WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.060 Easter. Yeah. You know, in an early church, they got together. It was one of the very first kind of creeds or sayings that they said with each other. 00:00:10.900 --> 00:00:18.359 From the very first gathering after Easter, they would say something like this. I would like to welcome you to the celebration of the risen Lord. 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:26.879 And everybody in church would say, he is risen indeed. Can we try that? So I'd like to welcome you to the celebration of the risen Lord. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:32.759 He is risen indeed. Okay, one more time. I'd like to welcome you to the celebration of the risen Lord. 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:41.679 He is risen indeed. Amen. Yeah, I love this time of year. If you're visiting for the first time at a watermark, we want to welcome you. 00:00:41.939 --> 00:00:48.439 We are about two and a half years old. We're a pretty new church here, growing and just going in community. 00:00:48.579 --> 00:00:52.820 We're on a journey together as we walk together with our amazing God. 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:56.159 My name is Tobin Miller. I'm one of the pastors here. 00:00:56.840 --> 00:01:00.799 And I get the privilege of bringing to you God's Word today. 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:04.460 You know, I love Easter, Christmas and Easter. 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:14.359 Something about those times that just, they just allow you to talk about things that are religious and people don't feel weird and people ask questions. 00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:25.359 And it's just an amazing time, just even interviewing the kids, just to see the joy in their face and the ability to talk about Christ at five years old, six years old and sin. 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:30.519 And things I had no concept of until I was much, much older than they were. 00:01:31.039 --> 00:01:33.379 But I love this time that we can do those things. 00:01:33.379 --> 00:01:38.219 So on Thursday, I was shopping for some gifts. 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:41.119 I wanted to get a friend a really neat gift. 00:01:41.179 --> 00:01:43.000 And I went to this store. I don't know if you've ever been to it. 00:01:43.359 --> 00:01:44.799 It's called King and Country. 00:01:45.299 --> 00:01:46.899 It's in Pacific Place. 00:01:47.179 --> 00:01:49.399 So now Colin knows where this is. 00:01:49.479 --> 00:01:51.699 And Granger, I think he's a life member there. 00:01:51.759 --> 00:01:52.919 But some of you guys know what it is. 00:01:53.259 --> 00:01:57.780 But ladies, what it is, is this guy's and kid's dream. 00:01:57.780 --> 00:02:01.359 It's this store in Pacific Place about the third floor up. 00:02:01.960 --> 00:02:09.620 And it's just full of model tanks and airplanes and soldiers and all different eras. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:17.560 You know, it goes all the way from the very beginning of Egyptians to Vietnam to Korea, all these in Germany and everything there. 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:19.800 And there's just battle scenes set up there. 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:26.240 And it's like, I mean, it's like any guy's fantasy if you ever played with soldiers. 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:30.400 And so I was there looking around, buying a gift. 00:02:30.520 --> 00:02:33.439 And as I walked in, this guy was at the table there. 00:02:34.100 --> 00:02:37.000 And the lady was behind the cash register watching him. 00:02:37.240 --> 00:02:39.040 And he had these tanks. 00:02:39.200 --> 00:02:40.240 And he was playing around. 00:02:41.860 --> 00:02:43.340 And he's a grown man, right? 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:45.860 So he's on his lunch break. 00:02:46.040 --> 00:02:47.360 He's somewhere in Pacific Place. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:47.820 He works. 00:02:47.920 --> 00:02:48.800 And so he's on his lunch break. 00:02:48.820 --> 00:02:52.280 And there's like six guys in there all doing those type of things, right? 00:02:52.280 --> 00:02:55.099 And so I guess he's there. 00:02:55.180 --> 00:02:56.240 And it's really cool. 00:02:56.419 --> 00:02:59.080 And the lady says, can you wait a minute? 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:00.360 And I said, yeah, that's okay. 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:01.580 I'm watching the battle right here. 00:03:02.979 --> 00:03:04.159 So I'm sitting there. 00:03:04.420 --> 00:03:06.759 And the guy's blowing up tanks and everything. 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:09.120 And then so the lady says, well, what do you want? 00:03:09.139 --> 00:03:10.560 And I said, can I have a nativity scene? 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:14.280 So you're in this store with soldiers and everything else. 00:03:14.379 --> 00:03:15.379 But they have this Roman period. 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:17.139 And they have this nativity scene. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:19.580 I go, well, I'll take the nativity scene. 00:03:19.580 --> 00:03:23.280 And, you know, I feel kind of like a weird, a little sense, you know. 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:26.140 And the guy looked at me and he goes, are you a Christian? 00:03:26.700 --> 00:03:28.640 And I'm like, well, how can you tell? 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:30.020 And we're in this store with soldiers. 00:03:30.740 --> 00:03:32.620 And I come in and go, do, do, do, do, do. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:33.700 Can I have the nativity scene? 00:03:34.480 --> 00:03:36.120 And so I get the nativity scene. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:37.960 And we start talking. 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:40.900 And it's really interesting because this season just brings out things. 00:03:41.020 --> 00:03:43.380 And I don't even think I tell him that I'm a pastor. 00:03:44.780 --> 00:03:47.600 And in the conversation, I say to him, I said, his name is Joe. 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.400 I said, Joe, I said, do you have faith? 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:52.900 And he goes, well, I'm a Catholic. 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:55.079 And I said, that's great. 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:59.719 And he goes, but we are very, very different in our beliefs. 00:03:59.799 --> 00:04:00.740 And I was like, okay. 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:02.359 And I said, well, how? 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:03.240 How are we different? 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:07.079 And Joe looked at me and said, well, you guys, you're much stricter. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:10.400 I'm like, what? 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:17.680 Because, you know, my view of Catholicism is pretty rule heavy and oriented and things like that. 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:19.860 And I said, you know, okay, okay, so we're stricter. 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:21.680 But our goal is the same, right? 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:22.899 Our goal is to get to God. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.720 And today or this weekend is Easter. 00:04:25.840 --> 00:04:27.680 And we all celebrate that, right? 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:28.879 And he goes, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:29.639 That's true. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:30.319 We have the same goal. 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:34.899 And so I just, for some reason, I said, are you going to be in heaven? 00:04:34.899 --> 00:04:39.039 And he said, no. 00:04:42.379 --> 00:04:47.579 I'm like, he goes, yeah, I don't, you know, I just don't know if it's all true. 00:04:50.539 --> 00:04:55.620 And if it's all true, I'm sure that I have not been good enough. 00:04:57.339 --> 00:04:59.339 And I'm like, what do you mean? 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:02.819 He goes, well, I drink occasionally and I do things. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:07.339 And I'm like, I drink occasionally and I do things too. 00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:10.819 And he looked at me, you know, and he just kind of sat there. 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:14.920 And I just, I felt so heavy hearted with this guy. 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:21.319 And I talked and I talked and I talked about the meaning of Easter and Christmas and Christ. 00:05:22.139 --> 00:05:23.500 And I said, God bless you. 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:24.740 And I walked out the door. 00:05:24.779 --> 00:05:30.300 And as I walked out the door, Joe said to me, you know, I'm glad that it works for you. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:36.839 And I've been thinking about that for like three days. 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:43.299 I mean, have you ever had somebody say that to you? 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:47.759 I mean, it's kind of like the get out of jail free card. 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:54.939 Whenever you're talking about life and meaning of life and philosophy and religion, ultimately they say, well, this works for me and I like it. 00:05:55.019 --> 00:05:56.759 And if that works for you, that's good. 00:05:56.819 --> 00:05:57.599 And you like it. 00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:00.600 And it's just important that it just works for you. 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:10.600 And it's almost like if we're, what they're saying is that we validate faith and we validate thought solely if it works for us. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:13.280 If it makes you feel good, then it's good. 00:06:13.340 --> 00:06:16.020 If it makes you feel happy, then it's happy. 00:06:16.200 --> 00:06:19.760 If it gives you hope, then that's a great thing. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:23.680 I mean, it has to be true or valid if it gives you hope or if it makes you feel happy. 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:30.379 I don't know where you are today in your journey here. 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:36.099 Maybe some of you are struggling with, is it true? 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:45.080 Maybe some of you are struggling with, if it is true, I just don't know if I can be good enough. 