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 we heard that that imposter

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 had made some claims.

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 He was gonna rise after three days.

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 Let's secure the tomb

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 to make sure that it doesn't happen.

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 And it's a bit hard to know

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 what their motivation is.

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 Are they concerned

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 that the disciples

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 are going to steal Jesus' body away

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 and then make this claim?

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 That's what they say in verse 64.

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 Or are they mainly concerned

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 that Jesus might just do

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 what he said he would do?

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 I mean, it's hard to know.

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 Certainly, they've seen

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 and heard of Jesus' powers,

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 his miraculous healing of the sick,

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 his curing of leprosy,

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 his raising of Lazarus from the dead.

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 He claimed more than six times

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 in Matthew's gospel alone

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 that he would die and rise again.

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 They know about these claims.

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 They say so themselves.

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 And on the other hand,

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 where are the disciples?

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 The disciples are nowhere

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 to be seen at this point, right?

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 In fact, we haven't heard

00:11:32.819 --> 00:11:33.519
 from the disciples

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 since Judas betrayed Jesus.

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 Peter denied him.

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 And the disciples all flee at his arrest.

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 The disciples are long gone.

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 And the greatest concern

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 of the Pharisees here

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 is not the disciples.

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 I think their concern is Jesus.

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 That just maybe,

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 Jesus really would do

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 what he said he would do.

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 And so look at how many times

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 they used the word secure

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 in the first few verses.

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 Verse 64.

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 Lord, sir, they say,

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 order the tomb to be made secure.

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 Verse 65.

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 Pilate said,

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 you have a guard of soldiers.

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 Go and make the tomb secure as you can.

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 So they went away

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 making the tomb secure

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 by sealing the stone

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 and setting a guard.

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 The irony is,

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 Donald Hagner says,

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 is that Jesus' opponents

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 took his own words

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 about his rising from the death

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 more seriously

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 than Jesus' own disciples did.

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 Well, whatever their motivating fears are,

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 their fears are certainly motivating them.

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 Because look at their ironic behavior.

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 Verse 63.

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 They say,

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 they go to Pilate

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 and what do they call Jesus?

00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:44.319
 They call him an imposter.

00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:45.799
 A deceiver.

00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:48.319
 Somebody wants to hide the truth.

00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:50.399
 Well, look at their behavior

00:12:50.399 --> 00:12:51.379
 in verse 11.

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.899
 When the guards

00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:54.279
 told the chief priests

00:12:54.279 --> 00:12:55.480
 all that had taken place,

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:56.919
 they assembled the elders

00:12:56.919 --> 00:12:57.740
 and took counsel.

00:12:58.100 --> 00:12:58.679
 They gave them

00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:00.000
 sufficient sum of money.

00:13:00.299 --> 00:13:01.279
 That's a lovely term.

00:13:01.700 --> 00:13:02.159
 I'd love to know

00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:03.019
 what that really means.

00:13:03.559 --> 00:13:05.000
 Very ominous term, right?

00:13:05.740 --> 00:13:07.379
 They gave a sufficient sum of money

00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:08.039
 to the soldiers

00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:08.720
 and they said,

00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.120
 tell the people

00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.220
 his disciples came at night

00:13:12.220 --> 00:13:13.240
 and stole them away

00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:14.320
 while we were asleep.

00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.580
 And if it comes

00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:16.500
 to the governor's years,

00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.259
 we will satisfy him

00:13:18.259 --> 00:13:19.779
 and keep you out of trouble.

00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:21.379
 So they say,

00:13:21.659 --> 00:13:21.940
 listen,

00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:23.080
 this imposter,

00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.279
 this deceiver,

00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:25.080
 he doesn't,

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.899
 this guy who lies to everyone,

00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:27.820
 oh, wait, wait.

00:13:27.820 --> 00:13:28.779
 Let's just lie

00:13:28.779 --> 00:13:29.779
 and keep the story

00:13:29.779 --> 00:13:30.519
 covered up

00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:32.319
 with a nice sum of money.

00:13:33.959 --> 00:13:34.659
 And amazingly,

00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:35.980
 the chief priests

00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:37.399
 and the Pharisees

00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:38.459
 are the first people

00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.500
 in the history of the world

00:13:39.500 --> 00:13:41.899
 to hear the good news of Easter.

00:13:42.740 --> 00:13:43.860
 Jesus is risen

00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:44.779
 from the grave.

00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:46.519
 And yet for them,

00:13:46.959 --> 00:13:48.539
 it's the worst news ever.

00:13:49.539 --> 00:13:50.919
 Their worst fears

00:13:50.919 --> 00:13:52.139
 are realized.

00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:54.959
 And yet worse than that,

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:55.939
 actually for them,

00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:58.139
 I wonder if they realize

00:13:58.139 --> 00:13:59.639
 that they contributed

00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:01.259
 to the veracity

00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.480
 of the fact

00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:03.500
 that the tomb was empty.

00:14:04.179 --> 00:14:05.059
 I mean, think about it.

00:14:05.240 --> 00:14:06.720
 If they had not had

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:07.819
 a bunch of guards

00:14:07.819 --> 00:14:09.159
 seal the tomb,

00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:10.699
 watching over the tomb,

00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:12.899
 if they'd left it as it was

00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:15.120
 and then Jesus' body disappeared,

00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:17.000
 it would have been far easier

00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:17.699
 to them say,

00:14:18.139 --> 00:14:18.539
 oh, well,

00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.580
 I guess his disciples

00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:20.879
 came in the middle of the night

00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:22.120
 and stole his body away.

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:23.899
 But by putting

00:14:23.899 --> 00:14:25.720
 a bunch of armed guards there,

00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:26.700
 sealing the tomb,

00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:27.980
 doing everything

00:14:27.980 --> 00:14:28.620
 they can

00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:29.220
 to make sure

00:14:29.220 --> 00:14:30.399
 that there's no ways

00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:31.720
 anybody can steal the body,

00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:34.500
 then when the body's not there,

00:14:35.200 --> 00:14:36.340
 well, it's hard to say.

00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.639
 I guess his disciples

00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:38.899
 came in the night, right?

00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:41.220
 It's a little harder

00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:41.820
 to say that

00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:43.000
 with all the security measures

00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:44.000
 they put in place.

00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:46.300
 Daniel Doriani says,

00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:47.720
 it's a delicious irony

00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.960
 that by trying

00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:49.659
 to cover up

00:14:49.659 --> 00:14:50.279
 the resurrection,

00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:51.639
 they only helped

00:14:51.639 --> 00:14:52.300
 to strengthen

00:14:52.300 --> 00:14:53.080
 the legitimacy

00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:54.659
 of the empty tomb.

00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:56.679
 And what a great

00:14:56.679 --> 00:14:57.980
 cover up it is, right?

00:14:58.980 --> 00:14:59.299
 I mean,

00:14:59.339 --> 00:15:00.299
 it's a great cover up.

00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.120
 All this bribery

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:01.679
 and corruption

00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:02.559
 worked pretty well

00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:03.319
 to get Judas

00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:04.059
 on their side.

00:15:04.620 --> 00:15:04.860
 Remember,

00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:06.740
 they lined Judas' pockets

00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:08.000
 with 30 silver coins.

00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:08.899
 Well,

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:10.699
 here they try again.

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.500
 Look at verse 15.

00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:12.799
 And so,

00:15:13.019 --> 00:15:14.120
 they took the money,

00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:15.620
 did as they were directed,

00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:17.059
 and the story

00:15:17.059 --> 00:15:17.939
 has been spread

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:18.720
 amongst the Jews

00:15:18.720 --> 00:15:19.500
 to this day.

00:15:19.500 --> 00:15:21.299
 Now,

00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:22.480
 when Matthew says,

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:23.659
 to this day,

00:15:24.139 --> 00:15:25.100
 he's obviously writing

00:15:25.100 --> 00:15:26.240
 about his day and age,

00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:26.440
 right?

00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:28.120
 He's not writing necessarily

00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.440
 for all time in history.

00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:31.899
 This was the primary story

00:15:31.899 --> 00:15:33.379
 in the first century,

00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:35.279
 that the tomb was empty

00:15:35.279 --> 00:15:37.220
 because Jesus' disciples

00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.220
 came in the middle

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:38.779
 of the night

00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:40.240
 and stole his body away

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.360
 and disposed of it.

00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:42.639
 And yet,

00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.639
 when Matthew says

00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.600
 that's the story

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.240
 that is told

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:45.919
 to this day,

00:15:46.139 --> 00:15:48.000
 it has an elasticity

00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:48.759
 to it,

00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:49.320
 doesn't it?

00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.960
 In the second

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:51.759
 and third century,

00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:53.820
 this is the main story

00:15:53.820 --> 00:15:54.960
 that people told

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.059
 why Jesus' tomb

00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:56.740
 was found empty.

00:15:57.320 --> 00:15:58.720
 We know in the second century

00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.899
 that many Christians

00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:01.240
 were still encountering

00:16:01.240 --> 00:16:01.700
 the story

00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:02.299
 and writing

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.659
 to oppose it.

00:16:04.200 --> 00:16:05.639
 But even in our day and age,

00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:07.039
 this is one of the stories

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:07.799
 we hear, right?

00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:09.779
 This is one of the reasons

00:16:09.779 --> 00:16:11.100
 given for the empty tomb,

00:16:11.539 --> 00:16:12.679
 that the disciples came

00:16:12.679 --> 00:16:14.139
 and stole it away.

