WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:07.480 So, I've got three points today, and in a minute I'm going to invite you children to move to the side to help me with these three points. 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:17.500 And my really hope is that all of us can get these three points as we focus in on what Jesus offers us, what the risen Jesus offers us this Easter. 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:28.080 The first thing that I'm going to try and point us to right throughout this passage in Luke 24 is that the risen Jesus offers us his presence. 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:30.159 His presence. 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:36.579 When he came to the frightened disciples, second point, what was the first thing he said to them? 00:00:36.619 --> 00:00:37.560 It was another P. 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:42.619 Can any of you who are not my children tell me what that P is, Joe? 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:43.799 Peace. 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:50.759 The risen Jesus offers his presence, and the risen Jesus comes along and says, peace be with you. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:56.200 One of the final things that he said to them just at the end of the reading was he said, 00:00:56.200 --> 00:00:59.960 Wait here, because you're going to receive something else. 00:01:00.380 --> 00:01:01.440 It was another P. 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:02.940 Did any of you get it? 00:01:03.240 --> 00:01:03.600 Yes. 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:04.840 One of you. 00:01:05.719 --> 00:01:06.060 What did you say? 00:01:06.620 --> 00:01:07.100 Power. 00:01:07.540 --> 00:01:08.000 Excellent. 00:01:08.460 --> 00:01:12.200 The risen Jesus this morning offers all of us his presence. 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:15.920 He offers us peace, and he offers us power. 00:01:16.020 --> 00:01:23.260 Now, all those who are at school, please go to this site here, where you are going to help us all, hopefully by the end of the service, 00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:30.520 really make sure that we remember those three words, because you're going to do some beautiful posters for us that will have those three words. 00:01:30.740 --> 00:01:33.280 Presence, peace, and power. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:43.320 And while the children work quietly away, hopefully the rest of us will really be able to focus in on what this passage has for us as we think through these three words. 00:01:43.480 --> 00:01:51.500 Let me turn you first of all then to those initial verses in Luke 24, which we saw right at the start of our time together. 00:01:51.500 --> 00:01:59.799 These women, they were away searching, and in verse 2 we read, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 00:02:00.299 --> 00:02:03.060 Those women, they were looking for Jesus' body. 00:02:03.460 --> 00:02:07.519 They wanted to find Jesus present, albeit that they thought he would be dead. 00:02:07.859 --> 00:02:12.379 But we read in verse 2 that they were looking for Jesus in the wrong place. 00:02:12.379 --> 00:02:20.180 And the obvious question that's come to me as I've prepared this, as I've thought about the wonder of Easter, 00:02:20.180 --> 00:02:27.139 and the offer that Jesus makes to come alongside and be present with me in my every situation, 00:02:27.900 --> 00:02:31.099 is do I sometimes look for him in the wrong place? 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:37.719 Maybe sometimes I assume that he is only found when I come to church. 00:02:38.740 --> 00:02:42.560 Or maybe sometimes I don't bother looking for him at all. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:48.139 Maybe sometimes I live my life as though he is not alive, as though he is not present. 00:02:48.699 --> 00:02:55.519 Or maybe sometimes through chasing wealth, through chasing power, through getting caught up in the busyness of life, 00:02:55.520 --> 00:03:01.960 I find that I am searching in the wrong place, and I'm not finding the risen Jesus. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.580 Let's carry on in our passage. 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:11.680 Because in verse 13 onwards, as we enter into the story of the two people on the road to Emmaus, 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:14.780 we find these wonderful words in verse 15. 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:19.180 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:23.740 so there are these two, they're on a seven-mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus. 00:03:23.740 --> 00:03:30.500 They're very sad because they're talking about all of the events that have taken place around the death of Jesus Christ. 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:36.219 They had hoped that he was going to be the one who would be Messiah, the one who would be Savior. 00:03:36.580 --> 00:03:39.420 And they're having this conversation, and they're having their walk. 00:03:40.219 --> 00:03:42.340 And as this happens, verse 15, 00:03:42.980 --> 00:03:47.040 Jesus himself came up and walked with them. 00:03:48.160 --> 00:03:49.280 Just a walk. 00:03:50.660 --> 00:03:52.060 Nothing very spiritual. 00:03:52.060 --> 00:03:54.180 Not going to the place of worship. 00:03:54.180 --> 00:03:55.699 Just a walk. 00:03:56.259 --> 00:04:06.180 But that Easter day, Jesus himself presences himself among them and walks with them. 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:09.360 Just a conversation. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:12.319 Just the two of them, or so they thought. 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:15.439 But they're joined by a third person. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:19.519 They're joined by the risen, present Lord Jesus, 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:23.160 who comes along and walks with them. 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:27.740 And yet we read for some reason that at that point, 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:30.300 they were kept from recognizing him. 00:04:30.899 --> 00:04:33.100 And again, the question comes to my mind 00:04:33.100 --> 00:04:38.060 around whether we might both be looking for Jesus in the wrong place, yes, 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:46.980 or whether sometimes we are failing to recognize the presence of Jesus right next to us. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:51.600 Are there times where we might assume that we are alone? 00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:56.199 Where we might assume that we are not engaged in any sort of activity 00:04:56.199 --> 00:05:00.040 that God could possibly be interested in or caring about? 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:01.040 We're just walking. 00:05:01.860 --> 00:05:03.160 We're just talking. 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:06.280 We're just going about our normal daily business. 00:05:06.400 --> 00:05:07.160 We're just working. 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:09.260 We're just cleaning the house. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.120 We're just getting ready to sleep. 00:05:11.220 --> 00:05:12.980 Or we're just waking up. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:17.420 Is it possible that even in these situations, 00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:20.960 the risen Jesus wants to show us today 00:05:20.960 --> 00:05:26.940 that he is the one who wants to presence himself with us? 00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:35.060 He is the one, after all, who was described as he came to earth as Emmanuel, God with us. 00:05:35.579 --> 00:05:38.519 And I hope that this morning we might recognize him, 00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:45.899 the risen Jesus, as the one who is still Emmanuel, God with us. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:50.159 Let's carry on in our story as we come to these wonderful verses 00:05:50.159 --> 00:05:54.819 as this stranger to them, Jesus himself, 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:58.099 tells them or seeks to explain to them 00:05:58.099 --> 00:06:00.680 that they shouldn't be surprised by what has happened. 