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:52.980 And maybe some of you are struggling with, if it's true and I can be good enough, I don't know if it really will work for me. 00:06:54.420 --> 00:07:00.920 And what I want to do very briefly today is run through, I think, this passage of Easter, which is an amazing passage. 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:02.960 It's a passage that we always go to. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:06.979 And there's three things in this passage that we're going to touch on very briefly. 00:07:07.859 --> 00:07:12.839 What I see about hope and what I see about Easter and what I see about resurrection. 00:07:13.359 --> 00:07:19.560 And what this passage, I think, says and what I want to talk about is it's going to say that hope is always found in truth. 00:07:21.719 --> 00:07:25.319 Hope is always found in grace. 00:07:27.519 --> 00:07:31.579 And hope will always work for you. 00:07:32.959 --> 00:07:34.199 Hope is found in truth. 00:07:35.539 --> 00:07:36.879 Hope is found by grace. 00:07:38.120 --> 00:07:39.759 And hope will always work for you. 00:07:40.339 --> 00:07:44.799 So the first thing in this passage I think of as I look at it, it says hope is found in truth. 00:07:46.120 --> 00:07:50.019 What we're saying today is that the resurrection is true. 00:07:52.019 --> 00:07:55.479 That Easter is true. 00:07:55.480 --> 00:08:03.300 William F. Buckley, a very famous writer, speaker, if you've ever heard of him, he talks with a very proper accent. 00:08:03.420 --> 00:08:05.160 He uses words that most people don't even know. 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:13.740 Some people say that he's probably the most influential thinker in America in the last 50 years, especially conservative thinker. 00:08:13.740 --> 00:08:20.259 And this is what he said when he was thinking about Easter, which I find very, very interesting because I don't know where he was at his faith. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:22.980 I know that later he became practicing a Roman Catholic. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:24.120 And he said this. 00:08:24.180 --> 00:08:24.400 He said, 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:37.100 The uniqueness of the scandal of the Christian faith, the uniqueness of the scandal of the Christian religion, rest on the idea that its teaching and its revelation happens in historical events. 00:08:39.319 --> 00:08:44.159 Christianity is not just a code for living or a philosophy of religion. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:47.159 It is rooted in real events in history. 00:08:48.079 --> 00:08:50.019 To some people, this is scandalous. 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:52.519 You like to use that word scandalous. 00:08:52.519 --> 00:09:00.960 To some people, this is scandalous because it means that the truth of Christianity is inexplicably bound up with the truth of certain historical facts. 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:11.579 And if these facts should be disproved as false, Buckley says that Christianity has to also be false. 00:09:12.319 --> 00:09:21.939 He said this means, however, that what makes Christianity unique and unlike any other religion or world philosophy in the world today, 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:32.340 is that modern man has a means of actually verifying Christianity's truth by historical evidence. 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:43.420 He said, anything like any other thought, anything like any other religion, modern man today can verify Christianity's truth by historical evidence. 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:50.139 What he's saying is that if you can disprove the resurrection, if you can disprove today that we celebrate, you disprove all of Christianity. 00:09:50.139 --> 00:10:00.199 I mean, what he's saying is that if you can disprove any historical event in the Bible, because it's so intertwined, unlike any other book, 00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:07.679 if you can disprove any other historical event in the Bible, you can disprove Christianity. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:09.600 I mean, think about that. 00:10:09.639 --> 00:10:12.419 All other religions and all other religious leaders, they've died. 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:18.860 They've left this code of ethics, this idea of hope, and they've given it to us as their teachers. 00:10:19.059 --> 00:10:23.399 And they said, hey, if you follow it very well, if you do very well, if you show that you're worthy, 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:26.639 if you show that you're not a bad person, if you show that you're a good person, 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:32.659 and if your life changes a little, if you transform outwardly and inwardly to this ideal that your teacher has given you, 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:35.439 if you do all these things, then you're good. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:49.480 But Christianity says this, Christianity says it's based on a dead Savior who comes to life to prove that he's God 00:10:49.480 --> 00:11:01.940 and to make a way for us, unworthy and broken people, to get to God. 00:11:01.940 --> 00:11:09.440 About this time when I'm having conversations with people, often people would say something like this to me 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:11.360 when we discussed the resurrection. 00:11:12.380 --> 00:11:16.620 They would say, you know, ancient people were so naive. 00:11:18.680 --> 00:11:19.960 Ancient people were so primitive. 00:11:21.220 --> 00:11:22.460 Ancient people are so gullible. 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:24.100 Ancient people are so stupid. 00:11:24.180 --> 00:11:24.980 They're pretty dumb. 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:27.860 I mean, they would believe anything. 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:34.779 But us today in Hong Kong, us modern men, we know what's going on. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.100 We can show me. 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:37.980 I can find out the truth. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:38.639 I can do it. 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:41.139 But those guys back then, they just couldn't do it. 00:11:41.180 --> 00:11:42.100 They didn't have their act together. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:43.320 I don't know what's going on with them. 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:49.259 C.S. Lewis said that when he was talking to somebody and they gave these thoughts to him, 00:11:49.259 --> 00:11:53.440 he said that's just kind of like chronological snobbery. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:12:03.400 C.S. Lewis said that you think that just because you're modern, that we're more mature, we're more better, we're more capable. 00:12:04.980 --> 00:12:07.500 But he said sometimes we forget where all our thoughts came from. 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:10.160 Sometimes we forget where all of our philosophies came from. 00:12:10.280 --> 00:12:12.720 Sometimes we forget where calculus and mathematics came from. 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:19.240 They came from our ancient, stupid, naive brothers and sisters. 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:30.700 And when you look at this passage, what I'm going to say to you today is that I think people in Jesus' day have the same problem in believing the resurrection as we do today. 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.840 They just could not do it. 00:12:36.200 --> 00:12:37.340 I mean, read the Bible. 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:38.159 What does it say? 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:44.519 Over and over and over, Jesus said, if you kill me, I'm going to rise in three days. 00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:47.220 Tell Herod, destroy this body, I'm going to rise in three days. 00:12:47.220 --> 00:12:48.960 If you kill me, I'm going to rise in three days. 00:12:49.060 --> 00:12:50.060 I'm going to rise in three days. 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:51.200 I'm going to rise in three days. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:59.000 But in the passage here, at the tomb, at three days, are any of the disciples there? 00:13:01.259 --> 00:13:02.060 None of them. 00:13:03.540 --> 00:13:04.720 They couldn't believe it. 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:12.040 I mean, they heard Jesus talking these things, but their primitive worldview could not hold the idea of a resurrection. 00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:17.000 Just like we can today. 00:13:18.159 --> 00:13:19.099 I mean, none of them were there. 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:23.059 You would think, you know, if I were the disciple, I would think at least I would take the most junior guy. 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:24.779 Hey, you've been the disciple of the least longest. 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:28.419 We would need you to go and sit at the tomb and just watch it and see if it's going to happen. 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:30.860 Because we don't know what's going to happen, but earn your dues, go do it. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.419 But they didn't even do that, right? 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:36.979 I mean, no one was there. 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:38.120 No one believed. 00:13:38.219 --> 00:13:42.059 No one thought it was possible for him to rise again. 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:47.899 But then you see this change in them, and you have to ask yourself the question, 00:13:48.779 --> 00:13:51.879 what would it take for you to believe in the resurrection? 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:57.399 What would it take for you to believe in Easter is true? 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:04.059 What would it take for you to believe that Christ raised from the dead on the third day? 00:14:05.819 --> 00:14:10.860 And the same is probably true for the people in Jesus' day. 00:14:12.559 --> 00:14:19.059 Because they had the same thoughts, the same doubts, the same concerns, the same struggle. 00:14:19.279 --> 00:14:23.779 But what we see is they saw something so amazing, so incredible, so out of their world, 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:27.679 so out of their grid, so out of their ability to even think about it, 00:14:27.860 --> 00:14:31.899 that they saw something that changed them so radically 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:36.379 that they believed. 