00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:15.960
 And yet,

00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.320
 this story,

00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.659
 like so many others,

00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.759
 fails to answer

00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:21.059
 the key questions

00:16:21.059 --> 00:16:22.379
 of the narrative.

00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:23.659
 For example,

00:16:24.100 --> 00:16:25.240
 how could the gods

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:26.379
 possibly know

00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.879
 who stole the body

00:16:27.879 --> 00:16:29.079
 if they were fast asleep?

00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:30.439
 I mean,

00:16:30.539 --> 00:16:30.939
 generally,

00:16:30.939 --> 00:16:31.519
 generally,

00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.759
 eyewitnesses

00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.620
 that are asleep

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.439
 and don't see

00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:35.179
 the incident

00:16:35.179 --> 00:16:36.500
 aren't very good witnesses.

00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:38.399
 Furthermore,

00:16:38.959 --> 00:16:39.579
 don't you think

00:16:39.579 --> 00:16:40.120
 that at least

00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:41.500
 one of these

00:16:41.500 --> 00:16:42.759
 trained gods

00:16:42.759 --> 00:16:43.779
 who knew

00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:44.639
 that the penalty

00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.899
 for falling asleep

00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:46.579
 on duty

00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:47.500
 was death?

00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.459
 Don't you think

00:16:48.459 --> 00:16:49.240
 one of them

00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:50.360
 would have woken up

00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:51.319
 at the sound

00:16:51.319 --> 00:16:52.980
 of this massive stone

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.000
 being rolled away

00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:55.299
 or the earthquake

00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.059
 shaking?

00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.860
 How is it that they

00:16:57.860 --> 00:16:58.959
 just had the best

00:16:58.959 --> 00:16:59.679
 night's sleep

00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.079
 of their entire life?

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.299
 All ten of them,

00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:02.860
 right?

00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:04.579
 And furthermore,

00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.980
 if Jesus died

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:06.759
 and was buried,

00:17:07.379 --> 00:17:08.879
 why hasn't anybody

00:17:08.880 --> 00:17:10.620
 in 2,000 years

00:17:10.620 --> 00:17:12.540
 produced any evidence

00:17:12.540 --> 00:17:13.740
 of where

00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.220
 their corpse lay,

00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:16.620
 bones lie,

00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:17.880
 his dead body?

00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.400
 The historian

00:17:19.400 --> 00:17:20.180
 Craig Blomberg

00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:20.540
 says,

00:17:20.780 --> 00:17:22.000
 no ancient writer,

00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.500
 Jew,

00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:22.980
 Greek,

00:17:23.020 --> 00:17:23.520
 or Roman

00:17:23.520 --> 00:17:25.440
 has ever identified

00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:26.580
 any tomb

00:17:26.580 --> 00:17:27.580
 in which Jesus'

00:17:27.760 --> 00:17:29.700
 body remains.

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.040
 Douglas O'Donnell

00:17:32.040 --> 00:17:33.360
 asks a fascinating

00:17:33.360 --> 00:17:33.800
 question.

00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:34.180
 He says,

00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:35.380
 how realistic

00:17:35.380 --> 00:17:36.460
 is it to believe

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:37.660
 that these

00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:38.700
 faithful Jews

00:17:38.880 --> 00:17:39.760
 Jewish men

00:17:39.760 --> 00:17:40.600
 and the women,

00:17:41.320 --> 00:17:42.020
 if they indeed

00:17:42.020 --> 00:17:42.800
 stole the body

00:17:42.800 --> 00:17:43.440
 and lay it

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.220
 to rest somewhere,

00:17:44.700 --> 00:17:45.540
 would violate

00:17:45.540 --> 00:17:46.920
 half the Ten Commandments,

00:17:47.340 --> 00:17:48.040
 would violate

00:17:48.040 --> 00:17:48.880
 Jesus' own

00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.740
 ethical teachings,

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.860
 and would violate

00:17:50.860 --> 00:17:52.080
 their own consciences

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:53.360
 for a fraud,

00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.620
 for a lie,

00:17:55.560 --> 00:17:56.140
 if they knew

00:17:56.140 --> 00:17:57.420
 it was all false?

00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:59.520
 If the disciples

00:17:59.520 --> 00:18:00.280
 knew where

00:18:00.280 --> 00:18:01.120
 Jesus' body was

00:18:01.120 --> 00:18:02.140
 and simply dumped it,

00:18:02.760 --> 00:18:03.300
 what would be

00:18:03.300 --> 00:18:04.480
 the possible motive

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.300
 for dedicating

00:18:05.300 --> 00:18:06.160
 their lives

00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.620
 to proclaim

00:18:07.620 --> 00:18:08.420
 this message?

00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.440
 of Jesus'

00:18:09.640 --> 00:18:10.019
 resurrection

00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.700
 from the dead.

00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:11.960
 The motivation

00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.720
 certainly wasn't

00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:13.039
 money.

00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.320
 Read the Acts

00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:15.000
 of the Apostle.

00:18:15.480 --> 00:18:16.440
 Money is not

00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:16.960
 something they

00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:17.480
 flourished in.

00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:18.560
 The motivation

00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:19.340
 certainly wasn't

00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:20.519
 honor and prestige

00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.519
 and reputation.

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:22.779
 When you read

00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.660
 Paul's letters,

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:24.840
 what you find

00:18:24.840 --> 00:18:26.140
 is that all he got

00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.880
 for proclaiming

00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:27.500
 this message

00:18:27.500 --> 00:18:28.700
 was shame,

00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:29.500
 ridicule,

00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.580
 persecution.

00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:31.900
 In fact,

00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:32.740
 the message

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.620
 cost Jesus

00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.380
 and his disciples

00:18:34.380 --> 00:18:35.980
 everything they had

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:37.039
 because they

00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:37.779
 believed in it.

00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:38.900
 Reputation,

00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:40.039
 friends,

00:18:40.400 --> 00:18:40.839
 community,

00:18:41.400 --> 00:18:41.799
 family,

00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:43.259
 indeed their own

00:18:43.259 --> 00:18:43.880
 lives.

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:45.599
 N.T. Wright

00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:45.960
 says,

00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:46.860
 it was three

00:18:46.860 --> 00:18:47.759
 centuries before

00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:49.039
 anybody gained

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:50.539
 anything except

00:18:50.539 --> 00:18:51.380
 insults,

00:18:51.700 --> 00:18:52.180
 danger,

00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.079
 torture,

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:53.579
 and death

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.640
 for believing

00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:55.860
 the resurrection.

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:57.480
 Friends,

00:18:57.559 --> 00:18:58.000
 people might

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.759
 sacrifice their

00:18:58.759 --> 00:18:59.380
 lives for

00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.940
 honor or

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:01.460
 some great

00:19:01.460 --> 00:19:01.880
 reward.

00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:02.960
 Seldom

00:19:02.960 --> 00:19:03.400
 will people

00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.040
 sacrifice

00:19:04.040 --> 00:19:04.700
 their lives

00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.000
 if they

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:05.380
 know that

00:19:05.380 --> 00:19:05.700
 it's a

00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:06.020
 fraud

00:19:06.020 --> 00:19:06.800
 if it's

00:19:06.800 --> 00:19:07.080
 all a

00:19:07.080 --> 00:19:07.400
 lie.

00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:08.700
 And that

00:19:08.700 --> 00:19:09.120
 begs the

00:19:09.120 --> 00:19:09.440
 question,

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:10.400
 what turned

00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:11.900
 these fearful,

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:13.040
 cowardly

00:19:13.040 --> 00:19:13.820
 disciples that

00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:14.200
 we read

00:19:14.200 --> 00:19:14.680
 about in

00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.700
 chapter 26

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.640
 who run

00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:17.220
 away at

00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:17.800
 the prospect

00:19:17.800 --> 00:19:18.420
 of Jesus'

00:19:18.620 --> 00:19:18.900
 arrest,

00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.860
 what turned

00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:20.200
 them into

00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:20.860
 bold and

00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:21.240
 courageous

00:19:21.240 --> 00:19:22.800
 men almost

00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:23.320
 overnight?

00:19:24.040 --> 00:19:24.400
 A few

00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:24.940
 weeks later,

00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:25.780
 they stand

00:19:25.780 --> 00:19:26.260
 before the

00:19:26.260 --> 00:19:27.220
 very authorities

00:19:27.220 --> 00:19:28.100
 that crucified

00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:29.260
 Jesus and

00:19:29.260 --> 00:19:29.720
 these men

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.000
 say,

00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:30.900
 you better

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:31.680
 not proclaim

00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.320
 the resurrection

00:19:32.320 --> 00:19:32.900
 of Jesus

00:19:32.900 --> 00:19:33.640
 and they

00:19:33.640 --> 00:19:33.900
 say,

00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:34.680
 what are we

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:35.080
 to do?

00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:35.860
 To listen

00:19:35.860 --> 00:19:36.400
 to God

00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:36.700
 or to

00:19:36.700 --> 00:19:37.100
 listen to

00:19:37.100 --> 00:19:37.340
 you?

00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.360
 And they

00:19:38.360 --> 00:19:38.660
 go and

00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:38.980
 they say,

00:19:39.100 --> 00:19:39.560
 put us in

00:19:39.560 --> 00:19:40.120
 jail if you

00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:40.360
 will,

00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:41.299
 we will not

00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:41.740
 proclaim,

00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:42.860
 stop proclaiming

00:19:42.860 --> 00:19:43.360
 the message.