00:06:01.319 --> 00:06:04.599 Because actually the scriptures of old 00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:07.740 had been full of prophecies 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:10.199 around what would happen to the Messiah, 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:12.560 around how he must suffer, 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:16.519 around how he must die a sacrificial death 00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:19.279 in which he would pay for the sins 00:06:19.279 --> 00:06:23.219 of all those who would eventually trust him. 00:06:23.220 --> 00:06:26.480 And in verse 30, 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.180 having urged this stranger to stay with him, 00:06:31.140 --> 00:06:33.400 he takes bread, gives thanks, 00:06:33.460 --> 00:06:34.600 read it with me if you can, 00:06:35.100 --> 00:06:37.960 breaks the bread and begins to give it to them. 00:06:38.100 --> 00:06:39.360 And then in verse 31, 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:42.180 Then their eyes were opened, 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:44.600 and they recognized him. 00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:47.660 Then their eyes were opened, 00:06:48.020 --> 00:06:50.259 and they recognized him. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:53.580 And he disappeared from their sight. 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:59.259 Isn't it interesting that it's as Jesus takes bread, 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:04.120 and as he offers them bread that day, 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:06.699 that their eyes are opened, 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:10.579 and they recognize that this is not just a stranger. 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:14.500 They recognize that actually Jesus is alive, 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:17.939 and has been present with them. 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:22.579 He offers them bread. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:25.959 In the same way Jesus today, 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:27.519 as some have already remembered, 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:29.300 and as we remembered on Friday, 00:07:29.300 --> 00:07:31.800 offers us bread. 00:07:32.699 --> 00:07:34.600 He offers us bread, 00:07:34.740 --> 00:07:36.280 and he invites us to gather. 00:07:36.800 --> 00:07:40.100 He says we're two or three gathered together in his name. 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:41.960 There he will be among them. 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:44.800 And there we can take bread still. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:46.860 And as we take bread, 00:07:46.939 --> 00:07:48.600 we can remember his body. 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:51.379 We can remember his death for us. 00:07:51.620 --> 00:07:52.879 And we can take the cup, 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:56.120 and we can remember his blood shed for us. 00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:58.000 And get this, 00:07:58.100 --> 00:07:59.660 in just the same way, 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:02.300 as Jesus was present with those two, 00:08:02.500 --> 00:08:03.660 as they took bread. 00:08:04.259 --> 00:08:07.240 Jesus offers to be present with us, 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:10.579 as we take bread together. 00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:14.519 And it's not the case that it's just, 00:08:14.860 --> 00:08:17.959 it's just the fact that Jesus will be present with us, 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:20.100 in that moment of communion, 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:21.500 as we take bread. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:24.060 The wonderful truth of the risen Jesus, 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:26.199 told time and time again, 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:28.120 as we look at our New Testaments, 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.680 at the unfolding of the story of Christianity, 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:35.100 is that Jesus offers to be present with us, 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:37.320 and indeed offers to join us, 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:38.899 in our mealtimes. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:41.259 And indeed invites himself, 00:08:41.860 --> 00:08:43.399 if we will only allow him, 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:44.960 to be present with us, 00:08:44.980 --> 00:08:46.159 as we take bread. 00:08:46.539 --> 00:08:48.740 Revelation chapter 3 verse 20, 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:49.539 says this, 00:08:49.539 --> 00:08:50.939 Jesus speaking, 00:08:50.939 --> 00:08:52.120 to a church, 00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:53.659 that has not allowed him, 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:54.980 his place. 00:08:55.059 --> 00:08:56.019 Maybe somebody could get the door, 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:56.360 please. 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:57.279 Jesus says, 00:08:57.719 --> 00:08:58.899 here I am, 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:01.240 I stand at the door, 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:02.319 and knock. 00:09:02.899 --> 00:09:04.759 If anyone hears my voice, 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:05.879 and opens the door, 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:07.120 I will come in, 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:09.059 and I will eat, 00:09:09.259 --> 00:09:10.480 with that person, 00:09:10.939 --> 00:09:12.519 and they with me. 00:09:13.299 --> 00:09:14.379 The risen Jesus. 00:09:15.480 --> 00:09:16.419 Can we pause? 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.899 Can we shut out any other distractions? 00:09:19.579 --> 00:09:21.199 Can we think about our hearts, 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:22.439 and lives this morning? 00:09:22.860 --> 00:09:23.639 Where is Jesus? 00:09:26.379 --> 00:09:27.899 Does he have a place, 00:09:28.099 --> 00:09:30.000 right at the center of our lives? 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:32.839 Are we conscious of his presence? 00:09:35.339 --> 00:09:37.319 Or is it possibly the case, 00:09:37.579 --> 00:09:39.539 that he's been shut outside? 00:09:40.459 --> 00:09:41.620 Maybe forever. 00:09:42.779 --> 00:09:44.679 Maybe only more recently, 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:46.259 through whatever's been going on, 00:09:46.419 --> 00:09:47.219 in our lives, 00:09:47.259 --> 00:09:48.219 that you know about, 00:09:48.339 --> 00:09:49.779 and that God knows about. 00:09:51.099 --> 00:09:52.240 If that's the case, 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:53.679 is it possible that today, 00:09:54.579 --> 00:09:56.120 we can hear him, 00:09:56.360 --> 00:09:57.659 we can sense him, 00:09:57.699 --> 00:09:58.579 in our worship, 00:09:58.759 --> 00:09:59.360 in our reading, 00:09:59.479 --> 00:10:00.479 we can know, 00:10:00.579 --> 00:10:02.019 our spirits are telling us, 00:10:02.139 --> 00:10:04.860 that he is standing outside the door, 00:10:04.979 --> 00:10:05.339 knocking. 00:10:06.000 --> 00:10:06.679 And he's saying, 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:08.479 he wants us to experience, 00:10:08.699 --> 00:10:09.679 for the first time, 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:10.719 or once again, 00:10:10.939 --> 00:10:12.659 the joy of his presence. 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:14.879 He wants us to know, 00:10:14.879 --> 00:10:16.200 what it is to have Jesus, 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:17.980 right beside us. 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:19.659 He wants us to know, 00:10:19.740 --> 00:10:21.620 what it is to have a saviour. 