00:14:38.079 --> 00:14:38.899 What was that? 00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:42.360 Well, the passage gives you just a couple things, 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:44.919 and again, we're just going to look at it really quickly and talk about it. 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:48.720 The first thing it says as we talk about hope, beast, and truth is in verse 1 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.019 is that the stone was rolled away. 00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:52.019 Now, I've been there to this tomb. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.799 The stone would have been massive. 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:55.879 It was in tracks, and you could roll it, 00:14:55.899 --> 00:14:57.340 but it would have taken several people to do that. 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.620 But what we don't know is that in the other Gospels, 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:04.159 it says that there were a stamp put on it by the Roman pilot, 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.620 which said, hey, there's a death penalty if you open this tomb. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:10.139 There was a contingent of soldiers all around it protecting it, 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:13.100 because even though the disciples didn't believe that Jesus was going to raise from the dead, 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:15.000 the religious leaders said, hey, 00:15:16.199 --> 00:15:17.319 he said he was going to raise from the dead. 00:15:18.500 --> 00:15:20.620 We need to send some guys here to make sure that doesn't happen. 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:23.259 We need to send some guys here to check that out. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:27.200 So even though his followers didn't believe it, his enemies believed it. 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:31.759 And the tomb was open, and I don't think it was to let Jesus out. 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:35.279 I think it was to let us in and to look at it and to verify it. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:37.919 The tomb was empty. 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:40.019 I mean, all historians say that it was empty. 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.399 They don't know how it got empty. 00:15:41.500 --> 00:15:43.000 They're arguing over that, but it was all empty. 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.039 I mean, the tomb wasn't empty. 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:48.600 The minute the Christians started waving palms and freaking out and Jesus is alive, 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:52.139 and all the Romans and the Jewish people had to do this, no, he's not here. 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:53.120 Here's his tomb right there. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:54.840 Shut up. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:56.259 Go home. 00:15:57.080 --> 00:15:57.620 There it is right there. 00:15:57.659 --> 00:15:58.480 The seal's still on it. 00:15:59.899 --> 00:16:00.259 Stop. 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.539 It's a false. 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.360 He's a false prophet. 00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:03.860 He's not true. 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.600 It's not worth following him. 00:16:05.600 --> 00:16:15.759 The tomb was empty, where everybody would have been pointing about to that for the end of time. 00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:20.659 When you go to Israel with us, we're going to go in May, you go and you still see King David's tomb. 00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:22.779 It's there. 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.040 He's inside of it. 00:16:25.800 --> 00:16:26.860 You see Abraham's tomb. 00:16:26.940 --> 00:16:27.639 You see Sarah's tomb. 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.360 You see Isaac's tomb. 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:29.080 You see Jacob's tomb. 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:32.160 You see all those tombs, and the bodies are still inside of them. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:38.939 But when you came to the tomb on that day, it was empty, and no one could point to a body. 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:42.659 Verse 5 and 6 says that the tomb was orderly. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.600 It wasn't chaos. 00:16:44.719 --> 00:16:48.539 It wasn't like grave robbers came in and tore things off, but it was very nicely orderly. 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:50.860 When you buried a body in Jesus' day, this is what you did. 00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:55.139 You took linen, and you basically covered them with about 100 pounds of ointment and gook, 00:16:55.379 --> 00:16:58.159 like lubriderm or something like that, or Vegemite. 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.240 I don't know what it is. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:00.379 Something really gross, right? 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:01.919 Something really gross. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:04.960 And they covered them, and they took these really expensive linens, 00:17:05.139 --> 00:17:07.759 and they wrapped his feet and wrapped them all the way up to about right here. 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:10.599 And then this upper part, because they still do this today, 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:12.879 this upper part, they took really nice linens, 00:17:13.139 --> 00:17:16.399 and they kind of wrapped them in a circle and covered them up. 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:20.519 And so when they walk into the tomb, it's orderly, 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:27.079 and what the disciples say in the Greek and the Aramaic is what they see is a cocoon. 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:35.460 They see hardened cast of linen laying there, 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:38.659 but the body's just passed out of it. 00:17:40.879 --> 00:17:42.839 I mean, the linen's not everywhere. 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:44.519 It's not, paste is everywhere. 00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:46.819 It's just, there's just a cocoon there. 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:49.419 And everybody saw that. 00:17:50.500 --> 00:17:51.779 It'd be like if I just disappeared, 00:17:52.339 --> 00:17:53.519 and my clothes were left here, 00:17:54.419 --> 00:17:55.539 I'd be standing here for a second, 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.579 and my clothes would be like this, 00:17:57.339 --> 00:17:58.159 and then I'd be gone, 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.579 and my clothes would fall to the ground. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:00.579 If I laid down, 00:18:00.619 --> 00:18:03.119 they would stay in the same place that they were when I disappeared. 00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:06.379 And that's what the Scripture says happened to Christ's body. 00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:08.920 That the linen was there, 00:18:09.020 --> 00:18:10.320 but the body was gone. 00:18:12.520 --> 00:18:14.860 The passage goes on and tells us there were angels there. 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:18.060 There was angels there to testify to what Christ had done. 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.080 They spoke the truth. 00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.760 When you look at Jesus' life, 00:18:21.860 --> 00:18:23.900 there's always angels present whenever there's a big event. 00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:25.860 There's only one event where there weren't angels present, 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:27.040 and that's at the crucifixion. 00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:29.580 Every other event, you see angels everywhere. 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:30.020 They're talking. 00:18:30.360 --> 00:18:32.300 But at the crucifixion, they're not there, 00:18:32.299 --> 00:18:34.720 but he says, if I called my father, 00:18:35.659 --> 00:18:38.680 he would let loose five legions of angels 00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:41.079 with swords drawn right now. 00:18:42.919 --> 00:18:44.180 But he didn't do that. 00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:48.000 And so the angels testified to the truth. 00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:51.659 The Bible goes on, and it says that over the next 40 days, 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:54.680 Jesus walked with people, he talked with people, 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:57.779 he ate with people, he taught people, 00:18:58.180 --> 00:19:01.159 he allowed people to touch his body so they could see the nails. 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:04.320 All these things Jesus did for the next 40 days, 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:07.540 and the Bible says hundreds and hundreds and hundreds 00:19:07.540 --> 00:19:10.340 of people saw this, and when they saw it, they believed. 00:19:14.120 --> 00:19:16.200 There's two other things that make me think this is true. 00:19:17.800 --> 00:19:18.560 Bear with me. 00:19:19.660 --> 00:19:21.759 The first thing is this, and I know I'm going to get in trouble, 00:19:23.340 --> 00:19:27.440 but a woman is the first witness. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:30.799 A woman. 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:33.620 Now, you don't understand it, but in Jesus' day, 00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:36.279 women, every day the rabbis wake up and say, 00:19:36.360 --> 00:19:39.299 Dear Lord, thank you for not making me a Gentile, 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:41.480 and thank you for not making me a woman. 00:19:42.360 --> 00:19:45.500 So women had a very, very small place in Jesus' day. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:49.299 I mean, when he had women traveling with him in his band, 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:50.200 that was amazing. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.660 That was the first time that ever happened. 00:19:51.660 --> 00:19:55.940 But the fact that Mary, she's not just a woman. 00:19:57.620 --> 00:19:59.259 She's demon-possessed. 