WEBVTT

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 Well, welcome to church tonight.

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 If you haven't got a Bible in front of you, great.

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 Our helpers would love to get you one.

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 So if you want to just stick your hand up,

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 if you haven't got one, John 20.

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 And also there's some service outlines

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 you can sort of follow along

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 where I'm up to in tonight's message.

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 If I've not met you before,

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 my name's Stephen, the senior pastor at church.

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 And it is a crack of a day to be at church with you

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 as we look at the central meaning of Christianity.

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 If you don't have a service outline,

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 you can use the St. Paul's app as well to follow along.

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 It's really only got three points.

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 So if you can't remember that, I can't help you.

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 Let's pray and we'll launch into it.

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 Gracious God, we thank you for the great news

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 of what we're looking at tonight,

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 the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

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 And I pray that you help us to understand it,

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 to be open to it.

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 And I pray especially that you might help us

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 to see the transforming nature

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 of what Christ has achieved for us.

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 Change our hearts wherever we are of this,

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 whether we come in as doubters and skeptics

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 or believers.

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 We pray, Lord, that we would go out of here

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 changed, transformed by you,

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 embracing the Lord Jesus as God

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 and Lord over all things.

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 And we pray for your glory.

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 Amen.

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 Benjamin Law, he's an Australian author and journalist,

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 wrote an opinion piece in the City Morning Herald

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 leading up to Easter a few years ago now.

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 Benjamin describes himself as non-religious.

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 He says,

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 I'm not an atheist,

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 but I'm a happy agnostic,

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 a lifelong doubter.

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 He wrote that if he was to adopt a religious symbol for his life,

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 it would be a question mark.

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 He goes on in the article

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 that he digs the Bible.

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 I'm not sure exactly what that means.

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 I think it's positive.

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 I dig the Bible.

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 But he said,

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 he also added,

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 he said,

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 I love Jesus.

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 Not in the religious sense,

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 obviously,

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 but I think everyone can agree

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 that he sounded like a decent fellow.

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 Jesus distrusted the rich.

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 He helped the poor

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 and embraced the most shunned

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 and vulnerable members of society.

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 He was the first Marxist radical.

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 Needless to say,

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 he says,

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 I have no problem with celebrating

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 and honoring religious holidays.

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 It respects the majority of Australians

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 who identify as Christians

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 and it educates the non-religious

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 about world beliefs.

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 Then he made this point.

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 But why stop at Easter and Christmas?

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 In our cities,

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 especially with their Muslim,

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 Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu communities,

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 wouldn't it make sense

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 to celebrate and learn

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 about these cultures too?

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 He goes on to suggest

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 that that would create

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 a much more tolerant Australia.

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 The opinion piece overall was,

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 it was positive,

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 raised some questions

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 in an authentic manner

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 and basically kept everyone happy.

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 He says,

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 Jesus is a nice bloke

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 and so therefore we should celebrate him

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 as a nice bloke

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 and we should also look

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 at other nice things as well.

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 His article raised two big questions

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 for me

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 and two big questions

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 about Christianity

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 and especially the central events

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 of Easter.

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 And the first question

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 is the truth question.

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 The second is the meaning question.

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 The truth question

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 and the meaning question

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 are both wrapped up together

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 in today on Resurrection Day.

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 It's Easter Sunday.

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 The truth question,

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 the meaning question.

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 Whenever you talk about

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 the resurrection of Jesus,

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 those two questions

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 are intertwined.

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 Truth question,

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 did it actually happen?

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 The meaning question,

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 well,

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 who cares if it did?

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 What difference does it make

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 in my life

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 if he did rise from the dead?

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 You see,

00:03:56.599 --> 00:03:57.020
 there are people

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 who reject Christianity

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 because they simply

00:03:58.960 --> 00:04:00.400
 just don't think it's true.

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 But there are other people

00:04:02.680 --> 00:04:03.740
 who reject Christianity

00:04:03.740 --> 00:04:05.319
 not because they're convinced

00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:06.159
 it's not true,

00:04:06.520 --> 00:04:08.080
 but because they can't see

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 why it would make

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 any difference

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 at all in their life

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 if it was true.

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 The meaning of it

00:04:15.580 --> 00:04:17.020
 is insignificant

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 and irrelevant

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 to what really concerns them.

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 So, for instance,

00:04:23.040 --> 00:04:23.960
 things have changed

00:04:23.960 --> 00:04:24.520
 in our world

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 in case you haven't realized that.

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 Forty years ago,

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 and the older you are,

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 you realize how much

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 things have changed.

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 Forty years ago,

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 there was an assumption

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 in the Western world

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 that there were fixed

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 natural laws

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 that make the world

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 understandable

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 and scientifically manageable.

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 Unfortunately,

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 these laws

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 did not allow

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 for the truth

00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:47.699
 of the claim

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 that someone

00:04:48.319 --> 00:04:49.000
 can come back

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 from the dead

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 and to live forever.

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 The world at that time

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 in its scientific understanding

00:04:54.280 --> 00:04:55.280
 of natural laws

00:04:55.280 --> 00:04:56.220
 did not allow

00:04:56.220 --> 00:04:57.120
 for resurrections

00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:57.520
 and so,

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 get rid of it.

00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:00.819
 Unbelief

00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:01.800
 in the claims

00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:02.660
 of Christianity

00:05:02.660 --> 00:05:04.220
 were often connected

00:05:04.220 --> 00:05:05.139
 to that kind

00:05:05.139 --> 00:05:07.259
 of scientific assumption.

00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:09.120
 Today, however,

00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:10.180
 there's another assumption

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 and this is for everyone

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 who's basically

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 less than 40,

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 which I'm not quite anymore,

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 but nearly,

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 is a differing assumption

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 and today,

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 the assumption

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 is that there's

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 a personal law

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 inside of me.

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 It's called individualism.

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 Us older people

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 call it rampant individualism.

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 One form of individualism

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 is a personal law

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 that says,

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 I don't have to conform

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 or adapt my life

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 to anything

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 that I don't find helpful.

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 Truth for me

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 is what I find acceptable

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 and helpful

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 and useful.

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 Now, this assumption says,

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 I don't care

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 whether Jesus

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 rose from the dead.

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 Don't care

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 if the facts are there

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 because whether

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 he did or not,

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 my issue is,

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 I still don't care.

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 The scientific facts

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 are irrelevant.

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 Even if it is true,

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 what difference

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 does it make

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 to my life

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 day by day?

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 And so both questions,

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 the truth question

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 and the so what question

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 are important

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 to address

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 at the same time,

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 which is what we're going to do

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 in the rest of our time together.

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 I want to tackle

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 three main things,

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 truth question,

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 so what question,

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 and how to move

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 from being a doubter,

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 a skeptic,

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 to a believer.

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 So first of all,

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 the truth question.

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 The great C.S. Lewis,

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 Oxford Don,

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 once wrote

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 that in a world

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 that was making

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 such a rapid advancement

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 in scientific understanding,

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 he said there was a danger

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 of chronological snobbery.

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 He said it's the assumption

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 that any conclusion

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 that was made

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 in previous centuries

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 or frankly people before me,

00:06:53.540 --> 00:06:54.080
 anyone who,

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 before my assumption of things,

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 was their assumptions

00:06:57.639 --> 00:06:58.399
 are always based

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 on ignorance.

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 And especially

00:07:00.339 --> 00:07:01.500
 the further back you go,

00:07:01.599 --> 00:07:02.560
 it's just ignorance.

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 For instance,

00:07:04.419 --> 00:07:05.519
 chronological snobbery

00:07:05.519 --> 00:07:06.439
 might lead some

00:07:06.439 --> 00:07:07.139
 to conclude

00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:08.279
 that the people

00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:09.659
 who lived

00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:11.479
 around Jesus' time,

00:07:12.219 --> 00:07:13.079
 because they didn't have

00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:14.060
 iPhones and internet,

00:07:14.479 --> 00:07:15.219
 they were just

00:07:15.219 --> 00:07:16.379
 gullible peasants.

00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:18.839
 They were just

00:07:18.839 --> 00:07:20.539
 ignorant of reality.

00:07:21.659 --> 00:07:22.560
 And so they'll just

00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:23.300
 believe anything

00:07:23.300 --> 00:07:24.279
 that they've been told.

00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:25.599
 And yet that's not

00:07:25.599 --> 00:07:26.039
 the picture

00:07:26.039 --> 00:07:26.680
 that we have here.

00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:27.399
 So if you've got your Bibles,

00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:28.299
 turn to John 20,

00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:29.919
 it's not the picture

00:07:29.919 --> 00:07:31.259
 we get here in John 20.

00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:32.359
 Look at the first

00:07:32.359 --> 00:07:33.599
 two verses with me.

00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:35.199
 Early on the first

00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:35.799
 day of the week,

00:07:36.379 --> 00:07:37.579
 while it was still dark,

00:07:38.039 --> 00:07:38.719
 Mary Magdalene

00:07:38.719 --> 00:07:39.659
 went to the tomb

00:07:39.659 --> 00:07:41.699
 and saw that the stone

00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:42.560
 had been removed

00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:43.479
 from the entrance.

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 Now this is crucial

00:07:45.779 --> 00:07:47.159
 here in John 20.

00:07:47.839 --> 00:07:49.560
 This is the first person

00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:51.000
 to notice the tombs empty,

00:07:51.099 --> 00:07:51.819
 Mary Magdalene.

00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:54.019
 in John 19,

00:07:54.019 --> 00:07:55.420
 which we saw on Friday,

00:07:56.620 --> 00:07:57.459
 the chapter before,

00:07:57.620 --> 00:07:58.459
 Mary Magdalene

00:07:58.459 --> 00:08:00.240
 is declared

00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:01.459
 to be the witness

00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:03.259
 of the death

00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:03.899
 of Jesus.

00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:04.740
 He's dead.

00:08:04.860 --> 00:08:05.779
 She saw that he was

00:08:05.779 --> 00:08:06.219
 dead.

00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:07.500
 And now she's the first

00:08:07.500 --> 00:08:08.480
 person of the tomb

00:08:08.480 --> 00:08:09.539
 to see

00:08:09.539 --> 00:08:10.980
 that the tomb

00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:11.759
 is empty.

00:08:11.899 --> 00:08:12.379
 So verse 2,

00:08:12.459 --> 00:08:13.680
 so she came running

00:08:13.680 --> 00:08:14.740
 to Simon Peter

00:08:14.740 --> 00:08:16.139
 and the other disciple,

00:08:16.219 --> 00:08:17.259
 the one whom Jesus loved,

00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:17.959
 and said,

00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:19.399
 notice what she says here,

00:08:19.399 --> 00:08:21.419
 they have taken

00:08:21.419 --> 00:08:22.019
 the Lord

00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.339
 out of the tomb

00:08:23.339 --> 00:08:24.979
 and we don't know

00:08:24.979 --> 00:08:25.959
 where they've put him.

00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:28.019
 Now,

00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:30.599
 before he was executed,

00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:32.100
 Jesus mentioned

00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:33.659
 a number of times

00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.439
 that he was

00:08:34.439 --> 00:08:36.199
 going to be executed,

00:08:36.559 --> 00:08:37.500
 but that he would

00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:38.559
 come back to life.

00:08:39.179 --> 00:08:40.579
 But that is not

00:08:40.579 --> 00:08:42.519
 what Mary is expecting

00:08:42.519 --> 00:08:44.439
 on this Sunday morning

00:08:44.439 --> 00:08:45.419
 as she goes

00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:46.179
 to the tomb.

00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:47.539
 She's not thinking,

00:08:47.799 --> 00:08:48.600
 ah, that's right.

00:08:49.399 --> 00:08:49.879
 Resurrection.

00:08:51.079 --> 00:08:51.779
 She's not thinking

00:08:51.779 --> 00:08:52.500
 that at all.

00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:54.779
 Her first assumption

00:08:54.779 --> 00:08:57.699
 was that the body

00:08:57.699 --> 00:08:58.899
 has been moved.

00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:01.000
 And it's the same

00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:01.899
 in verse 13.

