WEBVTT

00:00:00.580 --> 00:00:04.759
 Well, good morning everyone. My name's Steve Jeffery. I'm a senior pastor here at St Paul's.

00:00:05.339 --> 00:00:10.500
 I got a sense this morning someone in this building is walking with a significant limp.

00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:16.399
 That's not a spiritual moment. It's because the sole of your shoe was just down the front here.

00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:21.519
 And so if that's yours or your kids, you might want to come and grab that because

00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:23.600
 they're going to be suffering by the end of the day.

00:00:23.600 --> 00:00:30.880
 I'm grateful that you're in here today in this building on this special occasion.

00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:33.000
 So why are we here?

00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:44.439
 Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born in 10 BC and he died in 1854.

00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:55.640
 He was as surprised as anyone else in the world at the time that he became the most powerful person in the world in AD 41

00:00:55.640 --> 00:01:00.219
 when he became, at the age of 50, emperor of the Roman Empire.

00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:07.519
 When Claudius was a child in an obscure part of the Roman Empire,

00:01:08.420 --> 00:01:12.319
 a poor teenage girl gave birth to a son and named him Jesus.

00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:19.899
 Unlike Claudius, Jesus was born in obscurity.

00:01:20.019 --> 00:01:21.679
 He wasn't born in a palace.

00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:34.439
 Just before Claudius became emperor, this same Jesus was crucified by the Roman Empire on a cross just outside of Jerusalem.

00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:46.299
 Jesus lived roughly half the time that Claudius lived and he died a public, shameful and excruciating death.

00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:53.620
 Claudius was an accomplished historian, an accomplished writer.

00:01:54.819 --> 00:01:56.840
 Jesus, on the other hand, never wrote a book.

00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:04.740
 Unlike Claudius, Jesus never raised an army and expanded an empire.

00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:11.199
 And in fact, Jesus never ruled over a realm in his short life.

00:02:12.199 --> 00:02:20.240
 And yet 2,000 years later, you could be forgiven for not knowing anything about Claudius at all.

00:02:20.240 --> 00:02:33.780
 On the other hand, Jesus became, by any measure, the most influential person who has ever lived in the history of humanity.

00:02:35.219 --> 00:02:35.900
 Why?

00:02:36.060 --> 00:02:37.020
 Even to this day.

00:02:38.140 --> 00:02:38.540
 Why?

00:02:39.820 --> 00:02:43.740
 One reason throughout history, scholars have said,

00:02:43.740 --> 00:02:48.580
 one reason for that is because of his exquisitely beautiful life.

00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:51.879
 Only two people in history,

00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:57.760
 only two people in history have ever caused so many people to wonder

00:02:57.760 --> 00:03:02.820
 if they were in fact more than just human beings.

00:03:03.420 --> 00:03:04.060
 Two people.

00:03:05.200 --> 00:03:05.560
 Buddha

00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:07.900
 and Jesus Christ.

00:03:08.140 --> 00:03:09.000
 Jesus of Nazareth.

00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:18.000
 Unlike Buddha, Jesus was the only one of those two who claimed to be, in fact, more than just a human being.

00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:24.719
 The main reason for his influence, though, is not just the exquisiteness of his life,

00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:27.360
 but is why we're here today.

00:03:28.219 --> 00:03:32.560
 And in the next little while, I want to just take a look at that outrageous claim

00:03:32.560 --> 00:03:35.340
 that around about 2,000 years ago,

00:03:36.060 --> 00:03:39.900
 a man who died an unbelievably horrible death

00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:43.599
 came back to an unbelievably wonderful life

00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:47.539
 and offers to include us in that life

00:03:47.539 --> 00:03:50.920
 if only we would align ourselves with him.

00:03:52.319 --> 00:03:53.640
 And so I got three points.

00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:56.039
 If you got the St. Paul's app in front of you,

00:03:56.280 --> 00:03:57.780
 you can open this up and follow along.

00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:58.360
 Really simple.

00:03:58.360 --> 00:04:00.240
 Well, resurrection is reasonable.

00:04:00.480 --> 00:04:02.600
 Resurrection is relevant.

00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:04.300
 And the resurrection is good.

00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:07.140
 That's kind of where I'm heading in these three points real quick.

00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:08.980
 So the resurrection is reasonable.

00:04:09.560 --> 00:04:14.020
 The fact that Jesus was crucified was not unusual.

00:04:14.680 --> 00:04:16.240
 Around Jesus' time,

00:04:16.560 --> 00:04:20.860
 there were dozens of little movements within the Roman Empire

00:04:20.860 --> 00:04:25.620
 where the leader declared themselves to be the Messiah of the Jewish nation,

00:04:25.620 --> 00:04:27.360
 but also the Messiah of humanity.

00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:29.139
 As Jesus himself did.

00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:30.920
 And in every case,

00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:34.900
 those leaders were executed for leading some kind of a rebellion.

00:04:36.500 --> 00:04:39.400
 And in every case,

00:04:39.879 --> 00:04:41.379
 those little rebellions,

00:04:41.460 --> 00:04:42.639
 those little movements

00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:47.560
 collapsed the moment the leader was executed.

00:04:48.879 --> 00:04:50.720
 Except for the Christian faith.

00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.100
 Except for Christianity.

00:04:53.340 --> 00:04:55.680
 It exploded from that moment.

00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:00.019
 So how is it possible that Jesus,

00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:03.319
 a born into Jewish man,

00:05:03.400 --> 00:05:06.199
 was able to get the Jewish people around him

00:05:06.199 --> 00:05:12.439
 to believe that he wasn't just the long-awaited Jewish Messiah,

00:05:12.819 --> 00:05:15.160
 but that he was, in fact,

00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:17.340
 God himself?

00:05:17.339 --> 00:05:22.560
 That was incomprehensible to the Jewish nation.

