WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.019 Morning, Church. Today's scripture reading is taken from the book of John, chapter 19 to 20, starting from verse 28. 00:00:09.320 --> 00:00:13.140 ! Please follow along the bulletin, your Bible, or on the screen. 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:43.120 Verse 28. 00:00:43.140 --> 00:01:13.120 Verse 28. 00:01:13.140 --> 00:01:15.140 Verse 29. 00:01:15.140 --> 00:01:45.140 00:01:45.140 --> 00:01:47.140 Verse 29. 00:01:47.140 --> 00:02:17.139 00:02:17.139 --> 00:02:47.139 00:02:47.139 --> 00:03:17.139 00:03:17.139 --> 00:03:47.139 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:49.139 Verse 29. 00:03:49.139 --> 00:04:19.139 00:04:19.139 --> 00:04:49.139 00:04:49.139 --> 00:05:19.139 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:49.139 00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:51.139 Verse 29. 00:05:51.139 --> 00:06:21.139 00:06:21.139 --> 00:06:23.139 Verse 29. 00:06:23.139 --> 00:06:25.139 Verse 29. 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:27.139 Verse 29. 00:06:27.139 --> 00:06:29.139 Verse 29. 00:06:29.139 --> 00:06:31.139 Verse 29. 00:06:31.139 --> 00:06:33.139 Verse 29. 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:33.139 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:35.139 Verse 29. 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:35.139 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:37.240 Verse 29. 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.240 --> 00:06:37.240 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:42.300 And so we're going to look at the end of John's gospel this morning. 00:06:42.780 --> 00:06:47.699 Briefly, I forgot to say, just a couple of people that are here that used to be at Watermark many years ago. 00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:49.620 Jackie, I see, from Sydney. 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:51.079 Jackie, great to have you here. 00:06:51.139 --> 00:06:53.340 And also Chris and Jen from the States. 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:54.460 Great to have you guys. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:59.019 Old time Watermarkers, just meant to say hello and welcome back to Watermark. 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:00.060 Great to have you guys here. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:02.180 Okay, back to our passage. 00:07:02.579 --> 00:07:06.199 So we're looking at John, the eyewitness, the biographer of Jesus. 00:07:06.199 --> 00:07:07.199 What did he think? 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:07.959 What did he say? 00:07:08.180 --> 00:07:09.139 What did he see? 00:07:09.519 --> 00:07:10.839 What did he experience? 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.360 In our passage today, we're going to see three very simple things. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:20.539 The surprise of the resurrection, the hope of the resurrection, and the message of the resurrection. 00:07:20.980 --> 00:07:23.219 Okay, we'll spend the most time on the second one. 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.899 But let's look firstly at the first one, the surprise of the resurrection. 00:07:26.899 --> 00:07:40.539 John's gospel is unique in that he records the extraordinary personalness and intimacy with which Jesus engages in his first disciples, his followers. 00:07:41.159 --> 00:07:48.419 In our passage today, John records three conversations or encounters he has with people following his resurrection. 00:07:48.979 --> 00:07:52.799 He firstly speaks with a lady, a lady called Mary Magdalene. 00:07:52.919 --> 00:07:54.179 She was one of his followers. 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:58.819 She had come from a very broken past, a very, very broken background. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:05.780 And Jesus had healed her and redeemed her and saved her and healed a lot of her life. 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.699 And Jesus has a conversation with her. 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:10.600 Then we see Jesus' conversation with his disciples. 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:15.519 And then finally, there's one disciple in particular who wasn't with the original. 00:08:15.879 --> 00:08:18.560 And we see Jesus' conversation with Thomas. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:27.920 And one of the things that we meant to notice is the fact that none of these people that meet and encounter Jesus expected to do so. 00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:31.079 None of them woke up on their Sunday morning saying, 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:32.720 Okay, well, it's the third day now. 00:08:32.840 --> 00:08:33.960 Jesus said that he would rise. 00:08:34.039 --> 00:08:35.419 Let's go see if it happened. 00:08:36.039 --> 00:08:41.000 All of them are completely surprised by what they encounter. 00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:42.879 None of them went looking for him. 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:47.279 None of them were anticipating encountering the risen, wrecked Jesus. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:53.259 Despite the fact that Jesus had told them he's going to die and rise again. 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:58.279 Despite the fact that the Old Testament scriptures had said this is what would happen to the Messiah. 00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:01.740 Neither Jesus follows his friends. 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:05.919 None of them expected to encounter him in bodily form on that Easter Sunday. 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:13.699 Look at Mary's response when she finds the stone covering to the entrance of the tomb has been rolled away. 00:09:13.899 --> 00:09:15.120 And nobody's inside. 