WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.839 Mark 15, verse 16 to 20 we'll be starting with. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:08.859 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is the governor's headquarters. 00:00:09.740 --> 00:00:11.759 ! And they called together the whole battalion. 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:18.160 ! And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:22.000 And they began to salute him, Hail the King of Jews! 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:28.500 And they were striking his head with a reed, and spitting on him, and kneeling down in homage to him. 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:35.520 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him. 00:00:35.799 --> 00:00:38.060 And they led him out to crucify him. 00:00:39.079 --> 00:00:42.000 And then same chapter, jumping to verse 37. 00:00:43.939 --> 00:00:47.920 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. 00:00:48.900 --> 00:00:53.120 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 00:00:53.119 --> 00:01:02.780 And when the centurion who stood facing him saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:06.140 Truly, this man was the Son of God. 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:13.620 Then we're moving to the book of Luke, chapter 24, starting at verse 36. 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:17.420 Luke 24, verse 36. 00:01:17.420 --> 00:01:24.560 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:25.920 Peace to you. 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:30.379 But they were startled and frightened, and thought they saw a spirit. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:33.439 And he said to them, Why are you troubled? 00:01:33.900 --> 00:01:36.240 And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 00:01:36.920 --> 00:01:38.640 See my hands and my feet. 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:40.700 That is, I myself. 00:01:41.379 --> 00:01:42.719 Touch me and see me. 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:47.359 For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have. 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:52.039 And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:57.099 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marvelling, he said to them, 00:01:57.560 --> 00:01:58.780 Have you anything here to eat? 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:01.700 And they gave him a piece of broiled fish. 00:02:02.259 --> 00:02:04.379 And he took it and ate it before them. 00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:06.259 Then he said to them, 00:02:06.739 --> 00:02:09.900 These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:17.099 That everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. 00:02:17.980 --> 00:02:22.700 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures and said to them, 00:02:23.480 --> 00:02:28.939 Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 00:02:29.620 --> 00:02:36.060 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:37.460 beginning in Jerusalem. 00:02:37.460 --> 00:02:40.480 You are the witnesses of these things. 00:02:41.420 --> 00:02:41.740 Thank you. 00:02:42.400 --> 00:02:43.219 Well, good morning. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:45.600 My name is Dave. 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:46.900 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:02:48.480 --> 00:02:52.540 Well, the young Aussie sprinter sensation, Gout Gout, 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:55.480 did you see the pendant on his necklace? 00:02:55.480 --> 00:03:05.400 It was three soldiers aimed with rifles at a figure kneeling between them. 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:07.599 Did anyone see that? 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:11.420 That's because that's not true. 00:03:14.420 --> 00:03:19.159 The media would have gone nuts if that was his pendant. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:22.259 It was much, much, much worse than that. 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:23.360 It was a crucifix. 00:03:26.980 --> 00:03:28.460 Anyway, I won't go into detail. 00:03:28.700 --> 00:03:29.580 There's kids in the room. 00:03:29.580 --> 00:03:34.700 We see crosses everywhere and we just think it's normal. 00:03:35.240 --> 00:03:36.420 It is not normal. 00:03:37.480 --> 00:03:38.420 What's the cross mean? 00:03:38.580 --> 00:03:40.160 I like how someone else put it. 00:03:40.540 --> 00:03:47.880 The message of Good Friday, of the cross, is that given half a chance, the human race will do away with its maker. 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:50.479 That's what the cross means. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.680 Given half a chance, we'll do away with our maker. 00:03:55.299 --> 00:03:58.859 We heard some of the story read to us in the children's video. 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:09.439 I'd like to just look at that story again and look at it, at what the choices some of these people made that night, that day. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:18.759 The night before he died, his close friend Judas arranges a secret meeting to have Jesus captured for a handful of cash. 00:04:20.800 --> 00:04:23.939 Judas did away with Jesus for money. 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:35.160 Then Peter, his most devout follower, when Jesus willingly hands himself over, Peter three times says to strangers, 00:04:35.379 --> 00:04:36.060 I don't know him. 00:04:36.660 --> 00:04:37.519 I don't know him. 00:04:38.300 --> 00:04:39.699 I have nothing to do with him. 00:04:42.879 --> 00:04:46.060 Peter did away with Jesus to protect himself. 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:54.300 The religious top dogs, envious of how popular Jesus was getting, that they're losing their top spot. 00:04:54.839 --> 00:05:02.100 How would you feel if you were in a courtroom and you knew the judges had already decided guilty before proceedings began? 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:06.879 These religious top dogs, they did away with Jesus. 00:05:08.060 --> 00:05:09.100 They chose power. 