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.860 She was a crazy woman. 00:20:03.080 --> 00:20:06.460 She's a crazy woman who Christ healed, 00:20:06.900 --> 00:20:08.460 and she's been following him, 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:11.140 and she's the first witness to the resurrection. 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:13.740 She's given the truth that Jesus is alive. 00:20:15.120 --> 00:20:17.680 Now, if I were going to make up a story in Jesus' day, 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:20.380 I would never do that. 00:20:21.600 --> 00:20:23.019 That would be a total fail. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:24.820 It would never work. 00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:27.220 No one would ever, ever, ever believe it. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:29.960 If I were going to make up a story that everyone, 00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:31.580 I wanted them to believe what happened, 00:20:32.039 --> 00:20:34.400 I would have said Jesus rose from the grave. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:37.100 He went to see the leaders in the Jewish synagogue 00:20:37.100 --> 00:20:38.779 who testified of his truth. 00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:40.480 He went to see Pilate and said, 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:42.620 Shame on you for allowing them to do this. 00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:44.259 He went to see all the bad people, 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:45.920 and then he went to see his disciples. 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:48.640 Now, if you'd written the story like that, 00:20:49.320 --> 00:20:52.340 everybody in Jesus' day would have said, 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:54.560 Wow, that's true. 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:59.140 The only reason the authors would write it like this 00:20:59.140 --> 00:21:02.600 is if everybody knew it was true. 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.820 I mean, if I wrote it and said, 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.440 Well, then Jesus went to see Pilate, 00:21:08.460 --> 00:21:11.060 and Pilate was the first testimony to that, 00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:12.580 people would look at you and go, 00:21:12.640 --> 00:21:13.240 That's not true. 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:16.779 Everybody knows the first person you saw was Mary. 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.519 Everybody knows that. 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:20.640 How come you're plagiarized? 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.579 What are you doing here? 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:26.400 The fact that Mary is the first witness 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:29.720 and given this opportunity to share the news 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:35.400 breaks all realms of theology, culture, and history. 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:36.779 It would never happen. 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:37.980 You would never do it. 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:40.120 But it happened. 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:42.620 And you look at it, and you go, 00:21:42.759 --> 00:21:44.279 Wow, the only reason that would happen 00:21:44.279 --> 00:21:45.460 is because it must have been true. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.180 The next thing that sticks out to me 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:51.539 is that the evidence that the people saw 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:53.960 so changed their lives 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:56.360 that they all went from cowards 00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:58.420 to martyrs. 00:21:59.059 --> 00:22:00.000 Do you realize that? 00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:02.160 I mean, not just the disciples. 00:22:02.380 --> 00:22:04.240 The only disciple who didn't die a martyr's death 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:04.759 was John. 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:06.200 He was exiled on this island, 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:07.500 and so he died at old age. 00:22:07.560 --> 00:22:08.940 But everybody else got killed for their faith. 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.500 They went from running away 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:15.040 to they saw something so amazing 00:22:15.040 --> 00:22:15.900 and so incredible 00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:17.220 that they died for it, 00:22:17.360 --> 00:22:18.160 and hundreds of the people 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:19.500 who actually saw Jesus 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:21.340 died also. 00:22:23.279 --> 00:22:24.279 Does that make sense? 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.900 When I was growing up in America, 00:22:28.040 --> 00:22:28.920 there was this big event. 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.920 It was called Watergate. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:32.460 It happened in 1972. 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:35.480 The Republican Party 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:36.640 broke into the Democratic 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:38.640 National Convention Party headquarters. 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.580 They tried two times, 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:41.120 and they failed. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:41.759 The third time, 00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:42.320 they went in, 00:22:42.560 --> 00:22:43.820 and they got arrested. 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:45.480 They were going to bug 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:46.320 and look for information 00:22:46.320 --> 00:22:47.360 within the Democratic Party. 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:50.980 Initially, five guys were arrested, 00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:52.660 but then it expanded 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:54.240 to many, many, many, many guys. 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:57.480 And this controversy involved 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:59.480 the President of the United States. 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.700 And if you read the books, 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:02.960 the guys all got together 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.279 and said, 00:23:03.600 --> 00:23:04.680 this has to be our story. 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:06.580 This is what we have to say. 00:23:06.840 --> 00:23:08.019 We got to protect the presidency. 00:23:08.259 --> 00:23:09.000 We can't let it fall. 00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:10.360 We can't do anything bad. 00:23:10.600 --> 00:23:11.460 This is our story. 00:23:13.320 --> 00:23:14.640 Within two weeks, 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:17.460 the story was broken. 00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:21.620 And the guys could not keep the secret. 00:23:21.619 --> 00:23:24.979 And they knew that they were going to be pardoned. 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:27.119 They knew that even if they were going to be arrested, 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.279 Nixon would pardon them. 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.339 They would never go to jail. 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:32.179 But they had something incredible, 00:23:32.699 --> 00:23:35.459 and they couldn't even keep the secret for two weeks. 00:23:37.139 --> 00:23:38.819 And here, all these disciples 00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:41.459 keep the secret 00:23:41.459 --> 00:23:44.099 until they die. 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:48.259 It has to be true. 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:50.579 You know what I wish I had said 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.879 when I walked out of Kingston country? 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:55.679 I wish I had turned back to Joe 00:23:55.679 --> 00:23:55.959 and said, 00:23:56.019 --> 00:23:56.299 Joe, 00:23:57.879 --> 00:23:59.159 don't believe in Christianity 00:23:59.159 --> 00:24:00.119 just because it helps you. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:02.599 Don't believe in Christianity 00:24:02.599 --> 00:24:03.439 just because it's irrelevant. 00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:05.759 Don't believe in Christianity 00:24:05.759 --> 00:24:06.859 just because it makes you feel good. 00:24:07.679 --> 00:24:08.559 Don't believe in Christianity 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:10.959 just because it helps you live a better life. 00:24:10.960 --> 00:24:13.740 believe in Christianity 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:16.500 because it's true. 00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:19.420 And if it's true, 00:24:20.840 --> 00:24:21.860 then it will work. 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:24.640 Then it will help you. 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:26.980 Then it will give you hope. 00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:29.460 Then it will change everything 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:31.279 perfectly 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:33.660 and forever. 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.360 We don't want you coming to church here 00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:38.539 and believing in Christianity 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:39.900 and thinking all these things 00:24:39.900 --> 00:24:40.840 just because it helps you. 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.140 But we want you to believe 00:24:42.140 --> 00:24:43.240 in Easter and the resurrection 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.579 because it's true. 00:24:46.620 --> 00:24:47.500 Because it's true. 00:24:48.600 --> 00:24:49.720 Because sometimes 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.660 you're going to enter 00:24:50.660 --> 00:24:51.660 into a dark place 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:54.400 and your life is going to fall apart. 