00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:44.360
 What turned

00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.080
 these cowardly

00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:45.380
 men,

00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.240
 these fearful

00:19:46.240 --> 00:19:46.660
 women,

00:19:47.060 --> 00:19:47.700
 into bold,

00:19:47.820 --> 00:19:48.259
 courageous

00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.820
 witnesses

00:19:48.820 --> 00:19:50.180
 of Jesus?

00:19:51.420 --> 00:19:51.720
 Friends,

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.180
 some people

00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.460
 say,

00:19:52.580 --> 00:19:52.759
 well,

00:19:52.860 --> 00:19:53.500
 that was back

00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:53.840
 then,

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:54.400
 you know,

00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:54.740
 they were

00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.180
 ignorant,

00:19:55.340 --> 00:19:55.600
 they were

00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:56.100
 primitive

00:19:56.100 --> 00:19:56.700
 people,

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.360
 they were

00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:58.019
 superstitious

00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:58.539
 people,

00:19:58.900 --> 00:19:59.519
 but these

00:19:59.519 --> 00:20:00.060
 days we are

00:20:00.060 --> 00:20:00.539
 enlightened,

00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:00.920
 we are

00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:01.500
 scientific,

00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.100
 people,

00:20:02.840 --> 00:20:04.220
 except no

00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:04.720
 Jew,

00:20:05.220 --> 00:20:06.279
 no Gentile

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:06.600
 in the

00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:07.340
 ancient world

00:20:07.340 --> 00:20:08.680
 ever had

00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:09.220
 the idea

00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:09.820
 that someone

00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:10.440
 would rise

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:10.759
 from the

00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.019
 dead.

00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:11.980
 It was not

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.600
 part of any

00:20:12.600 --> 00:20:13.039
 worldview,

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.259
 any culture,

00:20:14.660 --> 00:20:15.360
 any religion

00:20:15.360 --> 00:20:16.000
 of the time,

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.039
 that anybody

00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:18.039
 would bodily

00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.900
 rise from the

00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.720
 dead in a

00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.500
 physical body.

00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:21.900
 N.T. Wright

00:20:21.900 --> 00:20:22.320
 says,

00:20:22.960 --> 00:20:23.500
 a great

00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:23.940
 historian,

00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:25.140
 everybody in

00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:25.500
 the ancient

00:20:25.500 --> 00:20:25.920
 world,

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:26.680
 just like

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:27.460
 everybody in

00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:27.860
 the modern

00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:28.279
 world,

00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:29.480
 knows perfectly

00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:29.980
 well that

00:20:29.980 --> 00:20:30.620
 dead people

00:20:30.620 --> 00:20:31.220
 don't get

00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:31.819
 resurrected.

00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:33.920
 Friends,

00:20:34.000 --> 00:20:34.279
 do you hear

00:20:34.279 --> 00:20:34.799
 what Matthew

00:20:34.799 --> 00:20:35.400
 is trying to

00:20:35.400 --> 00:20:35.980
 show us

00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.180
 here?

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.559
 Matthew is

00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:38.240
 showing us

00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.539
 the extent

00:20:39.539 --> 00:20:40.299
 that the

00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:41.160
 people in

00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:41.500
 Jesus'

00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.299
 day went

00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.420
 to avert,

00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.360
 to stop,

00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:45.500
 to cover up,

00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:46.360
 to discredit,

00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:47.839
 everything they

00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:49.000
 could to make

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.640
 sure that the

00:20:49.640 --> 00:20:50.220
 message of

00:20:50.220 --> 00:20:50.519
 Jesus'

00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:51.200
 resurrection

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.180
 did not

00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.900
 get out.

00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.120
 Do you see

00:20:54.120 --> 00:20:55.019
 the security

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.519
 measures,

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:56.400
 the hush money

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:56.960
 that's paid

00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.259
 out,

00:20:57.540 --> 00:20:58.300
 the stories,

00:20:58.440 --> 00:20:58.940
 the angst

00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.460
 as they take

00:20:59.460 --> 00:21:00.300
 counsel together?

00:21:00.780 --> 00:21:01.400
 Do you see

00:21:01.400 --> 00:21:02.400
 the passion

00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.019
 that they go

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:03.240
 to,

00:21:03.300 --> 00:21:03.940
 to avert,

00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.640
 to discredit

00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:05.300
 the resurrection?

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.420
 Do you

00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:06.960
 sense their

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.440
 agony,

00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:08.500
 their desperation

00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.880
 using every

00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:10.759
 means possible

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.200
 at their

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:12.440
 disposal to

00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:13.500
 stop and

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.080
 put a lid

00:21:14.080 --> 00:21:14.920
 on this

00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:15.720
 message that

00:21:15.720 --> 00:21:16.620
 Jesus died

00:21:16.620 --> 00:21:17.480
 and rose

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:17.860
 again?

00:21:18.780 --> 00:21:19.300
 The religious

00:21:19.300 --> 00:21:19.880
 leaders,

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.259
 Pilate,

00:21:21.620 --> 00:21:22.580
 the Pharisees,

00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.840
 the scribes,

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:25.240
 everyone goes

00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:26.000
 to extreme

00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:26.300
 measures,

00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:26.860
 extensive

00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:28.080
 measures to

00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:28.740
 keep the

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.200
 lid on,

00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:30.340
 to negate

00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:31.259
 and avert

00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:31.620
 Jesus'

00:21:31.860 --> 00:21:32.340
 resurrection.

00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:34.860
 But that's

00:21:34.860 --> 00:21:35.360
 of course not

00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:35.900
 all Matthew

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:36.480
 wants us to

00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:36.740
 see.

00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.420
 He wants us

00:21:38.420 --> 00:21:40.000
 to see and

00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.560
 to know and

00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:43.500
 to believe that

00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:44.720
 despite all

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.720
 these efforts,

00:21:46.780 --> 00:21:47.440
 the resurrection

00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.460
 of Jesus really

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.420
 happened.

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.500
 Matthew's point

00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.019
 is not just

00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.900
 that Jesus rose

00:21:53.900 --> 00:21:54.480
 from the dead,

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.440
 but that it

00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:56.280
 happened despite

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.139
 all the efforts

00:21:57.139 --> 00:21:57.539
 of those

00:21:57.539 --> 00:21:58.079
 involved,

00:21:58.079 --> 00:21:58.859
 who tried

00:21:58.859 --> 00:21:59.460
 everything they

00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.319
 could to

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.019
 avoid it.

00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.319
 And Matthew's

00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:02.899
 point here is

00:22:02.899 --> 00:22:04.200
 that God is

00:22:04.200 --> 00:22:04.940
 Lord, not

00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:06.339
 Pilate, and

00:22:06.339 --> 00:22:06.960
 that not the

00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:08.019
 politicians, not

00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.519
 the religious

00:22:08.519 --> 00:22:09.579
 leaders, that

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:10.740
 God is Lord

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.879
 and God did

00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.740
 that which man

00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:13.599
 could not do.

00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.119
 And so look

00:22:15.119 --> 00:22:16.139
 at verse 1 to

00:22:16.139 --> 00:22:16.960
 10 of Matthew

00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:17.579
 28.

00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:19.200
 Here Matthew

00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.799
 wants us to

00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.220
 not only

00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.740
 understand it,

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.200
 but to see it.

00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:24.160
 And I say

00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:24.680
 that because

00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:25.779
 four times

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.460
 Matthew uses

00:22:26.460 --> 00:22:26.920
 the word

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.720
 behold.

00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.559
 Look at

00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.200
 verse 2.

00:22:29.559 --> 00:22:30.120
 Behold, there

00:22:30.120 --> 00:22:30.400
 was an

00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:30.700
 earthquake.

00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:31.460
 Verse 7.

00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:32.500
 Behold, he

00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:32.840
 is going

00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:33.440
 before you.

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.000
 Verse 7

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:34.240
 again.

00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.259
 Behold, I

00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.840
 have told you

00:22:35.840 --> 00:22:36.340
 these things.

00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:36.940
 Verse 9.

00:22:37.420 --> 00:22:38.660
 Behold, Jesus

00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:39.319
 met them and

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:40.360
 said, greetings.

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.940
 The word

00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.640
 behold means

00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:44.279
 to see

00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:44.660
 something.

00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:45.299
 It's Matthew's

00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:45.740
 way of saying,

00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.880
 look here, look

00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:47.480
 at the evidence,

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.799
 examine the

00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.319
 evidence.

00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:50.319
 He says in

00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:50.939
 verse 6, the

00:22:50.939 --> 00:22:51.460
 angels say,

00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.319
 come and see

00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:52.859
 the place

00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:53.480
 where Jesus

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.279
 once lay.

00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:55.899
 What is it

00:22:55.899 --> 00:22:56.339
 that Matthew

00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.000
 wants us to

00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:57.279
 see?

00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.480
 Well, a couple

00:22:59.480 --> 00:22:59.980
 of things.

00:23:00.619 --> 00:23:01.200
 Firstly, he

00:23:01.200 --> 00:23:01.779
 wants us to

00:23:01.779 --> 00:23:03.179
 see what

00:23:03.179 --> 00:23:03.960
 the witnesses

00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.359
 saw.

00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:05.399
 He wants us

00:23:05.399 --> 00:23:05.939
 to see the

00:23:05.939 --> 00:23:06.359
 witnesses.

00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:08.919
 Who are the

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:09.659
 first witnesses

00:23:09.659 --> 00:23:10.539
 to Jesus'

00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.339
 death and

00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:11.819
 resurrection?