00:05:11.660 --> 00:05:13.160 Then we've got King Herod. 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:18.600 We didn't hear his story, but King Herod, he throws parties for pleasure. 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:20.700 There's drinking, there's girls dancing. 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:22.360 He took someone else's wife. 00:05:23.020 --> 00:05:28.340 Jesus is brought before him and all he wants is the thrill of seeing a miracle firsthand. 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:30.160 And Jesus doesn't perform. 00:05:30.900 --> 00:05:33.740 And so Herod, he could have set him free, but he did away with Jesus. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:35.879 He wanted pleasure. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:38.600 He chose pleasure. 00:05:39.900 --> 00:05:41.760 Then we've got Pilate, the Roman governor. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:43.519 He had the authority of Caesar. 00:05:43.659 --> 00:05:48.860 He tries to set Jesus free knowing he's innocent, but he gives the order to crucify. 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:50.819 He can't wash his hands. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:05:51.620 He can't. 00:05:53.539 --> 00:05:57.259 Pilate did away with Jesus because he was a coward. 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.079 Not willing to do what was right. 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:02.980 He didn't protect the innocents. 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.139 He chose a hassle-free life. 00:06:07.139 --> 00:06:11.139 He chose a hassle-free life. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:16.259 When you see a cross, what does it mean? 00:06:17.039 --> 00:06:18.639 It comes in different forms. 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:26.120 Money, self-protection, power, pleasure, just a hassle-free life, but it's all choosing self. 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:32.099 Given half a chance, if you're here today, if you're religious or not, it doesn't matter. 00:06:32.100 --> 00:06:34.720 That's not what I'm talking about. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.379 We choose self. 00:06:38.780 --> 00:06:40.980 We will all do away with our maker. 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:44.060 I can see myself in this story. 00:06:44.200 --> 00:06:46.500 I can see myself in the choices of these people. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:52.579 So many of my choices for self do harm. 00:06:53.379 --> 00:06:55.779 Do so much harm to other people. 00:06:58.720 --> 00:07:02.040 Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice. 00:07:02.779 --> 00:07:05.639 Call out among the scoffers. 00:07:05.639 --> 00:07:07.539 It's my voice. 00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:10.279 Crucify him. 00:07:11.800 --> 00:07:12.680 Crucify him. 00:07:12.779 --> 00:07:13.879 That's my voice. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:17.099 It was my sin that held him there. 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:21.039 Can you see yourself? 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:25.659 Can you hear your mocking voice? 00:07:25.660 --> 00:07:29.460 Well, what did Jesus choose? 00:07:32.460 --> 00:07:38.800 One of my favorite memories in high school was on one Friday night playing rugby. 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:42.420 I'm a soccer person, but I was forced to play rugby for my school. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:45.020 Now, you may not have noticed. 00:07:45.460 --> 00:07:47.440 You can barely see my head above the pulpit. 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:50.220 I'm not a very tall person. 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:51.900 Some dare to call me short. 00:07:53.200 --> 00:07:55.120 Now, I was playing fullback. 00:07:56.380 --> 00:08:00.800 And the opposition's biggest player broke through our defenses. 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:04.080 I'm pretty sure he was a grown man. 00:08:05.320 --> 00:08:08.280 He should not have been playing in our league. 00:08:08.460 --> 00:08:10.620 And he saw no need to run around me. 00:08:10.780 --> 00:08:12.080 He just ran straight at me. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:17.480 Now, to everyone's surprise, including my own, I picked him up and put him on his back. 00:08:19.460 --> 00:08:21.240 And I just want to end the sermon there. 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:24.340 So that that's the point you go away with. 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:34.279 Now, isn't that the kind of strength and power and success and applause that we love? 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:36.500 That the world goes, that's great. 00:08:37.019 --> 00:08:40.820 Whatever life throws at you, you pick it up and put it on its back. 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:41.600 You push through. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:42.220 You succeed. 00:08:42.220 --> 00:08:47.180 See, can you see in Jesus true strength? 00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:50.000 True greatness. 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:56.980 In what he chose again and again and again out of love for you and me. 00:08:56.980 --> 00:08:59.259 Can you see his true strength? 00:08:59.659 --> 00:09:01.440 He's the son of God. 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:09.480 And he chose to get trampled by little Judas, betraying him. 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:14.940 He gets trampled by his friends, abandoning him. 00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:20.320 And still acts in love towards him. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:26.399 He gets trampled by the soldiers blindfolding him and hitting him and spitting on him. 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:27.860 He doesn't even... 00:09:27.860 --> 00:09:33.279 This isn't in the text, but I reckon he didn't even clench his fists in retaliation. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:37.419 He gets trampled by false accusations. 