00:24:55.860 --> 00:24:56.900 If you're like me. 00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:59.519 And in those dark times, 00:24:59.620 --> 00:25:00.299 there have been times 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:02.579 where I could cling to nothing. 00:25:02.579 --> 00:25:05.199 but the truth 00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:06.939 that Jesus Christ 00:25:06.939 --> 00:25:09.359 has risen from the grave. 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:12.079 And because he's done that, 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:14.859 I can work through anything. 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.419 Because he's done that, 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.899 I have ultimate hope. 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.759 Because he's done that, 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:25.220 everything will ultimately be okay. 00:25:25.220 --> 00:25:28.680 Don't come celebrate Christmas 00:25:28.680 --> 00:25:29.559 because it helps you. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.539 Don't come celebrate Easter 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.440 because it helps you. 00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:34.380 Celebrate Easter 00:25:34.380 --> 00:25:35.500 because it's true. 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:37.740 Hope comes in truth. 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:39.779 The next thing I want you to see 00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:43.120 is hope comes by grace. 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:45.759 I've asked Henrika 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.079 to come up, 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.859 an ex-college student 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:50.079 and now coming back 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:50.880 to visit with us. 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:52.539 And I wanted her to share 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:54.039 just a little bit of her story. 00:25:54.039 --> 00:26:02.339 I got the privilege 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:04.500 of baptizing Henrika last year. 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:06.299 Henrika's real name 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:07.279 is like this long. 00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:09.920 Henrika Hadessa von, 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:12.139 Gertschah von Kampen. 00:26:13.059 --> 00:26:13.539 Almost. 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:16.240 It took me like five hours 00:26:16.240 --> 00:26:17.339 to try to memorize that 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.659 because her mother was there 00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:18.960 and said, 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:19.759 when you baptize her, 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.659 you must say her name perfect. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:23.359 So Henrika, 00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.419 thanks for joining us. 00:26:25.199 --> 00:26:25.559 And I just, 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:26.119 you know, 00:26:26.159 --> 00:26:26.919 we can sit or stand 00:26:26.919 --> 00:26:27.659 or however you want to do, 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:28.359 Obert style. 00:26:29.159 --> 00:26:29.979 But I thought maybe 00:26:29.979 --> 00:26:30.819 you could just share 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:32.539 a little bit about your story 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:33.359 and how you came here. 00:26:34.799 --> 00:26:35.679 Hi, everyone. 00:26:37.779 --> 00:26:39.579 Okay, so I was raised 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:40.539 in a Christian family 00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:42.579 and my dad was a pastor. 00:26:43.279 --> 00:26:44.279 And when I was young, 00:26:44.319 --> 00:26:45.639 I just went to church. 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:49.179 But when I became a teenager, 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.879 I wasn't really willing 00:26:50.879 --> 00:26:52.859 to wake up in the morning. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:54.599 And yeah, 00:26:54.699 --> 00:26:55.899 I was just... 00:26:55.899 --> 00:26:56.339 No, no, no. 00:26:56.359 --> 00:26:56.799 I know, right? 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.939 So and slowly, 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.479 I wasn't really interested anymore. 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:03.799 My parents got a divorce 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:04.659 when I was 10 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:06.740 and I moved around a bit 00:27:06.740 --> 00:27:07.559 during that time. 00:27:07.659 --> 00:27:09.500 And I think I was a little bit 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:11.059 disappointed by church community 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:11.679 at the time. 00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.719 So I just didn't really want 00:27:13.719 --> 00:27:14.659 to go to church anymore. 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:17.500 And when I became older, 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.820 like older in my teenage years, 00:27:18.900 --> 00:27:20.820 I just slipped away a bit more. 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:22.320 And I don't know, 00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:24.540 I think I came into this dark passage 00:27:24.540 --> 00:27:25.080 in my life, 00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:26.860 or at least I wasn't really making 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.400 the best decisions for myself. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:31.920 And then I heard that my dad got sick 00:27:31.920 --> 00:27:33.580 and he was diagnosed with cancer. 00:27:34.320 --> 00:27:35.620 And I don't know, 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:37.040 I wasn't really at a good place, 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:38.280 but then it forces you 00:27:38.280 --> 00:27:39.780 to really think about your life 00:27:39.780 --> 00:27:42.380 and think about what matters 00:27:42.380 --> 00:27:43.980 and why we are here. 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:46.240 And so it kind of got me 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:47.240 out of that situation. 00:27:48.280 --> 00:27:50.600 So I started doing an alpha course, 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:53.060 which is basically an introduction course 00:27:53.060 --> 00:27:53.740 to Christianity. 00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:55.319 And I got the chance 00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.680 to ask a lot of questions, 00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:58.720 but it never really went 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.620 into my heart yet. 00:28:00.740 --> 00:28:02.240 So my dad passed away 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.980 when I was 20. 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:06.359 And I think I was really sad. 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:08.299 Yeah, I was grieving a lot. 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:11.839 And because of my dad being a pastor, 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.859 I found it really hard 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.599 to go to church 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:14.819 because my memories 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:16.220 were so connected to church 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.220 and everything that happened 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.960 in my past. 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:21.299 So then I was just doing, 00:28:21.559 --> 00:28:22.740 I was going to university 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:25.460 and just finishing up my studies. 00:28:25.640 --> 00:28:26.759 And I decided that 00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:28.359 I really wanted to go on an exchange. 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.440 So I thought, 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:30.980 let's go to Singapore. 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:34.400 But I didn't get in 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:36.920 because of housing situations 00:28:36.920 --> 00:28:37.500 and everything. 00:28:38.680 --> 00:28:41.259 So my study advisor really said to me, 00:28:41.339 --> 00:28:42.400 okay, you should try again. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.079 So I decided, 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:45.359 what is the warmest place 00:28:45.359 --> 00:28:46.400 I could go in Asia? 00:28:47.019 --> 00:28:47.720 Hong Kong. 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:49.279 At least we had a relationship 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.299 like our university. 00:28:50.299 --> 00:28:53.180 So I went to Hong Kong. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:54.779 But before that, 00:28:54.839 --> 00:28:56.279 I kind of get into Buddhism. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:59.299 It works, right? 00:28:59.720 --> 00:29:00.859 Yeah, I was thinking, 00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:01.200 you know, 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.680 like, let's try everything out. 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.480 And my friend was telling me, 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.639 well, if you go to Hong Kong, 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.279 you know, 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.519 that's the place to be. 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:13.339 So I wrote an email 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:13.940 on the Facebook 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:16.140 and they never replied me. 00:29:16.340 --> 00:29:17.860 You were emailed to who on Facebook? 00:29:18.200 --> 00:29:19.720 The Buddhist community. 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:20.140 Okay. 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.420 And actually, 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.940 I got a reply one year after. 00:29:26.320 --> 00:29:26.860 And I was like, 00:29:26.900 --> 00:29:28.240 oh, how am I going to say this? 00:29:28.860 --> 00:29:30.400 I went to a different direction. 