00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:25.159
 And it still is this day.

00:05:27.479 --> 00:05:33.939
 And how is it possible that within 200 years of Christianity beginning,

00:05:34.500 --> 00:05:37.120
 that it was dominant in the Roman Empire,

00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:46.319
 despite incredibly significant attempts by every Roman emperor to stamp it out throughout the empire?

00:05:47.319 --> 00:06:00.120
 How is it possible that today Christianity is the largest and most widespread culturally and geographically of all religious faiths?

00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.800
 Of all the major faiths in the world,

00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:08.240
 they normally dominate one area in the world and have a smattering here and there.

00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:15.500
 The Christian faith is equally spread across cultures and continents around the globe.

00:06:15.500 --> 00:06:20.980
 It is spread into all layers of society,

00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:23.620
 into very different cultures and languages.

00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:24.579
 How is it possible?

00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:29.220
 Well, the Bible says that after Jesus was killed,

00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:32.379
 he came back to life and appeared to his followers.

00:06:33.339 --> 00:06:36.079
 And so Paul wrote this in 1 Corinthians 15,

00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:39.300
 a public document in the Roman Empire.

00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:41.079
 I'll pick it up at verse 3.

00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:44.300
 What I received I pass on to you as of first importance,

00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:47.519
 that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:48.899
 that he was buried,

00:06:49.060 --> 00:06:52.000
 that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures,

00:06:52.279 --> 00:06:55.099
 and that he appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.

00:06:55.519 --> 00:06:59.899
 After that, he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at the same time,

00:07:00.159 --> 00:07:01.620
 most of whom are still living,

00:07:01.959 --> 00:07:03.299
 though some have fallen asleep.

00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:06.459
 And then he appeared to James and then to all the apostles.

00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:11.159
 And last of all, he appeared to me also as to one abnormally born.

00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:17.019
 The historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is formidable.

00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:22.959
 For one, British scholar N.T. Wright wrote a very significant work

00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:28.519
 attesting to the historical evidence simply called the resurrection of the Son of God.

00:07:28.939 --> 00:07:35.919
 And in that book, he suggests that if you don't begin with an imposed philosophical bias,

00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.660
 against the possibility of miracles,

00:07:39.080 --> 00:07:44.800
 the resurrection has as much attestation as any other historical event.

00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:51.439
 And if you do have a philosophical bias against miracles,

00:07:52.160 --> 00:07:55.900
 he suggests you must be able to explain every event in the world.

00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:02.800
 What that means is whether you believe it or whether you don't,

00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:05.340
 you are taking a step of faith.

00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:12.300
 Which is the very first message that we preached in this whole series way back in February.

00:08:13.960 --> 00:08:17.879
 There's no 100% watertight argument for the existence of God.

00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:22.300
 And there's no 100% watertight argument for the non-existence of God.

00:08:22.460 --> 00:08:25.960
 That means every single person is taking a step of faith.

00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:32.000
 Every single person is a believer in something.

00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:41.000
 And yet, I know this is 2023 and most people around us just don't believe that,

00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:43.220
 don't believe in the possibility of resurrection.

00:08:44.419 --> 00:08:47.960
 It comes as shock to us that they didn't believe it in the first century either.

00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:51.679
 The very first believers in Jesus didn't believe in the resurrection,

00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:53.320
 weren't expecting it, weren't looking for it.

00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:57.340
 As you read through Mark's account of the life of Jesus,

00:08:57.980 --> 00:09:03.700
 you notice that Jesus tells his followers very clearly on three separate occasions

00:09:03.700 --> 00:09:08.120
 that he will die and that he will rise again.

00:09:09.280 --> 00:09:12.800
 And the weird thing is, third day after his resurrection,

00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:16.240
 no one's expecting it.

00:09:17.019 --> 00:09:20.759
 You see that in the Mark passage that was just read out to us.

00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:25.279
 You know, the followers of Jesus, those early disciples, the blokes,

00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:31.259
 you know, they're not hanging around on the first Easter day

00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:35.139
 wondering whether they should at least go to the tomb and check it out.

00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.199
 You know, wake up for breakfast.

00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:42.740
 First, hey guys, you think we should just wander down to the tomb and just,

00:09:43.180 --> 00:09:44.440
 you know, Jesus mentioned it.

00:09:44.520 --> 00:09:45.280
 Should we just check it?

00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:50.680
 The women have bought spices to anoint a dead body.

00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:56.759
 They were expecting to prepare his body for burial.

00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:02.020
 The three women who eventually go to the tomb

00:10:02.020 --> 00:10:06.220
 were wondering who's going to open the tomb for them.

00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:09.740
 They prepared everything except how to get in.

00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:14.820
 And their first thought at seeing the stone rolled away

00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:18.320
 and the tomb empty was not that Jesus had come back to life,

00:10:18.680 --> 00:10:20.040
 as he said he would.

00:10:21.180 --> 00:10:23.680
 Their first thought was that someone had stolen the body.

00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:27.620
 That is, the point is,

00:10:27.920 --> 00:10:30.980
 the resurrection was just as difficult for these guys

00:10:30.980 --> 00:10:32.899
 as it is for us.

00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:39.019
 What Christians believe

00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:43.759
 is that the New Testament record about Jesus is true

00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:47.899
 and that these accounts of what happened in the life of Jesus

00:10:47.899 --> 00:10:50.360
 are totally different than myth.

00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:54.299
 They're not even written the way myth is written in the first century,

00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:57.679
 in the way that Greek and Roman myth is written.

00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:04.519
 Mythology in the first century is shrouded in a distant past

00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:07.120
 that does not connect with real history.

00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:12.000
 The New Testament books are talking about real history.

00:11:12.479 --> 00:11:13.459
 Pilate the governor,

00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:15.819
 Herod the king from Galilee,

00:11:16.019 --> 00:11:17.279
 Caiaphas the high priest,

00:11:17.659 --> 00:11:21.719
 these people are known in history outside of the New Testament.