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:40.980 He is silent before Pilate. 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.419 Pilate is amazed. 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:44.860 He makes no defence. 00:09:47.459 --> 00:09:49.059 Do you see his strength? 00:09:52.299 --> 00:09:57.799 He shows his love for you and me that on the cross, he stayed. 00:10:00.379 --> 00:10:02.220 That's his strength. 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:06.519 He got trampled and trampled and he stayed there. 00:10:09.060 --> 00:10:10.040 That's great. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.720 I hope you take that point away. 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:14.379 That's greatness. 00:10:16.660 --> 00:10:19.019 Do you see what God the Father chose? 00:10:21.320 --> 00:10:25.899 If you're a parent, what would you give up your child for? 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:32.360 Five, six things coming... 00:10:32.360 --> 00:10:34.299 No, I'm guessing nothing, right? 00:10:35.559 --> 00:10:36.039 Nothing. 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:41.679 For what reason would you hand your child over to killers? 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:47.759 Now, Jesus chose to go to the cross. 00:10:47.859 --> 00:10:48.519 He chose it. 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.159 But doesn't that tell us something? 00:10:53.099 --> 00:10:54.979 That the Father... 00:10:54.979 --> 00:10:57.620 The Father would give up his son. 00:10:57.739 --> 00:11:03.059 Doesn't that tell us something of how captive and in danger we are? 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:04.519 If that's what it took. 00:11:04.519 --> 00:11:06.919 That's what it took. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.639 To give us freedom and life. 00:11:11.779 --> 00:11:14.819 Could God really want me that much? 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:17.799 That he would give up his son to have me? 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:19.620 To have you? 00:11:19.620 --> 00:11:27.560 The cross hanging around Gaut's neck, it means all of this. 00:11:27.659 --> 00:11:28.539 What we choose. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:30.240 What Jesus chose. 00:11:30.840 --> 00:11:31.879 What the Father chose. 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:33.120 It means all that. 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:35.799 If. 00:11:37.700 --> 00:11:44.120 If Jesus was raised back to life with a new body on the third day. 00:11:44.120 --> 00:11:48.560 Do you agree with me? 00:11:48.620 --> 00:11:50.879 The resurrection is unbelievable. 00:11:51.860 --> 00:11:52.620 It is. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:55.299 It is. 00:11:56.019 --> 00:11:57.740 We live in a scientific age. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:12:00.639 We aren't superstitious like those ancient people. 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:03.480 His followers probably wanted to believe it. 00:12:04.100 --> 00:12:06.159 Maybe it comforted their grief. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:08.720 Maybe they wanted their religion to keep going. 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:12.740 But I love the authenticity of what we read. 00:12:12.740 --> 00:12:15.060 Look at these followers. 00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:16.740 They do not sound superstitious. 00:12:17.580 --> 00:12:18.700 They don't sound gullible. 00:12:19.100 --> 00:12:22.600 When the women report that the tomb was empty, they don't believe them. 00:12:23.980 --> 00:12:26.600 Only two of them go see for themselves. 00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:28.000 They don't believe it. 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:33.560 Two of them, another two of them, are walking and talking with Jesus all day. 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:38.259 They are so depressed because their hopes are dead and gone. 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:42.139 It takes them ages to recognise him. 00:12:42.740 --> 00:12:44.279 They are just not expecting it. 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:51.519 And then he appears in a room with all of them and they didn't cry, yes, we knew you could do it. 00:12:52.180 --> 00:12:53.019 They are terrified. 00:12:53.980 --> 00:12:55.600 They think they are seeing a ghost. 00:12:56.139 --> 00:12:57.899 He has to convince them. 00:12:58.379 --> 00:12:59.340 I am not a ghost. 00:12:59.340 --> 00:13:11.519 If you are going to write a fictional story to make this up, what comes next, frankly, I don't know why you would write it. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.879 It is not very inspiring. 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:19.500 You would expect something like, and he shone with the brightness of the sun and everyone bowed down and worshipped. 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:20.159 But what do we get? 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:25.000 You got anything in the fridge? 00:13:26.719 --> 00:13:37.399 And he took a piece of broiled fish and he ate it before the... 00:13:37.399 --> 00:13:40.059 It's not very inspiring. 00:13:40.059 --> 00:13:45.259 Why would you write that unless that's what happened? 00:13:45.259 --> 00:13:56.439 Jews believed there would be a resurrection, but they did not believe it would happen until the very end of history. 00:13:56.439 --> 00:14:01.939 And they did not believe one person would be raised, but everyone at the same time. 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:05.720 The Jews were not expecting this. 00:14:05.940 --> 00:14:10.160 That's why the disciples are just like, this doesn't fit in my head. 00:14:11.940 --> 00:14:16.280 The Romans and Greeks thought the spirit is what matters. 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:19.180 The body, it's dirty. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:20.340 It's weak. 00:14:21.160 --> 00:14:26.560 The idea of a bodily resurrection, unbelievable. 00:14:26.559 --> 00:14:33.679 So if we struggle in our scientific age to believe this, let's join the club. 00:14:34.779 --> 00:14:37.039 It's always, always been unbelievable. 