00:29:30.400 --> 00:29:31.320 No. 00:29:33.820 --> 00:29:34.220 So, 00:29:34.420 --> 00:29:34.840 well, 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:35.500 I came here 00:29:35.500 --> 00:29:36.660 and then there was 00:29:36.660 --> 00:29:38.620 a Chinese New Year's boat trip 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:40.519 organized by Mike and Katie. 00:29:41.860 --> 00:29:44.019 And then there was another invasion. 00:29:44.680 --> 00:29:44.780 No, 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.340 it was the, 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:46.600 so I came into contact 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.220 with Watermark 00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:48.780 and got to know 00:29:48.780 --> 00:29:49.320 a lot of people 00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:50.000 in this community. 00:29:50.860 --> 00:29:51.740 And it was actually 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.720 one of the worship 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:54.440 at the community center 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:55.540 for university students 00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:57.019 that Katie was praying with me. 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:59.039 And I finally realized 00:29:59.039 --> 00:29:59.819 where my, 00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:02.039 why I was so heartbroken 00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:03.359 and that it was too hard 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:04.200 for me to go to church 00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:05.379 because of all of these memories. 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.740 And she prayed with me. 00:30:06.900 --> 00:30:08.599 And I think from that point on, 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:08.839 like, 00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:10.779 like I really felt healed. 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:11.240 Like, 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.379 at least it started. 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:14.400 And I could work 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:16.000 through some of my own issues 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.980 and my own 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:19.220 things that I was struggling with. 00:30:19.900 --> 00:30:21.579 And I went to a retreat 00:30:21.579 --> 00:30:22.420 and ultimately 00:30:22.420 --> 00:30:23.660 got baptized by 00:30:23.660 --> 00:30:24.579 Tobin. 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.119 Went to the Philippines 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:26.779 mission trip 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.759 and here I am again. 00:30:28.399 --> 00:30:28.639 Wow, 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.160 that's great. 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.399 So can you say, 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.299 on this journey 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.059 that you were on, 00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:32.539 even when, 00:30:32.700 --> 00:30:33.299 like you said, 00:30:33.399 --> 00:30:35.200 when your dad got cancer, 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.240 he had lung cancer 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.139 and he never smoked 00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:39.839 and it happened 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:40.460 really quickly, 00:30:40.559 --> 00:30:40.879 right? 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.180 And you were just talking about, 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:42.379 okay, 00:30:42.420 --> 00:30:43.019 what am I doing 00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:43.639 with these things? 00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:45.940 And now looking back, 00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:46.579 what would you say 00:30:46.579 --> 00:30:47.599 are some of the things 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:50.220 that God was showing you 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:50.920 or teaching you? 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.740 Or what were the things 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.819 that you would think about? 00:30:53.220 --> 00:30:54.079 Where did you cling 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:54.660 to hope there? 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:55.619 What did that look like? 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.839 Well, the thing is, 00:30:58.079 --> 00:31:00.079 like looking back right now, 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:01.700 I can really feel 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.879 that God was with me 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:04.480 during the most hard times 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:05.599 in my life. 00:31:06.339 --> 00:31:08.619 That I think that 00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:10.079 if I didn't have 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:10.720 that realization 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.519 at the time 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.480 that I need to think 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:13.720 about bigger things 00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.119 or like, 00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:15.639 if I wasn't thinking 00:31:15.639 --> 00:31:16.819 about like, 00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.740 what life looks like 00:31:17.740 --> 00:31:18.519 or why we're here 00:31:18.519 --> 00:31:19.139 on this earth 00:31:19.139 --> 00:31:19.819 or anything 00:31:19.819 --> 00:31:21.079 in that matter, 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:21.879 I would have, 00:31:21.880 --> 00:31:24.000 I wouldn't have been 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.560 at the place 00:31:24.560 --> 00:31:25.600 where I'm now. 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.020 And I think that 00:31:27.020 --> 00:31:27.600 in my life, 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.660 God really showed me 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:31.480 that He always reached out to me, 00:31:31.800 --> 00:31:32.900 but sometimes I was just 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.360 too stubborn. 00:31:34.520 --> 00:31:37.560 But He's always been there for me. 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:38.920 Like, seriously, 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:40.800 in the most hard times 00:31:40.800 --> 00:31:41.440 when I didn't want 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:42.260 to go out of bed 00:31:42.260 --> 00:31:44.880 or just didn't have 00:31:44.880 --> 00:31:45.920 that power anymore, 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:48.580 it became true. 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:50.019 There's so much healing 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:52.019 that just happened 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:52.920 this past year 00:31:52.920 --> 00:31:54.460 that I almost 00:31:54.460 --> 00:31:55.700 can't understand myself 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:58.080 when I wrap my head around it, 00:31:58.180 --> 00:32:00.200 but it did. 00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:01.220 And I've, 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:01.759 like seriously, 00:32:01.860 --> 00:32:02.900 if anyone would ask me 00:32:02.900 --> 00:32:03.940 one and a half year ago, 00:32:04.019 --> 00:32:05.519 you'd be here on stage now? 00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.860 No, that wasn't happening. 00:32:09.600 --> 00:32:11.320 But yeah, it did. 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.860 And I don't know. 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:16.240 Like, it's not that my, 00:32:16.679 --> 00:32:17.979 that everything is all good 00:32:17.979 --> 00:32:18.879 right now at the moment 00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.719 or that, you know, 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.659 like, oh, you know, 00:32:20.699 --> 00:32:21.899 I'm in a high cloud, 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:23.519 but it's, I don't know. 00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:24.659 It's better. 00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.219 What would you say 00:32:26.219 --> 00:32:27.599 if there are people here 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:29.419 who are in that dark, 00:32:29.579 --> 00:32:30.539 weird place right now 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.179 where they find it hard 00:32:31.179 --> 00:32:31.619 to worship 00:32:31.619 --> 00:32:32.740 or come before the Lord 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:34.500 or maybe for some of us 00:32:34.500 --> 00:32:35.439 who've gone through it 00:32:35.439 --> 00:32:35.979 and maybe we'll go 00:32:35.979 --> 00:32:36.559 through it again, 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:38.500 what would that look like? 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:39.939 What advice would you give 00:32:39.939 --> 00:32:41.119 to them 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:42.459 after what you've experienced 00:32:42.459 --> 00:32:42.919 so far? 00:32:43.859 --> 00:32:48.759 I understand 00:32:48.759 --> 00:32:49.639 if you're 00:32:49.639 --> 00:32:51.339 at a dark place, 00:32:51.519 --> 00:32:52.339 but just, 00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.439 I would say 00:32:53.439 --> 00:32:55.519 try to hold on 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.019 because 00:32:56.019 --> 00:32:58.039 if, like, 00:32:58.179 --> 00:32:59.119 the story we hear 00:32:59.119 --> 00:33:00.059 at Easter, 00:33:00.199 --> 00:33:02.019 it brings so much hope 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:04.219 and if you even try 00:33:04.219 --> 00:33:05.379 to grasp a little bit 00:33:05.379 --> 00:33:05.839 of that, 00:33:06.719 --> 00:33:08.119 like how that could look like 00:33:08.119 --> 00:33:08.899 in your life, 00:33:08.939 --> 00:33:09.919 even when you're down 00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.059 at your worst times, 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:13.740 it can bring light. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:14.500 It can bring you 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:15.960 that space 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.559 to really, 00:33:16.659 --> 00:33:17.039 you know, 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:20.819 just go and see God 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:21.559 and, you know, 00:33:21.659 --> 00:33:22.539 see what happens, 00:33:22.740 --> 00:33:22.980 you know, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.839 go on an adventure 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:25.220 and see where it leads you. 00:33:25.779 --> 00:33:26.159 So, 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:27.339 Henrika is like a role model 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:27.579 for, 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:29.720 I'm always asking her questions 00:33:29.720 --> 00:33:30.679 about how her dad 00:33:30.679 --> 00:33:31.659 raised her 00:33:31.659 --> 00:33:32.779 as a pastor's daughter 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:34.019 and so, 00:33:34.259 --> 00:33:34.339 and, 00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:34.859 yeah, 00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:36.259 so hopefully my kids 00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:37.559 won't hear all the wild parts 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:37.960 of that, 00:33:37.960 --> 00:33:38.640 but it's, 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.559 that's good. 00:33:39.799 --> 00:33:39.920 Hey, 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.620 can I pray with you? 00:33:40.920 --> 00:33:41.259 Okay, 00:33:41.660 --> 00:33:42.200 let's pray. 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:42.460 Father, 00:33:42.519 --> 00:33:43.680 we thank you for Henrika, 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:44.920 we thank you for what you've done 00:33:44.920 --> 00:33:45.480 in her life. 00:33:45.579 --> 00:33:47.920 We pray just for continued healing. 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:49.519 I pray as she just thinks 00:33:49.519 --> 00:33:51.299 of this Easter day 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:51.840 and your, 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:54.200 your son risen from the grave 00:33:54.200 --> 00:33:55.299 that she knows 00:33:55.299 --> 00:33:55.920 and has hope 00:33:55.920 --> 00:33:57.079 that she will one day 00:33:57.079 --> 00:33:58.160 see her father again 00:33:58.160 --> 00:34:00.579 because he will be raised also 00:34:00.579 --> 00:34:02.340 and I pray for her 00:34:02.340 --> 00:34:03.039 as you continue 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:04.059 to work in her life 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:05.720 and she shows us 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:07.019 what it means 00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.920 to cling to you 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.500 and your goodness 00:34:08.500 --> 00:34:09.940 that we would learn 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:11.059 those lessons also. 00:34:11.800 --> 00:34:12.900 So I pray for the future 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.840 that you're taking to her 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.840 on this next journey 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:15.820 after the university. 00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.159 We know that you'll go 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:17.780 before her 00:34:17.780 --> 00:34:19.099 and we are excited 00:34:19.099 --> 00:34:20.059 to see the story 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.780 that you continue 00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:21.720 to write in her life. 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:23.019 We pray these things 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:23.900 in your son Jesus' name. 00:34:24.220 --> 00:34:24.460 Amen. 00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:25.699 Thanks. 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.099 Amen. 00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:26.400 Amen. 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.159 One final thought 00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:35.079 and we'll close up. 00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:39.039 Easter in the resurrection 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:41.259 in the hope 00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:43.619 of Christ coming back to life 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:45.819 to me is powerful 00:34:45.819 --> 00:34:48.980 because I look at Mary's life. 00:34:50.819 --> 00:34:52.159 If you read the last seven verses 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.079 of this chapter, 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:57.079 Mary was a woman. 00:34:58.679 --> 00:35:00.739 She was disqualified 00:35:00.739 --> 00:35:02.059 from doing things 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.819 in their culture. 00:35:03.119 --> 00:35:04.259 She was looked down upon. 00:35:04.260 --> 00:35:06.000 She was from a town 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.840 called Magdala. 00:35:07.020 --> 00:35:07.660 You go there 00:35:07.660 --> 00:35:08.880 and there's nothing there. 00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:09.800 It's been destroyed. 00:35:09.940 --> 00:35:10.520 There's nothing there. 00:35:10.580 --> 00:35:11.560 She's from a small little 00:35:11.560 --> 00:35:13.440 insignificant place. 00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:16.080 The Bible says 00:35:16.080 --> 00:35:16.920 that she was possessed 00:35:16.920 --> 00:35:18.300 by seven demons. 00:35:19.540 --> 00:35:20.760 What that really means 00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:21.560 is that she was 00:35:21.560 --> 00:35:22.800 perfectly possessed. 00:35:22.800 --> 00:35:23.620 possessed. 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.740 That she was totally 00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:27.019 and perfectly 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:29.120 and just completely 00:35:29.120 --> 00:35:30.400 messed up. 00:35:31.920 --> 00:35:32.880 As messed up 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:33.539 as you can be. 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:37.320 And the passage says 00:35:37.320 --> 00:35:38.340 that Christ came 00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:39.360 into her life 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:42.019 and he freed her 00:35:42.019 --> 00:35:43.960 from her demons. 00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:47.460 and she continued 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.940 to walk with him 00:35:48.940 --> 00:35:50.880 until that day 00:35:50.880 --> 00:35:51.539 on Calvary 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.800 when she saw him crucified. 00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:54.900 And the passage says 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.880 that for three days 00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:58.420 she wept uncontrollably. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.559 She was in the darkest 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:02.300 place of her life. 00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:05.260 Her life was out of control. 00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:08.000 She forgot all of God's words. 00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:11.380 She forgot all of God's promises. 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:13.760 She forgot everything. 00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.640 And her life was out of control. 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:17.400 And on the most important day 00:36:17.400 --> 00:36:19.000 in the history of the universe 00:36:19.000 --> 00:36:22.240 she comes to a tomb 00:36:22.240 --> 00:36:23.880 and she's weeping. 00:36:25.079 --> 00:36:26.760 And she's looking for a body. 00:36:28.119 --> 00:36:29.460 And everybody asks her 00:36:29.460 --> 00:36:30.500 the same question. 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:32.039 Why are you crying? 00:36:33.760 --> 00:36:36.180 This should be the most happy day 00:36:36.180 --> 00:36:38.099 in the history of the world. 00:36:38.460 --> 00:36:39.680 Why are you crying? 00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:42.519 And in her deep despair 00:36:42.519 --> 00:36:43.480 and in her depression 00:36:43.480 --> 00:36:44.719 and in her angst 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:47.139 she even blames Jesus. 00:36:48.259 --> 00:36:49.480 Do you see that passage there? 00:36:50.339 --> 00:36:50.759 She says, 00:36:51.059 --> 00:36:51.179 hey, 00:36:51.539 --> 00:36:53.019 where did you take the body? 00:36:54.339 --> 00:36:55.579 Where did you put him? 00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:56.859 I mean, 00:36:56.919 --> 00:36:57.759 nothing was working 00:36:57.759 --> 00:36:58.480 in her life. 00:36:59.019 --> 00:37:00.199 Nothing was coming together. 00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.599 She forgot God's words. 00:37:01.719 --> 00:37:02.719 She forgot God's promises. 00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:04.399 And she started to blame God. 00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:07.199 I don't know 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:08.079 if you've ever done that. 00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:11.639 But I have. 00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:14.759 God, 00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:16.019 why aren't you working this way? 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:17.759 How come this happened? 00:37:17.840 --> 00:37:18.739 How come this isn't happening? 00:37:19.159 --> 00:37:20.059 Why aren't I married yet? 00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:21.179 Why aren't we having kids yet? 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.079 Why is my job so terrible? 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:24.099 Why is my wife so terrible? 00:37:24.219 --> 00:37:25.119 Why is my husband so terrible? 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.059 Why is my boss so terrible? 00:37:26.759 --> 00:37:27.400 In the midst 00:37:27.400 --> 00:37:29.340 of the weirdness 00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:30.099 and the darkness 00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:31.480 in our lives, 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:34.539 often we blame God 00:37:34.539 --> 00:37:37.420 just like Mary does. 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:40.420 And the amazing thing 00:37:40.420 --> 00:37:41.279 to me about this passage 00:37:41.279 --> 00:37:42.679 is that Christ comes to her 00:37:42.679 --> 00:37:43.920 and he's very gentle. 