00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.679
 She was working

00:09:03.679 --> 00:09:04.340
 on the assumption

00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:05.519
 that the Jewish leaders

00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:06.179
 or potentially

00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:07.100
 the Roman dudes

00:09:07.100 --> 00:09:08.759
 had taken his body

00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:09.740
 and dumped it

00:09:09.740 --> 00:09:10.439
 somewhere outside

00:09:10.439 --> 00:09:11.220
 the city limits.

00:09:11.699 --> 00:09:13.259
 Someone has stolen

00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:13.720
 the body.

00:09:15.079 --> 00:09:15.980
 So like us,

00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:17.439
 Mary didn't just assume

00:09:17.439 --> 00:09:18.579
 that Jesus had come

00:09:18.579 --> 00:09:19.240
 back to life.

00:09:20.019 --> 00:09:21.019
 Even Peter and John,

00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.559
 two of his key followers,

00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:23.939
 didn't automatically

00:09:23.939 --> 00:09:25.459
 jump to the conclusion

00:09:25.459 --> 00:09:26.919
 that Jesus had been

00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:27.379
 resurrected.

00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:29.620
 Notice verses 8 and 9.

00:09:29.959 --> 00:09:30.240
 Finally,

00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:31.120
 the other disciple

00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:31.919
 who had reached

00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:33.240
 the tomb first

00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:35.039
 also went in,

00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:36.199
 he saw,

00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:37.620
 and he believed.

00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:40.039
 And then it says,

00:09:40.379 --> 00:09:41.179
 they still did not

00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.139
 understand from Scripture

00:09:42.139 --> 00:09:42.919
 that Jesus had to

00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:43.579
 rise from the dead.

00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:45.220
 What did he believe in?

00:09:46.019 --> 00:09:47.920
 He believed what Mary

00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:48.879
 had just said.

00:09:49.460 --> 00:09:51.519
 He believed that Mary

00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.100
 was right.

00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:53.399
 The tomb is empty.

00:09:54.279 --> 00:09:55.420
 But he didn't believe

00:09:55.420 --> 00:09:56.120
 in that moment

00:09:56.120 --> 00:09:57.139
 of the resurrection.

00:09:58.800 --> 00:09:59.519
 That tells me

00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:00.660
 these early followers

00:10:00.660 --> 00:10:01.160
 of Jesus

00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:02.180
 were not easily

00:10:02.180 --> 00:10:02.940
 excitable,

00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:04.340
 gallible peasants

00:10:04.340 --> 00:10:04.779
 who would just

00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:05.460
 believe anything.

00:10:06.759 --> 00:10:07.779
 Even though Jesus

00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:08.960
 had told them repeatedly

00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:09.660
 that he would come

00:10:09.660 --> 00:10:10.399
 back to life,

00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.860
 they weren't actually

00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:13.179
 looking for a resurrection.

00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:16.600
 And yet what they

00:10:16.600 --> 00:10:17.840
 were confronted with

00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:20.000
 on that first

00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:21.079
 Easter Sunday

00:10:21.079 --> 00:10:23.840
 was a bodiless tomb.

00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:26.079
 There was no body

00:10:26.079 --> 00:10:26.860
 in the tomb.

00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:29.819
 So you can't play around

00:10:29.819 --> 00:10:30.539
 with the resurrection

00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:31.039
 of Jesus,

00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:32.379
 some have want to do,

00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:33.919
 and just can see that

00:10:33.919 --> 00:10:35.079
 it was just a spiritual

00:10:35.079 --> 00:10:35.480
 resurrection.

00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:36.000
 It's kind of what

00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:37.259
 the disciples felt.

00:10:37.579 --> 00:10:38.360
 They kind of felt

00:10:38.360 --> 00:10:39.799
 that he was risen again,

00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:41.899
 even though his body

00:10:41.899 --> 00:10:42.579
 didn't come back.

00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:43.339
 He just felt he was

00:10:43.339 --> 00:10:44.319
 a spiritual resurrection.

00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:48.439
 There was no body.

00:10:50.359 --> 00:10:51.240
 And you can go

00:10:51.240 --> 00:10:52.519
 to Jewish historians,

00:10:52.719 --> 00:10:53.579
 you can go to

00:10:53.579 --> 00:10:55.059
 Roman historians

00:10:55.059 --> 00:10:56.079
 and Christian historians

00:10:56.079 --> 00:10:57.339
 in that time

00:10:57.339 --> 00:10:59.000
 that wrote in that time

00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:00.579
 and they all declare

00:11:00.579 --> 00:11:02.479
 that the tomb

00:11:02.479 --> 00:11:04.179
 where Jesus was laid

00:11:04.179 --> 00:11:05.259
 was empty.

00:11:06.439 --> 00:11:06.899
 It's one of the

00:11:06.899 --> 00:11:08.959
 great historical facts

00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:10.360
 the tomb

00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:11.639
 was empty.

00:11:13.580 --> 00:11:14.759
 There's no question

00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:15.440
 about that.

00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.019
 Even the enemies

00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:19.720
 of Jesus

00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:21.240
 could not

00:11:21.240 --> 00:11:22.019
 produce

00:11:22.019 --> 00:11:23.180
 a body.

00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:26.139
 If they could have,

00:11:26.379 --> 00:11:27.060
 they would have

00:11:27.060 --> 00:11:28.180
 ended this Christianity

00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:30.040
 thing 2,000 years ago.

00:11:30.680 --> 00:11:31.500
 All it would have

00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:31.980
 required

00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:32.620
 is for a Roman

00:11:32.620 --> 00:11:33.180
 or a Jew

00:11:33.180 --> 00:11:33.940
 to

00:11:33.940 --> 00:11:36.120
 put the body

00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:36.500
 of Jesus

00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:37.280
 at a wheelbarrow

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:37.779
 and take him

00:11:37.779 --> 00:11:38.299
 to Jerusalem

00:11:38.299 --> 00:11:39.339
 and there you go,

00:11:39.419 --> 00:11:39.959
 there's your

00:11:39.959 --> 00:11:41.000
 saviour.

00:11:41.559 --> 00:11:42.259
 Right there.

00:11:42.500 --> 00:11:43.179
 There he is.

00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:43.799
 Dead.

00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.039
 Now,

00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:47.759
 some have come up

00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.779
 with other explanations

00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:49.740
 as to why the tomb

00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:50.240
 was empty.

00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:51.539
 For instance,

00:11:51.679 --> 00:11:52.480
 some have suggested

00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:52.959
 that Jesus,

00:11:53.159 --> 00:11:53.379
 in fact,

00:11:53.439 --> 00:11:54.480
 didn't really die

00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:57.200
 put him in the tomb

00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:59.879
 and he revived

00:11:59.879 --> 00:12:00.960
 in the cool

00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:01.519
 of the tomb

00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:03.000
 and then moved

00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:03.779
 the stone

00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:05.980
 that required

00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.639
 several soldiers

00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.740
 to put in place.

00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:10.120
 He revived himself

00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:10.700
 enough

00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:11.700
 and did a bit

00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:12.460
 of buff work

00:12:12.460 --> 00:12:13.379
 over for a couple

00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:13.759
 of days

00:12:13.759 --> 00:12:14.320
 and was able

00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:15.279
 to move the stone

00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:16.879
 and walk out

00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:18.259
 and some have

00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:19.879
 suggested he married

00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:21.019
 Mary Magdalene

00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:22.080
 and then went on

00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:22.980
 a very long honeymoon

00:12:22.980 --> 00:12:23.720
 down to Egypt

00:12:23.720 --> 00:12:24.580
 and no one ever

00:12:24.580 --> 00:12:25.120
 saw him again.

00:12:25.900 --> 00:12:26.660
 Because there's no

00:12:26.660 --> 00:12:27.660
 historical evidence

00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:28.120
 for that

00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:28.540
 and it's not

00:12:28.540 --> 00:12:29.460
 really plausible.

00:12:31.620 --> 00:12:32.800
 And it also goes

00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:33.759
 against the horrible

00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:35.040
 realities of the

00:12:35.040 --> 00:12:35.920
 crucifixion.

00:12:36.800 --> 00:12:37.580
 It goes against

00:12:37.580 --> 00:12:38.480
 the deliberate

00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:40.420
 steps that Pilate

00:12:40.420 --> 00:12:41.780
 took and the

00:12:41.780 --> 00:12:42.300
 leaders,

00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:43.160
 the Jewish leaders

00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:44.540
 took to make

00:12:44.540 --> 00:12:45.580
 sure that he

00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.420
 was dead.

00:12:46.419 --> 00:12:51.339
 Look at John 19.

00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.259
 They declared,

00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:54.079
 we want to make

00:12:54.079 --> 00:12:54.899
 sure this man's

00:12:54.899 --> 00:12:55.659
 dead because we've

00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:56.539
 got to get to church

00:12:56.539 --> 00:12:57.199
 so can we please

00:12:57.199 --> 00:12:57.740
 kill him?

00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:59.120
 And they went along

00:12:59.120 --> 00:12:59.860
 to break his legs

00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.539
 and they discovered

00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:01.500
 they, in their own

00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:01.939
 testimony,

00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:02.879
 said he's dead.

00:13:09.979 --> 00:13:10.959
 They also took

00:13:10.959 --> 00:13:11.639
 enormous steps

00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:12.179
 to make sure

00:13:12.179 --> 00:13:12.639
 that no one

00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:13.719
 got in or out

00:13:13.719 --> 00:13:14.360
 of that tomb.

00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:14.879
 They posted

00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.879
 their own guards

00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:17.120
 at the door

00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:17.879
 of the tomb.

00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:21.039
 Others have

00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:21.860
 suggested that

00:13:21.860 --> 00:13:22.460
 the disciples

00:13:22.460 --> 00:13:23.320
 stole the body.

00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:26.059
 If they did,

00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:27.679
 you've got to

00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:28.179
 ask yourself

00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:28.899
 the question,

00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:30.480
 why did they

00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.480
 remove the

00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:33.320
 grave clothes?

00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:34.580
 I mean,

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:34.840
 you've got

00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:36.120
 Roman soldiers

00:13:36.120 --> 00:13:36.740
 at the entrance

00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:37.360
 of the tomb

00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.019
 so you get them

00:13:38.019 --> 00:13:39.080
 drunk and then

00:13:39.080 --> 00:13:39.740
 you manage to

00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.279
 get the tomb

00:13:40.279 --> 00:13:40.820
 and then you

00:13:40.820 --> 00:13:42.019
 unwrap him

00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:43.120
 and fold up

00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:43.600
 his clothes

00:13:43.600 --> 00:13:44.120
 and then take

00:13:44.120 --> 00:13:44.720
 the naked body

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:44.940
 away.

00:13:45.059 --> 00:13:45.559
 Why would you

00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:45.959
 do that?

00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:49.919
 Why take

00:13:49.919 --> 00:13:50.459
 off the linen?

00:13:51.619 --> 00:13:52.099
 And more

00:13:52.099 --> 00:13:52.679
 significantly,

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.519
 if they took

00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:53.879
 the body

00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:54.359
 away,

00:13:55.179 --> 00:13:55.619
 it would

00:13:55.619 --> 00:13:56.179
 mean that

00:13:56.179 --> 00:13:56.739
 the disciples

00:13:56.739 --> 00:13:57.379
 began to

00:13:57.379 --> 00:13:57.799
 risk their

00:13:57.799 --> 00:13:58.279
 lives and

00:13:58.279 --> 00:13:59.139
 in fact gave

00:13:59.139 --> 00:13:59.839
 up their

00:13:59.839 --> 00:14:01.659
 lives for

00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:02.199
 nothing more

00:14:02.199 --> 00:14:02.539
 than an

00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:03.500
 April fool's

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.379
 joke that

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:05.399
 they themselves

00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:06.959
 had

00:14:06.959 --> 00:14:08.699
 perpetuated.

00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:09.140
 God

00:14:09.140 --> 00:14:13.140
 and how

00:14:13.140 --> 00:14:13.640
 else do we

00:14:13.640 --> 00:14:14.220
 account for

00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:14.640
 the dramatic

00:14:14.640 --> 00:14:15.540
 change in

00:14:15.540 --> 00:14:16.100
 the disciples

00:14:16.100 --> 00:14:16.879
 after Good

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:17.740
 Friday if it

00:14:17.740 --> 00:14:18.259
 wasn't for the

00:14:18.259 --> 00:14:18.700
 resurrection?