00:09:15.220 --> 00:09:15.959 Look at verse 2. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:18.860 She goes and she runs and she tells Peter. 00:09:19.019 --> 00:09:25.780 She says, Peter, John, disciples, they've taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they've laid him. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:28.720 She says the same thing in verse 13. 00:09:29.160 --> 00:09:31.080 They've taken away my Lord. 00:09:31.879 --> 00:09:33.680 Now notice what she doesn't assume. 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:37.060 Mary doesn't assume the tomb is empty. 00:09:37.400 --> 00:09:38.160 He must have risen. 00:09:38.879 --> 00:09:40.420 That's the last thing on her mind. 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:43.320 It's not on her dashboard at all. 00:09:43.320 --> 00:09:47.500 She's not expecting that to be even a possibility. 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:50.760 In fact, she says the same thing in verse 15. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:56.800 Mary assumes that Jesus' body has been stolen and maybe dumped in a ditch or hidden somewhere. 00:09:57.140 --> 00:10:00.700 She says, verse 15, she's speaking to Jesus, assumes that he's a gardener. 00:10:00.700 --> 00:10:10.020 She says, sir, if you have taken away my Lord, please tell me where you've laid him, that I may go and take him away and give him a decent burial. 00:10:10.140 --> 00:10:15.759 She assumes that he's been removed from the tomb and hidden somewhere or dumped somewhere. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:19.580 And she wants to honor his body by giving him a decent burial. 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:25.580 Jesus' resurrection from the dead is not what any of his followers expected. 00:10:26.600 --> 00:10:28.840 And the same is true for the other disciples, right? 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:32.000 Mary comes and tells the disciples what's happened. 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:34.840 Peter and John, John doesn't name himself. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:37.919 He just calls himself the disciple that Jesus loved. 00:10:38.200 --> 00:10:39.220 Okay, but he's talking about himself. 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:41.340 Peter and John run to the tomb. 00:10:41.700 --> 00:10:42.480 They see it empty. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.720 The grave clothes are still intact, but there's no body. 00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:50.220 But look at what John writes about himself and Peter. 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:51.639 Verse 9, he says, 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:56.879 As yet they did not understand the scriptures that he must rise from the dead. 00:10:57.360 --> 00:10:58.720 So they went back to their homes. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:00.039 It's quite amazing. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:05.460 If I was writing a gospel about myself, I would say, you know, Nielsen and Oscar, they're a little slow. 00:11:05.560 --> 00:11:08.000 They didn't understand, you know, but I understood. 00:11:08.220 --> 00:11:08.620 I knew. 00:11:09.420 --> 00:11:10.379 But John doesn't do that. 00:11:10.379 --> 00:11:18.860 John sees it fit to write into Holy Scripture, onto his gospel account, that the Holy Spirit has preserved for us for all time. 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:24.139 John confesses his own lack of expectation. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:26.240 He says, hey, we didn't expect it. 00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:27.740 We didn't understand the scriptures. 00:11:27.939 --> 00:11:32.259 Even though Jesus had told us the Bible had said it, it's not what we expected. 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.960 None of the disciples expected. 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:39.900 And of course, they go and they tell the other disciples, but there's one disciple who's not there. 00:11:40.420 --> 00:11:41.120 Where's Thomas? 00:11:41.540 --> 00:11:42.480 Well, who knows? 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:44.000 Maybe he needed some time out. 00:11:44.560 --> 00:11:47.680 Maybe he needed some space just to process everything that had happened. 00:11:48.180 --> 00:11:50.540 But for whatever reason, he's not with the disciples. 00:11:51.420 --> 00:11:54.639 And so the other disciples come to him and say, Thomas, you missed out. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.379 Jesus appeared to us. 00:11:56.440 --> 00:11:58.800 We've seen him in a real bodily form. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:03.419 And Thomas, amazingly, says, verse 25, 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:13.459 Unless I see his hands, the mark of his nails, and I place my finger in the mark of the nails, and I place my hand in his side, I will not believe. 00:12:14.319 --> 00:12:20.359 Again, why didn't John just write and say, and the disciples all believed, and it all just lived happily ever after? 00:12:20.360 --> 00:12:28.860 John is at pains to tell us that this is what none of his closest friends, none of his followers were expecting or anticipating the resurrection. 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:34.080 And as much as Jesus had told them, they did not expect his physical resurrection. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:38.180 As N.T. Wright, the biblical historian, says, 00:12:38.179 --> 00:12:46.899 The first century people knew just as well as 21st century people that ordinarily dead people don't rise from the grave, right? 