00:10:22.419 --> 00:10:23.620 He wants us to know, 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:24.860 what it is not to journey, 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:26.240 through life alone, 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.120 but to have that Lord, 00:10:28.220 --> 00:10:28.980 and saviour, 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:30.799 present with us. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:32.960 As I was reflecting on this, 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:34.360 I thought of a book, 00:10:34.420 --> 00:10:34.980 that I've been reading, 00:10:35.060 --> 00:10:36.100 over the last couple of weeks, 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:36.980 on holiday. 00:10:37.080 --> 00:10:38.740 It's the story of Saru, 00:10:38.800 --> 00:10:40.060 it's also now the film, 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:40.820 Lion. 00:10:41.340 --> 00:10:42.000 It's a story, 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:43.560 of a five-year-old boy, 00:10:43.660 --> 00:10:44.240 in India, 00:10:44.420 --> 00:10:45.460 who gets lost, 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.540 on a long, 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:47.480 long train journey, 00:10:47.540 --> 00:10:47.700 right? 00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:48.780 And he ends up adopted, 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:50.220 in Australia, 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:51.800 and the story, 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:53.100 centres around, 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:53.960 his attempts, 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:55.660 to find his family, 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:56.879 back in India, 00:10:57.019 --> 00:10:58.560 25 years later. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:10:59.879 And there was one bit, 00:10:59.900 --> 00:11:00.400 of the story, 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:01.500 that really moved me, 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:02.220 I found myself, 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.860 with a tear in my eye, 00:11:03.899 --> 00:11:04.360 I must be getting, 00:11:04.379 --> 00:11:04.959 a bit emotional, 00:11:05.319 --> 00:11:06.159 these days. 00:11:06.579 --> 00:11:06.980 As, 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.379 it's the point, 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:09.220 where the mother, 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.659 who has given up, 00:11:10.699 --> 00:11:11.439 all hope, 00:11:11.500 --> 00:11:12.980 of ever seeing her son again, 00:11:13.079 --> 00:11:13.220 right? 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:13.740 The mother, 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:15.559 assumes her son is dead, 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:17.480 25 years later. 00:11:18.199 --> 00:11:18.759 The mother, 00:11:18.919 --> 00:11:19.319 suddenly, 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:20.459 in a normal, 00:11:20.579 --> 00:11:21.100 everyday, 00:11:21.379 --> 00:11:22.220 kind of day, 00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:23.500 doing her, 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:24.579 normal things, 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:25.539 in a small village, 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.179 in India, 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:28.259 sees this boy, 00:11:28.579 --> 00:11:29.379 approach her, 00:11:29.379 --> 00:11:30.759 and she knows, 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:31.259 immediately, 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.299 that this boy, 00:11:32.679 --> 00:11:34.399 is her long lost son. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:35.960 And she says, 00:11:36.200 --> 00:11:36.700 this, 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:40.559 he reports, 00:11:40.919 --> 00:11:41.820 that she said, 00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:43.519 as I walked, 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.439 towards her, 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:46.139 she was shivering, 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:48.600 she felt cold, 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:50.720 she had thunder, 00:11:50.720 --> 00:11:51.820 in her head. 00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:54.059 And he says, 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:55.899 I had thunder, 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:57.559 in my head too. 00:11:58.559 --> 00:11:59.799 That little phrase, 00:12:00.379 --> 00:12:01.179 that idea, 00:12:01.479 --> 00:12:01.759 of that, 00:12:01.819 --> 00:12:02.379 that image, 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:03.939 of the reuniting, 00:12:04.319 --> 00:12:05.019 of the mother, 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:05.799 and the son, 00:12:06.239 --> 00:12:07.759 25 years later, 00:12:08.179 --> 00:12:08.939 the thunder, 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:09.919 in the head, 00:12:10.319 --> 00:12:11.459 that they both had, 00:12:11.839 --> 00:12:13.039 reminds me a little bit, 00:12:13.079 --> 00:12:14.059 about what those two, 00:12:14.139 --> 00:12:15.379 on the road to Emmaus, 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.000 said, 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.759 as they realised, 00:12:18.059 --> 00:12:18.839 that actually, 00:12:19.059 --> 00:12:19.679 the person, 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:21.419 who had come alongside them, 00:12:21.579 --> 00:12:22.899 was the risen Jesus, 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:23.579 and they said, 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:25.139 were not our hearts, 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:25.979 burning, 00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:27.240 within us, 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:29.100 as he talked to us. 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.759 Didn't we have thunder, 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.740 in our heads, 00:12:34.259 --> 00:12:35.300 as we realised, 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:36.000 that actually, 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:37.600 it was the risen Jesus, 00:12:37.940 --> 00:12:38.879 who was present, 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:39.779 who was walking, 00:12:39.860 --> 00:12:40.899 alongside us. 00:12:42.200 --> 00:12:43.180 They had only been, 00:12:43.300 --> 00:12:43.899 without Jesus, 00:12:43.899 --> 00:12:45.240 for a number of days, 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:46.200 but they thought, 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.399 that all hope was gone. 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.080 They thought, 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:48.820 that they would never, 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:50.100 ever see him again, 00:12:50.420 --> 00:12:50.820 and yet, 00:12:50.860 --> 00:12:52.060 a few days later, 00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:52.860 they were able, 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:53.800 to welcome him, 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:55.000 back into their presence, 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:56.940 as the risen Lord, 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:58.080 never again to die, 00:12:58.159 --> 00:12:58.740 the one who had, 00:12:58.980 --> 00:12:59.740 beaten death. 00:13:00.940 --> 00:13:02.220 I wonder if some of us, 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.360 have been without Jesus, 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:04.080 for much more, 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.960 than a few days. 00:13:05.300 --> 00:13:06.340 I wonder if some of us, 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.000 are a bit more like, 00:13:07.060 --> 00:13:08.100 the mother of Saru. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:09.460 I wonder if some of us, 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:11.460 have gone for 25 years, 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.860 or thereabouts, 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:13.560 maybe more. 