00:14:39.599 --> 00:14:41.059 Jesus invites them. 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:45.139 He invites us to look at his hands and his feet where the scars are. 00:14:46.599 --> 00:14:51.659 His body that he'll have for all eternity have the scars where the nails went in. 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:59.019 And I love the description once they looked and touched his hands and his feet. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:06.259 They still disbelieved for joy. 00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:15.740 They still disbelieved for joy and were marvelling. 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:26.399 To believe in Jesus is to move from saying the resurrection is unbelievable because it just doesn't fit in my understanding. 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:34.940 To struggling to believe because of all that the resurrection means. 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:36.480 For joy. 00:15:37.500 --> 00:15:39.580 That's the movement. 00:15:40.580 --> 00:15:42.299 It's from unbelief to unbelief. 00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:44.220 In joy. 00:15:45.740 --> 00:15:51.120 At this one time, I was negotiating with someone to buy their car. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:53.879 And I took it for a desk drive. 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:55.539 I asked all the usual questions. 00:15:55.659 --> 00:15:57.000 I was negotiating a price. 00:15:58.060 --> 00:16:00.620 And he gave me a call one night. 00:16:01.680 --> 00:16:03.279 And he said, I've got a proposal for you. 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:06.080 You can have the car for free. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:15.440 Now, my mind just went in a few different directions all at once. 00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.480 Did he just say that? 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:18.200 Is the lion breaking up? 00:16:18.460 --> 00:16:21.740 Like, does his wife know about this? 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.080 She did, by the way. 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:26.680 What's the catch? 00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:27.960 I was just waiting for the catch. 00:16:28.040 --> 00:16:29.259 I'm still waiting for the catch. 00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:30.100 It still hasn't come. 00:16:30.100 --> 00:16:32.300 Why would he do that? 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:40.279 Anyway, I was just trying to think of a time where I felt this disbelief for joy. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.840 I just can't comprehend it. 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:45.340 Now, if I can feel that about a car. 00:16:45.740 --> 00:16:47.620 Like, it's just a car. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:51.919 Jesus invites us to look at his hands and feet. 00:16:52.279 --> 00:16:54.779 And God is, he wants all the world to know. 00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:58.500 It's like he's calling you and I up going, I've got a proposal for you. 00:17:00.500 --> 00:17:01.919 You're waiting for the catch. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.100 It doesn't come. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:11.480 Look at my hands and feet and enter the joy that all my death and resurrection means. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:12.599 All for free. 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:16.599 But you struggle to believe it. 00:17:17.619 --> 00:17:23.099 What does it mean? 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:25.799 Well, what does he say? 00:17:26.179 --> 00:17:27.299 He says, peace. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:28.939 Peace to you. 00:17:33.659 --> 00:17:36.059 We think of peace like this moment in the room. 00:17:36.159 --> 00:17:36.939 There was a bit of quiet. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:42.059 We think of peace as in, like, the kids not fighting over toys. 00:17:42.059 --> 00:17:47.899 But peace for Jews, shalom, it means so much more than that. 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:49.480 It means wholeness. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:55.240 It means everything, everything is put right. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:18:00.759 I'm craving that. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:02.400 I think we all crave that. 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:04.620 The peace of his resurrection. 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.380 It means so many things. 00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.859 I just want to point out three. 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:14.660 It means peace, wholeness of a new forever body. 00:18:14.660 --> 00:18:23.980 A lady named Jodie became a quadriplegic as a teenager. 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:30.259 And in a church service once, the minister asked everyone to get out of their seats and kneel to pray. 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:33.900 And this room of 500 or so people got out and knelt. 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:38.000 And she was just, I knew I couldn't get through this. 00:18:38.860 --> 00:18:40.200 She was just sitting there. 00:18:42.280 --> 00:18:46.480 She knew the rest of her life she could never do that. 00:18:48.060 --> 00:18:53.080 But she wasn't just crying because the rest of her life she couldn't do that. 00:18:53.280 --> 00:18:54.519 This thought came to her. 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.180 She said this. 00:18:55.180 --> 00:19:06.860 It made me think of the day when I too will be able to get out of this wheelchair on new resurrected legs. 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:09.600 I can't wait for that day. 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:20.279 Because when I get my glorified body, the first thing I'm going to do with my resurrected legs is to fall down. 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:30.980 On grateful, glorified knees. 