00:11:21.720 --> 00:11:25.519
 The accounts of the New Testament were all written

00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:28.040
 while eyewitnesses were still alive.

00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:31.960
 I could spread a rumor to say,

00:11:32.180 --> 00:11:35.420
 someone I've just known has just come back to life.

00:11:36.680 --> 00:11:39.660
 Someone that you all know has just come back to life.

00:11:39.940 --> 00:11:42.519
 It would take no time at all to disprove that

00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:44.060
 if it wasn't true.

00:11:44.059 --> 00:11:48.059
 These New Testament accounts were written

00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:49.899
 while the eyewitnesses were still alive.

00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:53.139
 Paul's letters were written within 15 to 30 years

00:11:53.139 --> 00:11:54.659
 after the death of Jesus.

00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:56.319
 This is not mythology.

00:11:57.459 --> 00:12:00.019
 Scholars call it eyewitness history.

00:12:02.599 --> 00:12:03.799
 And what's more,

00:12:05.319 --> 00:12:08.039
 the enemies of Jesus would have loved nothing better

00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:10.059
 than to be able to wheel the body of Jesus

00:12:10.659 --> 00:12:13.039
 back into Jerusalem in a wheelbarrow,

00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:14.959
 dump it in the center of the town

00:12:14.959 --> 00:12:16.099
 and say, there you go.

00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:17.579
 There's your Messiah.

00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:18.919
 What a hoax.

00:12:22.019 --> 00:12:24.379
 The Romans stationed their own soldiers

00:12:24.379 --> 00:12:25.699
 at the entrance of the tomb.

00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:28.399
 They were protecting it themselves

00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:30.279
 and it was empty.

00:12:30.779 --> 00:12:32.120
 There was no dead body.

00:12:34.620 --> 00:12:35.759
 And the thought

00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:39.879
 that these cowardly disciples

00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:41.759
 who abandoned Jesus

00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:43.159
 and his crucifixion

00:12:43.159 --> 00:12:45.319
 for fear of their own lives

00:12:45.319 --> 00:12:48.779
 would suddenly agree amongst themselves

00:12:48.779 --> 00:12:49.659
 to come up with

00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:52.580
 the classic April Fool's joke,

00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:55.620
 steal the body

00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:58.200
 and then die themselves

00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:59.159
 for that hoax

00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:02.340
 is just nonsense.

00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:06.340
 It's lunacy to think that.

00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:12.639
 The point of all this is simply to say

00:13:12.639 --> 00:13:14.420
 that when we Christians say

00:13:14.420 --> 00:13:16.580
 that Jesus risen from the dead,

00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:18.360
 we're speaking historically.

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:22.960
 It's not a spiritual thing.

00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:23.920
 It's not mythology.

00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:26.180
 It's not emotional.

00:13:26.899 --> 00:13:28.000
 It's historical.

00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:32.179
 The New Testament uniformly teaches

00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:35.559
 and assumes that Jesus lived in history,

00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:38.659
 that he died as a substitute for sinners

00:13:38.659 --> 00:13:41.559
 and that he rose again on the third day.

00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:43.759
 Which brings me to my next point.

00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:46.159
 What's the relevance of the resurrection?

00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:51.019
 Philippians 3 verse 20 to 21,

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.440
 which is just read out to us by Aidan,

00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:55.139
 reveals at least some of the relevance of it.

00:13:55.139 --> 00:13:57.299
 But our citizenship is in heaven

00:13:57.299 --> 00:13:59.080
 and we eagerly await a saviour from there,

00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:00.840
 the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:14:01.199 --> 00:14:02.699
 who by the power that enables him

00:14:02.699 --> 00:14:04.379
 to bring everything under his control

00:14:04.379 --> 00:14:06.819
 will transform our lowly bodies

00:14:06.819 --> 00:14:09.720
 so that they will be like his glorious body.

00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:13.259
 What is assumed in Philippians 3,

00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:14.799
 in those verses right there,

00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:18.039
 is that Jesus was raised from the dead,

00:14:18.439 --> 00:14:21.399
 that he is now alive and very powerful.

00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:25.720
 And the reason why Paul assumes it in Philippians 3

00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:29.399
 is because he clearly states it in Philippians chapter 2.

00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.819
 And in Philippians chapter 2,

00:14:31.939 --> 00:14:35.319
 you will never read anything anywhere in any literature

00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:38.879
 more sweeping, more important and more true.

00:14:40.959 --> 00:14:42.519
 Referring to Jesus, it says,

00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:44.539
 who being in very nature God,

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:47.340
 did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.699
 but made himself nothing,

00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:50.360
 taking the very nature of a servant,

00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:51.919
 being made in human likeness.

00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:54.100
 And being found in appearance as a man,

00:14:54.360 --> 00:14:56.480
 he humbled himself and became obedient to death,

00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:57.600
 even death on a cross.

00:14:57.899 --> 00:15:00.679
 And therefore God exalted him to the highest place

00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:03.319
 and gave him the name that is above every name,

00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:04.699
 that at the name of Jesus,

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:07.519
 every knee should bow in heaven and on earth

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:08.519
 and under the earth,

00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.600
 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord

00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:13.980
 to the glory of God the Father.

00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:20.159
 That's why Christianity has spread the way it has.

00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:25.879
 And 50,000 people a day are still becoming Christians

00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:28.579
 because of that statement there,

00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:31.299
 of who Jesus is and what he's achieved.

00:15:32.659 --> 00:15:35.460
 Jesus was and is equal with God.

00:15:35.539 --> 00:15:36.220
 He is God.

00:15:36.299 --> 00:15:37.399
 He became a human being.

00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:39.579
 He obediently suffered and died.