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:15.440 25 years, 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.379 perhaps thinking, 00:13:16.539 --> 00:13:17.680 that Jesus is dead. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:19.960 Perhaps thinking, 00:13:19.960 --> 00:13:20.620 that Jesus, 00:13:20.620 --> 00:13:21.919 is irrelevant. 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:22.860 Perhaps thinking, 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:23.919 that we will never, 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:24.940 have any sort of, 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:26.279 relationship with Jesus. 00:13:27.539 --> 00:13:28.580 And my prayer, 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:30.159 this Easter Sunday, 00:13:31.060 --> 00:13:32.620 and the prayer of many others, 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.759 in this church here, 00:13:34.320 --> 00:13:35.700 is that we might, 00:13:35.740 --> 00:13:37.840 recognize the risen Jesus, 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:41.039 as he walks towards us. 00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:43.279 As he steps towards us, 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:44.560 and says that he longs, 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:45.860 to have a relationship, 00:13:45.860 --> 00:13:46.720 with us. 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.180 As he's died, 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.039 to pay the price, 00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:49.720 for our sin. 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:51.440 As he's there, 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.320 to be our risen, 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.120 Lord and Saviour. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.120 And is it just possible, 00:13:57.519 --> 00:13:58.460 that even today, 00:13:59.320 --> 00:14:00.259 whether we've never, 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.300 known him before, 00:14:01.740 --> 00:14:02.820 or whether we just, 00:14:02.940 --> 00:14:03.840 recognize that we've, 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:04.960 pushed him to the margins, 00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:05.340 a bit, 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.740 despite being Christians, 00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.680 despite being those, 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.220 who have, 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:10.160 accepted Jesus as Saviour. 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:11.779 Is it just possible, 00:14:12.259 --> 00:14:13.120 we could allow, 00:14:13.300 --> 00:14:14.000 we could allow, 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.920 the risen Jesus, 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.680 who wants to be present, 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.200 with us. 00:14:17.420 --> 00:14:18.420 The great I am, 00:14:18.419 --> 00:14:19.439 the one who is God, 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.399 with us. 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.979 Could we just invite him, 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:23.240 to be present with us? 00:14:23.479 --> 00:14:24.519 Could we invite him, 00:14:24.599 --> 00:14:25.879 to stand beside us? 00:14:26.139 --> 00:14:27.139 Could we invite him, 00:14:27.259 --> 00:14:28.639 to have our lives, 00:14:28.719 --> 00:14:29.819 to have our all, 00:14:30.099 --> 00:14:31.139 to be our Lord, 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:33.000 to be our Saviour? 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:35.139 Maybe we could have thunder, 00:14:35.139 --> 00:14:36.740 in our heads today. 00:14:36.819 --> 00:14:37.879 Maybe we could have, 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:39.399 our hearts burning, 00:14:39.399 --> 00:14:40.219 within us, 00:14:40.219 --> 00:14:41.919 as the risen Jesus, 00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.259 steps right, 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.980 into our situation, 00:14:45.419 --> 00:14:46.159 because we believe, 00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:47.379 that he absolutely, 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:48.679 can do that, 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.779 because he's every bit, 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:50.840 as alive today, 00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.340 as he is, 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.659 in the passages, 00:14:53.659 --> 00:14:54.399 that we're reading. 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:55.860 The final opportunity then, 00:14:56.240 --> 00:14:57.480 when Jesus, 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:59.200 presences himself, 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:01.279 in Luke chapter 24, 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.200 is there in verses 36, 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.159 to 43. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:05.159 And we'll spend, 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:06.039 the last few minutes, 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:06.659 of our time, 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.159 looking at this, 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:09.539 passage here. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.799 While they're still talking, 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.259 Jesus, 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:14.779 stands, 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:15.860 among them. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:16.759 Do you notice, 00:15:16.919 --> 00:15:17.299 that Jesus, 00:15:17.459 --> 00:15:18.779 always seems to come, 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:21.839 in ways that people, 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:22.679 didn't expect, 00:15:23.579 --> 00:15:24.339 and at times, 00:15:24.419 --> 00:15:24.719 that people, 00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:25.980 didn't quite expect? 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.079 Tom Wright says this, 00:15:28.439 --> 00:15:29.659 Easter is always, 00:15:29.819 --> 00:15:30.839 a surprise. 00:15:31.659 --> 00:15:33.000 Whether in the sudden, 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:35.299 surges of God's grace, 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:37.759 overturning tragedy, 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:39.319 in our own lives, 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:40.679 or in the world. 00:15:42.319 --> 00:15:43.240 Let's just dwell, 00:15:43.339 --> 00:15:44.099 on that for a moment, 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.079 because I pray, 00:15:45.179 --> 00:15:46.539 I long that some of us, 00:15:46.599 --> 00:15:47.259 this morning, 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.559 might experience, 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:49.759 some surprise, 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.159 this Easter. 00:15:51.419 --> 00:15:52.099 Maybe this day, 00:15:52.179 --> 00:15:53.099 doesn't need to just, 00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:53.579 pan out, 00:15:53.799 --> 00:15:54.719 exactly as we thought, 00:15:54.779 --> 00:15:55.579 it probably would. 00:15:56.579 --> 00:15:57.500 Maybe Easter, 00:15:57.500 --> 00:15:58.639 can be a surprise, 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:00.179 as we discover, 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.459 that Jesus, 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:02.839 wants to step, 00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.959 into our situation, 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:05.519 and wants to stand, 00:16:05.620 --> 00:16:06.459 right with us. 