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:35.000 The resurrection gives that kind of hope. 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:44.599 And the resurrection means peace. 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:48.660 It means wholeness knowing our lives matter. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:59.599 I was talking with a man and he said that when he was approaching retirement, he questioned what life was all about. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:04.480 Even suicidal thoughts. 00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:10.339 But when a famous Christian from centuries ago was asked, 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:13.559 what would you do if you knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow? 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:15.839 He said, I'd plant a tree. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:15.899 I said, I'd plant a tree. 00:20:20.279 --> 00:20:21.079 Do you get it? 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:24.399 What a great response. 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.440 He understood. 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:31.779 If you understand the resurrection, that God is committed to remaking this world, 00:20:32.139 --> 00:20:34.799 our choices matter for eternity. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:38.779 If we're working towards the same goals that God is. 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:41.160 Everything we do for God will last. 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:48.540 It means peace of a new resurrected body. 00:20:48.800 --> 00:20:52.160 It means our lives matter if we're living them for God. 00:20:52.220 --> 00:20:56.360 And it means the peace, the wholeness of forgiveness. 00:21:00.380 --> 00:21:04.460 We see what's going on at that cross very clearly at the end of the Mark reading. 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:10.720 Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:15.539 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:23.079 Now the curtain in the temple was a barrier saying you cannot come to God. 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.880 No one could come to God. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.519 You can't come into his home. 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:30.680 And so we see very clearly in that moment what's going on. 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:35.820 When Jesus breathed his last, God the Father is saying to the Son, 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:38.960 to forgive you and me, you've got to get out. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:43.759 And he's now saying to you and me, come in. 00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:47.240 It's that peace. 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.640 Come into my home. 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.960 It's peace with God. 00:21:52.080 --> 00:21:53.140 Forgiveness with God. 00:21:53.140 --> 00:22:03.000 A survivor of the concentration camps in World War II, her name was Corey. 00:22:04.360 --> 00:22:07.040 Her father and sister died in the camps. 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:12.220 And after the war in a church service, a man approached her afterwards 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:14.820 and he was one of the SS prison guards. 00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:18.240 And he held out his hand, asking for forgiveness. 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.980 And Corey writes this. 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:23.360 I tried to smile. 00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:27.180 I struggled to raise my hand. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:28.640 I could not. 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:30.759 I felt nothing. 00:22:31.559 --> 00:22:34.620 Not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. 00:22:34.779 --> 00:22:36.980 And so again I breathed a silent prayer. 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:39.720 Jesus, I prayed, I cannot forgive him. 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:42.480 Give me your forgiveness. 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:48.759 And as I took his hand, the most incredible thing happened. 00:22:48.759 --> 00:22:55.319 And into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. 00:22:55.319 --> 00:23:03.659 The resurrection means peace. 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.720 It means wholeness. 00:23:04.899 --> 00:23:07.079 It means forever body, that hope. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:09.980 It means our choices matter when we live it for God. 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:11.599 It means peace with God. 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:14.779 It is a forgiveness that will heal the world. 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.859 And it means so much more. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:21.839 The resurrection is unbelievable. 00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:34.899 I pray that each of us would struggle to believe because your joy is so full that God has called you up. 00:23:34.900 --> 00:23:35.980 I've got a proposal. 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:41.220 I pray that God would do all this for you. 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:42.700 All for free. 00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:51.500 Look at his scars on his hands and his feet and embrace what the cross really means. 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:59.619 It means I am so sinful that Jesus had to die for me. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:05.420 Yet I am so loved and valued. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:08.299 He was glad to die for me. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:11.380 To give you peace. 00:24:14.079 --> 00:24:15.559 May our joy be full. 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:18.500 Thanks for listening.