00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.120
 The fact is

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:20.759
 these guys

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:21.480
 were utterly

00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:22.540
 dejected and

00:14:22.540 --> 00:14:23.480
 terrified after

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.040
 the death of

00:14:24.040 --> 00:14:24.320
 Jesus.

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.340
 They were

00:14:25.340 --> 00:14:26.060
 scared that

00:14:26.060 --> 00:14:26.320
 they were

00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:26.660
 going to be

00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:27.120
 treated in

00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:27.580
 exactly the

00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:27.960
 same way

00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:28.400
 that Jesus

00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:28.680
 had been

00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.060
 treated.

00:14:29.440 --> 00:14:30.100
 They feared

00:14:30.100 --> 00:14:30.480
 for their

00:14:30.480 --> 00:14:31.000
 lives.

00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:32.020
 They did

00:14:32.020 --> 00:14:32.500
 not have

00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:32.940
 hope for

00:14:32.940 --> 00:14:33.860
 a resurrection

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.860
 and they

00:14:34.860 --> 00:14:35.340
 were basically

00:14:35.340 --> 00:14:36.000
 ready to go

00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:36.620
 back fishing

00:14:36.620 --> 00:14:37.259
 when everything

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.980
 died down a

00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:38.300
 little bit.

00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:39.759
 They were

00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:40.700
 hiding in a

00:14:40.700 --> 00:14:41.800
 secluded room

00:14:41.800 --> 00:14:42.659
 and were

00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.440
 unwilling to

00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:44.039
 believe the

00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:44.960
 first reports

00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.519
 of Jesus'

00:14:45.800 --> 00:14:46.460
 appearance three

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.300
 days after he

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.120
 was executed.

00:14:49.560 --> 00:14:50.240
 And yet in a

00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.080
 matter of

00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:52.060
 weeks,

00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.759
 these men

00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:54.580
 were filled

00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:56.279
 overflowing

00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:57.259
 with joy and

00:14:57.259 --> 00:14:58.539
 courage and

00:14:58.539 --> 00:14:59.340
 not only ready

00:14:59.340 --> 00:15:00.259
 to die for

00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:01.120
 Jesus but in

00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.080
 fact did die

00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:02.659
 for Jesus.

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:05.680
 What happened?

00:15:06.980 --> 00:15:07.960
 Their own

00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:09.300
 explanation as

00:15:09.300 --> 00:15:09.720
 to what

00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:11.240
 happened is

00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:11.740
 that we saw

00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:12.519
 Jesus alive

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.279
 after we saw

00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:13.759
 him dead.

00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:18.080
 Now there

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:20.019
 is, quite

00:15:20.019 --> 00:15:21.019
 frankly, far

00:15:21.019 --> 00:15:21.840
 more historical

00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:22.759
 evidence than

00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:23.399
 just that.

00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:24.840
 But doubting the

00:15:24.840 --> 00:15:25.419
 resurrection of

00:15:25.419 --> 00:15:26.000
 Jesus is common

00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:26.580
 and strangely

00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:26.980
 enough the

00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:27.700
 first person to

00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:28.180
 doubt the

00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:29.019
 resurrection is

00:15:29.019 --> 00:15:29.440
 not someone

00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:30.100
 opposed to

00:15:30.100 --> 00:15:30.440
 Jesus.

00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:30.940
 It's one of

00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:31.360
 his close

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:31.800
 followers.

00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.060
 It's a guy

00:15:33.060 --> 00:15:33.759
 named Thomas.

00:15:34.700 --> 00:15:35.519
 As we saw

00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.659
 in John 20,

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.759
 Thomas is the

00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.440
 most famous

00:15:39.440 --> 00:15:39.960
 of doubters.

00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:40.379
 And we've got

00:15:40.379 --> 00:15:41.100
 this saying in

00:15:41.100 --> 00:15:41.840
 our own culture

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.159
 about skeptics

00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.659
 and doubters.

00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.200
 We call them

00:15:44.200 --> 00:15:44.560
 doubting

00:15:44.560 --> 00:15:45.000
 Thomases.

00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:45.500
 And so this

00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:46.480
 poor bloke

00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:47.180
 has had a

00:15:47.180 --> 00:15:47.720
 pretty bad

00:15:47.720 --> 00:15:48.940
 rap for

00:15:48.940 --> 00:15:50.019
 2,000 years.

00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:50.779
 That's what he's

00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:51.180
 known for.

00:15:51.240 --> 00:15:51.720
 He's known for

00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:52.480
 being a doubter.

00:15:53.560 --> 00:15:54.500
 And so for

00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:54.960
 those of us

00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:55.720
 struggling to

00:15:55.720 --> 00:15:56.560
 understand or

00:15:56.560 --> 00:15:57.019
 accept the

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:57.480
 resurrection,

00:15:57.960 --> 00:15:58.420
 you've got to

00:15:58.420 --> 00:15:59.060
 ask yourself the

00:15:59.060 --> 00:15:59.899
 question tonight,

00:15:59.980 --> 00:16:00.659
 if Thomas can

00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:01.360
 help you here.

00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.740
 Is he someone

00:16:02.740 --> 00:16:03.480
 who can help

00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.300
 you in

00:16:04.300 --> 00:16:04.879
 doubts?

00:16:05.379 --> 00:16:05.940
 Now we are

00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:06.480
 told that

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.279
 Thomas wasn't

00:16:08.279 --> 00:16:09.180
 there when

00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:09.960
 Jesus first

00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.399
 appeared to

00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.039
 his disciples

00:16:11.039 --> 00:16:11.840
 soon after he

00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:12.259
 rose from the

00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:12.419
 dead.

00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:12.820
 So have a look

00:16:12.820 --> 00:16:13.740
 at verse 24.

00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:14.480
 It says,

00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:15.300
 Now Thomas

00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:15.960
 called Didymus,

00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:16.360
 one of the

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:16.759
 twelve,

00:16:17.060 --> 00:16:17.659
 was not with

00:16:17.659 --> 00:16:18.139
 the disciples

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:18.639
 when Jesus

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:19.220
 came and so

00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:19.539
 the other

00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:20.440
 disciples told

00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:20.680
 him,

00:16:21.080 --> 00:16:21.659
 we have seen

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:22.180
 the Lord.

00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:23.159
 But he said

00:16:23.159 --> 00:16:23.480
 to them,

00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.960
 unless I see

00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:26.259
 the nail marks

00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:26.840
 in his hands

00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:27.279
 and put my

00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:28.000
 finger where

00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:28.379
 the nails

00:16:28.379 --> 00:16:28.879
 were and put

00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.639
 my hand in

00:16:29.639 --> 00:16:30.300
 his side,

00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:31.539
 I will not

00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:32.100
 believe it.

00:16:33.680 --> 00:16:34.879
 Unless I

00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.639
 see it for

00:16:35.639 --> 00:16:36.279
 myself,

00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.480
 I'm not going

00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:38.000
 to believe it.

00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.019
 I will believe

00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.740
 it if God

00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:41.560
 shows himself.

00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:41.980
 If Jesus

00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:42.440
 comes and

00:16:42.440 --> 00:16:43.019
 shows himself

00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.420
 to me,

00:16:43.419 --> 00:16:44.679
 that's the

00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.179
 condition of

00:16:45.179 --> 00:16:45.759
 my belief.

00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:48.979
 Now,

00:16:49.079 --> 00:16:49.379
 there's a

00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:49.959
 little strange

00:16:49.959 --> 00:16:50.439
 here because

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:52.219
 Thomas is an

00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.240
 orthodox Jew

00:16:53.240 --> 00:16:54.159
 and so the

00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:54.779
 idea of a

00:16:54.779 --> 00:16:55.299
 resurrection

00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:57.500
 is not

00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:58.500
 unusual for

00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:58.799
 him.

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.639
 He believed

00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:03.819
 that all

00:17:03.819 --> 00:17:04.159
 people would

00:17:04.159 --> 00:17:04.720
 be resurrected

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:05.539
 in the end

00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.339
 when God

00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:06.980
 calls this

00:17:06.980 --> 00:17:07.639
 world to an

00:17:07.639 --> 00:17:08.059
 end.

00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:08.799
 And yet he

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.500
 doubts the

00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.440
 resurrection here.

00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:12.480
 And his

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.379
 response

00:17:13.380 --> 00:17:14.500
 to his

00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.620
 mates is

00:17:15.620 --> 00:17:16.300
 in absolute

00:17:16.300 --> 00:17:17.080
 terms.

00:17:17.640 --> 00:17:18.040
 He makes

00:17:18.040 --> 00:17:18.680
 his demands

00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.320
 in absolute

00:17:19.320 --> 00:17:19.720
 terms.

00:17:19.840 --> 00:17:20.360
 Unless I

00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:21.520
 see and I

00:17:21.520 --> 00:17:22.260
 place my

00:17:22.260 --> 00:17:23.320
 hands, I

00:17:23.320 --> 00:17:23.760
 will not

00:17:23.760 --> 00:17:24.140
 believe.

00:17:24.320 --> 00:17:24.960
 He demands

00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:25.900
 exhaustive

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:27.200
 proof rather

00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:28.640
 than sufficient

00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.380
 evidence.

00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:31.360
 So,

00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.100
 believing Jesus,

00:17:32.260 --> 00:17:32.640
 believing the

00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:33.440
 resurrection comes

00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:34.300
 down to a

00:17:34.300 --> 00:17:34.840
 battle of the

00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:35.140
 will.

00:17:37.340 --> 00:17:38.420
 Thomas rejects

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:40.120
 witness of

00:17:40.120 --> 00:17:41.259
 ten or

00:17:41.259 --> 00:17:42.060
 more of his

00:17:42.060 --> 00:17:42.539
 trusted

00:17:42.539 --> 00:17:43.180
 friends.

00:17:43.580 --> 00:17:44.300
 He dictates

00:17:44.300 --> 00:17:45.320
 absolute terms

00:17:45.320 --> 00:17:45.920
 to God about

00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:46.380
 believing.

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.180
 Now, we're

00:17:48.180 --> 00:17:49.000
 not told

00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:50.259
 specifically

00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:52.620
 why Thomas

00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.300
 was so

00:17:53.300 --> 00:17:53.840
 skeptical.

00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:54.240
 So,

00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:54.980
 anything I

00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:56.019
 say as to

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.620
 why he was

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:57.600
 skeptical is

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.320
 speculation.

00:17:59.700 --> 00:18:00.980
 But I'm

00:18:00.980 --> 00:18:01.200
 going to

00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:02.200
 speculate anyway

00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.420
 because it

00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:03.960
 might be helpful

00:18:03.960 --> 00:18:04.480
 for us.

00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:06.740
 maybe it

00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:07.079
 was his

00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.759
 personality.

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:08.779
 Maybe he

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:10.099
 was what

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:10.420
 some

00:18:10.420 --> 00:18:11.039
 personality

00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:12.099
 tests call

00:18:12.099 --> 00:18:13.120
 a sensing

00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:13.860
 person.

00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:16.299
 Myers-Briggs

00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:16.819
 personality

00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:17.500
 tests weren't

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.079
 around in the

00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.680
 first century as

00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:19.240
 far as I'm

00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:19.519
 aware.

00:18:20.860 --> 00:18:22.180
 But sensing

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:25.180
 people are

00:18:25.180 --> 00:18:26.279
 people who

00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:26.779
 pay more

00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:27.480
 attention to

00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:28.680
 physical reality,

00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:29.519
 to facts,

00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.039
 to hard

00:18:30.039 --> 00:18:30.599
 evidence.

00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:32.380
 And I'm

00:18:32.380 --> 00:18:33.039
 one of those

00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:34.360
 sensing people.

00:18:35.140 --> 00:18:35.980
 The opposite

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.539
 is an

00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:36.960
 intuitive

00:18:36.960 --> 00:18:37.579
 person who

00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.000
 goes on

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.819
 perceptions and

00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.440
 gut instincts

00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:39.960
 and that kind

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.400
 of stuff.

00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:41.360
 Another

00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:42.519
 alternative is

00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:43.220
 that he was

00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.019
 skeptical of

00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.559
 everything

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.599
 supernatural or

00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:45.839
 anything

00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:46.500
 supernatural.

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:47.880
 Dead people

00:18:47.880 --> 00:18:48.299
 don't come

00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:48.700
 alive and

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.200
 that's it.