00:37:44.039 --> 00:37:44.960 He's very compassionate. 00:37:45.320 --> 00:37:46.039 And he speaks 00:37:46.039 --> 00:37:47.719 words of truth to her. 00:37:47.920 --> 00:37:49.259 And he calls her her name 00:37:49.259 --> 00:37:50.519 in a very intimate way. 00:37:50.820 --> 00:37:51.860 And the minute she does that, 00:37:52.139 --> 00:37:53.340 her eyes are opened up 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:54.480 and she understands grace. 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.519 She understands mercy. 00:37:55.880 --> 00:37:57.019 She understands love. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:58.360 She understands forgiveness. 00:37:58.360 --> 00:38:01.740 And then God does something 00:38:01.740 --> 00:38:02.519 very unusual. 00:38:03.880 --> 00:38:06.079 He gives the most important message 00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:07.820 in the history of the world 00:38:07.820 --> 00:38:11.200 to someone who would be seen 00:38:11.200 --> 00:38:12.900 as one of the least important people 00:38:12.900 --> 00:38:14.820 in that culture. 00:38:16.300 --> 00:38:16.780 And he says, 00:38:16.880 --> 00:38:17.680 I want you to go out 00:38:17.680 --> 00:38:19.340 and share this good news. 00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:24.079 The thing that sticks out to me 00:38:24.079 --> 00:38:25.099 in this passage is 00:38:25.099 --> 00:38:28.819 the message that she had to share 00:38:28.819 --> 00:38:31.940 isn't ultimately, 00:38:32.179 --> 00:38:34.259 isn't ultimately the good news. 00:38:35.920 --> 00:38:37.099 What the good news is 00:38:37.099 --> 00:38:37.900 is her life. 00:38:41.259 --> 00:38:42.239 Her life, 00:38:42.339 --> 00:38:43.639 as people looked at her life 00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:45.420 and saw the change 00:38:45.420 --> 00:38:47.659 that God did in her life, 00:38:49.059 --> 00:38:49.799 the healing, 00:38:50.339 --> 00:38:51.099 the restoration, 00:38:51.759 --> 00:38:52.500 the grace, 00:38:53.199 --> 00:38:53.759 the forgiveness, 00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:55.760 the passage says, 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:58.760 resurrection Sunday, 00:39:00.560 --> 00:39:02.200 Easter Sunday, 00:39:02.680 --> 00:39:04.660 Christ raising from the tomb 00:39:04.660 --> 00:39:07.920 is all about finding hope. 00:39:09.720 --> 00:39:11.160 Hope is truth 00:39:11.160 --> 00:39:15.560 and hope happens in grace. 00:39:17.860 --> 00:39:19.960 So Mary's message is our message. 00:39:21.300 --> 00:39:22.400 We're not the fastest. 00:39:22.660 --> 00:39:23.620 We're not the swiftest. 00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:24.880 We're not the most connected. 00:39:25.059 --> 00:39:25.920 We're not together. 00:39:26.179 --> 00:39:26.960 We're broken. 00:39:27.299 --> 00:39:28.279 And all of a sudden, 00:39:28.359 --> 00:39:29.639 Christ comes into our life. 00:39:29.739 --> 00:39:30.480 He saves us. 00:39:30.980 --> 00:39:32.199 He redeems us. 00:39:32.299 --> 00:39:32.859 We're weak. 00:39:33.299 --> 00:39:34.199 We're outsiders. 00:39:34.759 --> 00:39:35.500 We're sinners. 00:39:36.659 --> 00:39:38.359 And the message here says, 00:39:38.779 --> 00:39:40.739 unless we can rejoice 00:39:40.739 --> 00:39:43.839 in Mary's story, 00:39:45.420 --> 00:39:47.380 unless we can be happy 00:39:47.380 --> 00:39:49.679 in the grace of God, 00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:52.619 we'll never experience 00:39:52.619 --> 00:39:54.500 the hope and power 00:39:54.500 --> 00:39:56.659 of a resurrection. 00:39:58.659 --> 00:40:00.039 Unless we understand grace 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:01.659 so deeply and so intimately 00:40:01.659 --> 00:40:03.599 and how God comes alongside of us, 00:40:03.659 --> 00:40:04.639 even though we make mistakes, 00:40:04.719 --> 00:40:05.299 we make mistakes, 00:40:05.379 --> 00:40:05.940 we make mistakes, 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:07.139 and he keeps coming to us, 00:40:07.159 --> 00:40:07.859 he keeps coming to us, 00:40:07.919 --> 00:40:08.419 keeps coming to us. 00:40:08.679 --> 00:40:09.339 As Henrique says, 00:40:09.379 --> 00:40:10.079 sometimes we're just stubborn, 00:40:10.159 --> 00:40:10.699 we don't want to listen, 00:40:10.919 --> 00:40:12.000 and he keeps coming to us. 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:17.219 That's the message of Easter. 00:40:19.559 --> 00:40:20.699 Don't leave here 00:40:20.699 --> 00:40:23.119 and believe in Easter 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:25.139 because it makes you feel good. 00:40:25.199 --> 00:40:25.900 You get good candy. 00:40:26.480 --> 00:40:27.219 It works. 00:40:27.960 --> 00:40:28.860 Everything's good. 00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:30.300 I'm better off when I believe 00:40:30.300 --> 00:40:31.199 and when I don't believe. 00:40:32.500 --> 00:40:35.780 But leave here believing in Easter 00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:37.539 because it's true 00:40:37.539 --> 00:40:41.039 and it changes us. 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:43.539 if we allow it. 00:40:45.420 --> 00:40:46.500 Let me pray for us. 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:48.500 Father, we thank you for this day. 00:40:48.599 --> 00:40:49.639 We thank you for this message. 00:40:49.780 --> 00:40:50.800 We thank you for Mary. 00:40:52.659 --> 00:40:54.820 Yeah, her story will be read 00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:55.860 for all of eternity. 00:40:56.699 --> 00:40:58.039 We look forward to the day 00:40:58.039 --> 00:40:59.480 that we see her in heaven 00:40:59.480 --> 00:41:01.500 and we get to hear more 00:41:01.500 --> 00:41:03.059 of your amazing story 00:41:03.059 --> 00:41:05.280 and work in her life. 00:41:06.300 --> 00:41:07.820 Lord, I realize even now 00:41:07.820 --> 00:41:09.000 there are people here 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:10.159 who 00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:13.859 there are people here 00:41:13.859 --> 00:41:15.059 who are far away from you. 00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:17.679 They're walking in darkness. 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:19.379 Their hope is found 00:41:19.379 --> 00:41:20.359 in their skills, 00:41:20.739 --> 00:41:21.500 their intellect, 00:41:22.139 --> 00:41:22.980 their health, 00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:24.019 their money, 00:41:24.699 --> 00:41:25.879 their connections 00:41:25.879 --> 00:41:28.059 because they work. 00:41:29.799 --> 00:41:31.000 But Lord, you know that one day 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:32.199 they will enter into a stage 00:41:32.199 --> 00:41:32.759 of their life 00:41:32.759 --> 00:41:33.559 when those things 00:41:33.559 --> 00:41:34.739 will not work 00:41:34.739 --> 00:41:37.239 because they're not true. 00:41:39.119 --> 00:41:40.739 So I pray for them right now 00:41:40.739 --> 00:41:41.379 that they would see 00:41:41.379 --> 00:41:42.579 the truth of your son 00:41:42.579 --> 00:41:43.819 and they would see 00:41:43.819 --> 00:41:45.079 the truth of the resurrection 00:41:45.079 --> 00:41:46.459 and they would see 00:41:46.459 --> 00:41:47.399 the hope that it brings 00:41:47.399 --> 00:41:48.979 no matter where we go in life 00:41:48.979 --> 00:41:50.219 that we can continue 00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:51.279 to cling to that 00:41:51.279 --> 00:41:53.539 because it's true 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:54.719 and it changes us. 00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:58.079 Father, I pray for the rest of us 00:41:58.079 --> 00:41:59.239 who are on this journey 00:41:59.239 --> 00:42:00.539 already as your children. 00:42:00.539 --> 00:42:04.079 And so often, 00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:05.099 I think like Mary, 00:42:05.320 --> 00:42:06.320 we just get overwhelmed 00:42:06.320 --> 00:42:07.079 in the world 00:42:07.079 --> 00:42:08.639 and things fall apart 00:42:08.639 --> 00:42:09.960 and relationships break 00:42:09.960 --> 00:42:11.519 and we get angry 00:42:11.519 --> 00:42:13.119 and we lose our job 00:42:13.119 --> 00:42:14.420 and we lose our children 00:42:14.420 --> 00:42:17.659 to different circumstances 00:42:17.659 --> 00:42:21.199 and we lose our spouses 00:42:21.199 --> 00:42:22.659 and we lose our health. 00:42:23.399 --> 00:42:24.739 In the midst of the craziness, 00:42:24.819 --> 00:42:25.960 sometimes we often, 00:42:26.379 --> 00:42:27.940 we lose you. 00:42:29.859 --> 00:42:30.879 We don't cling 00:42:30.879 --> 00:42:32.139 to the truth of the resurrection. 00:42:32.299 --> 00:42:32.879 We don't cling 00:42:32.879 --> 00:42:34.000 to the hope that is there 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:35.239 that no matter what happens, 00:42:35.679 --> 00:42:37.019 no matter how bad it gets, 00:42:37.579 --> 00:42:38.699 there will be a day 00:42:38.699 --> 00:42:40.779 when all things are made right, 00:42:40.859 --> 00:42:42.019 when justice prevails, 00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:43.619 when the weak are lifted 00:42:43.619 --> 00:42:44.480 and made strong 00:42:44.480 --> 00:42:45.179 and when the poor 00:42:45.179 --> 00:42:46.920 and the hungry are fed 00:42:46.920 --> 00:42:49.039 even though it doesn't look like that 00:42:49.039 --> 00:42:50.019 in our world today. 00:42:51.280 --> 00:42:52.820 The resurrection brings us 00:42:52.820 --> 00:42:54.139 ultimate hope 00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:55.840 and truth 00:42:55.840 --> 00:42:56.380 that one day 00:42:56.380 --> 00:42:57.659 you will make all things right 00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:58.720 because you made them right 00:42:58.720 --> 00:42:59.720 already through your son 00:42:59.720 --> 00:43:00.519 and by raising him, 00:43:00.579 --> 00:43:01.820 you prove that he is God 00:43:01.820 --> 00:43:04.500 and now we can come to you 00:43:04.500 --> 00:43:05.840 through him. 00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:09.380 So what I pray for the rest of us 00:43:09.380 --> 00:43:10.940 who sometimes forget this truth 00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:12.539 and sometimes we blame you, 00:43:14.220 --> 00:43:15.500 Father, I just ask for your forgiveness. 00:43:17.579 --> 00:43:19.019 I beg for your forgiveness 00:43:19.019 --> 00:43:20.019 and help us to repent 00:43:20.019 --> 00:43:21.260 and help us to be convicted 00:43:21.260 --> 00:43:22.300 of how good you are. 00:43:24.180 --> 00:43:25.300 Father, we love you. 00:43:26.860 --> 00:43:28.059 We need you desperately. 00:43:29.780 --> 00:43:30.559 We pray all these things 00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:31.900 in your son Jesus' holy name. 00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:33.200 Amen.