WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.720 Well, good morning, everyone. Did our kids go to school? I did the school Easter assembly 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:16.940 ! I asked them for feedback, how it went. Grace said I was way too enthusiastic. So we'll see how we go 00:00:16.940 --> 00:00:22.839 ! Unapologetic in being enthusiastic about this passage. So if you've got a Bible there, you need 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:29.940 to come to Luke 24. We're kind of taking in verses 13 to 35 primarily, but you can have your eye 00:00:29.940 --> 00:00:35.920 over the first little bit there if you want as well. And this morning is all about hope. It's all 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:44.120 about hope. The man on the screen is one of Scotland's finest ever boxers. He's called Josh 00:00:44.120 --> 00:00:51.700 Taylor. Love his nickname. The Tartan Tornado. Isn't that quite cool? Tartan Tornado. Here's the three 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:59.740 biggest things on his boxing CV. Number one, he's a Commonwealth Games gold medalist. Number 00:00:59.740 --> 00:01:08.299 two, he's an Olympian. Number three, in 2021, he became the undisputed light welterweight world 00:01:08.299 --> 00:01:13.359 champion. Now, if you're not into boxing, let me just tell you that that's a pretty big deal. 00:01:14.020 --> 00:01:20.719 Good CV for a boxer. But here's the thing. After one of his fights last year, I mean, it was a couple 00:01:20.719 --> 00:01:30.200 years ago. The doctors discover a tear in the retinal tissue behind his left eye. And the thing is, 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:39.539 it's not actually one tear. It is six tears. And the doc gives it to him straight at the consultation. 00:01:39.719 --> 00:01:46.299 And he says this, if you compete again, the likelihood is you're going to lose sight completely, 00:01:46.299 --> 00:01:57.219 permanently in your left eye. And in a moment, Josh Taylor's career was over at the age of 34. 00:01:57.859 --> 00:02:04.900 Just like that. And he said this in a raw and honest interview with the BBC last summer, 00:02:04.900 --> 00:02:08.379 as he kind of reflected on this moment. I'm going to take this in. 00:02:08.379 --> 00:02:16.699 He said, it was kind of like falling straight off the edge of a cliff. I'm not going to risk losing 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:27.840 my sight for the sake of just one more fight. But it was like the end of my world. And it was that 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:33.900 last sentence, as I read this interview recently, that grabbed me. It was the end of my world. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:40.219 Have you been there? A moment when hope vanishes 00:02:40.219 --> 00:02:48.580 like smoke from a birthday candle. And hope's a curious creature, isn't it? For us human beings, 00:02:48.680 --> 00:02:58.200 it's filed not in the nice to have column. Hope is filed in the must have column. We need hope to 00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:04.679 live like we need oxygen to breathe. Here's what I want to suggest to you today. Wherever you are on 00:03:04.679 --> 00:03:08.479 this God stuff, whatever's going through your mind, whatever you brought in here today, that we 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:17.339 creatures are hardwired for hope. Remember the slogan that was plastered all over the country during that 00:03:17.339 --> 00:03:21.399 COVID season of life? Sorry to bring back the memories. Remember when we were out clapping for 00:03:21.399 --> 00:03:27.319 carers and we were all trying to do our bit to kind of keep our spirits high? And these billboards were 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:35.459 plastered everywhere up and down the UK. Please believe these days will pass. Hope. In Greek mythology, 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:44.299 what was the one thing that didn't escape from Pandora's box? It was hope. In fact, it's been said that 00:03:44.299 --> 00:03:49.759 one of the lowest moments that a person can experience in life is when the thing that you had your hopes 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:58.439 pinned on, the thing that you thought would deliver lasting joy, deflates quicker than a leaky helium 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:08.299 balloon. Been there? See, if that's you here today, then let me just say again that you've not just 00:04:08.299 --> 00:04:14.459 picked a good Sunday to come to church. You've picked the best Sunday to come to church because this 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:22.560 morning, this is all about the key to hope. And you've got to see it in this passage. Come with me 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:32.400 and see it. We pick up the narrative at verse 13. And these two men, one of whom we later discover is 00:04:32.400 --> 00:04:40.199 called Cleopas, are walking and talking on that seven mile journey from Jerusalem back west to a place 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:46.719 called Emmaus. Now notice all the little details there. The historicity of this. Place names, people 00:04:46.719 --> 00:04:51.699 names, distances. Do you see it? And what we're going to do this morning is just eavesdrop in for the next 00:04:51.699 --> 00:04:58.719 20 minutes on their conversation. Can I tell you the mood in the camp when we hit verse 13? You get it 00:04:58.719 --> 00:05:08.120 at verse 17. Downcast. Do you see it? Downcast. The mood in the camp is that it feels like their world has 00:05:08.120 --> 00:05:16.439 ended. Because their despair is all tied up with a king that they thought they had. 00:05:17.819 --> 00:05:23.720 So this man, Jesus, do you see how they're talking about him, right? Verse 19. Here's the conversation. 00:05:26.259 --> 00:05:32.560 A prophet powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. That's who they thought he was. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:44.420 So hear it in their voice. We saw this man. We loved this man. We trusted every word that he spoke. 