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:08.519 Maybe we might discover, 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:10.379 a sudden surge, 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:12.439 of God's grace, 00:16:13.740 --> 00:16:15.620 overturning tragedy, 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:18.519 in our own lives, 00:16:19.299 --> 00:16:21.340 or in the world, 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:23.379 around us. 00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:26.600 And notice how Jesus comes, 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:27.840 to these disciples, 00:16:28.039 --> 00:16:28.819 who are frightened, 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:31.199 and who are full of doubt, 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.000 and I recognise, 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:33.660 it's ever so likely, 00:16:33.800 --> 00:16:34.520 as I look around, 00:16:34.620 --> 00:16:35.280 that some of you, 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:37.000 are full of doubt, 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.259 and scepticism, 00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:38.840 this morning. 00:16:38.920 --> 00:16:39.580 And this service, 00:16:39.900 --> 00:16:40.960 isn't the point, 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.580 at which we are, 00:16:41.660 --> 00:16:42.379 going into, 00:16:42.620 --> 00:16:44.259 all of the intellectual, 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.840 reasons, 00:16:44.900 --> 00:16:45.420 as to why, 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:45.960 those of us, 00:16:46.020 --> 00:16:46.520 who are Christians, 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.620 are convinced, 00:16:48.020 --> 00:16:49.140 that there is a sound, 00:16:49.259 --> 00:16:49.660 robust, 00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:51.120 intellectual case, 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:51.920 for celebrating, 00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:53.080 as we do this morning. 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:55.400 But what I do want, 00:16:55.460 --> 00:16:56.020 to draw out, 00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:57.100 is to point you, 00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:58.460 to how Jesus, 00:16:58.980 --> 00:17:00.680 dealt with the doubts, 00:17:01.040 --> 00:17:01.980 that were there, 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:02.780 in the minds, 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:03.900 of those first followers. 00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.140 He didn't berate them, 00:17:05.220 --> 00:17:05.880 for their doubts. 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:08.460 He acknowledged, 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.220 that the doubts, 00:17:09.360 --> 00:17:09.799 were there. 00:17:11.539 --> 00:17:12.640 And he says, 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:14.079 I invite you, 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:15.579 to take a really good look. 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:17.519 Tell you what, 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.380 I know your doubts, 00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:18.860 are there. 00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:20.719 Don't run away though. 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.740 Just stay in this moment. 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.599 Verse 39, 00:17:26.279 --> 00:17:27.759 Look at my hands, 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:28.859 and my feet. 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:30.759 It is I myself. 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:32.439 Touch me, 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:33.379 and see. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:35.119 A ghost does not have, 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.019 flesh and bones, 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.259 as you see, 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.219 I have. 00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:40.199 And if you're, 00:17:40.199 --> 00:17:40.879 full of doubt, 00:17:40.959 --> 00:17:41.439 this morning, 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.619 if you're sceptical, 00:17:42.619 --> 00:17:43.699 about this whole idea, 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:45.259 of Jesus being alive, 00:17:45.419 --> 00:17:46.319 of Jesus, 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.879 from 2000 years ago, 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:48.920 being present, 00:17:49.020 --> 00:17:49.860 with us today, 00:17:50.160 --> 00:17:51.060 if you're sceptical, 00:17:51.060 --> 00:17:51.780 about the idea, 00:17:51.780 --> 00:17:53.080 of Easter surprises, 00:17:53.080 --> 00:17:54.480 if you're not convinced, 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.300 about the idea, 00:17:55.300 --> 00:17:56.560 of sudden surges, 00:17:56.560 --> 00:17:57.740 of God's grace, 00:17:58.320 --> 00:17:59.360 then can encourage you, 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.140 not to run away. 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:03.040 But to take some time today, 00:18:03.040 --> 00:18:04.200 and in the week ahead, 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:05.700 as it were, 00:18:05.820 --> 00:18:07.180 to look at his hands, 00:18:07.280 --> 00:18:08.160 and feet, 00:18:08.820 --> 00:18:10.320 and to touch him, 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:11.320 and see. 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.080 The best way, 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.240 I can suggest for you, 00:18:13.320 --> 00:18:13.960 to do that, 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:15.700 is to take one of these, 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.820 gospels of Luke, 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:18.700 that are available, 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:19.519 on the way out, 00:18:19.919 --> 00:18:21.639 and just to take some time, 00:18:21.740 --> 00:18:22.159 yourself, 00:18:22.700 --> 00:18:23.279 to read it. 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:24.159 Read it from cover, 00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:24.720 to cover. 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:26.379 And in so doing, 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:27.659 perhaps you will be able, 00:18:27.659 --> 00:18:29.240 to look at his hands, 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.519 and his feet. 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.679 Perhaps you'll be able, 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.579 to touch him, 00:18:33.679 --> 00:18:34.200 and see. 00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.379 And I pray, 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.139 that you might discover, 00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:38.679 the risen Jesus, 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:40.259 and his presence, 00:18:40.659 --> 00:18:41.500 with you. 00:18:42.639 --> 00:18:43.579 Two things, 00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:45.779 as he presences himself, 00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:47.139 he offers, 00:18:47.460 --> 00:18:48.339 as hopefully we'll see, 00:18:48.399 --> 00:18:49.000 in a few minutes, 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:49.759 from the children, 00:18:50.200 --> 00:18:51.700 he offers two things, 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:52.700 to these, 00:18:52.879 --> 00:18:54.359 frightened disciples. 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.779 And the first thing he offers, 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:57.240 in verse 36, 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.500 and it's repeated, 00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.500 time and time, 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.279 and time again, 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.819 as the offer of Jesus, 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.339 in the accounts, 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:04.779 of the resurrection, 00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:06.319 he says, 00:19:06.940 --> 00:19:07.460 peace, 00:19:07.960 --> 00:19:08.779 be with you. 