00:18:49.819 --> 00:18:51.019
 It's probably

00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.180
 unlikely for

00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:53.680
 Thomas, but

00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.579
 it's common in

00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.039
 our modern

00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:55.519
 world.

00:18:56.339 --> 00:18:57.059
 Modern secular

00:18:57.059 --> 00:18:58.460
 people have

00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.360
 a worldview

00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:01.380
 which is not

00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:02.079
 a pervasive

00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:02.759
 worldview, I

00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:03.200
 might add,

00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.759
 across this

00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.180
 world.

00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.880
 that says

00:19:05.880 --> 00:19:08.220
 miracles don't

00:19:08.220 --> 00:19:08.700
 happen.

00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:11.720
 Now, it

00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:12.460
 might not be

00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.200
 his problem,

00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:15.460
 but when we

00:19:15.460 --> 00:19:16.019
 look at

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:17.019
 Thomas in

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.519
 John 20, we

00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.980
 project our

00:19:19.980 --> 00:19:20.880
 worldview onto

00:19:20.880 --> 00:19:21.779
 him, is what

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.160
 we do.

00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.759
 We read

00:19:24.759 --> 00:19:25.500
 Thomas and we

00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:26.839
 go, ah, he's

00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.200
 got some

00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:27.620
 intellectual

00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:28.500
 problems with

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.400
 the resurrection.

00:19:29.400 --> 00:19:29.460
 resurrection.

00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:31.640
 You know,

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.320
 Thomas's

00:19:32.320 --> 00:19:33.420
 problem with

00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:33.880
 the resurrection

00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.400
 of Jesus is

00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:34.940
 an intellectual

00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.320
 one.

00:19:35.540 --> 00:19:35.920
 It's about

00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:36.640
 facts.

00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:38.900
 But

00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.660
 skepticism is

00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:42.600
 never just an

00:19:42.600 --> 00:19:43.580
 intellectual issue.

00:19:45.460 --> 00:19:47.000
 Imagine, for

00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.720
 instance, that

00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:48.280
 someone very

00:19:48.280 --> 00:19:49.000
 close to you is

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:49.360
 dying.

00:19:50.780 --> 00:19:51.560
 Some of us

00:19:51.560 --> 00:19:52.220
 might not have to

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:52.940
 imagine too hard

00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:53.420
 on that one.

00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:55.600
 you've finally

00:19:55.600 --> 00:19:57.360
 accepted that the

00:19:57.360 --> 00:19:58.640
 hope of a recovery

00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.860
 for your loved

00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:02.700
 one is gone,

00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:05.100
 it's lost, and

00:20:05.100 --> 00:20:06.039
 your loved one is

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.960
 going to die.

00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:10.259
 And in fact, I've

00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:12.240
 got someone who

00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:12.920
 was in my year at

00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.460
 college going

00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.160
 through that right

00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:14.779
 now with his

00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.220
 family.

00:20:16.660 --> 00:20:17.900
 Then all of a

00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:19.759
 sudden, someone

00:20:19.759 --> 00:20:21.460
 says to you as

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.240
 your loved one is

00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.980
 there, clearly

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:25.700
 dying, terminal

00:20:25.700 --> 00:20:26.460
 illness, someone

00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:27.100
 says to you,

00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.600
 I've just heard

00:20:29.600 --> 00:20:29.880
 there's a

00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:30.620
 possible cure.

00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:32.200
 It's on the

00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:32.700
 other side of

00:20:32.700 --> 00:20:33.160
 the world.

00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.819
 Possible cure in

00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:35.480
 this clinic.

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:40.019
 And you had

00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:40.900
 once upon a

00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:42.759
 time hoped for

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.400
 recovery.

00:20:44.660 --> 00:20:46.000
 And then you

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.680
 went through the

00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:49.920
 process of your

00:20:49.920 --> 00:20:50.700
 hopes being

00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.740
 dashed and you

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.559
 realized that your

00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.340
 loved one is going

00:20:53.340 --> 00:20:54.059
 to die.

00:20:55.759 --> 00:20:56.799
 And all of a

00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:57.620
 sudden, someone

00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:58.420
 comes in with

00:20:58.420 --> 00:21:00.519
 this 50-50

00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:01.700
 chance that it

00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.539
 might not be

00:21:02.539 --> 00:21:02.980
 over.

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.960
 Most people in

00:21:05.960 --> 00:21:06.779
 that moment,

00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:07.920
 don't go

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:11.779
 awesome and

00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:12.360
 all of a sudden

00:21:12.360 --> 00:21:13.220
 their hopes go

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.000
 skyrocketing

00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.279
 again.

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.200
 Most people

00:21:16.200 --> 00:21:16.660
 don't do

00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:16.960
 that.

00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:21.539
 Most people

00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:23.259
 in that moment

00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:24.720
 cannot bear to

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.420
 get their hopes

00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:26.880
 up again only to

00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:27.500
 have their hopes

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.220
 dashed again.

00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:30.380
 They can't bear to

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.019
 get their hopes

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:33.240
 up and then to

00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:34.460
 lose the person

00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:35.059
 again.

00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.240
 Maybe that's

00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.700
 what's happening

00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.120
 here for

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.440
 Thomas.

00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:42.920
 There's no

00:21:42.920 --> 00:21:43.819
 indication in

00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.140
 the Bible

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:44.880
 anywhere that

00:21:44.880 --> 00:21:47.680
 Thomas was a

00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:48.460
 perpetual doubter

00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:49.200
 on all things.

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.480
 There's no

00:21:50.480 --> 00:21:51.400
 indication that he

00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.160
 didn't love Jesus

00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:52.799
 like any of the

00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:53.440
 other disciples

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.019
 loved him.

00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.319
 No reason to

00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.960
 believe that he

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.500
 wasn't as

00:21:56.500 --> 00:21:57.940
 devastated as

00:21:57.940 --> 00:21:59.039
 everyone else

00:21:59.039 --> 00:21:59.819
 about the

00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.620
 execution of

00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:00.919
 Jesus.

00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:02.839
 And now

00:22:02.839 --> 00:22:03.479
 these guys

00:22:03.479 --> 00:22:04.219
 come along

00:22:04.219 --> 00:22:05.799
 and they say,

00:22:05.899 --> 00:22:06.199
 hey Thomas,

00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:06.699
 great news,

00:22:06.739 --> 00:22:07.279
 he's alive.

00:22:10.479 --> 00:22:11.939
 Maybe he's

00:22:11.939 --> 00:22:12.799
 simply saying

00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.119
 here,

00:22:13.299 --> 00:22:14.679
 don't you

00:22:14.679 --> 00:22:15.859
 dare get my

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.379
 hopes up.

00:22:17.179 --> 00:22:17.799
 Don't you

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.859
 dare get my

00:22:18.859 --> 00:22:19.399
 hopes up.

00:22:21.579 --> 00:22:22.359
 Thomas is a

00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:23.119
 disciple who

00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:24.079
 had all his

00:22:24.079 --> 00:22:24.959
 hopes pinned

00:22:24.959 --> 00:22:25.779
 on Jesus.

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:27.299
 and then

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:28.500
 Jesus dies.

00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.579
 And now

00:22:31.579 --> 00:22:32.000
 he's hearing

00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:32.700
 he's alive?

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:33.980
 You're

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.420
 kidding.

00:22:35.059 --> 00:22:35.920
 Don't do

00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:36.639
 that to me.

00:22:39.299 --> 00:22:40.079
 Maybe he's

00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:40.660
 afraid to

00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:40.980
 hope.

00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.980
 In the same

00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.539
 way that

00:22:43.539 --> 00:22:44.899
 many people

00:22:44.899 --> 00:22:45.700
 today are

00:22:45.700 --> 00:22:46.420
 afraid to

00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:46.740
 hope.

00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.200
 It may be

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.599
 that your

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.420
 worldview says

00:22:50.420 --> 00:22:50.980
 this can't

00:22:50.980 --> 00:22:51.279
 happen.

00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.019
 It may be

00:22:53.019 --> 00:22:53.700
 your personality

00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:54.399
 that says,

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.500
 I need more

00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.000
 evidence.

00:22:57.059 --> 00:22:57.799
 It might,

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:58.259
 on the other

00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.480
 hand,

00:22:58.539 --> 00:22:59.180
 be a heart

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.460
 that is

00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.019
 afraid to

00:23:00.019 --> 00:23:00.480
 be drawn

00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.119
 into something

00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:01.579
 and getting

00:23:01.579 --> 00:23:02.240
 disappointed.

00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.559
 I suspect

00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.099
 that's what's

00:23:09.099 --> 00:23:09.640
 going on for

00:23:09.640 --> 00:23:09.980
 Thomas.

00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.079
 And I'll

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.940
 tell you why

00:23:12.940 --> 00:23:13.380
 in a moment.

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:16.160
 What we need

00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:16.660
 to see is

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.019
 Thomas,

00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.700
 the first and

00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:19.579
 most famous

00:23:19.579 --> 00:23:20.440
 of doubters,

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.599
 in the end

00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:22.200
 believed with

00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:22.539
 joy.

00:23:22.859 --> 00:23:23.339
 He's the

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:24.059
 biggest doubter

00:23:24.059 --> 00:23:24.740
 and yet his

00:23:24.740 --> 00:23:25.359
 confession

00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.319
 of faith

00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.059
 is also

00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:27.799
 the greatest.

00:23:28.179 --> 00:23:28.719
 I want to

00:23:28.719 --> 00:23:29.439
 emphasize that

00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:29.819
 point.

00:23:30.939 --> 00:23:31.659
 There is no

00:23:31.659 --> 00:23:32.779
 greater confession

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.779
 of faith in

00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:34.299
 the entire

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:35.059
 Bible than

00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:35.719
 this one.

00:23:36.719 --> 00:23:38.019
 Verse 26.

00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:40.720
 A week later,

00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:41.440
 his disciples

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:41.920
 were in the

00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:42.420
 house again

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.799
 and Thomas

00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:43.299
 was with

00:23:43.299 --> 00:23:43.519
 them.

00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:44.339
 Though the

00:23:44.339 --> 00:23:44.720
 doors were

00:23:44.720 --> 00:23:44.879
 locked,

00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.940
 Jesus came

00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.339
 and stood

00:23:46.339 --> 00:23:46.740
 among them

00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.019
 and said,

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:47.420
 peace be

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.759
 with you.

00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:48.500
 And then

00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:48.900
 he said to

00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.119
 Thomas,

00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:49.579
 put your

00:23:49.579 --> 00:23:50.299
 finger here,

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.420
 see my

00:23:51.420 --> 00:23:51.859
 hands,

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:52.839
 reach out

00:23:52.839 --> 00:23:53.200
 your hand

00:23:53.200 --> 00:23:53.559
 and put it

00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:53.839
 in my

00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:54.240
 side,

00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.019
 stop

00:23:55.019 --> 00:23:55.460
 doubting

00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:56.700
 and believe.

00:23:58.180 --> 00:23:58.740
 And then

00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.200
 Thomas said

00:23:59.200 --> 00:23:59.579
 to him,

00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:00.940
 my Lord

00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.220
 and my

00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.599
 God.

00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.619
 That's a

00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:03.980
 remarkable

00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.460
 statement.

00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:07.120
 for a

00:24:07.120 --> 00:24:07.940
 Jewish man

00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.380
 to call

00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:08.759
 another

00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.180
 human

00:24:09.180 --> 00:24:09.740
 being,

00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:11.500
 not just

00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:12.340
 Lord,

00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.160
 but God

00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:15.940
 is culturally

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:17.539
 incomprehensible.

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:18.840
 His religion

00:24:18.840 --> 00:24:19.259
 did not

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.779
 allow it.

00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:22.380
 There is

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:23.440
 no higher

00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.180
 confession

00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.160
 of faith

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:25.819
 in all

00:24:25.819 --> 00:24:26.140
 of the

00:24:26.140 --> 00:24:26.539
 Bible.

00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:27.319
 Thomas

00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.019
 goes from

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.900
 zero to

00:24:28.900 --> 00:24:29.519
 hero,

00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:30.559
 super

00:24:30.559 --> 00:24:30.980
 quick.

00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.460
 Super

00:24:33.460 --> 00:24:33.779
 quick.