00:05:44.579 --> 00:05:54.779 And we staked it all on this man, following him. And honestly, for so long, it felt so, so good. 00:05:54.779 --> 00:06:02.139 I mean, Jesus, he was outsmarting the smartest. He was healing people left, right, and center. His 00:06:02.139 --> 00:06:08.500 teaching was like that, like we'd never heard before. And we followed him all the way to Jerusalem 00:06:08.500 --> 00:06:16.859 because verse 21, we had, and there's our word, hoped that this was it. We thought this was it. We 00:06:16.859 --> 00:06:22.619 thought this was the moment when Jesus would finally be seen in front of all those who mocked and doubted 00:06:22.620 --> 00:06:28.680 and belittled and laughed. He would be seen to be Israel's long expected and mighty king. We thought 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:35.180 this was it. It's all kicking off. The king that God promised he would send us, who would defeat our 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:45.819 enemies, and he would rule for us and for our good. But as it turns out, Jesus was all talk. 00:06:47.259 --> 00:06:52.540 Because his fate was like that of every other human being who's ever lived. And do you know 00:06:52.540 --> 00:07:05.320 what the saddest part of this is? Verse 22. Some of our little group who got up early to go and check 00:07:05.320 --> 00:07:14.540 out the tomb on call at Sunday morning are trying to convince us that a stone that was in front of it 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:21.240 has been rolled away and that some angel spoke to them and that actually he might be alive. 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:28.860 And just in case you're thinking these people were gullible back in the day, do you see verse 11? 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:37.600 The reaction that people give to this news that he might be risen, what is the word there? It is 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:44.840 nonsense. So they ain't gullible. They thought this was nonsense. Can I just a little apologetic angle 00:07:44.840 --> 00:07:49.199 here? If that's you this morning, we've got tons of these books called, Is Easter Unbelievable to 00:07:49.199 --> 00:07:56.459 Giveaway? This is all about why you can trust these events for yourself. That's a great question to ask, 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:59.620 isn't it? None of us are believing this because it's a nice thing to believe. 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:03.459 We're believing this because we were convinced it's true. 00:08:06.740 --> 00:08:11.959 But you see how in the text on this road to Emmaus, they are saying, can we just stop the nonsense now? 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:20.439 Can we just get on with life? Because life is back to how it always was before Jesus even came in the scene. 00:08:21.159 --> 00:08:29.939 Forecast a bit like a normal Edinburgh day weather-wise. Yeah? Short times of heavy rain, 00:08:30.139 --> 00:08:35.960 occasional clouds, fleeting spills of sunshine, the occasional drop of snow, and it's dark again before 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:42.680 you know it. And where does that leave you? Well, it leaves you, I was thinking this week, Spotify 00:08:42.680 --> 00:08:49.740 premium random playlist is a wonderful thing. I was reminded of a band from my youth called MGMT. 00:08:50.900 --> 00:08:56.460 Yeah? They had this song, and they articulate it so well in the lyrics to their song, Time to Pretend. 00:08:57.960 --> 00:09:02.740 And this is it. It goes like this, the chorus. This is our decision to live fast and die young. We've got 00:09:02.740 --> 00:09:07.940 the vision. Now let's have some fun. Yeah, it's overwhelming, but what else can we do? Get jobs and offices 00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:15.539 and wake up for the morning commute? Do you hear what they're saying? If this is it, this is it, 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:23.879 then let's squeeze as much fun as we can out of our three score years and ten existence. See, if Jesus 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:29.799 isn't risen, then as John Lennon put it, people are really living for today. 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:37.139 And again, if that's where your horizons are this morning, can I just hit you with a bit of C.S. Lewis? 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:46.819 When it comes to the things that we think life is all about compared to knowing the God who created us 00:09:46.819 --> 00:09:55.199 and exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our passions are not too strong. They're too weak. 00:09:55.200 --> 00:10:04.640 We're far too easily pleased. The invitation here is to come and know this God. But do you see verse 15? 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:07.400 Here's why there's more to the story here. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:14.940 Cleopas is walking, making that seven-mile journey. Do you see verse 15? They're not alone on that journey. 00:10:14.940 --> 00:10:24.940 They have no idea, but Jesus is walking alongside them. So get this. They're telling him about this 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:31.020 king they thought they had, and he responds by telling them about a book they thought they'd read. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:38.260 And I love this scene because it is comical. They tell Jesus about how there was a man called Jesus 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:44.840 who was crucified. Guys, that's funny. We can laugh at that. Is that not what they call in the acting 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:48.899 business? Dramatic irony. In other words, the characters in the story don't know what's going 00:10:48.899 --> 00:10:54.860 on, but we the readers know what's going on. This is funny. And Jesus responds by saying, 00:10:55.039 --> 00:11:03.460 verse 26, of course he was. Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things? Don't you get it, 00:11:03.460 --> 00:11:08.759 says Jesus, to these two men? What you've witnessed is not the derailing of the plan. 00:11:10.300 --> 00:11:17.460 What you've witnessed is the very fulfillment of the plan. And let this blow your mind when it 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:23.780 comes to what you and I think the Bible is. I don't know where you're at on that. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:30.220 Religious self-help manual, a dated moral book. You can keep on going. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:35.120 So, do you know what the Bible is at its very essence according to this passage? 00:11:36.560 --> 00:11:44.040 It's a story. In fact, do you know what? We can do better than that. It's not just our story. It's 00:11:44.040 --> 00:11:52.779 the story. Because are you thinking what I'm thinking here? Why hasn't Jesus just revealed 00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:59.060 himself to these men? Right? They kind of see him, but they don't see him. It's not a bit strange. 00:11:59.059 --> 00:12:04.179 I mean, if I were Jesus, I think I'd have sprung out one of those giant cakes going, surprise! 00:12:06.819 --> 00:12:11.799 And so you've got to ask, why is he doing it this way? Yeah? You with me? Why is he doing it this way? 00:12:11.859 --> 00:12:17.639 Can I give you my two cents? And hear me out on this because it is crucial to hope. 00:12:19.439 --> 00:12:26.459 He wants them to understand and have absolute confidence in the story. Jesus is wanting their 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:32.879 confidence to be in the scriptures. Not in the fact that they can see him. No, no, no. He wants 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:41.259 their confidence to be in the scriptures. And particularly who he is and where they are 00:12:41.259 --> 00:12:48.940 in God's great plan. This story all about a great God 00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:59.600 who created us. But like dominoes happily falling from the first topple that was Adam and Eve as they 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:05.200 rebelled against God. Friends, we have happily followed suit when it comes to rebelling against 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:12.060 the God who made us. Bible calls that sin. The cosmic rebellion against our creator. If you think 00:13:12.059 --> 00:13:18.219 about it like this, it's S-I-N, shove off God, I'm in charge, no to your rules. That's sin. Yeah? 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:27.319 And that disease exists in every one of our hearts. Friends, sin's not a little deal. Sin is a big deal. 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:37.399 So big, in fact, that it separated us from our creator. Offends him. And the thing is, for you, 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:43.340 I just had never seen it in my heart. The rebellion that existed against the God who loves me and knows 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:50.500 me and created me. My sin offends him. But the thing about the Bible story is to save us because he loves 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:56.699 us and to show us how great and glorious he is. It's all about his glory. He initiates the greatest 00:13:56.699 --> 00:14:05.919 plot to the greatest story in all of human history. Jesus is both the long-spoken lamb that dies 00:14:05.919 --> 00:14:16.459 and he is the lion that roars that God promised he'd send. My real sin put a real man on a real cross. 00:14:17.219 --> 00:14:22.919 And that real man was put in a real tomb with a real stone rolled in front of it. And that real stone 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:31.659 on the third day was rolled away. And that real man walked out. All of this is real. Jesus is God's 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:37.219 Savior King come to win his people through his death on the cross. And what proves that what he did 00:14:37.219 --> 00:14:43.699 worked is the fact that God exalted and vindicated him by raising him from the grave. I was trying to 00:14:43.699 --> 00:14:47.259 explain it to the girls on Friday night as we're driving home from the Good Friday service. 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:50.860 How do we know what Jesus did on the cross worked? 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:58.500 And it is a bit like paying for a meal out or anything that you pay for with your bank card. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:04.639 And you tap your bank card and there's always that three seconds. Have I got enough credit in the bank? 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:09.600 Is this going to go through? Has this worked? And what convinces you that it has worked 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:19.440 is the receipt. The resurrection is the receipt. This has worked. He has paid for our sin. 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:28.120 Forgiveness is abounding because our faith is in him. And better than that, by faith we are united to him. 00:15:29.900 --> 00:15:32.720 Forgiven, loved, adopted, known. 00:15:35.860 --> 00:15:40.960 And so in the narrative, do you see how Jesus engages in the most comprehensive Bible study ever 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:47.280 with these two men? And you're only getting 20 minutes this morning, but imagine these guys 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:58.179 get more than 20 minutes. And he helps them appreciate verse 27, that this story is all about him. 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:04.459 Friends, God didn't give us his word, the Bible, to answer every one of life's questions. 00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:10.779 He gave us it to show us Jesus, who is the solution to our biggest problem. 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:15.159 And let me just tell you, that is by far greater. 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:20.779 A story that will culminate with Jesus returning as heaven's champion. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:26.000 And when he returns, he will make all things new and he will put all wrongs to right. 00:16:27.559 --> 00:16:33.600 New heavens and a new earth. That is the next thing in this story for him to return. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:39.860 And death will not be the end of the story for all those who have repented of that sin 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:43.340 and have run to Jesus with nothing but open arms saying, 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:45.639 I love you and I trust you. 