00:15:39.959 --> 00:15:42.899
 That means that his death was a plan.

00:15:43.079 --> 00:15:44.860
 It wasn't an accident of nature.

00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:45.720
 It was a plan.

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:51.159
 And the point of the plan was that Jesus Christ

00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:54.459
 would be a substitute for sinners,

00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:56.379
 as Ash has just indicated,

00:15:57.379 --> 00:16:00.539
 and that everyone who trusts in him

00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:04.539
 would have sin forgiven.

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:09.599
 This was God's plan for the salvation of humanity.

00:16:09.599 --> 00:16:10.259
 And it says,

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:12.000
 Therefore, because of that plan,

00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:15.259
 God exalted him to the highest place,

00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:17.980
 raised him from the dead and exalted him to the highest place.

00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:23.980
 Because of the obedient and successful life and death,

00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:26.419
 God raised him from the dead

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:30.059
 and gave him great glory as Lord of the universe.

00:16:30.059 --> 00:16:33.059
 That is, this day,

00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:35.919
 we don't just celebrate Jesus came back to life,

00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:39.079
 but we acknowledge that he rules.

00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.519
 He reigns.

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:45.099
 You see it there in verse 21,

00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:49.319
 by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control.

00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:51.440
 Now, in one sense,

00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:53.940
 he's got the right to rule because he's the God who made everything,

00:16:54.700 --> 00:16:56.940
 not just because he died and rose again.

00:16:58.520 --> 00:17:01.100
 That is, he did not have to die and rise again

00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.820
 in order to be who he actually is.

00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:07.380
 This gives him, however,

00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.440
 because of his death and his resurrection,

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:13.019
 not just the right to rule

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:16.320
 because he's God,

00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:19.179
 but right to rule because he suffered

00:17:19.179 --> 00:17:21.480
 and redeemed all of humanity.

00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:25.619
 And the impact of Easter Sunday

00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:29.339
 is that there is no higher authority,

00:17:30.419 --> 00:17:33.220
 but this higher authority lived,

00:17:35.059 --> 00:17:37.019
 who lives now and reigns now,

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:40.480
 sacrificed his life for our life.

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:43.879
 That's the kind of authority you'd want to submit to.

00:17:43.880 --> 00:17:49.240
 There is no place,

00:17:49.860 --> 00:17:51.900
 there is no sphere of reality,

00:17:52.380 --> 00:17:54.260
 there is no dimension of existence

00:17:54.260 --> 00:17:56.080
 anywhere in the universe

00:17:56.080 --> 00:17:59.820
 that is not under the absolute authority

00:17:59.820 --> 00:18:05.720
 of the merciful, loving, benevolent Lord Jesus Christ.

00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:08.920
 And when the world in which we live

00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:11.900
 doesn't look like it's under the authority of this God,

00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:15.040
 it would be wiser for us to marvel

00:18:15.040 --> 00:18:16.460
 at the mystery of his ways

00:18:16.460 --> 00:18:18.320
 than to question the scope of his power.

00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:23.519
 Christ's power pervades the universe

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.780
 from the largest to the smallest elements of reality.

00:18:29.040 --> 00:18:31.240
 There's not a single area of his life,

00:18:31.540 --> 00:18:32.519
 of our lives,

00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:35.120
 that is not to be surrendered to this Jesus.

00:18:35.380 --> 00:18:37.620
 That's the point of Easter Day.

00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:41.339
 This Easter Day is not mere symbolism

00:18:41.339 --> 00:18:45.559
 of how to endure hard things in life

00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:49.239
 and to rise above difficulties.

00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:53.239
 Easter Day means that Jesus Christ

00:18:53.239 --> 00:18:54.500
 rules the universe

00:18:54.500 --> 00:18:57.299
 as the name, as Philippians 2 says,

00:18:57.379 --> 00:18:58.879
 that is above every other name

00:18:58.879 --> 00:19:01.339
 and he calls all people to surrender

00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:03.239
 to his loving authority.

00:19:03.240 --> 00:19:06.480
 And 2,000 years later,

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.759
 that continues to happen

00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:09.859
 across every generation,

00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:12.480
 culture, language, people, group, and nation.

00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:18.599
 Easter Day is a public declaration.

00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.839
 This is news.

00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:23.880
 Not symbolism.

00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:27.480
 This is news for all people.

00:19:27.480 --> 00:19:30.900
 It's not like the news bulletin on TV

00:19:30.900 --> 00:19:33.220
 about something that's happened

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.620
 that doesn't cause you to stop cooking dinner

00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:37.220
 in order to turn it up.

00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:39.799
 It's not one of those kind of news bulletins

00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:40.480
 kind of things.

00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:43.440
 This is life-changing news.

00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:47.860
 This is stop and listen and reflect news.

00:19:49.860 --> 00:19:52.380
 The difference between the bulletin news

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:55.079
 and the life-changing news is this.

00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:59.299
 Suppose you hear the news on the TV

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:04.679
 that 10 children in Chatswood

00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:07.720
 were hit by cars while playing

00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:11.259
 in their front yards in the last 12 months.

00:20:12.460 --> 00:20:13.899
 And you hear that news

00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:15.059
 and you go,

00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.159
 what a tragedy.

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:21.139
 That was really hard for those parents.

00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:24.480
 And you continue to cook your dinner.

00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:28.299
 And then, as you do that,

00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:30.399
 suddenly the front door of your house

00:20:30.399 --> 00:20:31.359
 bursts open

00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:33.359
 and your 10-year-old son

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:35.039
 comes screaming into the house

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.899
 with the news

00:20:35.899 --> 00:20:37.879
 that your 8-year-old daughter

00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:39.500
 has just been hit by a car

00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.319
 in the front yard.

00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:44.419
 It's exactly the same news.

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:48.379
 But this time it's different.