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:50.919 It's not like, oh, those first century people, they were so ignorant. 00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:57.739 But us modern people, we have discovered through scientific experimentation that dead people don't normally rise, right? 00:12:58.199 --> 00:13:03.699 There was a group of people a few years ago that were having a seminar, and they brought in a nurse. 00:13:03.699 --> 00:13:06.259 And they said, tell me, nurse, you've worked in a hospital many years. 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:08.340 Have you ever seen a dead person rise? 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.200 He said, no. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:11.639 He said, see, dead people don't rise. 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:12.799 It's proof, right? 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:15.939 But friends, first century people knew that as well. 00:13:16.580 --> 00:13:18.299 Nobody was expecting this. 00:13:18.639 --> 00:13:20.580 So why is John telling us this? 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:26.240 John wants us to see Jesus' resurrection from the dead wasn't thought up by his followers. 00:13:26.980 --> 00:13:28.159 It wasn't on their agenda. 00:13:28.299 --> 00:13:29.220 It wasn't on their radar. 00:13:29.720 --> 00:13:32.120 But they came to believe it when they saw it. 00:13:32.379 --> 00:13:33.759 They experienced it for themselves. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:44.360 And these eyewitness accounts are written so that those of us who weren't there can read their eyewitness testimony and come to believe it for ourselves. 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.879 We can have confidence. 00:13:46.019 --> 00:13:46.759 This isn't a myth. 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:48.980 It's not an allegory, as Neil said. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:50.700 This isn't a spiritual metaphor. 00:13:51.240 --> 00:13:52.659 This is historic reality. 00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:58.480 The surprise of Jesus' resurrection shows this is reality. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.019 This really happened. 00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:03.819 This is glorious, wonderful, joyful news. 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.079 Okay. 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:06.399 But why? 00:14:06.519 --> 00:14:08.019 What's the significance of it? 00:14:08.379 --> 00:14:10.840 Why is it glorious, wonderful, joyful news? 00:14:11.299 --> 00:14:15.220 Well, look at what the resurrection means for his followers and for us. 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.480 Look at the hope of the resurrection. 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:21.279 If you've got your Bible, look at verse 11 with me. 00:14:21.340 --> 00:14:22.600 Verse 11 to 15. 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:26.820 It says here, John writes in verse 11. 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:30.259 Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:34.019 And as she wept, she stooped in to look into the tomb. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:40.040 She saw two angels in white sitting there where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:43.379 They said to her, woman, why are you weeping? 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:48.320 She said to them, they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they've laid him. 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:53.480 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus. 00:14:54.160 --> 00:14:58.080 Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping? 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:01.540 It's a strange question, isn't it? 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:08.040 To ask somebody that is grieving the loss of a loved one, why are you weeping? 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:19.779 Imagine you go to a funeral next week, and you go to the widow of somebody who has been tragically and unjustly killed, and you say, sorry, why is it that you're crying? 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.599 I mean, what an insensitive question, right? 00:15:22.599 --> 00:15:24.639 What a ridiculous question to ask. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:27.000 Everybody knows why Mary is crying. 00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:32.419 Here is a lady whose life was completely turned around by Jesus. 00:15:32.419 --> 00:15:45.819 She met Jesus, and Jesus changed her and saved her and rescued her, and having turned her life around, now he's been falsely accused, unfairly condemned, horrifically crucified. 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:50.959 And now they've done something with his body, and she doesn't know what they've done to him. 00:15:51.579 --> 00:15:52.679 Of course she's crying. 00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.879 Of course she's distraught. 00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:56.000 Why the senseless question? 00:15:57.599 --> 00:15:59.719 Well, it's not really a question, is it? 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:03.519 Jesus is not asking her a question, he's making a statement. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:10.100 Jesus is telling Mary, and he's telling us, Mary, you have nothing to cry about. 00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:12.480 Mary, you have nothing to weep about. 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.120 Why? 00:16:13.379 --> 00:16:22.800 Because Jesus' resurrection has changed the way that we see and understand everything, including all the worst things in this world. 