00:23:12.759 --> 00:23:13.359
 It's the

00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.939
 woman, right?

00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:14.960
 It's Mary

00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.980
 Magdalene and

00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:17.099
 another lady

00:23:17.099 --> 00:23:17.740
 called Mary,

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.139
 the two

00:23:18.139 --> 00:23:18.539
 Marys.

00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:20.000
 Many writers

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.740
 have observed

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:22.299
 that in

00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:22.680
 the first

00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:23.220
 century,

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.940
 women had

00:23:24.940 --> 00:23:25.619
 low social

00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.019
 status.

00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:26.640
 They weren't

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.079
 considered

00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:29.160
 credible witnesses

00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:29.759
 in a court

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.160
 of law.

00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:32.200
 Women were

00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:32.680
 of low

00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:34.200
 social status,

00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:35.619
 which meant

00:23:35.619 --> 00:23:36.519
 that if you

00:23:36.519 --> 00:23:37.160
 want to make

00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:38.019
 up a story

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.460
 and you need

00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.220
 some witnesses

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.079
 to back up

00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.779
 your story,

00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:43.039
 the last

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.539
 people in

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:43.920
 the world

00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:44.259
 that you

00:23:44.259 --> 00:23:45.440
 choose to

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.220
 back up

00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:46.720
 your made

00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.319
 up story

00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:47.980
 would be

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:48.319
 women.

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.420
 That's not

00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:49.880
 because women

00:23:49.880 --> 00:23:50.420
 are inferior,

00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.220
 but in

00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:51.620
 the first

00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:52.000
 century,

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:52.740
 their witness

00:23:52.740 --> 00:23:53.080
 wasn't

00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:53.460
 considered

00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:54.340
 very credible.

00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:55.740
 And so

00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.720
 why does

00:23:56.720 --> 00:23:57.360
 Matthew,

00:23:57.820 --> 00:23:58.600
 of all

00:23:58.600 --> 00:23:59.220
 the people,

00:23:59.360 --> 00:23:59.860
 if he makes

00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:00.160
 up the

00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:00.500
 story,

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.360
 why do

00:24:01.360 --> 00:24:01.700
 all the

00:24:01.700 --> 00:24:02.019
 gospel

00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:02.440
 writers

00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.960
 choose

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.960
 Mary 1

00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:04.360
 and Mary

00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:04.759
 2 as

00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.200
 their first

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:05.620
 witnesses?

00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.240
 The answer

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.640
 is,

00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:08.460
 the only

00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.160
 explainable

00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:11.940
 answer is

00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:12.460
 because that

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.140
 must be what

00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:13.740
 took place.

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.120
 That must be

00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:15.680
 what happened.

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:17.200
 Pinchas

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:17.820
 Lapidde

00:24:17.820 --> 00:24:18.900
 wrote a book

00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.340
 called The

00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:19.820
 Resurrection

00:24:19.820 --> 00:24:20.340
 of Jesus

00:24:20.340 --> 00:24:20.840
 from a

00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:21.080
 Jewish

00:24:21.080 --> 00:24:21.620
 perspective.

00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.080
 Listen to

00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:22.299
 what he

00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:22.580
 says.

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:23.640
 He says,

00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.420
 if the

00:24:24.420 --> 00:24:24.940
 narrative

00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:25.500
 were made

00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:25.860
 up,

00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:26.680
 one would

00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:27.360
 have avoided

00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:28.140
 making women

00:24:28.140 --> 00:24:28.620
 the crown

00:24:28.620 --> 00:24:29.120
 witnesses

00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:29.519
 in the

00:24:29.519 --> 00:24:30.000
 resurrection,

00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:30.940
 since they

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.560
 were considered

00:24:31.560 --> 00:24:32.519
 in rabbinic

00:24:32.519 --> 00:24:33.019
 Judaism,

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:34.240
 unable of

00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:34.820
 giving valid

00:24:34.820 --> 00:24:35.259
 testimony.

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.480
 The fact

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:36.799
 that the

00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.340
 same woman

00:24:37.340 --> 00:24:37.779
 wanted to

00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:38.360
 anoint the

00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:39.000
 dead Jesus

00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.880
 right after

00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:40.560
 his burial,

00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.560
 as Jewish

00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:42.380
 custom demanded,

00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:43.539
 proves that

00:24:43.539 --> 00:24:44.360
 basically none

00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:44.680
 of his

00:24:44.680 --> 00:24:45.240
 disciples,

00:24:45.400 --> 00:24:45.779
 nor the

00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:45.960
 woman

00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.500
 themselves,

00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:47.720
 expected the

00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.240
 resurrection.

00:24:49.860 --> 00:24:50.200
 You see

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.480
 that?

00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:51.820
 Matthew wants

00:24:51.820 --> 00:24:52.380
 us to see

00:24:52.380 --> 00:24:53.200
 that the

00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.000
 resurrection of

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.740
 Jesus is not

00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:55.600
 the fiction of

00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.100
 man,

00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.039
 it's not a

00:24:57.039 --> 00:24:57.840
 made up story,

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.360
 it's the

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.799
 work of

00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.259
 God.

00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:00.519
 It's the

00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:00.920
 work of

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.320
 God.

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:02.960
 Secondly,

00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:04.140
 he wants us

00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.200
 to see the

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.840
 work of God

00:25:05.840 --> 00:25:06.320
 himself.

00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:07.960
 One of the

00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.519
 things I found

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.039
 out this week

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.380
 that I'd

00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:10.560
 never seen

00:25:10.560 --> 00:25:11.100
 before,

00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.779
 is that

00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:14.080
 the angels

00:25:14.079 --> 00:25:15.759
 don't open

00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.439
 the tomb

00:25:16.439 --> 00:25:17.259
 so that

00:25:17.259 --> 00:25:17.899
 Jesus can

00:25:17.899 --> 00:25:18.460
 get out.

00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.460
 I'd always

00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.439
 imagined Jesus

00:25:20.439 --> 00:25:21.579
 stuck behind

00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.019
 the tomb,

00:25:22.399 --> 00:25:22.919
 and the

00:25:22.919 --> 00:25:23.439
 angels come

00:25:23.439 --> 00:25:23.899
 and open

00:25:23.899 --> 00:25:24.339
 up the

00:25:24.339 --> 00:25:24.639
 seal,

00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:25.279
 and Jesus

00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:26.039
 then walks

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.419
 out.

00:25:26.919 --> 00:25:27.379
 But actually,

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:27.839
 look what

00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:28.460
 happens here.

00:25:29.159 --> 00:25:29.460
 Matthew

00:25:29.460 --> 00:25:29.939
 doesn't tell

00:25:29.939 --> 00:25:30.319
 us that the

00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.039
 angels open

00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.500
 the tomb

00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.179
 that Jesus

00:25:32.179 --> 00:25:32.659
 might get

00:25:32.659 --> 00:25:33.000
 out,

00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:34.139
 but that

00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:34.679
 the woman

00:25:34.679 --> 00:25:35.279
 might get

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.639
 in,

00:25:36.139 --> 00:25:36.699
 and see

00:25:36.699 --> 00:25:37.179
 the tomb

00:25:37.179 --> 00:25:37.659
 is already

00:25:37.659 --> 00:25:38.159
 empty.

00:25:38.759 --> 00:25:38.960
 Right?

00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:40.200
 The angel

00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:41.680
 rolls back

00:25:41.680 --> 00:25:42.279
 the stone,

00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:43.100
 and the

00:25:43.100 --> 00:25:43.519
 tomb is

00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:43.880
 empty.

00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:45.079
 Stone or

00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:45.740
 no stone,

00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.680
 God or

00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.279
 no God,

00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.180
 seal or

00:25:48.180 --> 00:25:48.819
 no seal,

00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:50.100
 Jesus is

00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:50.559
 not in

00:25:50.559 --> 00:25:50.819
 there.

00:25:51.460 --> 00:25:52.120
 Jesus has

00:25:52.120 --> 00:25:52.440
 already

00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:52.940
 left.

00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:54.380
 And what's

00:25:54.380 --> 00:25:54.880
 the point?

00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:55.779
 The point

00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.259
 here is that

00:25:56.259 --> 00:25:57.140
 the angels

00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:57.759
 didn't set

00:25:57.759 --> 00:25:58.480
 Jesus free.

00:25:59.039 --> 00:25:59.960
 God raised

00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:00.500
 Jesus from

00:26:00.500 --> 00:26:00.920
 the dead.

00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:02.140
 The point

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.519
 here is not

00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:03.079
 that the

00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:03.860
 earthquake set

00:26:03.860 --> 00:26:04.519
 Jesus free,

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.220
 it's that

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.059
 God raised

00:26:06.059 --> 00:26:06.360
 him from

00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:06.799
 the dead.

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:07.900
 And what's

00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.340
 the point

00:26:08.340 --> 00:26:08.600
 of the

00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:08.860
 angel

00:26:08.860 --> 00:26:09.080
 and the

00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:09.320
 earthquake

00:26:09.320 --> 00:26:09.820
 anyway?

00:26:10.540 --> 00:26:10.800
 Well in

00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:11.200
 Matthew's

00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:11.519
 gospel,

00:26:11.680 --> 00:26:12.240
 angels and

00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:12.960
 earthquakes are

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.759
 always a sign

00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.360
 that God

00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.100
 is at work,

00:26:15.600 --> 00:26:16.140
 a sign of

00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:17.220
 God's agency.