00:20:48.380 --> 00:20:52.260
 The first piece of news was true.

00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.980
 There was good evidence for it.

00:20:54.340 --> 00:20:56.000
 Now there's a piece of news

00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:58.840
 that goes straight to the core of your being

00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:00.560
 and it shakes you.

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:04.440
 Everything in you comes alive

00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.900
 to the reality

00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:09.060
 that this news is now about you.

00:21:09.780 --> 00:21:10.540
 It's personal.

00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:14.659
 It will change everything in your life.

00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:16.180
 It will break your heart.

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:18.039
 It will shatter things in you

00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:20.200
 more deeply than has ever been touched.

00:21:21.859 --> 00:21:23.359
 That's the news of Christmas.

00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.259
 Easter.

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.480
 Come back for Christmas.

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.019
 That's the news of Easter.

00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:29.700
 Jesus is God.

00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:33.480
 He died for your sin against God.

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:36.099
 He was raised triumphantly from death

00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.819
 for life eternal

00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:40.719
 and he will never ever die again

00:21:40.719 --> 00:21:42.819
 and he rules over the universe.

00:21:43.619 --> 00:21:44.980
 And he has been appointed

00:21:44.980 --> 00:21:46.259
 as ruler of the universe

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:49.240
 and he offers every single one of us

00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:52.219
 life as he himself is alive.

00:21:57.779 --> 00:21:59.079
 What that means is

00:21:59.079 --> 00:22:00.779
 that this resurrection of Jesus

00:22:00.779 --> 00:22:01.959
 is so, so good.

00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.319
 It's so good.

00:22:04.319 --> 00:22:05.839
 It's not just plausible and relevant.

00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.599
 It is good.

00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:09.579
 Jesus comes to every individual,

00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:10.639
 every culture

00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:11.500
 and he offers

00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:14.220
 to fulfill their deepest desires

00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:16.459
 and their best aspirations.

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:19.519
 As we've been investigating here

00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.519
 in the last couple of months

00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.039
 of the church,

00:22:21.159 --> 00:22:22.139
 we're running with the theme

00:22:22.139 --> 00:22:23.319
 Jesus is all about life.

00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:26.139
 We've seen that Jesus offers us

00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:27.279
 this stuff on the board,

00:22:27.459 --> 00:22:28.519
 meaning, satisfaction,

00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:31.039
 freedom, identity, hope, justice,

00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:32.079
 a whole range of things.

00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:33.279
 Fundamentally though,

00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:35.019
 because of his resurrection,

00:22:35.019 --> 00:22:36.519
 he offers us

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:38.539
 the thing that we all

00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.519
 want to hang on to.

00:22:40.379 --> 00:22:40.879
 Life.

00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:43.839
 The free gift of life.

00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:47.700
 And he's not calling us

00:22:47.700 --> 00:22:49.700
 like every other religion

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.099
 in the world,

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:52.059
 like every other philosophical system,

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.559
 earn your life.

00:22:53.819 --> 00:22:55.240
 He's giving it to us.

00:22:55.240 --> 00:23:00.500
 He's not showing us

00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:02.200
 the way to live

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:03.240
 in order that we might

00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:04.740
 find ourselves acceptable.

00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:09.240
 He's achieved it for us.

00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:12.980
 He's swapped his eternal life

00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:13.599
 for death

00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:14.640
 so that we

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:15.720
 who are enslaved

00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:17.079
 to our own sin,

00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:19.680
 enslaved to our own selfishness,

00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:22.099
 who deserve death,

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.339
 are set free

00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:24.919
 and given life forever.

00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:27.319
 Did you notice that?

00:23:27.519 --> 00:23:28.339
 I know it was really quick.

00:23:28.659 --> 00:23:30.159
 The two massive implications

00:23:30.159 --> 00:23:30.859
 for us

00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.919
 in Philippians 3.

00:23:32.779 --> 00:23:33.599
 They're staggering

00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.699
 and they're filled

00:23:34.699 --> 00:23:35.259
 with hope

00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.819
 and joy

00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.559
 and life.

00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:38.000
 The first is in verse 20

00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.459
 where it says,

00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.339
 our citizenship

00:23:39.339 --> 00:23:39.939
 is in heaven.

00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:41.539
 The resurrection of Jesus

00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:42.519
 guarantees

00:23:42.519 --> 00:23:44.099
 an eternal home.

00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:44.859
 Life

00:23:44.859 --> 00:23:45.720
 beyond

00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.740
 this life.

00:23:47.619 --> 00:23:48.359
 It's another way

00:23:48.359 --> 00:23:48.720
 of saying

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:49.359
 that the person

00:23:49.359 --> 00:23:50.500
 who trusts in Jesus,

00:23:50.899 --> 00:23:51.339
 you have security

00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.500
 forever.

00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:55.380
 nothing can take

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.180
 it away from you.

00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.400
 I went to a funeral

00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:58.200
 on Thursday

00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.819
 for a young guy,

00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:00.380
 37,

00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.420
 and there was

00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:02.579
 a little video clip.

00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:03.759
 This was someone

00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:05.000
 who trusted in Jesus.

00:24:05.319 --> 00:24:06.740
 There's this little video clip

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.819
 where they just,

00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:09.500
 he died from cancer,

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.000
 he could hardly speak

00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:13.619
 and his last words

00:24:13.619 --> 00:24:14.559
 on the screen

00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:15.720
 were,

00:24:16.980 --> 00:24:18.000
 don't fear for me,

00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.599
 I am home

00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:21.500
 and I am happy.

00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.579
 I am home

00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.339
 and I am happy.

00:24:30.179 --> 00:24:30.799
 You see,

00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.699
 what Jesus promises

00:24:31.699 --> 00:24:32.980
 is where he is

00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.240
 there,

00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:33.980
 you have the privilege

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.459
 to be

00:24:34.459 --> 00:24:35.879
 as he is alive

00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.240
 forever

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.119
 so you can have

00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:37.659
 life forever.