00:16:23.540 --> 00:16:26.399 Especially the way we see all that is wrong and broken with the world. 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:44.980 I don't know if you've, I'm sure you have, watched a TV series or a movie, and you're kind of following the plot line, you're following the plot line, and then right at the end of maybe like the climactic episode, something happens that turns the whole plot line on its head. 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:45.840 You know what I mean? 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:46.440 Right? 00:16:46.519 --> 00:16:50.820 So they're looking for the serial killer, the murderer, and they're kind of trying to find it. 00:16:51.220 --> 00:17:03.180 And right at the end, they show you something, and you realize, uh-oh, it's not, there's somebody who's implicated in this murder that none of us expected. 00:17:03.320 --> 00:17:03.460 Right? 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:08.600 Maybe it's the lead investigator, or it's the spouse of the person that died, or whoever it is. 00:17:08.599 --> 00:17:13.819 But, and they show this bit of evidence, and as you see it, the scene closes at the end of the episode. 00:17:13.980 --> 00:17:14.519 Do you know what I mean? 00:17:15.119 --> 00:17:15.379 Right? 00:17:16.419 --> 00:17:18.939 It turns the whole plot line on its head. 00:17:19.219 --> 00:17:22.339 The story suddenly becomes like, that's not what I expected. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:24.839 This is very different to what I expected. 00:17:26.319 --> 00:17:27.899 That's what happens with the resurrection. 00:17:27.900 --> 00:17:40.860 The disciples are going about life, and they're worried, and they're sad, and they're grieving, and something suddenly happens, and the entire plot line of the world gets turned on its head. 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:43.460 Jesus is no longer dead. 00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:51.720 Jesus meets Mary and addresses her greatest area of pain and agony, and in effect, Jesus says to Mary, 00:17:52.140 --> 00:17:55.019 Mary, you have nothing to be sad about. 00:17:55.980 --> 00:17:57.640 You have nothing to cry about. 00:17:57.900 --> 00:17:58.940 Why? 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:05.180 Because Jesus' resurrection from the dead means, in the words of Sam from the Lord of the Rings, 00:18:05.820 --> 00:18:14.600 everything sad, everything broken, everything wrong, everything unjust is becoming untrue. 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:25.720 See, friends, in the Bible, death is the final word, the final statement in the long and unhappy story 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:28.819 of this broken and heartbreaking world. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:31.700 A world in which we have rebelled against our maker. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:34.120 A world in which we've gone our own way. 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:55.319 And in the end, the consequence of this is that evil and injustice and fear and pain and authoritarian regimes and mental health crises and physical illness and anxiety and sadness and loneliness and untimely death are all too prevalent. 00:18:55.319 --> 00:19:05.819 And in the end of this long and unhappy story, the final word seems to be that joy is swallowed up by despair. 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:10.480 And hope is swallowed up by sorrow. 00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:15.220 And confidence is swallowed up by fear. 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:19.359 And ultimately, life is swallowed up by death. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:32.919 Friends, it's why the most honest atheists of our time have to admit that in the end, there is no such thing as hope, as lasting meaning, lasting purpose, lasting joy. 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:36.240 Listen to how one noted philosopher, Quentin Smith, put it. 00:19:36.979 --> 00:19:38.699 Quentin Smith is a philosopher. 00:19:39.159 --> 00:19:39.859 This is what he writes. 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:49.659 He says, the fact of the matter is that the most reasonable belief is that we have come from nothing, by nothing, and for nothing. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:53.319 Our universe exists without cause and without explanation. 00:19:53.979 --> 00:19:57.279 It exists for absolutely no reason whatsoever. 00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:06.699 Friends, I think that in many ways we must admit that we have reason to empathize with what Quentin Smith has to say. 00:20:06.700 --> 00:20:14.039 That when we look at the sorry story of the world, sometimes we have to ask ourselves the question, is there any purpose? 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:19.319 Is there any meaning in all that is broken and wrong and conflicted with this world? 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:23.980 Do we have any reason for hope and purpose and meaning? 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:33.480 And into the middle of the story, the middle of the story of the world, the God of life breaks in and overcomes death, 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:39.680 walks out of the grave, and changes the entire plot line of the universe and the story of the world. 00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:45.960 Jesus' resurrection means that what David wrote thousands of years before in Psalm 30, 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:46.799 where he says, 00:20:47.120 --> 00:20:52.220 Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:57.339 Jesus' resurrection means that David wasn't only doing wishful thinking, 00:20:57.579 --> 00:21:00.880 what he said was absolutely and genuinely true. 