00:26:17.840 --> 00:26:18.380
 Remember how

00:26:18.380 --> 00:26:19.060
 in chapter

00:26:19.060 --> 00:26:19.480
 one,

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:20.880
 an angel

00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.480
 appears to

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:21.880
 Mary,

00:26:22.259 --> 00:26:22.700
 or actually

00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.240
 to Joseph,

00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:23.640
 and says,

00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:23.980
 Joseph,

00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:25.019
 your wife,

00:26:25.360 --> 00:26:26.360
 your engaged

00:26:26.360 --> 00:26:26.640
 wife,

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.200
 your betrothed

00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.460
 wife,

00:26:27.560 --> 00:26:27.840
 Mary,

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.560
 is with

00:26:28.560 --> 00:26:29.040
 child.

00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:29.740
 This is

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.280
 something that

00:26:30.280 --> 00:26:31.040
 God has

00:26:31.040 --> 00:26:32.200
 done for

00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:32.480
 her.

00:26:33.420 --> 00:26:33.700
 And so

00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:33.980
 what's

00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:34.380
 Matthew's

00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:34.900
 point here?

00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.300
 That despite

00:26:36.300 --> 00:26:37.100
 the gods,

00:26:37.099 --> 00:26:38.279
 despite the

00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:38.559
 seal

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:38.980
 tomb,

00:26:39.399 --> 00:26:40.079
 despite the

00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:40.519
 stone,

00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:42.039
 despite the

00:26:42.039 --> 00:26:42.980
 speculation and

00:26:42.980 --> 00:26:43.579
 the effort to

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.199
 avert it,

00:26:44.579 --> 00:26:45.339
 the tomb was

00:26:45.339 --> 00:26:46.319
 made empty by

00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:47.559
 God himself,

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.980
 by divine

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:49.539
 agency,

00:26:49.699 --> 00:26:50.519
 not human

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.099
 activity.

00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.399
 It wasn't the

00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:52.819
 work of the

00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:54.240
 disciples that

00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:55.139
 emptied the

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:55.359
 tomb.

00:26:55.819 --> 00:26:56.480
 It wasn't the

00:26:56.480 --> 00:26:56.939
 work of the

00:26:56.939 --> 00:26:57.519
 angels that

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:58.039
 emptied the

00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:58.240
 tomb.

00:26:58.699 --> 00:26:59.299
 It wasn't the

00:26:59.299 --> 00:27:00.379
 work of the

00:27:00.379 --> 00:27:01.019
 earthquake that

00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.500
 emptied the

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:01.719
 tomb.

00:27:02.199 --> 00:27:02.480
 Friends,

00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.000
 this is the

00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:03.859
 work of God

00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.819
 himself.

00:27:04.819 --> 00:27:06.720
 The angels

00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:07.220
 played no

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.759
 part in the

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.159
 resurrection.

00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:10.000
 The earthquake

00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.639
 played no

00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:11.200
 part in the

00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:11.639
 resurrection.

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.539
 The resurrection

00:27:13.539 --> 00:27:14.319
 was an

00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.019
 activity of

00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.779
 God himself.

00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.059
 Matthew wants

00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:18.740
 us to see the

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:19.139
 witnesses,

00:27:19.379 --> 00:27:19.799
 to see the

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:20.319
 work in the

00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:20.980
 hand of God.

00:27:21.700 --> 00:27:22.139
 And finally,

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.720
 Matthew wants

00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.599
 us to see the

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.399
 physical body

00:27:24.399 --> 00:27:25.559
 of Jesus.

00:27:27.299 --> 00:27:28.419
 There's two

00:27:28.419 --> 00:27:28.960
 things in this

00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.700
 passage that's

00:27:29.700 --> 00:27:30.240
 been bothering

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:31.139
 me all week.

00:27:31.140 --> 00:27:34.880
 three times

00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:36.220
 or twice in

00:27:36.220 --> 00:27:36.720
 this chapter

00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.700
 and once in

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.100
 a previous

00:27:38.100 --> 00:27:39.600
 chapter, it

00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:40.200
 says that

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.380
 Jesus rises

00:27:41.380 --> 00:27:41.759
 from the

00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:42.720
 dead and

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.720
 goes on to

00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.480
 Galilee where

00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.180
 he meets his

00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:45.640
 disciples.

00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.180
 And I thought

00:27:47.180 --> 00:27:47.700
 that's the

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.400
 strangest thing.

00:27:48.500 --> 00:27:48.940
 Why does the

00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.680
 Bible make that

00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:49.940
 point?

00:27:50.060 --> 00:27:50.940
 It says it

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:51.460
 here in verse

00:27:51.460 --> 00:27:51.820
 7.

00:27:52.520 --> 00:27:52.860
 The angels

00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:53.080
 say,

00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:53.560
 do not be

00:27:53.560 --> 00:27:53.940
 afraid.

00:27:54.100 --> 00:27:54.620
 Go quickly

00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.120
 tell his

00:27:55.120 --> 00:27:55.960
 disciples he's

00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.940
 risen and

00:27:56.940 --> 00:27:58.080
 behold he is

00:27:58.080 --> 00:27:58.820
 going before

00:27:58.820 --> 00:27:59.520
 you into

00:27:59.520 --> 00:28:00.300
 Galilee and

00:28:00.300 --> 00:28:00.780
 you will see

00:28:00.780 --> 00:28:01.120
 him there.

00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:02.240
 In verse

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.860
 10, Jesus

00:28:02.860 --> 00:28:03.480
 meets the

00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:03.860
 women and

00:28:03.860 --> 00:28:04.100
 he says,

00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:04.580
 do not be

00:28:04.580 --> 00:28:04.960
 afraid.

00:28:05.420 --> 00:28:05.940
 Go and tell

00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.720
 my brothers to

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.060
 go to

00:28:07.060 --> 00:28:07.800
 Galilee and

00:28:07.800 --> 00:28:08.240
 there they

00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:08.640
 will see

00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:08.880
 me.

00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.020
 And in

00:28:10.020 --> 00:28:10.880
 chapter 26,

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.360
 just two

00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.160
 chapters before,

00:28:12.800 --> 00:28:13.440
 Jesus says,

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.400
 after I'm

00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:14.980
 raised up,

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:15.940
 I will go

00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.680
 before you

00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.540
 into Galilee.

00:28:18.259 --> 00:28:19.040
 And I just

00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:19.620
 thought that is

00:28:19.620 --> 00:28:20.480
 the strangest

00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.520
 like, I

00:28:21.520 --> 00:28:21.840
 mean that's

00:28:21.840 --> 00:28:22.160
 random.

00:28:22.540 --> 00:28:23.160
 Why do we

00:28:23.160 --> 00:28:23.600
 need to know

00:28:23.600 --> 00:28:23.920
 that?

00:28:24.540 --> 00:28:25.100
 Why does

00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:25.540
 Matthew want

00:28:25.540 --> 00:28:25.920
 to tell us

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.380
 that three

00:28:26.380 --> 00:28:26.960
 times?

00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.800
 Well it

00:28:28.800 --> 00:28:29.380
 seems to me

00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:30.460
 that this is a

00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.120
 really important

00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:31.599
 incident.

00:28:31.719 --> 00:28:31.959
 When the

00:28:31.959 --> 00:28:32.539
 Bible mentions

00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:33.099
 something two

00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:33.419
 or three

00:28:33.419 --> 00:28:34.539
 times, it

00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.000
 wants us to

00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.539
 take note of

00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:35.739
 it.

00:28:36.839 --> 00:28:37.279
 What's the

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.979
 significance of

00:28:37.979 --> 00:28:38.279
 this?

00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:39.959
 I think what

00:28:39.959 --> 00:28:40.500
 Matthew and

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:40.899
 what God

00:28:40.899 --> 00:28:41.379
 wants to

00:28:41.379 --> 00:28:43.079
 tell us is

00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.759
 that Jesus'

00:28:43.979 --> 00:28:44.500
 resurrection

00:28:44.500 --> 00:28:46.799
 took place in

00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:47.959
 real time and

00:28:47.959 --> 00:28:49.219
 place with a

00:28:49.219 --> 00:28:49.919
 real physical

00:28:49.919 --> 00:28:51.419
 body that people

00:28:51.419 --> 00:28:52.119
 could touch and

00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:52.359
 see.

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:54.079
 You see, these

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.599
 days we often

00:28:54.599 --> 00:28:55.099
 hear people

00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.199
 saying, well it

00:28:56.200 --> 00:28:56.840
 doesn't matter

00:28:56.840 --> 00:28:57.519
 whether Jesus

00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.740
 rose or not.

00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.539
 What matters

00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:00.000
 is that he

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:01.100
 rises in your

00:29:01.100 --> 00:29:02.120
 heart, right?

00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:03.600
 And Matthew

00:29:03.600 --> 00:29:04.160
 wants to say,

00:29:04.299 --> 00:29:05.100
 no, no, no.

00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:05.980
 It actually

00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:06.759
 matters that he

00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:08.000
 rose in flesh

00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:09.160
 and blood, that

00:29:09.160 --> 00:29:10.400
 the disciples saw

00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:11.440
 him and touched

00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:12.259
 him, that they

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:12.799
 heard him with

00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.980
 their own ears.