00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.519
 Which leads

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.719
 to the second implication

00:24:39.719 --> 00:24:41.740
 which says

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:42.679
 that very simply

00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:44.379
 in Philippians 3.21

00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:45.000
 that Jesus

00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.760
 will transform

00:24:45.760 --> 00:24:46.440
 your body

00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:48.520
 into be like

00:24:48.520 --> 00:24:49.720
 his resurrected body.

00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:52.560
 The Lord Jesus Christ

00:24:52.560 --> 00:24:53.300
 who by the power

00:24:53.300 --> 00:24:53.840
 that enables him

00:24:53.840 --> 00:24:54.440
 to bring everything

00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.220
 under his control

00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.380
 will transform

00:24:56.380 --> 00:24:57.740
 our lowly bodies

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.880
 so that they will be

00:24:58.880 --> 00:25:00.680
 like his glorious body.

00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.620
 The resurrection

00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.340
 of Jesus

00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:04.919
 is the answer

00:25:04.919 --> 00:25:06.980
 to our deepest

00:25:06.980 --> 00:25:08.379
 longing in life

00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:10.819
 and that is

00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:12.059
 to live life

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:13.159
 well forever.

00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:15.299
 We want to be young

00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:16.319
 and vibrant

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.439
 and healthy

00:25:17.439 --> 00:25:19.939
 because those

00:25:19.939 --> 00:25:20.859
 were the days

00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:23.319
 before emotional pain,

00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:23.919
 the burden

00:25:23.919 --> 00:25:24.919
 of responsibility,

00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:26.259
 the frailty

00:25:26.259 --> 00:25:27.359
 of a life

00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:28.439
 slowly

00:25:28.439 --> 00:25:29.759
 epping away.

00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:32.159
 In fact,

00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:33.420
 this is unique

00:25:33.420 --> 00:25:34.660
 about the Christian faith.

00:25:35.580 --> 00:25:36.660
 The Christian faith

00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:39.740
 is the only

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:41.620
 philosophical system,

00:25:42.040 --> 00:25:43.380
 it's the only religion

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:44.460
 in the world

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:46.960
 that actually promises

00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:48.500
 renewed

00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.720
 new and perfect minds,

00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:52.600
 new and perfect hearts

00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:54.040
 and bodies

00:25:54.040 --> 00:25:54.960
 that are new

00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:56.040
 and perfect forever.

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.440
 It's the only religion

00:25:58.440 --> 00:25:59.560
 and philosophical system

00:25:59.560 --> 00:26:00.420
 that says that life

00:26:00.420 --> 00:26:01.480
 beyond this world

00:26:01.480 --> 00:26:02.740
 is as physical

00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:03.759
 and real,

00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:04.460
 more physical

00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:04.920
 and real

00:26:04.920 --> 00:26:05.980
 than this world.

00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.220
 It's the only one.

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:10.440
 It's not clouds

00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.079
 and harps

00:26:11.079 --> 00:26:12.500
 and that kind

00:26:12.500 --> 00:26:13.240
 of stuff.

00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:16.920
 The message

00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:17.400
 of Easter

00:26:17.400 --> 00:26:18.539
 is not that Jesus

00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:19.200
 died

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.220
 so that we can

00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:21.240
 float around

00:26:21.240 --> 00:26:22.759
 in disembodied

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.240
 souls

00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:23.759
 in some

00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:24.700
 fluffy realm

00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:25.120
 somewhere.

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:28.219
 the physical

00:26:28.219 --> 00:26:28.799
 resurrection

00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:29.419
 of Jesus

00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.119
 guarantees

00:26:30.119 --> 00:26:31.019
 a physical

00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.579
 life.

00:26:32.219 --> 00:26:32.719
 The resurrection

00:26:32.719 --> 00:26:33.339
 changes

00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:34.219
 everything

00:26:34.219 --> 00:26:35.179
 in life.

00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.759
 This is

00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:37.559
 hope.

00:26:38.439 --> 00:26:39.119
 Hope

00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:39.859
 for the wheelchair

00:26:39.859 --> 00:26:40.500
 bound.

00:26:41.479 --> 00:26:41.699
 Hope

00:26:41.699 --> 00:26:42.379
 for the person

00:26:42.379 --> 00:26:43.599
 with crippling

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:44.879
 emotional pain.

00:26:45.479 --> 00:26:45.659
 Hope

00:26:45.659 --> 00:26:46.519
 for every human

00:26:46.519 --> 00:26:46.959
 being

00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:47.739
 who is yet

00:26:47.739 --> 00:26:48.219
 to face

00:26:48.219 --> 00:26:48.639
 the thing

00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:49.399
 that we fear

00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:50.059
 the most,

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.399
 death.

00:26:51.400 --> 00:26:54.960
 the message

00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:56.180
 of Easter

00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:56.720
 is that the

00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:57.600
 creator and ruler

00:26:57.600 --> 00:26:58.200
 of the universe

00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.340
 has died for us

00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:00.420
 and that if we

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.240
 trust in him

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.800
 he'll one day

00:27:02.800 --> 00:27:04.000
 bring us back

00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:04.820
 to physical

00:27:04.820 --> 00:27:05.400
 life.

00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.480
 Richer and

00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:07.120
 fresher and

00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:07.800
 more beautiful

00:27:07.800 --> 00:27:09.120
 than anything

00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:10.320
 that we've ever

00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:11.320
 experienced before.