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:05.560 Jesus' resurrection really does change the plot line of the world. 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:09.660 And in the same way, look at Jesus' words to his disciples, right? 00:21:10.280 --> 00:21:12.420 Look at verse 19 with me. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.140 It says, 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:16.620 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, 00:21:17.100 --> 00:21:19.900 that's Sunday, by the way, that's the reason why we gather on Sundays, 00:21:19.980 --> 00:21:21.960 the first day of the week, Jesus rose on that day. 00:21:22.300 --> 00:21:24.180 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, 00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:29.060 the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, 00:21:29.640 --> 00:21:31.740 Jesus came and stood amongst them and said to them, 00:21:32.380 --> 00:21:33.180 Peace be with you. 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:36.240 Now, why does Jesus say, 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:37.820 Peace be with you? 00:21:38.600 --> 00:21:40.600 Because there was no peace in their hearts. 00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:42.960 Why are they behind locked doors? 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:45.600 Because they are terrified, they are afraid, 00:21:46.019 --> 00:21:47.740 that their lives are in danger. 00:21:48.080 --> 00:21:50.759 What they've just seen the authorities do to Jesus, 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:54.160 they're anticipating those authorities are going to do to them. 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:56.319 They're going to come and arrest them, 00:21:56.779 --> 00:21:58.200 crucify them, kill them. 00:21:58.539 --> 00:21:59.559 They are terrorized. 00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:01.119 Their hearts are petrified. 00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:05.099 And Jesus comes and stands in the middle of their anxiety, 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:07.379 and their fear, and their terror, 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.480 and he says, 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:11.200 You have reason for peace. 00:22:11.960 --> 00:22:13.119 Reason for hope. 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.859 Reason for joy. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.279 Why? 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.879 Because I am not dead. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.299 I am alive. 00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:22.299 Jesus' resurrection gives hope to the hopeless. 00:22:23.379 --> 00:22:25.720 And the same is true for skeptical Thomas. 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:27.779 Jesus comes to Thomas, 00:22:28.159 --> 00:22:30.460 who has all sorts of doubts and skepticism, 00:22:31.299 --> 00:22:33.720 and Jesus gives him reason for confidence, 00:22:34.419 --> 00:22:35.519 certainty, and courage. 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:40.740 All he had previously was doubt, hesitation, and fear. 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:43.920 And friends, throughout this chapter, 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:46.319 one of the points that John wants us to see, 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:49.740 is that Jesus moves towards every single person, 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:55.900 and he speaks directly to the aspect of their life, 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:59.000 that is impacted by this fallen world. 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:01.140 What theologians call our fallen condition. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:04.000 The aspect of the fall that's impacting their lives. 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:05.099 And he turns it around. 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:08.859 He speaks to Mary, who's beset by grief. 00:23:08.859 --> 00:23:11.779 And he says, you have no need to cry anymore. 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:15.119 He speaks to the disciples that are wracked with fear. 00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:17.159 And he says, peace be to you. 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:19.839 He speaks to Thomas that's overcome with skepticism. 00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:22.399 And he says, let me help you overcome your doubts. 00:23:22.879 --> 00:23:24.279 For every single encounter, 00:23:24.459 --> 00:23:27.319 Jesus puts his finger exactly on the issue 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:28.799 that they're grappling with. 00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:31.559 And he says, let me give you hope and reason again. 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:35.879 Friends, listen to the words of the song 00:23:35.880 --> 00:23:37.100 that we sang earlier. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:39.000 I love the song that Alan led us in. 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.760 Death was once my great opponent. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:44.460 Fear once had a hold on me. 00:23:45.040 --> 00:23:47.500 But the son who died to save us 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:49.640 rose that we would be free indeed. 00:23:49.800 --> 00:23:52.860 Yes, he rose that we would be free indeed. 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:54.920 Free from every plan of darkness. 