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.359 He doesn't come, 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:11.099 to condemn. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.259 He comes, 00:19:12.379 --> 00:19:12.879 to offer, 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:13.780 peace. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:14.860 Peace, 00:19:15.260 --> 00:19:16.040 be with you. 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:17.400 And I suppose, 00:19:17.560 --> 00:19:18.700 we can think of a number, 00:19:18.700 --> 00:19:19.440 of ways, 00:19:19.520 --> 00:19:20.100 in which, 00:19:20.460 --> 00:19:21.960 Jesus offers us, 00:19:22.360 --> 00:19:22.860 peace, 00:19:23.280 --> 00:19:24.100 even today. 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:25.700 I want to turn you, 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.900 to the verse, 00:19:27.060 --> 00:19:27.600 in the Bible, 00:19:28.280 --> 00:19:29.420 which is the verse, 00:19:29.520 --> 00:19:30.020 that really, 00:19:30.220 --> 00:19:31.600 opened up, 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:32.460 what being a Christian, 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.460 means for me. 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:34.160 And I've shared this, 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:34.800 with some of you, 00:19:34.940 --> 00:19:35.340 before. 00:19:35.840 --> 00:19:36.400 But it's a verse, 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.700 that speaks about peace. 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.960 And it's really the verse, 00:19:39.060 --> 00:19:39.540 through which, 00:19:39.820 --> 00:19:41.080 as I reflected on, 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.579 I realised, 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.759 for the first time, 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:45.220 with some degree of certainty, 00:19:45.339 --> 00:19:46.319 that I was a Christian. 00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:48.720 And it's Romans chapter 5, 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:49.579 and verse 1. 00:19:50.359 --> 00:19:51.220 I think I'd been looking, 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.099 for a kind of, 00:19:52.159 --> 00:19:53.220 special experience. 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:54.259 I'd been looking, 00:19:54.419 --> 00:19:55.500 for some special feelings. 00:19:55.980 --> 00:19:57.099 Maybe a flash of light, 00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:57.539 a bit like, 00:19:57.619 --> 00:19:58.199 sort of Paul, 00:19:58.539 --> 00:19:58.779 you know, 00:19:58.819 --> 00:19:59.699 on his way to, 00:19:59.699 --> 00:20:00.679 Tarsus. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:01.299 And I wasn't getting, 00:20:01.299 --> 00:20:01.919 any feelings, 00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.559 and so I was thinking, 00:20:02.679 --> 00:20:03.579 maybe I wasn't a Christian. 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.639 And then I read this, 00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:06.460 in Romans 5, 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.079 verse 1. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.039 Therefore, 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:11.359 since we have been justified, 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:13.200 through faith, 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:16.099 we have peace with God, 00:20:16.859 --> 00:20:19.480 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:20.940 Therefore, 00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:24.159 since we have been justified, 00:20:24.819 --> 00:20:26.379 through faith, 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:28.440 we have peace with God, 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:29.859 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.819 Maybe this is the verse, 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.899 that some of you need to allow, 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:34.960 just to sink into your hearts, 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:35.740 and minds. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:37.559 You might not be feeling, 00:20:38.420 --> 00:20:40.079 that sense of God's, 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:41.660 very real presence. 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.380 But God's word, 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.960 would remind us this morning, 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:46.480 that through faith, 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.599 in Jesus Christ, 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:49.640 we have been justified. 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:51.500 We have been made right, 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.099 with God. 00:20:52.700 --> 00:20:53.839 That it's not about, 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:54.599 what we do, 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:55.559 or how we feel, 00:20:55.620 --> 00:20:56.359 or what we've done, 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:57.359 or what we will do. 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:59.180 It's about what Jesus has done. 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.420 It's about the fact, 00:21:00.500 --> 00:21:02.059 that he has gone to the cross. 00:21:02.240 --> 00:21:03.180 That he has died. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:04.579 That he has taken our sin, 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.439 and shame. 00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:07.319 That he has risen from the dead, 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:08.799 conquering death, 00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:09.639 and hell, 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:10.699 and the grave. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:12.419 And now those of us, 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.139 who will simply, 00:21:13.259 --> 00:21:14.279 trust in that, 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:16.099 who will simply rely on him, 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:17.079 God's word says, 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:18.740 have been justified, 00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.220 and through that, 00:21:20.339 --> 00:21:21.679 now can experience, 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.559 peace with God. 00:21:23.639 --> 00:21:24.399 The risen Jesus, 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:25.799 comes to us today, 00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.439 and says, 00:21:26.859 --> 00:21:27.919 peace be with you. 00:21:27.980 --> 00:21:28.559 Do you need to know, 00:21:28.659 --> 00:21:29.359 that peace, 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:33.000 in the midst of all, 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:33.819 of the, 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:37.379 restlessness, 00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:39.979 of our lives, 00:21:40.639 --> 00:21:42.419 and of the world around us. 00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:44.279 Hear the risen Jesus, 00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:46.279 say to you today, 00:21:47.039 --> 00:21:49.019 peace be with you. 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.879 And it's peace, 00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:53.399 with God. 00:21:54.099 --> 00:21:55.599 It's also peace, 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:57.479 despite the circumstances, 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:59.140 that we might find ourselves, 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:00.700 in today. 00:22:01.860 --> 00:22:03.120 It's a remarkable, 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:04.360 offer of peace, 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:05.860 even in the middle, 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.880 of the crisis, 00:22:07.420 --> 00:22:08.180 that we might, 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.940 be so conscious of, 00:22:10.079 --> 00:22:10.620 this day. 