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:15.159
 if you

00:27:15.159 --> 00:27:15.639
 can't

00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.299
 imagine

00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:16.819
 a life

00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:18.000
 with

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.579
 everything

00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.240
 evil

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.879
 with

00:27:19.879 --> 00:27:20.279
 everything

00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:20.899
 broken

00:27:20.899 --> 00:27:21.220
 with

00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:21.559
 everything

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.319
 frail

00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:22.519
 with

00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:22.879
 everything

00:27:22.879 --> 00:27:23.579
 dark

00:27:23.579 --> 00:27:24.000
 with

00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:24.339
 everything

00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:24.939
 horrible

00:27:24.939 --> 00:27:25.379
 taking

00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:25.879
 out of

00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:25.980
 it

00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.220
 and all

00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.480
 that's

00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:26.720
 left

00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.119
 is just

00:27:27.119 --> 00:27:27.259
 the

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.679
 sunshine

00:27:27.679 --> 00:27:28.279
 and the

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.339
 beauty

00:27:29.339 --> 00:27:31.259
 perfection

00:27:31.259 --> 00:27:33.399
 if you

00:27:33.399 --> 00:27:33.740
 can't

00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.119
 imagine

00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:34.559
 that

00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:36.980
 neither

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.439
 can I

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:41.420
 our

00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.279
 frail

00:27:42.279 --> 00:27:43.880
 imaginations

00:27:43.880 --> 00:27:44.660
 frankly

00:27:44.660 --> 00:27:45.120
 cannot

00:27:45.120 --> 00:27:45.640
 take it

00:27:45.640 --> 00:27:45.860
 in

00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:46.299
 because

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.720
 we've

00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.100
 never

00:27:47.100 --> 00:27:47.700
 experienced

00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.019
 it

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:50.400
 but as

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:50.840
 you read

00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:51.140
 several

00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:51.500
 chapters

00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:51.980
 earlier

00:27:51.980 --> 00:27:52.380
 in 1

00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:52.880
 Corinthians

00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:55.400
 it says

00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:56.200
 what no eye

00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:56.779
 has seen

00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:57.539
 what no ear

00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:58.120
 has heard

00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:59.180
 what no

00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:00.080
 human mind

00:28:00.080 --> 00:28:00.960
 has conceived

00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.420
 the things

00:28:01.420 --> 00:28:01.779
 that God

00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.279
 has prepared

00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.240
 for those

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:03.700
 who love

00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:03.960
 him

00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:05.380
 the

00:28:05.380 --> 00:28:05.779
 resurrection

00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:06.460
 means

00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:06.700
 the

00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:06.960
 maker

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:07.420
 of all

00:28:07.420 --> 00:28:07.700
 time

00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.420
 and space

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.100
 has

00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:09.519
 stepped

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.160
 into

00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.000
 this

00:28:11.000 --> 00:28:11.519
 world

00:28:11.519 --> 00:28:11.900
 his

00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:12.360
 world

00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:12.799
 out of

00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.079
 love

00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:13.720
 for us

00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:15.000
 it means

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.299
 that we

00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:16.079
 are worthy

00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:17.980
 of his

00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.480
 death

00:28:18.480 --> 00:28:19.660
 and he

00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:20.180
 wants us

00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:20.579
 in his

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:20.940
 life

00:28:20.940 --> 00:28:21.420
 it means

00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:21.700
 that we

00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.100
 are more

00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:22.740
 seen

00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.519
 we are

00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:23.720
 more

00:28:23.720 --> 00:28:24.460
 known

00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.140
 we are

00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:25.319
 more

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.019
 loved

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.400
 than we

00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:26.640
 could

00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:27.579
 dare

00:28:27.579 --> 00:28:27.740
 to

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.059
 hope

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.200
 it means

00:28:29.200 --> 00:28:29.420
 the

00:28:29.420 --> 00:28:29.819
 greatest

00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:30.440
 offer

00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:31.819
 ever

00:28:31.819 --> 00:28:33.720
 the

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.099
 greatest

00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.519
 offer

00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:34.879
 that has

00:28:34.879 --> 00:28:35.359
 ever

00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:35.639
 been

00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:36.059
 made

00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.399
 is

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:36.859
 sitting

00:28:36.859 --> 00:28:37.039
 on

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.179
 the

00:28:37.179 --> 00:28:37.679
 table

00:28:37.679 --> 00:28:38.799
 waiting

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.259
 to be

00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:39.539
 taken

00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:39.919
 up

00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:44.179
 so

00:28:44.179 --> 00:28:44.439
 friends

00:28:44.439 --> 00:28:44.759
 I'm not

00:28:44.759 --> 00:28:45.099
 sure

00:28:45.099 --> 00:28:45.779
 how you

00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.000
 feel

00:28:46.000 --> 00:28:46.240
 about

00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:46.559
 Jesus

00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:47.019
 today

00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:50.980
 I get

00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.039
 the mood

00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:52.339
 of our

00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:52.819
 culture

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:54.639
 that the

00:28:54.639 --> 00:28:55.139
 Christian faith

00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:55.839
 feels like

00:28:55.839 --> 00:28:56.759
 old clothes

00:28:56.759 --> 00:28:57.159
 you've

00:28:57.159 --> 00:28:58.720
 long got

00:28:58.720 --> 00:28:59.279
 sick of

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.859
 or clothes

00:29:00.859 --> 00:29:01.119
 you would

00:29:01.119 --> 00:29:01.319
 mean

00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:02.039
 seen dead

00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:02.419
 wearing

00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:02.859
 at all

00:29:02.859 --> 00:29:04.439
 or even

00:29:04.439 --> 00:29:04.720
 clothes

00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:04.919
 from a