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:50.440 I need your forgiveness. I need your compassion. I need your love. 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:55.500 And death will not be the end for all those who've trusted in this Jesus 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:58.060 because it wasn't the end of the story for him. 00:16:58.059 --> 00:17:04.220 I mean, isn't, if you think about it, isn't understanding the plan, the story, 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:09.179 going to be so important for these men when one day, very, very soon, 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:12.139 they will not physically be able to see Jesus anymore 00:17:12.139 --> 00:17:15.599 because he's ascended to heaven. 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:18.279 And here's the point. 00:17:19.399 --> 00:17:22.879 We too can trust Jesus when we can't physically see him 00:17:22.879 --> 00:17:27.700 because we know that our confidence is in the scriptures. 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:31.399 It's in the story. It's knowing what's up ahead. 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.299 Jesus wants our hearts tethered to this story. 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:39.119 And so from explaining a book they thought they'd read, 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:42.359 suddenly they see the true identity of a man they thought they knew. 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:43.099 Do you see it? 00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:47.240 During this meal, and it's for another time, 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:49.819 but it's really interesting that it's through the taking of the bread and the wine, 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.700 that all of a sudden Jesus opens their eyes 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:56.720 and they see it's him. Do you see that? 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.819 What do they say to each other? 00:17:58.900 --> 00:18:03.279 Verse 32, as they reflect on that Bible study that Jesus did with them. 00:18:03.380 --> 00:18:04.579 What a growth group that would have been. 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:10.140 Didn't our hearts burn within us as he opened the scriptures to us? 00:18:10.220 --> 00:18:11.140 Feel that language. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:16.940 And is that not the experience of everyone who's come to see who Jesus is 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:17.900 and know life with him? 00:18:18.360 --> 00:18:20.440 All of a sudden this book makes sense. 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:23.900 Can I tell you, see when we go looking for us in this story, 00:18:24.380 --> 00:18:27.039 it's a pretty disappointing experience. 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:30.480 But see when we go looking for Jesus in this story, 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:32.779 can I tell you from an experience that is way more exciting? 00:18:35.160 --> 00:18:37.240 Our hearts burned within us 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:41.059 as he showed us himself in the scriptures. 00:18:41.180 --> 00:18:42.140 I wonder where he went. 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:44.860 Love to have known where he went there. 00:18:44.859 --> 00:18:47.059 But here's the thing. 00:18:47.139 --> 00:18:49.259 Because Jesus did this Bible study with them, 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:52.639 because he has their faith anchored in him and in the scriptures, 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.159 everything's changed. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:58.959 And so having discovered the identity of a man that they thought they knew, 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:03.379 they find themselves making a trip they never thought they'd make. 00:19:03.459 --> 00:19:04.059 Do you see this? 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:07.579 Now I'm pretty confident that Jerusalem didn't have a train station back in the day. 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:09.559 But if it did, 00:19:09.679 --> 00:19:11.899 do you see how these men at the beginning of this scene 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:13.740 have bought a one-way ticket out of there? 00:19:13.740 --> 00:19:18.779 We'll now see verse 33, 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:22.359 how they cannot get back quick enough. 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:27.740 Because the news that Jesus has risen has totally transformed their lives. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:31.839 Their hope has been reignited. 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:34.700 Life as they know it flipped on its head. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.079 And when they go back to Jerusalem, 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.920 where do they go? 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:40.120 They go straight for their fellow believers. 00:19:40.119 --> 00:19:46.279 And I imagine they scream the words of verse 34 that sum this all up. 00:19:46.479 --> 00:19:48.199 It is true. 00:19:49.679 --> 00:19:51.119 He is risen. 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:55.139 That this man, Jesus, is alive. 00:19:55.140 --> 00:20:01.240 And the way that I think Luke ends the narrative at verse 30, 00:20:01.500 --> 00:20:03.640 as Jesus kind of just disappears from sight, 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:09.460 I think what he's showing us here is that this story isn't over. 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:13.319 This isn't happily ever after. 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:16.900 It's not like these three men just kept walking into the sunset and roll credits. 00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:21.460 This is more like to be gloriously continued. 