00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:38.220
 So that

00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:38.559
 brings me

00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:38.840
 to the

00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:39.240
 so what

00:24:39.240 --> 00:24:39.740
 question.

00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:41.799
 Of course

00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:42.220
 for some

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:42.660
 their doubts

00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.059
 is not a

00:24:43.059 --> 00:24:43.380
 matter of

00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:43.640
 having

00:24:43.640 --> 00:24:44.279
 significant

00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:44.799
 evidence,

00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.160
 it's a

00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:46.019
 matter of

00:24:46.019 --> 00:24:48.240
 the claims

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:49.079
 that Jesus

00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:49.640
 has made

00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.539
 about himself

00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:51.519
 and his

00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.000
 mission and

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.440
 this is the

00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:52.860
 so what

00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:53.380
 question.

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.220
 That is,

00:24:54.319 --> 00:24:54.660
 it's not

00:24:54.660 --> 00:24:55.400
 just about

00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:56.360
 intellectual

00:24:56.360 --> 00:24:57.259
 stuff,

00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:57.660
 it's about

00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.120
 the heart

00:24:58.120 --> 00:24:58.380
 and the

00:24:58.380 --> 00:24:58.660
 will.

00:25:00.319 --> 00:25:00.840
 That's a

00:25:00.840 --> 00:25:01.620
 comfortable

00:25:01.620 --> 00:25:03.160
 place of

00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:04.120
 happy

00:25:04.119 --> 00:25:04.719
 ignorance

00:25:04.719 --> 00:25:04.959
 for

00:25:04.959 --> 00:25:05.279
 many.

00:25:06.719 --> 00:25:06.939
 Thomas'

00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:07.479
 declaration

00:25:07.479 --> 00:25:08.419
 of faith

00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:08.959
 in verse

00:25:08.959 --> 00:25:09.839
 28

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:11.000
 addresses the

00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:11.479
 so what

00:25:11.479 --> 00:25:12.019
 question.

00:25:12.979 --> 00:25:13.339
 This is

00:25:13.339 --> 00:25:15.219
 broadly the

00:25:15.219 --> 00:25:15.619
 meaning of

00:25:15.619 --> 00:25:16.259
 the resurrection.

00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:18.459
 My

00:25:18.459 --> 00:25:19.059
 Lord

00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:20.119
 and my

00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:20.579
 God.

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:22.879
 So

00:25:22.879 --> 00:25:23.399
 Thomas

00:25:23.399 --> 00:25:24.579
 apparently

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.259
 doubts the

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:25.819
 resurrection

00:25:25.819 --> 00:25:26.819
 and the

00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:28.079
 first words

00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:28.459
 that come

00:25:28.459 --> 00:25:29.099
 out of his

00:25:29.099 --> 00:25:29.819
 mouth in

00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:30.559
 seeing Jesus

00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:31.219
 is not

00:25:31.220 --> 00:25:31.660
 about the

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.120
 resurrection

00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:35.799
 but what

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:35.980
 the

00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.380
 resurrection

00:25:36.380 --> 00:25:36.839
 meant.

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.700
 My

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.299
 Lord and

00:25:39.299 --> 00:25:39.920
 my God.

00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:40.600
 You see,

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.000
 the whole

00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:41.640
 issue

00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.779
 Thomas had

00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:46.059
 was I

00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:46.380
 want to

00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.079
 see Jesus

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.279
 for myself

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:50.600
 and I

00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:50.980
 won't

00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.779
 believe

00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.779
 unless I

00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:53.880
 touch the

00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:54.500
 wounds.

00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:56.460
 Jesus

00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.440
 shows up

00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:58.000
 to Thomas

00:25:58.000 --> 00:26:03.000
 touching the

00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.539
 wounds.

00:26:06.359 --> 00:26:07.339
 At all.

00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.319
 That is,

00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:10.799
 the wounds

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.440
 on Jesus

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:12.279
 were so

00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.960
 much more

00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:13.880
 than evidence

00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:14.819
 that someone

00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.240
 can come

00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.619
 back to

00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:16.119
 life.

00:26:16.480 --> 00:26:16.759
 They were

00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.440
 evidence of

00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:17.980
 something

00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.759
 significantly

00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:19.579
 more powerful

00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.539
 and that

00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:21.519
 is the

00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.079
 hope that

00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.639
 Thomas had

00:26:22.639 --> 00:26:23.159
 placed in

00:26:23.159 --> 00:26:23.619
 Jesus in

00:26:23.619 --> 00:26:23.939
 the first

00:26:23.939 --> 00:26:24.379
 place.

00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:27.879
 What he's

00:26:27.879 --> 00:26:28.419
 saying here

00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:28.699
 in this

00:26:28.699 --> 00:26:29.339
 moment is

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.039
 that everything

00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:30.579
 that Jesus

00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:31.099
 said about

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:31.679
 himself is

00:26:31.679 --> 00:26:32.059
 true.

00:26:32.399 --> 00:26:32.899
 He is

00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:33.279
 God.

00:26:33.359 --> 00:26:33.819
 He is

00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:34.159
 the king

00:26:34.159 --> 00:26:34.419
 of the

00:26:34.419 --> 00:26:34.819
 universe.

00:26:35.179 --> 00:26:35.679
 He is

00:26:35.679 --> 00:26:36.199
 my Lord.

00:26:36.279 --> 00:26:36.679
 He is

00:26:36.679 --> 00:26:37.159
 my king.

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:37.579
 He is

00:26:37.579 --> 00:26:38.079
 my boss.

00:26:38.119 --> 00:26:38.500
 He is

00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:38.980
 my ruler.

00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:39.699
 He is

00:26:39.699 --> 00:26:40.179
 my God.

00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.519
 He is

00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.139
 my creator.

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.699
 The

00:26:41.699 --> 00:26:42.119
 resurrection

00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:43.799
 means that

00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:44.460
 what Jesus

00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:46.740
 promised must

00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.159
 have been

00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.559
 delivered.

00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:50.460
 Thomas has

00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:52.159
 just joyfully

00:26:52.159 --> 00:26:53.619
 discovered that

00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.399
 the wounds of

00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.139
 the cross of

00:26:55.139 --> 00:26:56.359
 Jesus that

00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:57.079
 he thought

00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:57.700
 two days

00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.500
 earlier had

00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.399
 ruined his

00:26:59.399 --> 00:27:01.179
 life had

00:27:01.179 --> 00:27:02.259
 in fact saved

00:27:02.259 --> 00:27:03.019
 his life.

00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:04.480
 That's the

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:04.980
 answer to

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.599
 the so what

00:27:05.599 --> 00:27:06.179
 question.

00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.559
 The resurrection

00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:09.839
 means everything

00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:10.740
 Jesus said

00:27:10.740 --> 00:27:11.679
 about himself

00:27:11.679 --> 00:27:12.740
 is right and

00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.139
 true.

00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.679
 He is the

00:27:14.679 --> 00:27:14.919
 way.

00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:15.720
 He is the

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.039
 truth.

00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.019
 He is the

00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:17.460
 life.

00:27:17.559 --> 00:27:18.639
 He is the

00:27:18.639 --> 00:27:19.579
 way for

00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.619
 humanity to

00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.960
 be reunited

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.759
 with their

00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:23.299
 creator.

00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.500
 Jesus did

00:27:25.500 --> 00:27:26.500
 everything

00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.679
 possible,

00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.319
 everything

00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.899
 possible for

00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:32.259
 us not to

00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.679
 conclude what

00:27:33.679 --> 00:27:34.659
 Benjamin Law

00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:35.359
 concluded.

00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:37.019
 He's a

00:27:37.019 --> 00:27:37.279
 decent

00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:37.599
 fellow.

00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:37.699
 God.

00:27:37.699 --> 00:27:42.399
 How dare we

00:27:42.399 --> 00:27:43.919
 say he's a

00:27:43.919 --> 00:27:44.799
 decent bloke?

00:27:45.699 --> 00:27:47.119
 How dare we

00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:48.619
 say Jesus is

00:27:48.619 --> 00:27:48.980
 to be

00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:49.480
 admired?

00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.159
 He

00:27:54.159 --> 00:27:55.000
 polarized

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:57.240
 people when

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:57.980
 he walked the

00:27:57.980 --> 00:27:58.639
 face of the

00:27:58.639 --> 00:28:00.240
 earth between

00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.079
 those who

00:28:01.079 --> 00:28:01.919
 worshipped him

00:28:01.919 --> 00:28:02.939
 and those who

00:28:02.939 --> 00:28:03.919
 hated him and

00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:04.679
 desired his

00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:05.619
 crucifixion.

00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:07.000
 how dare we

00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:08.599
 domesticate him

00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.719
 into a nice

00:28:09.719 --> 00:28:10.739
 bloke to be

00:28:10.739 --> 00:28:11.500
 admired a

00:28:11.500 --> 00:28:11.839
 couple of

00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:12.299
 times a

00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:12.579
 year.

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:14.639
 He worked

00:28:14.639 --> 00:28:15.579
 hard to make

00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.239
 sure we never

00:28:16.239 --> 00:28:17.279
 come to the

00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.159
 conclusion that

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:18.839
 he's a good

00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:19.279
 bloke.

00:28:20.959 --> 00:28:22.379
 To leave him

00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:24.599
 there as just

00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.579
 a bloke to be

00:28:25.579 --> 00:28:26.559
 admired means

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.619
 that we have not

00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:29.039
 seen him for

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.639
 who he is and

00:28:30.639 --> 00:28:31.259
 we need to

00:28:31.259 --> 00:28:31.979
 actually look

00:28:31.979 --> 00:28:32.659
 harder at who

00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.200
 he is.

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:34.800
 The

00:28:34.800 --> 00:28:35.279
 resurrection

00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.940
 means he

00:28:36.940 --> 00:28:38.240
 is who he

00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:39.000
 says he is.

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.960
 He is our

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:41.180
 God and he

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.100
 is our

00:28:42.100 --> 00:28:42.759
 Lord.

00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:45.120
 But it

00:28:45.120 --> 00:28:46.100
 also graciously

00:28:46.100 --> 00:28:46.759
 means that

00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.660
 human guilt and

00:28:47.660 --> 00:28:48.580
 shame has been

00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.140
 dealt with

00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:49.720
 finally and

00:28:49.720 --> 00:28:50.940
 fully through

00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.080
 Jesus satisfying

00:28:52.080 --> 00:28:53.019
 God's justice on

00:28:53.019 --> 00:28:53.640
 the cross on our

00:28:53.640 --> 00:28:54.100
 behalf.

00:28:54.600 --> 00:28:55.360
 It means that

00:28:55.360 --> 00:28:56.240
 death has been

00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:57.420
 confronted by

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.460
 him and has

00:28:58.460 --> 00:28:59.240
 been conquered

00:28:59.240 --> 00:28:59.880
 by him.

00:29:00.100 --> 00:29:00.820
 It means that

00:29:00.820 --> 00:29:01.480
 new and true

00:29:01.480 --> 00:29:02.120
 life can be

00:29:02.120 --> 00:29:03.240
 experienced before

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:03.779
 death and

00:29:03.779 --> 00:29:04.500
 eternal life

00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:05.220
 after death.

00:29:05.620 --> 00:29:06.259
 It means that

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:07.339
 hope for better

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:08.259
 things has gone

00:29:08.259 --> 00:29:09.000
 from the category

00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:10.559
 of a maybe to

00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.259
 an absolute

00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:12.279
 certainty, a

00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:13.019
 definitive

00:29:13.019 --> 00:29:13.819
 certainty.

00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:15.259
 It means that

00:29:15.259 --> 00:29:16.279
 the new heavens

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.779
 and a new

00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:17.400
 earth where

00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:17.860
 those who

00:29:17.860 --> 00:29:18.680
 trust in Christ

00:29:18.680 --> 00:29:19.059
 will live

00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:20.099
 forever like

00:29:20.099 --> 00:29:20.900
 he lives forever

00:29:20.900 --> 00:29:21.779
 is coming.

00:29:22.880 --> 00:29:23.579
 This is what

00:29:23.579 --> 00:29:24.740
 Jesus offers

00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:25.860
 everyone who

00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:26.620
 trusts him.