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.340
 Matthew's at

00:29:15.340 --> 00:29:16.200
 pains to show

00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.140
 us that that's

00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:17.980
 not what happened,

00:29:18.080 --> 00:29:18.580
 that Jesus

00:29:18.580 --> 00:29:20.140
 didn't meet his

00:29:20.140 --> 00:29:20.980
 disciples in some

00:29:20.980 --> 00:29:21.620
 kind of

00:29:21.620 --> 00:29:22.900
 parapsychological,

00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:24.140
 extra sensory

00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:26.080
 spiritual way.

00:29:26.380 --> 00:29:27.100
 He met them in

00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:28.240
 the flesh, in

00:29:28.240 --> 00:29:29.160
 time and space.

00:29:29.800 --> 00:29:30.560
 The angels don't

00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:31.480
 say, listen, the

00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:32.160
 stone may be

00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:32.920
 rolled away, but

00:29:32.920 --> 00:29:33.720
 it doesn't matter,

00:29:34.040 --> 00:29:34.820
 just take it on

00:29:34.820 --> 00:29:35.280
 faith.

00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:38.380
 One commentator

00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:38.759
 says, the

00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:39.640
 resurrection calls

00:29:39.640 --> 00:29:40.340
 for renewal of

00:29:40.340 --> 00:29:41.259
 our minds, not

00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.080
 the removing of

00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:43.220
 our brains, right?

00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.860
 The angels don't

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:46.060
 say, well, just

00:29:46.060 --> 00:29:46.840
 look from inside

00:29:46.840 --> 00:29:47.680
 your heart or

00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.800
 look inside your

00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:49.960
 soul or just

00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.480
 see Jesus in the

00:29:51.480 --> 00:29:52.060
 face of your

00:29:52.060 --> 00:29:52.880
 sleeping baby.

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.600
 Or, you know,

00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.420
 feel him in the

00:29:54.420 --> 00:29:55.080
 coolness of the

00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:55.800
 breeze on a

00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.960
 spring evening.

00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.460
 Or see Jesus, the

00:29:58.460 --> 00:29:59.759
 risen Jesus in the

00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:00.580
 rising sunset.

00:30:01.280 --> 00:30:02.420
 No, no, they want

00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.940
 us to feel, to sense

00:30:03.940 --> 00:30:05.640
 the reality of the

00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.400
 real Jesus.

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.380
 Look at verse 9.

00:30:07.580 --> 00:30:08.420
 It says, behold,

00:30:08.580 --> 00:30:09.540
 Jesus met them and

00:30:09.540 --> 00:30:10.420
 said, Josan,

00:30:10.680 --> 00:30:11.400
 said, greetings,

00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:12.100
 right?

00:30:12.200 --> 00:30:12.660
 Hello, good

00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:12.940
 morning.

00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:15.100
 He came and

00:30:15.100 --> 00:30:16.120
 he, and it

00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:16.640
 says, they took

00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:17.540
 hold of his feet

00:30:17.540 --> 00:30:18.400
 and they worshipped

00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:18.680
 him.

00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.300
 One commentator

00:30:20.300 --> 00:30:20.920
 says, ghosts

00:30:20.920 --> 00:30:21.759
 don't normally have

00:30:21.759 --> 00:30:22.160
 feet.

00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.500
 They took hold of

00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:23.900
 his feet.

00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:24.580
 They felt his

00:30:24.580 --> 00:30:25.019
 hands.

00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.019
 They heard his

00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.960
 actual voice with

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:28.440
 their actual ears.

00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.779
 The angel invites

00:30:29.779 --> 00:30:30.700
 them to use their

00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.800
 minds to make sense

00:30:31.800 --> 00:30:33.240
 of what they see.

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.000
 And friends, this is

00:30:35.000 --> 00:30:36.180
 why Matthew writes

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.519
 this.

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:37.800
 This is why the

00:30:37.800 --> 00:30:39.220
 other gospel writers

00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:40.300
 write the biography

00:30:40.300 --> 00:30:40.980
 of Jesus.

00:30:41.560 --> 00:30:43.080
 They want us to see,

00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.279
 to know that Jesus

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.700
 really died and he

00:30:45.700 --> 00:30:47.080
 really rose again.

00:30:47.779 --> 00:30:48.440
 Do you remember the

00:30:48.440 --> 00:30:49.600
 beginning of Luke's

00:30:49.599 --> 00:30:49.959
 gospel?

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:53.480
 Luke writes this in

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.619
 chapter one, the

00:30:54.619 --> 00:30:55.059
 beginning of his

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.819
 gospel.

00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.199
 He says,

00:30:57.339 --> 00:30:58.759
 in as much as many

00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.919
 have undertaken to

00:30:59.919 --> 00:31:01.439
 write a narrative of

00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:02.579
 the things that were

00:31:02.579 --> 00:31:04.059
 accomplished about

00:31:04.059 --> 00:31:05.839
 Jesus, just as those

00:31:05.839 --> 00:31:06.939
 others who from the

00:31:06.939 --> 00:31:07.579
 beginning were

00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:08.779
 eyewitnesses and

00:31:08.779 --> 00:31:09.500
 ministers of the

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.980
 word, spoke them to

00:31:10.980 --> 00:31:12.480
 us, it seemed good to

00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.679
 me also, having

00:31:13.679 --> 00:31:14.639
 followed these things

00:31:14.639 --> 00:31:15.939
 closely for some time,

00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:18.059
 to write an orderly

00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:19.320
 account for you, most

00:31:19.320 --> 00:31:20.600
 excellent Theophilus,

00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:22.080
 that you may have

00:31:22.080 --> 00:31:24.160
 certainty concerning

00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.700
 the things you have

00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:26.279
 been taught.

00:31:26.980 --> 00:31:27.799
 Friends, that's what

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:29.180
 the gospel writers

00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:29.500
 want.

00:31:29.600 --> 00:31:30.299
 That's what Matthew,

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:31.200
 Mark, and Luke, and

00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.059
 John want for us.

00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:33.100
 That's what they want

00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:34.660
 for Mary and for the

00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.539
 disciples and for

00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:36.380
 followers of Jesus.

00:31:37.100 --> 00:31:37.779
 Friends, that's what

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.900
 Jesus wants for us

00:31:38.900 --> 00:31:39.100
 today.

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:41.320
 Certainty, conviction,

00:31:41.940 --> 00:31:43.100
 assurance of faith,

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:44.840
 that Jesus of Nazareth

00:31:44.839 --> 00:31:46.799
 really did die and he

00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:48.679
 really did rise again.

00:31:49.439 --> 00:31:50.439
 Jesus didn't just rise

00:31:50.439 --> 00:31:51.679
 in their hearts, he

00:31:51.679 --> 00:31:52.599
 didn't just rise in a

00:31:52.599 --> 00:31:53.679
 dream or rise in the

00:31:53.679 --> 00:31:54.799
 sunset, no, he

00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:56.399
 rise in physical bodily

00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.959
 form and he made

00:31:57.959 --> 00:31:59.059
 himself known.

00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:01.919
 Jesus died and rose

00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:02.299
 again.

00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.139
 And so what should we

00:32:04.139 --> 00:32:05.079
 do with this?

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:07.299
 What does this mean for

00:32:07.299 --> 00:32:08.439
 us in our day and age?

00:32:08.519 --> 00:32:09.939
 Well, let me leave us

00:32:09.939 --> 00:32:11.240
 as we close with three

00:32:11.240 --> 00:32:12.339
 things, three thoughts.

00:32:12.939 --> 00:32:14.759
 Firstly, what should we

00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:15.259
 do with this?

00:32:15.740 --> 00:32:16.460
 Believe it.

00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.920
 Believe it.

00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.000
 I hope you see what

00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:20.900
 Matthew wants for us.

00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:21.839
 The death of

00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.980
 resurrection of Jesus

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:24.480
 despite all the forces

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:26.160
 of hell, all the schemes

00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:28.019
 of man historically took

00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.379
 place.

00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.539
 It happened in time and

00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:29.900
 place.

00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.220
 Believe it.

00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:32.500
 And so friends, when

00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.740
 Jesus comes to Thomas

00:32:33.740 --> 00:32:34.660
 later on and he says,

00:32:35.079 --> 00:32:36.460
 put your hands in my

00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.779
 nail scarred hands.

00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:41.660
 Feel my, the scar on my

00:32:41.660 --> 00:32:42.099
 side.

00:32:42.659 --> 00:32:43.740
 He wants Thomas to

00:32:43.740 --> 00:32:45.159
 believe it, to really

00:32:45.159 --> 00:32:46.119
 know that it happened.

00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.219
 James writes in his

00:32:48.219 --> 00:32:49.219
 epistle, James is the

00:32:49.219 --> 00:32:50.199
 brother of Jesus and he

00:32:50.199 --> 00:32:51.659
 says, you believe that

00:32:51.659 --> 00:32:52.719
 Jesus is God?

00:32:53.000 --> 00:32:53.859
 Well, that's good, but

00:32:53.859 --> 00:32:55.379
 that's not enough because

00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:56.759
 even the demons believe

00:32:56.759 --> 00:32:58.359
 that Jesus is God and

00:32:58.359 --> 00:32:59.519
 they are destined to

00:32:59.519 --> 00:32:59.859
 hell.

00:33:00.639 --> 00:33:01.059
 In other words,

00:33:01.139 --> 00:33:02.379
 believing in our mind

00:33:02.379 --> 00:33:03.679
 intellectually or just

00:33:03.679 --> 00:33:05.099
 academically is not

00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:05.459
 enough.