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:22.620 Yeah? 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:24.319 So think about it like this. 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:25.880 What comes after Luke 24? 00:20:28.539 --> 00:20:31.319 Acts 1 comes after Luke 24. 00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:31.759 Isn't it? 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:34.259 That the story of how the risen Christ, 00:20:34.879 --> 00:20:36.000 through his prophets, 00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:37.599 this gospel message, 00:20:37.819 --> 00:20:40.419 goes to the peoples of the world, 00:20:41.159 --> 00:20:42.159 around the world, 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:43.359 through the generations, 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:46.399 how it continues to reverberate and give life to people 00:20:46.399 --> 00:20:47.740 as they hear 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:50.379 and as they are tethered to the scriptures 00:20:50.379 --> 00:20:51.939 and understand who Jesus is. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:56.339 As you see how hope abounds 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:58.519 in this passage. 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:01.900 You know, 00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.599 just as we close, 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.200 there's a, 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:04.960 and I can tell this story 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.940 because she's not here this morning. 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:08.059 There is a girl in our church family called Abby. 00:21:09.700 --> 00:21:13.519 And Abby moved to Edinburgh from Singapore last year. 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:15.339 And I remember speaking to her recently. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.500 And she said, 00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.700 see the thing about Singapore 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:21.680 is that every day is sunny. 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.259 And she said, 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:26.200 I never knew what it was until I moved to Scotland 00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:28.180 to experience one, 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.460 two, 00:21:28.600 --> 00:21:28.759 three, 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:29.600 four days 00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:31.380 where you don't see the sun. 00:21:33.560 --> 00:21:34.000 And it's, 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.640 it's true, 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:34.980 isn't it? 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.460 In winter, 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.840 it feels like that. 00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:39.180 Like the sun that goes, 00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:40.160 disappears, 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.880 goes away at, 00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:41.340 what, 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:42.880 three in the afternoon 00:21:42.880 --> 00:21:44.060 and it reappears 00:21:44.060 --> 00:21:45.380 kind of June. 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.960 It's kind of what it feels like, 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:47.340 isn't it? 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:47.560 It's, 00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:49.759 the winter is brutal here. 00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:52.460 But then here's what she proceeded to say. 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:52.860 She said, 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:53.619 this time of year, 00:21:53.699 --> 00:21:54.319 it's spring. 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:58.240 I had never experienced the elation that comes 00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:00.819 when spring appears. 00:22:02.159 --> 00:22:02.339 Yeah? 00:22:03.059 --> 00:22:03.659 And do you not kind of, 00:22:03.719 --> 00:22:03.899 I mean, 00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:04.699 ignore the snow, 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.019 right? 00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:06.019 Run with me just now. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:08.619 But it is the experience, 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:09.119 isn't it? 00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:11.559 Every year that we have at this time of year, 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:13.980 the birds start singing. 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.920 I think I've not heard them sing in months. 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:19.639 You actually feel the warmth in your, 00:22:19.639 --> 00:22:20.920 your neck. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:24.400 I smelled freshly mown grass the other day. 00:22:25.400 --> 00:22:25.660 Yeah? 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:27.980 The flowers begin to bloom. 00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:29.880 The trees begin to bud. 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:31.440 All these things begin to happen. 00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:32.500 It's springtime. 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.420 And she said, 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:36.680 I never knew that elation of waiting for spring to come, 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.780 for the darkness to disappear 00:22:38.780 --> 00:22:40.460 and the light to be here. 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.980 Never knew what it was until I moved to Scotland. 00:22:44.800 --> 00:22:45.840 So everybody should move here, 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.100 right? 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:48.140 To experience this. 