00:29:27.539 --> 00:29:28.039
 A number of

00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.759
 chapters earlier

00:29:28.759 --> 00:29:29.599
 in John's

00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.039
 gospel.

00:29:31.160 --> 00:29:31.859
 The good

00:29:31.859 --> 00:29:32.460
 news, Jesus

00:29:32.460 --> 00:29:33.480
 talks about

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.200
 the good

00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.039
 news and

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.819
 he declares

00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.680
 the life

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:37.559
 changing news

00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.039
 of Easter

00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:38.359
 when he

00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:38.940
 says, I

00:29:38.940 --> 00:29:39.900
 am the

00:29:39.900 --> 00:29:40.299
 resurrection

00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.059
 and the

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:41.900
 life and

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.460
 the one

00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.299
 who believes

00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:43.980
 in me will

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:45.039
 live even

00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:45.539
 though they

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.259
 die and

00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:47.079
 whoever lives

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.119
 by believing

00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:48.879
 in me will

00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.740
 never die.

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.140
 He says, do

00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:51.619
 you believe

00:29:51.619 --> 00:29:52.019
 this?

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:56.599
 the

00:29:56.599 --> 00:29:57.039
 resurrection

00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:57.819
 means that

00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.700
 Jesus is not

00:29:58.700 --> 00:29:59.339
 just one

00:29:59.339 --> 00:29:59.900
 option.

00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.000
 Something

00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:05.000
 incredible,

00:30:05.859 --> 00:30:06.819
 unique and

00:30:06.819 --> 00:30:07.759
 life changing

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:09.079
 and worldview

00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.720
 shaping has

00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:11.240
 happened with

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:11.879
 the resurrection

00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.559
 of Jesus.

00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:14.599
 And that

00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:15.079
 is what

00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:17.279
 Thomas has

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:17.779
 discovered.

00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:20.899
 So how

00:30:20.899 --> 00:30:21.119
 do we

00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:21.740
 move from

00:30:21.740 --> 00:30:22.700
 doubt to

00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.079
 belief?

00:30:24.899 --> 00:30:25.500
 A number

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:25.839
 of years

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.920
 ago, I

00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:29.500
 was in

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:31.059
 Canada, an

00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.879
 airport moving

00:30:31.879 --> 00:30:33.440
 from Canada to

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:35.240
 the US and

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.980
 you go to

00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.200
 customs and

00:30:37.200 --> 00:30:37.579
 the guy at

00:30:37.579 --> 00:30:38.460
 customs said,

00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:38.779
 you know,

00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:39.160
 where are you

00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:39.500
 going?

00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.259
 I'm going

00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.619
 home.

00:30:41.160 --> 00:30:41.379
 He says,

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:41.839
 what do you,

00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.440
 you know,

00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:42.859
 they ask you

00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.240
 the questions,

00:30:43.299 --> 00:30:43.519
 what do you

00:30:43.519 --> 00:30:43.680
 do?

00:30:43.779 --> 00:30:44.160
 What's your

00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:44.579
 nature, your

00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:44.839
 business,

00:30:44.940 --> 00:30:45.259
 that sort of

00:30:45.259 --> 00:30:45.500
 stuff?

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:45.720
 And he

00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:45.960
 said, so

00:30:45.960 --> 00:30:46.220
 what do you

00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.399
 do?

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:46.599
 And I

00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:46.819
 said, well,

00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.220
 I'm pastor

00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:47.420
 of a

00:30:47.420 --> 00:30:47.700
 church.

00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:48.680
 All right,

00:30:49.160 --> 00:30:49.480
 you're one

00:30:49.480 --> 00:30:49.700
 of those

00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.319
 God-botherer

00:30:50.319 --> 00:30:50.680
 guys.

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.559
 Yes, you

00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:53.019
 know, let's

00:30:53.019 --> 00:30:53.960
 not elevate

00:30:53.960 --> 00:30:54.559
 the situation

00:30:54.559 --> 00:30:55.180
 too much.

00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:58.420
 And he

00:30:58.420 --> 00:30:59.339
 said to

00:30:59.339 --> 00:30:59.819
 me, okay

00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:01.180
 then, if

00:31:01.180 --> 00:31:01.480
 that's the

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:01.920
 case, what

00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:02.220
 would you

00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:02.779
 say to a

00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:03.539
 person who

00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:04.039
 says to

00:31:04.039 --> 00:31:04.619
 you, show

00:31:04.619 --> 00:31:05.359
 me God

00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:06.339
 and I'll

00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:07.019
 believe in

00:31:07.019 --> 00:31:07.359
 him?

00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.279
 I'm like,

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:10.859
 is this a

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:12.519
 pass the

00:31:12.519 --> 00:31:13.259
 test category?

00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:13.899
 Like, what's

00:31:13.899 --> 00:31:14.339
 going on

00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:14.599
 here?

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.180
 You know,

00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:15.399
 is he

00:31:15.399 --> 00:31:15.779
 actually

00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:16.200
 seriously

00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:16.819
 asking the

00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:17.220
 question for

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.759
 himself or

00:31:17.759 --> 00:31:18.079
 for a

00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:18.339
 friend?

00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:19.240
 Or is

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:19.740
 this like

00:31:19.740 --> 00:31:20.140
 the guy

00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:20.579
 was actually

00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.400
 secretly a

00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:21.940
 theologian?

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.299
 He's trying

00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.480
 to call me

00:31:23.480 --> 00:31:24.000
 out here.

00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:26.559
 And I

00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.180
 thought, okay,

00:31:28.100 --> 00:31:28.700
 let's have a

00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:29.339
 crack at this.

00:31:29.960 --> 00:31:30.319
 And I

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:30.779
 said to him,

00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:31.180
 well, it's

00:31:31.180 --> 00:31:31.539
 interesting you

00:31:31.539 --> 00:31:31.920
 could ask that

00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.259
 question.

00:31:32.259 --> 00:31:33.119
 Jesus said,

00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:35.539
 Jesus said, you

00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:37.279
 see me and

00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.559
 you see the

00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.000
 Father, you

00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:39.819
 see God.

00:31:40.220 --> 00:31:40.480
 And what

00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.640
 Jesus did is

00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:43.319
 he revealed the

00:31:43.319 --> 00:31:43.879
 character and

00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:44.460
 the nature of

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.720
 God for three

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.279
 years on the

00:31:46.279 --> 00:31:46.539
 earth.

00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.299
 He did

00:31:47.299 --> 00:31:47.839
 countless

00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.299
 miracles.

00:31:48.460 --> 00:31:48.960
 He raised

00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:49.319
 the dead.

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:49.680
 He healed

00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:50.039
 people.

00:31:50.039 --> 00:31:51.319
 He showed

00:31:51.319 --> 00:31:51.920
 his power

00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:52.859
 over nature.

00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:54.180
 Plenty of

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:55.039
 people saw

00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:55.599
 him do that.

00:31:55.680 --> 00:31:55.799
 And I

00:31:55.799 --> 00:31:56.259
 said, plenty

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:56.680
 of people

00:31:56.680 --> 00:31:57.839
 saw him do

00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.359
 this most

00:31:58.359 --> 00:31:59.199
 amazing

00:31:59.199 --> 00:32:00.839
 miracle where

00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:01.579
 he called

00:32:01.579 --> 00:32:02.399
 Lazarus, a

00:32:02.399 --> 00:32:03.079
 guy being dead

00:32:03.079 --> 00:32:03.500
 in the tomb

00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:04.139
 for four days,

00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:04.519
 called him

00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:05.000
 out of a

00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:05.679
 tomb and

00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.379
 they saw

00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:07.319
 him walk

00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:07.839
 out of the

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.539
 tomb at

00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:09.000
 the command

00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:09.539
 of Jesus.

00:32:09.679 --> 00:32:09.899
 He had

00:32:09.899 --> 00:32:10.599
 power over

00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.279
 life and

00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:11.799
 death.

00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:12.980
 And yet in

00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.579
 that moment

00:32:13.579 --> 00:32:14.039
 when people

00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:15.039
 saw Jesus

00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.879
 do that,

00:32:16.220 --> 00:32:16.720
 half of the

00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.220
 crowd went,

00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:17.699
 well, that's

00:32:17.699 --> 00:32:18.480
 amazing, let's

00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:19.039
 worship him.

00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:19.559
 And half the

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.039
 crowd said,

00:32:20.319 --> 00:32:21.139
 let's call him.

00:32:21.399 --> 00:32:22.579
 He's messing

00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:23.379
 things up for

00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:23.779
 us.

00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:24.819
 So I said

00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:25.439
 to him, the

00:32:25.439 --> 00:32:26.459
 reality is, even

00:32:26.459 --> 00:32:27.119
 if God was to

00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.720
 present himself

00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.400
 to you right

00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:29.039
 now, seeing

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.660
 doesn't equal

00:32:29.660 --> 00:32:30.200
 believing.

00:32:30.360 --> 00:32:30.759
 Got to know

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.279
 that from a

00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:31.620
 start.

00:32:31.960 --> 00:32:32.440
 John chapter

00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:33.279
 20, Jesus

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:34.100
 himself says,

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:34.579
 blessed are

00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.039
 those who

00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:35.920
 don't physically

00:32:35.920 --> 00:32:37.100
 see me and

00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:37.920
 yet believe.

00:32:38.299 --> 00:32:38.759
 And so there

00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.380
 is sufficient

00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.860
 evidence that's

00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.420
 been written

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.279
 down by those

00:32:42.279 --> 00:32:43.100
 who did see

00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:44.799
 Jesus and

00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.200
 come to

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:45.620
 believe in

00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:45.819
 him.

00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:46.360
 But in the

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:47.100
 end, you

00:32:47.100 --> 00:32:47.539
 can look at

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.140
 that evidence

00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:49.000
 and discard it.

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.759
 It's a matter

00:32:49.759 --> 00:32:50.480
 of the will.

00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:51.980
 And I said, I

00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:52.680
 could be God

00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.660
 right here, right

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.559
 now in front of

00:32:54.559 --> 00:32:56.559
 you and just

00:32:56.559 --> 00:32:56.900
 happen to have

00:32:56.900 --> 00:32:57.539
 a passport.

00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.360
 And I

00:32:58.360 --> 00:32:59.000
 could say to

00:32:59.000 --> 00:32:59.420
 you, I

00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:00.240
 am God and

00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:00.779
 I could do

00:33:00.779 --> 00:33:01.319
 all of the

00:33:01.319 --> 00:33:01.900
 miracles of

00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:02.240
 Jesus.

00:33:02.420 --> 00:33:04.240
 But frankly, you

00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:04.900
 if you don't

00:33:04.900 --> 00:33:05.440
 want to believe

00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:05.819
 are going to

00:33:05.819 --> 00:33:06.579
 keep changing

00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.799
 the goalposts.

00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:08.400
 It's going to

00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.100
 be perform that

00:33:09.100 --> 00:33:09.440
 miracle.

00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:09.860
 Okay.

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.539
 And eventually

00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:11.500
 I'm going to

00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:12.819
 be at your

00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.220
 beck and

00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:13.980
 calling and

00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.779
 the God that

00:33:14.779 --> 00:33:15.299
 you have in

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:15.960
 your mind is

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.460
 someone that

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.240
 you've formed.

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:19.460
 So believing

00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.360
 in Jesus is not

00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:20.920
 just a matter of

00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.519
 seeing him.

00:33:21.579 --> 00:33:22.039
 It's a matter of

00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:22.519
 the will and

00:33:22.519 --> 00:33:23.140
 surrendering your

00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:23.740
 heart to him.

00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:26.180
 That's roughly

00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:26.759
 what I'd say.

00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:30.440
 And the

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:30.839
 guy just

00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:31.240
 stamped my

00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.920
 passport and

00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.839
 let me go.

00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:37.319
 Seeing is not

00:33:37.319 --> 00:33:38.079
 necessarily

00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:38.660
 believing.

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:40.980
 As I said,

00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.880
 many people saw

00:33:41.880 --> 00:33:42.559
 the miracles of

00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:43.500
 Jesus and yet

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.019
 they didn't

00:33:44.019 --> 00:33:44.380
 believe.

00:33:44.380 --> 00:33:47.540
 there are way

00:33:47.540 --> 00:33:48.980
 deeper dimensions

00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:49.680
 to believing

00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:50.180
 than just

00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:50.480
 seeing.