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.260 Free to live and free to love. 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.900 Death is dead. 00:23:59.300 --> 00:24:00.240 Christ is risen. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:04.480 It was finished upon the cross. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:07.519 As we often say at Watermark, 00:24:07.620 --> 00:24:10.759 to those who are weary and need of deep soul rest, 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:14.500 to those who mourn and long for comfort, 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:18.319 to those who feel worthless and wonder if God cares, 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:21.920 to those who feel weak and need strength, 00:24:22.500 --> 00:24:24.940 to those who sin and need a savior, 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:29.200 the resurrected risen Jesus comes to you 00:24:29.200 --> 00:24:30.980 and to me and to us 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:33.900 and he speaks peace and forgiveness 00:24:33.900 --> 00:24:36.900 and rest to our failures and our weakness 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:38.519 and our guilt and our shame, 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:40.779 our tears and our doubts. 00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:44.039 The resurrection changes everything. 00:24:44.860 --> 00:24:45.840 Now, here's the question. 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:48.559 Does that mean that Christians 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:50.120 don't struggle with anything? 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.080 That if you're a Christian, 00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:52.340 you believe in the resurrection, 00:24:52.339 --> 00:24:54.039 party time, okay? 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.599 Life's just a walk in the park. 00:24:57.339 --> 00:25:00.099 Boss of the cross for all the time, right? 00:25:00.179 --> 00:25:01.039 You go to work tomorrow, 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.199 your boss shouts at you 00:25:02.199 --> 00:25:03.019 and just dance through. 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:03.939 Boss of the cross. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:04.759 Doesn't matter, right? 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:05.939 Life is easy. 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:08.839 No, no, unfortunately doesn't mean that, right? 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:11.879 One of the tensions that Christians live with 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:13.980 is this dual reality. 00:25:14.599 --> 00:25:16.139 We live in a broken world, 00:25:16.659 --> 00:25:17.599 but we live with hope 00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:19.139 because this world is not our home. 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:22.179 We live in the midst of conflict and agony 00:25:22.180 --> 00:25:23.920 and we ourselves are fallen, 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:26.420 but we live with joy and resurrection 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:28.759 that our life is in Christ. 00:25:29.440 --> 00:25:31.920 In the preceding chapters in John's gospel, 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.820 before Jesus goes to cross, 00:25:35.080 --> 00:25:36.900 kind of the second half of John's gospel, 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:39.299 Jesus gives what's called his final discourse. 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:41.180 He's sitting around the dinner table 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:41.880 with his disciples 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:44.700 and he's giving them his final teaching 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.400 before he goes to cross. 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:49.320 And one of the things he says again and again 00:25:49.320 --> 00:25:51.580 throughout the chapter is, 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.120 he says, listen, 00:25:53.420 --> 00:25:54.660 life's not going to be easy. 00:25:55.100 --> 00:25:56.060 If you're going to follow me, 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.240 life's going to be hard. 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.860 But on the other hand, 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.740 do not fear. 00:25:59.860 --> 00:26:00.840 I am with you. 00:26:01.080 --> 00:26:01.720 In the end, 00:26:01.780 --> 00:26:03.100 you will come through and triumph. 00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.440 And so look at some of the scriptures 00:26:04.440 --> 00:26:05.259 that Jesus is. 00:26:05.519 --> 00:26:06.560 John chapter 16. 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.200 He says, 00:26:07.259 --> 00:26:08.019 in this world, 00:26:08.280 --> 00:26:09.340 you will have trouble, 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.759 but take heart, 00:26:10.840 --> 00:26:12.080 I have overcome the world. 00:26:12.680 --> 00:26:13.940 John 16 verse 16. 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:16.180 A little while you will see me no longer. 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:19.059 You will weep and mourn and lament 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:20.620 and the world will rejoice. 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.279 You will be sorrowful, 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:25.160 but your sorrow will turn to joy. 00:26:25.620 --> 00:26:26.380 John 14. 