00:29:04.919 --> 00:29:05.099
 different

00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:05.460
 culture

00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:05.819
 not your

00:29:05.819 --> 00:29:06.139
 own

00:29:06.139 --> 00:29:08.059
 maybe

00:29:08.059 --> 00:29:08.319
 you've

00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:08.740
 been hurt

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:08.960
 by

00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:09.419
 Christians

00:29:09.419 --> 00:29:10.200
 or you've

00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:10.419
 seen

00:29:10.419 --> 00:29:10.939
 Christians

00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:11.220
 hurt

00:29:11.220 --> 00:29:11.720
 others

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:13.460
 and I'm

00:29:13.460 --> 00:29:13.980
 sorry for

00:29:13.980 --> 00:29:14.399
 that if

00:29:14.399 --> 00:29:14.759
 that's your

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:15.359
 experience

00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:17.720
 or it's

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.419
 quite possible

00:29:18.419 --> 00:29:18.919
 that you've

00:29:18.919 --> 00:29:19.639
 already rejected

00:29:19.639 --> 00:29:20.299
 something that

00:29:20.299 --> 00:29:20.839
 you don't even

00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.819
 really understand

00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:24.019
 you've never

00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:24.480
 really thought

00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:24.779
 about

00:29:24.779 --> 00:29:29.679
 maybe you've

00:29:29.679 --> 00:29:30.399
 tuned in

00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:30.880
 today

00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:32.240
 living the

00:29:32.240 --> 00:29:32.680
 dream

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.840
 or maybe

00:29:34.840 --> 00:29:35.080
 you've

00:29:35.080 --> 00:29:35.480
 tuned in

00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:35.880
 today

00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:37.060
 trudging

00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:37.540
 through a

00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:37.720
 muddy

00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.300
 field of

00:29:38.300 --> 00:29:39.340
 hopelessness

00:29:39.340 --> 00:29:41.900
 none of

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.300
 us

00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:43.700
 and I

00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.300
 mean none

00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:44.759
 of us

00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:45.800
 come to

00:29:45.800 --> 00:29:46.320
 today

00:29:46.320 --> 00:29:47.660
 none of

00:29:47.660 --> 00:29:48.220
 us come

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.060
 to questions

00:29:49.060 --> 00:29:49.780
 of faith

00:29:49.780 --> 00:29:50.100
 without

00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:51.180
 some

00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.160
 experience

00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:52.680
 or some

00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:53.300
 feelings

00:29:53.300 --> 00:29:54.480
 good or

00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:54.900
 bad

00:29:54.900 --> 00:29:55.800
 just or

00:29:55.800 --> 00:29:56.220
 indifferent

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:57.019
 we're

00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.839
 all in

00:29:57.839 --> 00:29:58.400
 that boat

00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.180
 if we

00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:00.880
 dig deeper

00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.319
 though

00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:02.240
 and allow

00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:02.960
 ourselves to

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:03.759
 pause long

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.220
 enough

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.079
 we all

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.980
 long for

00:30:05.980 --> 00:30:06.640
 hope beyond

00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.259
 the grave

00:30:07.259 --> 00:30:09.259
 we all

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.740
 long for

00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:09.980
 it

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:11.700
 some kind

00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.559
 of happy

00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.319
 ending in

00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.220
 our lives

00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:16.460
 that's why

00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:17.039
 we love

00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:17.519
 Hollywood

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:19.600
 and we

00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.360
 hate movies

00:30:20.360 --> 00:30:20.839
 that don't

00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:21.339
 have a happy

00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:21.700
 ending

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:24.140
 we love

00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:24.559
 the happy

00:30:24.559 --> 00:30:24.960
 ending

00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:26.360
 for our

00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:26.880
 lives and

00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:27.180
 for our

00:30:27.180 --> 00:30:27.860
 loved ones

00:30:27.860 --> 00:30:29.860
 so whether

00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.420
 you think

00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.000
 that hope

00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.640
 of everlasting

00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:32.360
 life is

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:32.640
 pure

00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:33.380
 naivety

00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:35.240
 or wondering

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:35.660
 if there

00:30:35.660 --> 00:30:36.220
 might just

00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.120
 be a God

00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:37.680
 who you

00:30:37.680 --> 00:30:38.319
 can know

00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:40.059
 I want to

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.400
 tell you

00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:40.860
 Jesus is

00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:41.440
 for you

00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:44.539
 I want to

00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.120
 encourage you

00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:45.660
 don't bury

00:30:45.660 --> 00:30:46.420
 your brains

00:30:46.420 --> 00:30:48.299
 don't bury

00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:49.100
 your brains

00:30:49.099 --> 00:30:52.359
 I would

00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:53.119
 ask you

00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:54.119
 to ask

00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:54.879
 the awkward

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.679
 questions

00:30:55.679 --> 00:30:58.259
 to reckon

00:30:58.259 --> 00:30:58.799
 with the

00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.199
 hardest

00:30:59.199 --> 00:30:59.980
 truth

00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:02.099
 that shadow

00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:02.939
 each one

00:31:02.939 --> 00:31:03.219
 of our

00:31:03.219 --> 00:31:04.099
 mortal lives

00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:06.399
 take a

00:31:06.399 --> 00:31:06.839
 fresh look

00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.059
 at the

00:31:07.059 --> 00:31:07.439
 resurrection

00:31:07.439 --> 00:31:08.000
 claim

00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:10.119
 and consider

00:31:10.119 --> 00:31:10.859
 if it is

00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:11.719
 just wishful

00:31:11.719 --> 00:31:12.199
 thinking

00:31:12.199 --> 00:31:13.939
 or whether

00:31:13.939 --> 00:31:14.619
 it might

00:31:14.619 --> 00:31:15.059
 be

00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:16.379
 against

00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:17.439
 all odds

00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:19.400
 be all

00:31:19.400 --> 00:31:20.320
 our wildest

00:31:20.320 --> 00:31:20.759
 dreams

00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.480
 come true

00:31:21.480 --> 00:31:23.700
 Jesus

00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.960
 is

00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.580
 all

00:31:25.580 --> 00:31:26.039
 about

00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.500
 life

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:34.839
 the

00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.480
 how

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.720
 love

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:38.960
 God