00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.980
 How then do

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:55.480
 we move from

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:55.900
 doubt to

00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:56.300
 belief?

00:33:57.300 --> 00:33:58.640
 Firstly, two

00:33:58.640 --> 00:33:59.380
 points I want to

00:33:59.380 --> 00:33:59.920
 make on this.

00:34:00.020 --> 00:34:00.560
 Firstly, it's

00:34:00.560 --> 00:34:01.160
 important to

00:34:01.160 --> 00:34:01.760
 listen to the

00:34:01.760 --> 00:34:02.160
 eyewitness

00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.780
 accounts.

00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:03.520
 That's the

00:34:03.520 --> 00:34:04.000
 first step.

00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.040
 We are told

00:34:05.040 --> 00:34:05.820
 that Thomas

00:34:05.820 --> 00:34:06.900
 was there when

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:07.540
 Jesus first

00:34:07.540 --> 00:34:08.099
 appeared to the

00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:08.599
 disciples.

00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.840
 One week

00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.900
 later, Jesus

00:34:10.900 --> 00:34:11.720
 shows up again

00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:12.220
 with Thomas

00:34:12.220 --> 00:34:12.640
 present.

00:34:12.639 --> 00:34:14.359
 During the

00:34:14.359 --> 00:34:14.879
 week in

00:34:14.879 --> 00:34:16.319
 between, we

00:34:16.319 --> 00:34:16.920
 are told in

00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:17.920
 verse 25,

00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.019
 that the

00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.839
 other disciples

00:34:19.839 --> 00:34:20.859
 kept telling

00:34:20.859 --> 00:34:21.579
 Thomas that

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:22.199
 they'd seen

00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.039
 Jesus risen.

00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:24.339
 In fact, the

00:34:24.339 --> 00:34:25.079
 original language

00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:25.980
 is really clear.

00:34:26.379 --> 00:34:27.400
 It kept

00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.179
 telling him,

00:34:28.480 --> 00:34:29.159
 telling him,

00:34:29.299 --> 00:34:29.739
 telling him,

00:34:29.839 --> 00:34:30.239
 telling him,

00:34:30.319 --> 00:34:30.699
 telling him,

00:34:30.759 --> 00:34:31.579
 telling him that

00:34:31.579 --> 00:34:32.659
 Jesus has

00:34:32.659 --> 00:34:33.159
 risen.

00:34:34.779 --> 00:34:35.119
 And so

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:35.699
 during that

00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:37.519
 week, before

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.219
 Jesus appeared

00:34:38.219 --> 00:34:38.900
 to Thomas,

00:34:39.279 --> 00:34:39.879
 Thomas is in

00:34:39.879 --> 00:34:40.759
 exactly the

00:34:40.759 --> 00:34:41.599
 same spot that

00:34:41.599 --> 00:34:42.460
 you and I are

00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:42.720
 in.

00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:46.139
 Like him, we

00:34:46.139 --> 00:34:47.280
 have access to

00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.320
 people who saw

00:34:48.320 --> 00:34:49.380
 Jesus raised

00:34:49.380 --> 00:34:50.039
 from the dead.

00:34:50.820 --> 00:34:52.820
 In fact, they

00:34:52.820 --> 00:34:53.760
 are the exact

00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:54.699
 same people that

00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.300
 Thomas had

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.159
 access to.

00:34:56.900 --> 00:34:57.760
 Their eyewitness

00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:58.579
 accounts are

00:34:58.579 --> 00:34:59.300
 written down in

00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:00.059
 the New Testament

00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:01.340
 and especially

00:35:01.340 --> 00:35:02.220
 the Gospels, one

00:35:02.220 --> 00:35:02.599
 of which we're

00:35:02.599 --> 00:35:03.159
 looking at here

00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:03.599
 tonight in

00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.199
 John's Gospel.

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:05.980
 A number of

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.500
 years ago,

00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.920
 several decades

00:35:07.920 --> 00:35:09.880
 ago, it was a

00:35:09.880 --> 00:35:10.940
 common accusation

00:35:10.940 --> 00:35:11.720
 that the Gospel

00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:12.459
 accounts of

00:35:12.459 --> 00:35:13.039
 Jesus are

00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:14.279
 fables that

00:35:14.279 --> 00:35:14.559
 are written

00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:15.119
 down long

00:35:15.119 --> 00:35:15.599
 after the

00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:16.419
 events, way,

00:35:16.519 --> 00:35:17.039
 way after the

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:17.439
 events, and

00:35:17.439 --> 00:35:17.839
 therefore they're

00:35:17.839 --> 00:35:18.459
 not trustworthy.

00:35:19.739 --> 00:35:20.759
 The reality

00:35:20.759 --> 00:35:22.759
 is that

00:35:22.759 --> 00:35:23.439
 there is

00:35:23.439 --> 00:35:25.119
 enormous amount

00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:26.079
 of scholarship,

00:35:26.579 --> 00:35:27.139
 both Christian

00:35:27.139 --> 00:35:27.899
 and secular,

00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.619
 that actually

00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:31.359
 argues that

00:35:31.359 --> 00:35:32.239
 the Gospels

00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:32.919
 in the New

00:35:32.919 --> 00:35:34.459
 Testament do

00:35:34.459 --> 00:35:35.399
 not have any

00:35:35.399 --> 00:35:36.079
 marks of

00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:36.939
 fiction in them

00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:37.780
 at all.

00:35:39.960 --> 00:35:41.280
 They have the

00:35:41.280 --> 00:35:42.900
 marks of oral

00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.840
 history and

00:35:43.840 --> 00:35:44.619
 eyewitness

00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.320
 testimony.

00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.280
 When these

00:35:48.280 --> 00:35:48.840
 events were

00:35:48.840 --> 00:35:49.720
 written down,

00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:50.960
 nearly all of

00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:52.200
 the eyewitnesses

00:35:52.200 --> 00:35:53.659
 were still alive

00:35:53.659 --> 00:35:54.500
 and could vouch

00:35:54.500 --> 00:35:55.079
 for them.

00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:56.340
 That is

00:35:56.340 --> 00:35:57.480
 essential piece

00:35:57.480 --> 00:35:58.159
 of information

00:35:58.159 --> 00:36:00.400
 as we read

00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:00.679
 in 1

00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.559
 Corinthians 15.

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:03.019
 I could come

00:36:03.019 --> 00:36:03.440
 up with a

00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:04.200
 fable right now,

00:36:04.260 --> 00:36:04.780
 I could write it

00:36:04.780 --> 00:36:05.460
 down, send it

00:36:05.460 --> 00:36:05.920
 off the City

00:36:05.920 --> 00:36:06.500
 Morning Herald

00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:08.220
 and tell

00:36:08.220 --> 00:36:09.099
 everyone, I

00:36:09.099 --> 00:36:09.679
 just saw

00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:10.500
 last night

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.340
 a UFO

00:36:11.340 --> 00:36:13.079
 land in

00:36:13.079 --> 00:36:13.559
 Chatswood,

00:36:13.720 --> 00:36:14.380
 believe me.

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.579
 Angels came

00:36:16.579 --> 00:36:17.720
 down and I

00:36:17.720 --> 00:36:18.240
 could start

00:36:18.240 --> 00:36:18.940
 that going.

00:36:20.619 --> 00:36:21.280
 Anyone who

00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:21.579
 was in

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:22.079
 Chatswood at

00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:22.639
 the time

00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:23.220
 could say,

00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:23.820
 well, that's

00:36:23.820 --> 00:36:24.119
 a load of

00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:24.380
 rubbish.

00:36:25.179 --> 00:36:25.780
 That didn't

00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:26.519
 happen, that's

00:36:26.519 --> 00:36:27.659
 a fable, that's

00:36:27.659 --> 00:36:28.199
 not true.

00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.139
 It was

00:36:34.139 --> 00:36:34.639
 absolutely

00:36:34.639 --> 00:36:35.440
 essential that

00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:35.900
 there was

00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.559
 lots of

00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:37.039
 people that

00:36:37.039 --> 00:36:37.340
 you could

00:36:37.340 --> 00:36:37.900
 go to in

00:36:37.900 --> 00:36:38.260
 the first

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:39.260
 century when

00:36:39.260 --> 00:36:39.780
 these guys

00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.260
 wrote their

00:36:40.260 --> 00:36:42.139
 accounts and

00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:42.940
 no one was

00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:43.599
 coming back at

00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:44.039
 them saying,

00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:44.340
 well, that

00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:44.840
 didn't happen.

00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:47.639
 Jesus didn't

00:36:47.639 --> 00:36:48.099
 exist.

00:36:49.059 --> 00:36:49.460
 The sort of

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.220
 fables that

00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:51.099
 modern secular

00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.840
 people come up

00:36:51.840 --> 00:36:52.139
 with.

00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:53.019
 He wasn't

00:36:53.019 --> 00:36:53.460
 crucified.

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.860
 John, who

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.340
 wrote this

00:36:57.340 --> 00:36:58.179
 biography, was

00:36:58.179 --> 00:36:58.639
 one of the

00:36:58.639 --> 00:36:59.380
 eyewitnesses and

00:36:59.380 --> 00:36:59.860
 this is what he

00:36:59.860 --> 00:37:01.039
 says about how

00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.760
 we come to see

00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:02.280
 and believe in

00:37:02.280 --> 00:37:02.820
 verse 30.

00:37:02.820 --> 00:37:04.280
 Jesus did

00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:05.360
 many other

00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:06.220
 miraculous signs

00:37:06.220 --> 00:37:06.740
 in the presence

00:37:06.740 --> 00:37:07.460
 of his disciples

00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:08.000
 which are not

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:08.620
 recorded in

00:37:08.620 --> 00:37:10.019
 this book, but

00:37:10.019 --> 00:37:11.019
 these are

00:37:11.019 --> 00:37:12.500
 written, that

00:37:12.500 --> 00:37:13.120
 is the ones he

00:37:13.120 --> 00:37:13.700
 has written,

00:37:14.160 --> 00:37:15.280
 that you might

00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:15.960
 believe that

00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.660
 Jesus is the

00:37:16.660 --> 00:37:17.180
 Christ, the

00:37:17.180 --> 00:37:17.800
 Son of God, and

00:37:17.800 --> 00:37:18.400
 that by believing

00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:18.880
 you may have

00:37:18.880 --> 00:37:19.460
 life in his

00:37:19.460 --> 00:37:19.760
 name.

00:37:20.280 --> 00:37:20.940
 What he is

00:37:20.940 --> 00:37:21.500
 saying is that

00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.260
 what he has

00:37:22.260 --> 00:37:23.260
 written in

00:37:23.260 --> 00:37:23.980
 this biography

00:37:23.980 --> 00:37:24.440
 of Jesus'

00:37:24.620 --> 00:37:25.460
 life, his

00:37:25.460 --> 00:37:26.080
 ministry, his

00:37:26.080 --> 00:37:26.640
 death and his

00:37:26.640 --> 00:37:27.960
 resurrection, is

00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:28.980
 by an eyewitness

00:37:28.980 --> 00:37:29.960
 and that's

00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:30.599
 all you need

00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.179
 to believe.

00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:36.199
 And frankly, it

00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:36.880
 makes pure

00:37:36.880 --> 00:37:39.400
 sense because

00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:40.099
 it's how we

00:37:40.099 --> 00:37:41.639
 operate in

00:37:41.639 --> 00:37:42.980
 every area the

00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:43.400
 rest of our

00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:43.800
 life.

00:37:44.240 --> 00:37:45.099
 What I mean is

00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:47.099
 this, how many

00:37:47.099 --> 00:37:47.900
 of the things

00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:48.619
 that you believe

00:37:48.619 --> 00:37:49.280
 happened in

00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:50.079
 history did you

00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:50.920
 actually see?

00:37:50.920 --> 00:37:55.300
 How many of

00:37:55.300 --> 00:37:56.320
 the things that

00:37:56.320 --> 00:37:57.119
 you believe

00:37:57.119 --> 00:37:57.720
 happened in

00:37:57.720 --> 00:37:58.360
 history did

00:37:58.360 --> 00:37:59.200
 you actually

00:37:59.200 --> 00:37:59.659
 see?