00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:07.219
 He wants us to know it

00:33:07.219 --> 00:33:08.000
 with conviction and

00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:09.219
 certainty, to bank our

00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:11.039
 lives in it, to believe

00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:12.200
 in the way that changes

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.559
 our lives.

00:33:14.259 --> 00:33:15.519
 Let the truth of who I

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:16.660
 am and what happened

00:33:16.660 --> 00:33:17.860
 on the cross and the

00:33:17.860 --> 00:33:19.120
 empty tomb shape your

00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:19.980
 life, says Jesus.

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:22.059
 This is the heart of the

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.740
 good news.

00:33:23.640 --> 00:33:24.759
 Without the empty tomb,

00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:26.339
 there are words of

00:33:26.339 --> 00:33:27.680
 simply empty words.

00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.279
 Friends, do you believe

00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:29.539
 it?

00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:31.480
 That Jesus died and rose

00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:31.839
 again?

00:33:32.299 --> 00:33:33.319
 That he's a seated in

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:33.600
 heaven?

00:33:33.980 --> 00:33:35.259
 He's alive and he rules

00:33:35.259 --> 00:33:36.100
 and he reigns?

00:33:36.819 --> 00:33:37.360
 Believe it.

00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:40.159
 Secondly, live it.

00:33:41.319 --> 00:33:42.579
 Live in the light of

00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.219
 this resurrection.

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:45.099
 What I mean by this is

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:45.359
 this.

00:33:46.079 --> 00:33:47.639
 If you're a Christian, and

00:33:47.639 --> 00:33:48.659
 I know not all of us

00:33:48.659 --> 00:33:49.859
 would be Christians, but

00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:50.779
 if you are a Christian

00:33:50.779 --> 00:33:53.879
 today, live as exiles or

00:33:53.879 --> 00:33:56.039
 pilgrims in this world.

00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:57.799
 In other words, the

00:33:57.799 --> 00:33:58.879
 Bible says, and Jesus

00:33:58.879 --> 00:34:00.759
 says again and again, if

00:34:00.759 --> 00:34:01.879
 you're a Christian, this

00:34:01.879 --> 00:34:03.639
 world is not your home.

00:34:04.319 --> 00:34:05.899
 Your ultimate home is in

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:07.340
 heaven and live as

00:34:07.340 --> 00:34:09.200
 pilgrims or exiles in

00:34:09.200 --> 00:34:09.860
 this world.

00:34:11.660 --> 00:34:12.900
 We looked at it earlier

00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.559
 in verse 10.

00:34:13.700 --> 00:34:15.800
 Jesus says, go and tell

00:34:15.800 --> 00:34:17.260
 my disciples that I am

00:34:17.260 --> 00:34:18.740
 going ahead of them into

00:34:18.740 --> 00:34:19.340
 Galilee.

00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:21.200
 There you will see me.

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.360
 Go and meet me there.

00:34:23.340 --> 00:34:24.240
 Well, it reminds me of

00:34:24.240 --> 00:34:25.559
 John chapter 14 where

00:34:25.559 --> 00:34:27.920
 Jesus says, believe in

00:34:27.920 --> 00:34:29.320
 God, believe in me.

00:34:29.720 --> 00:34:31.019
 In my Father's house are

00:34:31.019 --> 00:34:31.639
 many rooms.

00:34:31.639 --> 00:34:33.799
 I am going ahead of you

00:34:33.799 --> 00:34:35.319
 to prepare a way for

00:34:35.319 --> 00:34:35.639
 you.

00:34:36.019 --> 00:34:37.400
 I will come again and

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:39.219
 take you to myself that

00:34:39.219 --> 00:34:40.599
 you may be where I am

00:34:40.599 --> 00:34:40.980
 also.

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:43.779
 Jesus again and again and

00:34:43.779 --> 00:34:45.539
 again says that the life

00:34:45.539 --> 00:34:47.319
 of a Christian is one who

00:34:47.319 --> 00:34:49.139
 lives away from our home.

00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.879
 That this world is not our

00:34:50.879 --> 00:34:51.139
 home.

00:34:51.239 --> 00:34:53.039
 We are exiles and pilgrims

00:34:53.039 --> 00:34:53.299
 here.

00:34:53.679 --> 00:34:55.000
 We live in this world

00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:56.019
 knowing that our

00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:57.359
 resurrection glory is

00:34:57.359 --> 00:34:58.579
 ultimate reality.

00:34:58.579 --> 00:35:00.360
 And so that means that

00:35:00.360 --> 00:35:02.039
 Christians are not those

00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:03.299
 who put all their stock

00:35:03.299 --> 00:35:05.119
 or their hope or their

00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:06.539
 confidence in this world

00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:08.219
 because our real world,

00:35:08.319 --> 00:35:10.139
 our real home is coming.

00:35:12.659 --> 00:35:13.699
 In our call to worship

00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:15.779
 this morning that Karen

00:35:15.779 --> 00:35:17.380
 read for us, one of the

00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.400
 greatest verses in the

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:19.900
 Bible, 1 Peter chapter 1

00:35:19.900 --> 00:35:22.279
 says this, blessed be the

00:35:22.279 --> 00:35:23.639
 God and Father of our

00:35:23.639 --> 00:35:24.900
 Lord Jesus Christ.

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:28.239
 He says, according to his

00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:30.079
 great mercy, he has caused

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:32.459
 us to be born again to a

00:35:32.459 --> 00:35:34.559
 living hope through the

00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:36.659
 resurrection of Jesus, to

00:35:36.659 --> 00:35:37.539
 a hope that can never

00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:41.199
 perish, spoil or fade, kept

00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:42.839
 in heaven for you.

00:35:43.619 --> 00:35:44.639
 Friends, I want to ask you

00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:46.539
 this morning, are you living

00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:48.459
 with living hope?

00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:50.719
 Is the living hope of the

00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:52.139
 resurrection of Jesus true

00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:53.099
 for your life and your

00:35:53.099 --> 00:35:53.519
 heart?

00:35:53.979 --> 00:35:55.339
 Are you living in light of

00:35:55.339 --> 00:35:55.639
 that?

00:35:56.199 --> 00:35:57.419
 Friends, do you live with a

00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:58.940
 hope, a concrete hope

00:35:58.940 --> 00:36:00.700
 through COVID, through

00:36:00.700 --> 00:36:02.000
 economic uncertainty?

00:36:02.440 --> 00:36:03.740
 When your stock portfolio

00:36:03.740 --> 00:36:05.639
 loses 30% in one year

00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.659
 because of everything that's

00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:08.180
 going on, do you live with

00:36:08.180 --> 00:36:08.579
 hope?

00:36:09.180 --> 00:36:09.880
 A hope that is

00:36:09.880 --> 00:36:11.260
 circumstance defying.

00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:13.159
 A hope that is, that that

00:36:13.159 --> 00:36:14.240
 goes through the ups and

00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:15.200
 downs of life.

00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:17.079
 A hope that nothing in this

00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:19.559
 world can touch or dilute or

00:36:19.559 --> 00:36:20.579
 take away from you.

00:36:21.680 --> 00:36:23.440
 Jesus says because he died and

00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:24.659
 rose again, we get to live

00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:26.099
 with living hope.

00:36:27.519 --> 00:36:28.539
 In the New Testament, the

00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:30.219
 Apostle Paul says that because

00:36:30.219 --> 00:36:31.319
 of Christ's death and

00:36:31.319 --> 00:36:33.000
 resurrection, he gets to

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:34.339
 embrace suffering and

00:36:34.339 --> 00:36:34.739
 hardship.

00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:37.980
 He says, just as Christ died

00:36:37.980 --> 00:36:39.799
 and rose again, I will embrace

00:36:39.799 --> 00:36:41.420
 his sufferings knowing that I

00:36:41.420 --> 00:36:43.139
 will die and rise again.

00:36:43.859 --> 00:36:45.059
 Friends, are you able to

00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:47.159
 embrace hardship, suffering,

00:36:47.659 --> 00:36:49.279
 knowing that the resurrection of

00:36:49.279 --> 00:36:51.079
 Jesus means you will rise with

00:36:51.079 --> 00:36:51.559
 him again?

00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:54.440
 Moreover, friends, are we

00:36:54.440 --> 00:36:55.500
 worshippers?

00:36:56.659 --> 00:36:58.759
 In verse 9, when Mary and the

00:36:58.759 --> 00:37:00.599
 other Mary see Jesus, it says

00:37:00.599 --> 00:37:01.900
 they fell down and they

00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:02.759
 worshipped him.

00:37:03.579 --> 00:37:05.340
 In verse 17, when the disciples

00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:08.059
 see Jesus, they fall down and

00:37:08.059 --> 00:37:09.440
 they worship him.

00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:12.480
 Friends, I want to ask you, is

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:14.519
 the quality of our worship based

00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:16.480
 on how well the musicians play on

00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:16.880
 a Sunday?

00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:19.480
 Is it based on whether we like

00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.579
 the songs or not?

00:37:21.719 --> 00:37:22.820
 Sometimes I don't like the

00:37:22.820 --> 00:37:23.099
 songs.

00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:26.099
 I don't know if I'm allowed to

00:37:26.099 --> 00:37:26.559
 admit that.

00:37:28.539 --> 00:37:30.059
 But friends, even if the songs

00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:32.000
 aren't great songs, even if the

00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:33.500
 musicians are having a bad day,

00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:35.280
 can we worship?

00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:36.659
 Can we worship?

00:37:36.719 --> 00:37:37.940
 Because Jesus has died and

00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.539
 risen again.