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.300 But, 00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:49.300 but here's the thing I heard, 00:22:49.300 --> 00:22:51.280 I thought about what she said and I thought, 00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:52.620 boy, 00:22:52.700 --> 00:22:53.259 that's deep. 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:55.800 It's like, 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:58.940 it almost is if God has woven clues to resurrection hope 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:00.680 in the way that he's designed this. 00:23:01.620 --> 00:23:01.880 Yeah? 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.060 You think about those things? 00:23:04.200 --> 00:23:07.160 That yearning for darkness to disappear 00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:09.400 and take it further, 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:11.120 for evil to be banished 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:14.540 and for every wrong to be put right. 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:17.060 And in its place, 00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:20.920 it's swallowed up by the light appearing 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:23.160 and justice being done 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:26.840 and righteousness being the thing that dominates. 00:23:26.980 --> 00:23:29.480 And you think it's as if God has woven these clues in. 00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:29.820 Friends, 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:30.480 here's the thing. 00:23:30.560 --> 00:23:31.880 When Christ returns, 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:35.660 that's what it will feel like, 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:38.500 but exponentially greater. 00:23:38.500 --> 00:23:42.839 Do you see the hope that abounds 00:23:42.839 --> 00:23:45.579 in this passage? 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:47.740 That is the hope of Easter. 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.960 Where there was no purpose, 00:23:52.119 --> 00:23:52.940 now there's purpose. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.640 Where there was no hope, 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.859 now there's hope. 00:23:56.940 --> 00:23:57.839 Where there was no life, 00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:58.680 now there's life. 00:23:58.759 --> 00:23:59.940 Where there was no future, 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:03.220 now there is one. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.500 As we wait for his return, 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.680 that is the hope of Easter. 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:10.599 And so Jesus, 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.619 Easter's champion, 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.180 the one who holds the keys of death and life, 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:16.160 he holds them out to us this morning 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:20.039 and asks us to come to him, 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:22.680 particularly if you do not know him this morning. 00:24:24.579 --> 00:24:26.259 He holds out his hands and says, 00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:27.039 come to me, 00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:30.000 come and receive forgiveness, 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.160 life, 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:33.480 and hope. 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.920 Thine be the glory, 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:37.539 risen, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:39.079 conquering son, 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:40.559 endless is the victory. 00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:42.700 Thou or death 00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:44.240 has won. 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.359 Why don't I pray? 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.720 And so God, 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:50.240 we thank you for this morning. 00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:52.000 We rightly celebrate 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.759 the glorious news 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.799 that Jesus 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:57.720 is not dead, 00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:00.059 but he is alive. 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:03.720 Thank you for the forgiveness 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:07.680 and the new starts 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:11.480 and the transformed lives 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:14.720 and the future 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.200 and abounding hope 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:18.160 that the risen Jesus 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:20.319 holds out to us today. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:21.039 truly, 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.339 that day 00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:24.119 changes our 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:25.319 every day. 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:26.659 So Father, 00:25:26.779 --> 00:25:27.819 be with us this morning 00:25:27.819 --> 00:25:29.439 as we close our time 00:25:29.439 --> 00:25:31.039 in celebratory singing. 00:25:31.740 --> 00:25:32.220 Father, 00:25:32.379 --> 00:25:33.419 thank you for Jesus 00:25:33.419 --> 00:25:35.339 and we pray all of these things 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:36.319 in his powerful 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.500 and in his precious 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:39.159 and in his loving name. 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.419 Amen.