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.980 I'm sure like many, 00:22:12.079 --> 00:22:12.640 I've been reading, 00:22:13.339 --> 00:22:14.980 of the terrible situation, 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:16.759 that our Christian brothers, 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:17.460 and sisters, 00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.360 in Egypt, 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.680 have experienced, 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:21.559 just over the last week. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:22.839 As some of them, 00:22:22.980 --> 00:22:24.619 going into a place of worship, 00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.299 have found themselves, 00:22:26.700 --> 00:22:27.039 killed, 00:22:27.179 --> 00:22:27.859 or have lost, 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:28.720 families, 00:22:28.899 --> 00:22:29.440 and loved ones. 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.539 And how can it be, 00:22:30.819 --> 00:22:32.740 that even in that situation, 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:34.079 they go back, 00:22:34.259 --> 00:22:35.919 to their places of worship today. 00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:38.000 And they hear these words, 00:22:38.259 --> 00:22:39.480 from the risen Jesus, 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:40.779 saying to them, 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:42.599 despite their situation, 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:43.799 peace, 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.740 be with you. 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.519 If those Christians, 00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:48.379 in Egypt, 00:22:48.899 --> 00:22:50.039 can enjoy something, 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.920 of the peace, 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:52.799 that the risen Jesus offers, 00:22:53.159 --> 00:22:54.259 then so can we. 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:55.500 Peace, 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.659 with God. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.859 Peace, 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:58.879 despite, 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:00.259 our situation. 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:02.220 And then finally, 00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.500 this final, 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.599 thing, 00:23:04.920 --> 00:23:06.059 this final offer, 00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.700 this final blessing, 00:23:08.180 --> 00:23:09.740 that Jesus pours out, 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.299 on his disciples, 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.579 that first Easter morning, 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:15.000 is set out, 00:23:15.000 --> 00:23:15.859 as a promise, 00:23:16.159 --> 00:23:17.440 at the end of the passage, 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.720 that Alistair reads. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:20.720 Let's turn again to it. 00:23:21.180 --> 00:23:22.519 In verse 46, 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.500 he reminds them, 00:23:23.620 --> 00:23:24.319 that the scriptures, 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:24.940 had said, 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:25.880 that the Messiah, 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.600 would suffer, 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.579 and rise from the dead, 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.799 and repentance, 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:31.140 and forgiveness of sins, 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.380 would be preached in his name, 00:23:32.620 --> 00:23:33.640 to all nations. 00:23:34.259 --> 00:23:34.920 And he says, 00:23:35.000 --> 00:23:36.160 I am going to send you, 00:23:36.360 --> 00:23:37.680 what my father has promised, 00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.640 in verse 49, 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:40.380 but stay in the city, 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:42.680 until you have been clothed, 00:23:42.680 --> 00:23:43.819 with power, 00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:45.700 from on high. 00:23:45.700 --> 00:23:47.940 I think we, 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:49.180 need to recognize, 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:49.799 this morning, 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.980 brothers and sisters, 00:23:51.180 --> 00:23:51.700 in Christ, 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:53.840 that the same power, 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:55.519 that raised Jesus, 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.340 from the dead, 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:57.799 2000 years ago, 00:23:58.259 --> 00:23:59.720 is the same power, 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:00.819 that is available, 00:24:01.100 --> 00:24:01.880 to those of us, 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:03.279 who follow Jesus Christ, 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:03.960 today. 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:07.080 Ephesians chapter 1, 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.480 verse 18, 00:24:08.759 --> 00:24:09.640 says this, 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:10.400 very, 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.420 very clearly. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.039 He says, 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:12.980 the apostle Paul, 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.740 writing to, 00:24:13.740 --> 00:24:15.079 that church in Ephesus, 00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:15.420 says, 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.720 I pray that the eyes, 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:17.319 of your heart, 00:24:17.400 --> 00:24:18.079 may be enlightened, 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:19.799 in order that you may know, 00:24:19.900 --> 00:24:21.059 the hope to which you is, 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.039 he has called you, 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.299 and that you may know, 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:24.799 the incomparably, 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.859 great power, 00:24:26.460 --> 00:24:27.599 for us who believe. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:29.259 That power, 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.779 is the same, 00:24:31.079 --> 00:24:32.500 as the mighty power, 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:33.420 he exerted, 00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:34.599 when he raised Christ, 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:34.980 from the dead. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.519 I think those are, 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:36.880 incredible words. 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:37.859 I'm not sure, 00:24:37.859 --> 00:24:38.299 I've really, 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.640 let that sink in. 00:24:39.720 --> 00:24:40.099 I'm not sure, 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.640 I've got the, 00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.680 do we really get, 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:43.160 the idea, 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:43.960 that the power, 00:24:44.279 --> 00:24:45.900 that God exerted, 00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:47.180 when he raised Jesus Christ, 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.600 from the dead, 00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:49.200 is the same power, 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:52.019 available to all of us. 00:24:52.920 --> 00:24:54.140 Available to us, 00:24:54.320 --> 00:24:55.740 as we now seek to, 00:24:55.820 --> 00:24:56.880 live with Jesus, 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:58.279 walking beside us. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.019 Available to us, 00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:00.880 as we seek to, 00:25:01.080 --> 00:25:02.420 do the good works, 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:03.840 that God has prepared, 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:05.320 in advance for us to do, 00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:06.600 his word tells us. 00:25:06.600 --> 00:25:07.840 The same power, 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.000 is available to us, 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.100 as we seek to be, 00:25:10.299 --> 00:25:10.980 his witnesses, 00:25:11.620 --> 00:25:12.600 in our community, 00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:14.080 in our schools, 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:16.320 in our villages, 00:25:16.519 --> 00:25:17.080 in our towns, 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.920 in this place, 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.259 in our workplaces. 00:25:19.560 --> 00:25:20.880 The same power, 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:22.779 is available to us, 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:23.519 today. 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:25.620 I noticed that, 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:26.580 one of the newspaper, 00:25:26.580 --> 00:25:28.060 headlines this morning, 00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.820 the Sunday Herald, 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:31.340 says this, 00:25:31.519 --> 00:25:32.180 on its page, 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.860 on its front page, 00:25:34.840 --> 00:25:35.580 exclusive, 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:36.980 church, 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:38.400 in crisis. 00:25:40.200 --> 00:25:40.720 Ironically, 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.700 I went to a news agent, 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.960 to try and buy the paper, 00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.799 and they weren't even, 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:44.380 selling it. 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:44.940 I think it's probably, 00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:45.539 the newspaper, 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:46.460 that's in crisis, 00:25:46.720 --> 00:25:48.220 due to falling circulation, 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.940 rather than the church, 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.059 that's in crisis. 00:25:51.920 --> 00:25:52.940 This church, 00:25:53.100 --> 00:25:54.680 is not in crisis. 00:25:55.500 --> 00:25:55.900 Yes, 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:56.779 there may be many, 00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:58.539 not attending church, 00:25:58.620 --> 00:25:59.519 in this country, 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:01.039 for all sorts of reasons, 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:02.860 but let's this Easter morning, 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:04.039 not for a minute, 00:26:04.580 --> 00:26:05.720 think that the church, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.840 is in crisis. 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.319 Jesus Christ, 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.139 himself said, 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:10.980 I will build my church, 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:12.700 and the gates of hell, 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:14.079 will not prevail, 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.059 against it. 00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:16.399 Jesus Christ, 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:16.919 the one, 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.319 who in his risen power, 00:26:18.619 --> 00:26:20.059 presences himself, 00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:20.859 among us, 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.439 offers us, 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:23.859 his peace, 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.539 and assures us, 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:28.519 of his power. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:29.919 Let's pause, 00:26:30.419 --> 00:26:31.460 and let's pray, 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.200 together. 00:26:32.200 --> 00:26:36.220 Lord Jesus, 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.240 at this moment, 00:26:37.360 --> 00:26:38.080 would you simply, 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.319 make us aware, 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:41.080 would you make us aware, 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.819 of your presence, 00:26:43.100 --> 00:26:43.860 with us. 00:26:45.740 --> 00:26:46.299 Saviour, 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:49.740 healer, 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.059 Lord, 00:26:52.059 --> 00:27:01.639 would you help, 00:27:01.639 --> 00:27:02.159 all of us, 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.359 to open the doors, 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.119 of our hearts, 00:27:04.200 --> 00:27:05.419 and welcome you in. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:07.319 And would you help us, 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.519 to live this week, 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.259 as those, 00:27:09.419 --> 00:27:11.079 who have the risen Lord, 00:27:12.059 --> 00:27:12.639 present, 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.819 with us. 00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.460 Assure us all, 00:27:17.579 --> 00:27:18.399 deep in our hearts, 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.179 of your peace, 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:20.119 this morning God. 00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:23.379 Assure us, 00:27:23.479 --> 00:27:24.679 despite our sin, 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.579 our failure, 00:27:25.719 --> 00:27:26.459 and rebellion, 00:27:27.239 --> 00:27:27.979 assure us, 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.539 that as we turn to you, 00:27:29.619 --> 00:27:30.159 Lord Jesus, 00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.199 as our saviour, 00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.759 as we trust, 00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.659 in all that you have, 00:27:33.659 --> 00:27:34.579 done for us, 00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:35.000 through your, 00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:36.539 death and resurrection, 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.299 we can experience, 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.039 peace, 00:27:39.659 --> 00:27:42.619 and empower us, 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:43.879 empower us, 00:27:43.959 --> 00:27:44.619 as individuals, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:46.059 and as a church, 00:27:46.339 --> 00:27:47.500 to speak, 00:27:47.719 --> 00:27:48.759 boldly for you, 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:51.559 to do radical acts, 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.779 of kindness, 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.879 and mercy, 00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:56.000 to be your hands, 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:56.599 and feet, 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.920 in this world. 00:27:59.460 --> 00:28:00.680 We ask, 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:02.299 in Jesus name, 00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.779 Amen.