00:38:02.500 --> 00:38:03.500
 We actually

00:38:03.500 --> 00:38:04.880
 believe eyewitness

00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:06.440
 testimony that's

00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:07.400
 been written down

00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:08.220
 by historically

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:09.360
 reliable authors.

00:38:10.480 --> 00:38:11.159
 And so why do

00:38:11.159 --> 00:38:11.700
 we not do it

00:38:11.700 --> 00:38:12.260
 when it comes to

00:38:12.260 --> 00:38:12.780
 the person of

00:38:12.780 --> 00:38:13.079
 Jesus?

00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:15.500
 Because it's

00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:16.180
 not a historical

00:38:16.180 --> 00:38:16.720
 fact.

00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:18.280
 It's got to do

00:38:18.280 --> 00:38:19.039
 with his claims.

00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:20.420
 It's got to do

00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:20.900
 with who he

00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:21.500
 is and his

00:38:21.500 --> 00:38:22.139
 demands in our

00:38:22.139 --> 00:38:22.480
 life.

00:38:25.960 --> 00:38:26.680
 We don't need

00:38:26.680 --> 00:38:27.579
 to know anything

00:38:27.579 --> 00:38:28.220
 more than what

00:38:28.220 --> 00:38:28.820
 John's written in

00:38:28.820 --> 00:38:29.579
 this gospel or

00:38:29.579 --> 00:38:30.019
 any of the other

00:38:30.019 --> 00:38:31.019
 biographies to see

00:38:31.019 --> 00:38:31.680
 and to believe.

00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:33.099
 It's a matter of

00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:33.400
 the will.

00:38:35.480 --> 00:38:36.119
 So can I

00:38:36.119 --> 00:38:36.599
 encourage you to

00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:37.380
 give one a read?

00:38:37.579 --> 00:38:38.160
 Get yourself

00:38:38.160 --> 00:38:39.019
 immersed in it.

00:38:39.059 --> 00:38:39.460
 If you've not

00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:40.240
 done that, read

00:38:40.240 --> 00:38:40.920
 them as eyewitness

00:38:40.920 --> 00:38:41.740
 accounts and

00:38:41.740 --> 00:38:42.400
 think.

00:38:43.340 --> 00:38:43.740
 Think.

00:38:44.820 --> 00:38:45.440
 Grab one.

00:38:45.599 --> 00:38:45.740
 You know,

00:38:45.780 --> 00:38:47.019
 there's Bibles at

00:38:47.019 --> 00:38:47.579
 the entrances.

00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:48.599
 You know, we

00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:49.360
 won't even call it

00:38:49.360 --> 00:38:49.840
 stealing.

00:38:50.059 --> 00:38:50.360
 We'll just

00:38:50.360 --> 00:38:51.440
 take one home.

00:38:51.940 --> 00:38:52.640
 We'll call it a

00:38:52.640 --> 00:38:52.920
 gift.

00:38:53.340 --> 00:38:54.079
 Just take one.

00:38:54.220 --> 00:38:54.940
 In fact, we've

00:38:54.940 --> 00:38:55.440
 even got some

00:38:55.440 --> 00:38:56.240
 Chinese versions

00:38:56.240 --> 00:38:56.880
 here as well

00:38:56.880 --> 00:38:57.900
 floating around.

00:38:58.340 --> 00:38:59.099
 Just take them

00:38:59.099 --> 00:39:00.240
 and read them.

00:39:01.840 --> 00:39:02.460
 The second thing

00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:03.579
 to do, to move

00:39:03.579 --> 00:39:04.280
 from doubt to

00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:05.059
 belief, is to

00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:05.480
 drop your

00:39:05.480 --> 00:39:05.940
 conditions.

00:39:07.300 --> 00:39:08.079
 Every single

00:39:08.079 --> 00:39:08.800
 one of us

00:39:08.800 --> 00:39:09.980
 moves towards

00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:11.019
 Jesus with a

00:39:11.019 --> 00:39:11.760
 set of conditions.

00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:13.260
 No one ever

00:39:13.260 --> 00:39:14.300
 goes to Jesus

00:39:14.300 --> 00:39:15.519
 because he's

00:39:15.519 --> 00:39:16.519
 great and he's

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.360
 God and he's

00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:18.280
 Lord for his own

00:39:18.280 --> 00:39:18.660
 sake.

00:39:19.380 --> 00:39:20.240
 We always

00:39:20.240 --> 00:39:21.040
 move towards

00:39:21.040 --> 00:39:21.900
 him because

00:39:21.900 --> 00:39:22.519
 we want

00:39:22.519 --> 00:39:23.540
 something which

00:39:23.540 --> 00:39:24.360
 means we have

00:39:24.360 --> 00:39:24.840
 conditions.

00:39:27.900 --> 00:39:28.680
 I've known

00:39:28.680 --> 00:39:29.600
 of people who

00:39:29.600 --> 00:39:30.500
 have refused

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.800
 to become

00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:33.420
 Christian because

00:39:33.420 --> 00:39:34.040
 it would mean

00:39:34.040 --> 00:39:34.500
 that they would

00:39:34.500 --> 00:39:35.640
 need to repair

00:39:35.640 --> 00:39:36.780
 a relationship or

00:39:36.780 --> 00:39:37.720
 to change a

00:39:37.720 --> 00:39:38.100
 habit.

00:39:39.160 --> 00:39:39.340
 You know,

00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:39.720
 like people,

00:39:40.080 --> 00:39:41.100
 Steve, you mean

00:39:41.100 --> 00:39:41.940
 Jesus offers me

00:39:41.940 --> 00:39:42.660
 eternal life but

00:39:42.660 --> 00:39:43.080
 if I want to take

00:39:43.080 --> 00:39:43.880
 up eternal life,

00:39:43.960 --> 00:39:44.300
 you mean I've got

00:39:44.300 --> 00:39:44.860
 to forgive my

00:39:44.860 --> 00:39:45.280
 mother-in-law?

00:39:46.880 --> 00:39:47.640
 Deal off.

00:39:48.519 --> 00:39:49.019
 That ain't gonna

00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:49.340
 happen.

00:39:51.140 --> 00:39:52.080
 And that's all

00:39:52.080 --> 00:39:52.539
 of us.

00:39:53.420 --> 00:39:54.360
 It's like he

00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:55.580
 offers us

00:39:55.580 --> 00:39:57.200
 eternal life,

00:39:58.200 --> 00:40:00.440
 sounds fantastic

00:40:00.440 --> 00:40:03.000
 but I don't

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.680
 really want him

00:40:03.680 --> 00:40:04.420
 to disrupt my

00:40:04.420 --> 00:40:04.840
 family.

00:40:07.320 --> 00:40:08.640
 I really don't

00:40:08.640 --> 00:40:09.260
 want him to

00:40:09.260 --> 00:40:10.000
 interfere with my

00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:10.519
 career.

00:40:10.519 --> 00:40:13.079
 don't want him

00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:16.539
 to start

00:40:16.539 --> 00:40:17.239
 dominating my

00:40:17.239 --> 00:40:17.780
 weekend,

00:40:19.280 --> 00:40:20.820
 eternal life

00:40:20.820 --> 00:40:21.980
 or the

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:22.360
 beach.

00:40:26.820 --> 00:40:27.579
 We need to

00:40:27.579 --> 00:40:28.019
 drop our

00:40:28.019 --> 00:40:29.039
 conditions because

00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:29.759
 they say,

00:40:30.199 --> 00:40:30.739
 Jesus, you

00:40:30.739 --> 00:40:31.199
 might be Lord,

00:40:31.239 --> 00:40:31.579
 you might be

00:40:31.579 --> 00:40:32.659
 God but I'll

00:40:32.659 --> 00:40:33.159
 only come to

00:40:33.159 --> 00:40:33.900
 you if.

00:40:37.759 --> 00:40:38.119
 And yet

00:40:38.119 --> 00:40:38.860
 Jesus didn't do

00:40:38.860 --> 00:40:39.380
 that for us.

00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.019
 He loved us

00:40:40.019 --> 00:40:40.759
 unconditionally.

00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:42.259
 If you were

00:40:42.259 --> 00:40:42.559
 here on

00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:42.980
 Friday,

00:40:44.619 --> 00:40:45.219
 you would have

00:40:45.219 --> 00:40:45.599
 heard it

00:40:45.599 --> 00:40:46.239
 declared that

00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:46.960
 his death was

00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:47.840
 no accident

00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:48.519
 of history.

00:40:49.599 --> 00:40:50.300
 Jesus died

00:40:50.300 --> 00:40:50.960
 and rose to

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.739
 redeem us and

00:40:51.739 --> 00:40:52.800
 to reclaim us

00:40:52.800 --> 00:40:53.420
 to God.

00:40:53.579 --> 00:40:54.239
 It was all

00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:55.000
 God's plan.

00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:55.880
 The Bible

00:40:55.880 --> 00:40:57.320
 says that

00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.159
 while we were

00:40:58.159 --> 00:40:59.360
 still his

00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:00.039
 enemies,

00:41:00.500 --> 00:41:01.759
 Jesus chose

00:41:01.759 --> 00:41:02.460
 to die for

00:41:02.460 --> 00:41:02.820
 us.

00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:03.639
 He sees

00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:04.340
 all of our

00:41:04.340 --> 00:41:04.699
 flaws.

00:41:05.079 --> 00:41:05.539
 He sees

00:41:05.539 --> 00:41:06.340
 all of our

00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:06.800
 failures.

00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:07.860
 He knows

00:41:07.860 --> 00:41:08.619
 the evil

00:41:08.619 --> 00:41:09.440
 which lies

00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:09.780
 in the

00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:10.139
 depths of

00:41:10.139 --> 00:41:10.320
 our

00:41:10.320 --> 00:41:10.780
 heart that

00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:11.500
 virtually no

00:41:11.500 --> 00:41:11.860
 one else

00:41:11.860 --> 00:41:12.340
 knows.

00:41:13.820 --> 00:41:14.179
 And yet

00:41:14.179 --> 00:41:14.679
 he still

00:41:14.679 --> 00:41:15.240
 loves us

00:41:15.240 --> 00:41:15.940
 unconditionally.

00:41:18.840 --> 00:41:19.659
 So can I

00:41:19.659 --> 00:41:21.780
 just say

00:41:21.780 --> 00:41:22.500
 God has

00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:23.119
 brought you

00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:24.000
 here this

00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:25.320
 Easter Sunday

00:41:25.320 --> 00:41:27.440
 afternoon

00:41:27.440 --> 00:41:29.539
 for this

00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:30.240
 message,

00:41:30.820 --> 00:41:31.900
 for this

00:41:31.900 --> 00:41:32.539
 bit of the

00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:32.900
 Bible,

00:41:33.820 --> 00:41:34.240
 for this

00:41:34.240 --> 00:41:34.800
 story of

00:41:34.800 --> 00:41:34.920
 the

00:41:34.920 --> 00:41:35.380
 resurrection,

00:41:35.700 --> 00:41:36.200
 for this

00:41:36.200 --> 00:41:36.900
 eyewitness

00:41:36.900 --> 00:41:37.599
 account,

00:41:38.179 --> 00:41:38.700
 so that you

00:41:38.700 --> 00:41:39.460
 might see

00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:40.440
 Jesus and

00:41:40.440 --> 00:41:41.480
 believe in

00:41:41.480 --> 00:41:42.700
 Jesus as

00:41:42.700 --> 00:41:43.639
 Thomas did,

00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:44.720
 and that you

00:41:44.720 --> 00:41:45.240
 might have

00:41:45.240 --> 00:41:46.139
 life in

00:41:46.139 --> 00:41:46.820
 Jesus that

00:41:46.820 --> 00:41:47.880
 triumphs over

00:41:47.880 --> 00:41:48.360
 death.

00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:52.119
 So drop

00:41:52.119 --> 00:41:52.820
 your conditions

00:41:52.820 --> 00:41:53.760
emiys and

00:41:53.760 --> 00:41:54.280
 believe in

00:41:54.280 --> 00:41:54.500
 him.

00:41:59.500 --> 00:42:00.100
 ...

00:42:00.100 --> 00:42:00.700
 ...

00:42:00.700 --> 00:42:05.300
 ...

00:42:05.300 --> 00:42:07.280
 ...

00:42:07.280 --> 00:42:07.980
 ...