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:40.599
 Because he's alive and he reigns

00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:41.000
 in heaven.

00:37:41.860 --> 00:37:43.500
 And before Jesus, at the right

00:37:43.500 --> 00:37:46.000
 hand of God the Father, all

00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:47.659
 creation will bow down and say,

00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:49.619
 worthy are you, the lamb that

00:37:49.619 --> 00:37:51.719
 was slain, to receive honor and

00:37:51.719 --> 00:37:53.539
 glory and power and authority.

00:37:54.059 --> 00:37:55.559
 Worthy are you to receive our

00:37:55.559 --> 00:37:58.399
 worship because you died for our

00:37:58.399 --> 00:37:59.779
 sins and you were raised for our

00:37:59.779 --> 00:38:00.279
 justification.

00:38:01.940 --> 00:38:03.339
 Friends, live in light of the

00:38:03.339 --> 00:38:03.839
 resurrection.

00:38:04.879 --> 00:38:05.960
 Live with living hope.

00:38:06.839 --> 00:38:08.239
 Live with certainty and

00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:08.659
 conviction.

00:38:09.960 --> 00:38:11.859
 Live with embracing suffering and

00:38:11.859 --> 00:38:13.679
 hardship and persecution and even

00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:14.819
 laying down your life.

00:38:14.820 --> 00:38:18.559
 live as a worshiper of Jesus.

00:38:19.580 --> 00:38:21.019
 Live in light of the resurrection.

00:38:21.260 --> 00:38:23.800
 And then finally, proclaim it.

00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:26.600
 Proclaim the hope of the

00:38:26.600 --> 00:38:27.019
 resurrection.

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.940
 We're going to look at it next

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:30.940
 week in our final sermon, sermon

00:38:30.940 --> 00:38:33.380
 number 58 in the book of Matthew.

00:38:33.519 --> 00:38:35.720
 Over five years, we're going to

00:38:35.720 --> 00:38:36.019
 look at it.

00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:38.220
 But look at briefly verse 6 of our

00:38:38.220 --> 00:38:38.860
 passage here.

00:38:38.860 --> 00:38:43.539
 The angels say to Mary and Mary 1 and

00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:46.120
 Mary 2, come and see the place where

00:38:46.120 --> 00:38:46.840
 Jesus lay.

00:38:47.559 --> 00:38:50.440
 Then go and tell his disciples that he

00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:51.840
 has risen from the dead.

00:38:52.820 --> 00:38:55.160
 Jesus sees them a few verses later and

00:38:55.160 --> 00:38:56.440
 he says, do not be afraid.

00:38:57.180 --> 00:38:59.800
 Go and tell my disciples to go to

00:38:59.800 --> 00:39:01.480
 Galilee and there they will see me.

00:39:02.620 --> 00:39:05.340
 Friends, this city of Hong Kong is the

00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:06.539
 greatest city in the world.

00:39:06.539 --> 00:39:08.699
 It really is.

00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:11.779
 If you're from outside of town, I know

00:39:11.779 --> 00:39:13.300
 your city is the second best city.

00:39:13.800 --> 00:39:15.320
 This is the greatest city in the

00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:15.599
 world.

00:39:16.779 --> 00:39:18.460
 But one of the things about our city, it

00:39:18.460 --> 00:39:20.199
 is starved for hope.

00:39:20.960 --> 00:39:22.920
 It is desperate for hope.

00:39:24.039 --> 00:39:25.539
 And our city of seven and a half

00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:28.860
 million people longing for hope.

00:39:31.279 --> 00:39:34.599
 Friends, can we be agents of hope for

00:39:34.599 --> 00:39:35.039
 our city?

00:39:35.039 --> 00:39:37.820
 Our city is longing for circumstance

00:39:37.820 --> 00:39:38.820
 defying hope.

00:39:39.159 --> 00:39:40.900
 A hope that will carry us through the

00:39:40.900 --> 00:39:41.460
 next storm.

00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.820
 The next pandemic.

00:39:43.500 --> 00:39:45.679
 The next economic downturn.

00:39:46.079 --> 00:39:47.000
 The next tragedy.

00:39:47.900 --> 00:39:49.500
 And those of us that are Christians

00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:51.599
 live with living hope.

00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:53.400
 Resurrection hope.

00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:56.719
 That come what may, we will die and we

00:39:56.719 --> 00:39:57.739
 will rise again.

00:39:58.119 --> 00:39:59.779
 And we will live in our home where

00:39:59.779 --> 00:40:01.000
 there will be no more tears.

00:40:01.300 --> 00:40:02.239
 No more suffering.

00:40:02.619 --> 00:40:03.440
 No more agony.

00:40:03.440 --> 00:40:06.079
 The world will pass away and all things

00:40:06.079 --> 00:40:06.880
 will be made new.

00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:09.720
 And friends, our city is desperate for

00:40:09.720 --> 00:40:10.119
 this hope.

00:40:10.220 --> 00:40:11.800
 Can we proclaim it?

00:40:12.360 --> 00:40:14.460
 Can we go into our universities and our

00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:17.159
 schools and our city and our apartment

00:40:17.159 --> 00:40:19.940
 blocks and tell of the hope and the

00:40:19.940 --> 00:40:21.260
 wonder of Jesus?

00:40:21.420 --> 00:40:22.880
 Friends, if you're a Christian this morning,

00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.700
 don't keep this message to yourself.

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:26.800
 Don't keep this to yourself.

00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:28.920
 Do what Jesus tells you to do.

00:40:28.920 --> 00:40:31.440
 Come and see where he died and he rose

00:40:31.440 --> 00:40:31.740
 again.

00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:34.659
 But then go and tell our city the message

00:40:34.659 --> 00:40:35.200
 of hope.

00:40:36.200 --> 00:40:37.980
 Friends, in the latter part of his life,

00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:40.720
 Cyril Edwin Joad came back to the faith

00:40:40.720 --> 00:40:43.500
 that he once abandoned as an Oxford student.

00:40:44.340 --> 00:40:47.440
 He came to see, as Matthew wants him to see,

00:40:47.880 --> 00:40:50.139
 not the physical body of Jesus,

00:40:50.139 --> 00:40:53.239
 but he came to see the testimony of Matthew,

00:40:53.679 --> 00:40:55.099
 Mark, and Luke, and John.

00:40:55.619 --> 00:40:57.819
 That they record the historical facts

00:40:57.819 --> 00:41:00.339
 that Jesus died and rose again.

00:41:01.019 --> 00:41:02.940
 He came to have certainty and conviction

00:41:02.940 --> 00:41:05.900
 and confidence in the resurrection of Jesus.

00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:07.679
 That Jesus, the Son of God,

00:41:07.779 --> 00:41:10.039
 died on Calvary for our sins

00:41:10.039 --> 00:41:12.099
 and was raised for our justification.

00:41:12.099 --> 00:41:15.239
 That we might live with him forevermore.

00:41:15.659 --> 00:41:16.799
 Friends, do you believe it?

00:41:17.299 --> 00:41:18.559
 Do you live it?

00:41:19.259 --> 00:41:21.139
 Are you able to proclaim it?

00:41:21.759 --> 00:41:22.739
 Let's pray together.

00:41:25.420 --> 00:41:30.500
 Jesus, this morning we hear the words of Matthew.

00:41:31.420 --> 00:41:32.440
 We don't just want to hear it,

00:41:32.480 --> 00:41:33.339
 we want to see it.

00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:35.639
 That Jesus, you really did die

00:41:35.639 --> 00:41:37.639
 and you really did rise again.

00:41:38.500 --> 00:41:40.019
 That God is the Apostle Paul says

00:41:40.019 --> 00:41:41.320
 that if this is not true,

00:41:41.880 --> 00:41:43.480
 our faith is a farce,

00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:45.219
 our beliefs are delusional,

00:41:45.719 --> 00:41:47.239
 our hope is baseless.

00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:49.719
 But God, this morning we have confidence,

00:41:50.239 --> 00:41:51.000
 we have conviction,

00:41:51.139 --> 00:41:51.840
 we have certainty

00:41:51.840 --> 00:41:53.880
 that this is not just a message

00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:55.119
 to make us feel good,

00:41:55.519 --> 00:41:56.500
 it's not just something

00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:58.239
 to help us get through our lives,

00:41:58.420 --> 00:41:59.340
 it is true,

00:41:59.460 --> 00:42:00.320
 it is historical,

00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:01.079
 it's accurate,

00:42:01.159 --> 00:42:01.719
 it is real.

00:42:02.480 --> 00:42:03.519
 Jesus, I pray,

00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:05.780
 won't you send us out this morning

00:42:05.780 --> 00:42:07.519
 into the great city of Hong Kong

00:42:07.519 --> 00:42:09.019
 and cause us, God,

00:42:09.019 --> 00:42:10.340
 to live with hope

00:42:10.340 --> 00:42:12.179
 and certainty and conviction.

00:42:13.139 --> 00:42:14.480
 God, help us to see it,

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:15.659
 to know it,

00:42:16.139 --> 00:42:17.119
 to believe it,

00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:19.019
 and to live in light of it.

00:42:19.539 --> 00:42:20.860
 We pray this in your good

00:42:20.860 --> 00:42:22.539
 and your gracious name.

00:42:23.380 --> 00:42:23.759
 Amen.

00:42:23.759 --> 00:42:23.920
 Amen.

00:42:23.920 --> 00:42:23.960
 Amen.

00:42:23.960 --> 00:42:23.980
 Amen.