00:26:26.820 --> 00:26:27.180 Jesus says, 00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:28.259 I leave you, 00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:29.820 not as orphans, 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:30.980 I will come to you. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:31.820 Because I live, 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.920 you also will live. 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:35.100 So let your hearts not be troubled, 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.799 neither let them be afraid. 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:37.920 So John, 00:26:38.100 --> 00:26:39.900 Jesus constantly telling his disciples, 00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:41.580 there's this dual reality. 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:43.200 You live in a broken world, 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.200 you live in agony, 00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:46.620 your bodies are going to get old and frail 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:48.160 and sickness is going to be a reality. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:49.519 You're going to die, 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.840 but take heart. 00:26:51.420 --> 00:26:52.799 This isn't the final story. 00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:55.200 The story doesn't end when you die. 00:26:55.860 --> 00:26:57.519 You will be with me. 00:26:59.120 --> 00:27:00.980 And all these great promises 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.700 that Jesus gives in his gospel 00:27:02.700 --> 00:27:06.100 are bracketed by two resurrection accounts. 00:27:06.840 --> 00:27:07.840 John chapter 11, 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:10.140 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:12.080 Then he teaches his disciples 00:27:12.080 --> 00:27:13.900 about the hope of the gospel. 00:27:14.420 --> 00:27:15.440 And John chapter 20, 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:17.880 Jesus himself is raised from the dead. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:20.480 And Jesus makes these amazing promises 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.600 to hold on to. 00:27:22.020 --> 00:27:24.120 Words of hope in the midst of a broken 00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:26.259 and fractured and fallen world. 00:27:26.900 --> 00:27:28.500 But why should we believe his promises? 00:27:28.700 --> 00:27:29.860 Why should we hold on to them? 00:27:30.320 --> 00:27:31.520 Why should we trust him? 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:36.279 Because this life is not all that there is. 00:27:36.740 --> 00:27:38.819 Because all these promises are bracketed 00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:41.160 by resurrection hope. 00:27:42.200 --> 00:27:44.720 That Jesus died and he rose again. 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:46.379 And because of his resurrection, 00:27:46.940 --> 00:27:48.579 it means partially in this world, 00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:50.759 but certainly forever and ever, 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:53.859 Jesus is reversing everything that is broken 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:57.719 and wrong and sad and unjust 00:27:57.719 --> 00:27:59.639 and wicked in this world. 00:28:00.699 --> 00:28:03.399 Friends, sorrow is now swallowed up by joy. 00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:07.099 And despair is going to be swallowed up by hope. 00:28:07.879 --> 00:28:10.240 And fear is swallowed up by peace. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:14.779 And death, death is swallowed up by life. 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:16.599 As Neil said earlier, 00:28:16.699 --> 00:28:17.619 because of the resurrection, 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.519 there's new life. 00:28:19.199 --> 00:28:20.000 There's new hope. 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.460 There's new joy. 00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:22.819 New power. 00:28:23.480 --> 00:28:24.319 A new purpose. 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:26.160 Because Jesus has died, 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.779 but he hasn't stayed dead. 00:28:27.819 --> 00:28:28.599 He's risen again. 00:28:29.819 --> 00:28:31.619 And so let me give you two brief examples 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:33.700 of what this looks like in our life. 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:37.339 The first one is from the church history. 00:28:37.960 --> 00:28:38.839 You know, in two weeks' time, 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:40.920 we are going to start reading the book of Acts 00:28:40.920 --> 00:28:42.180 and preaching through the book of Acts. 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:43.200 I'm very excited for that. 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.740 The book of Acts is an amazing book. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:47.359 But one of the things we see again and again, 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.900 and Niels, I think, prayed about this 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:49.880 or spoke about this earlier, 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:52.019 one of the things we see in the book of Acts 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:59.039 is these fragile, frail, timid, afraid disciples of Jesus 00:28:59.039 --> 00:29:02.019 who locked themselves behind closed doors 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:05.559 suddenly discover this boldness and this courage 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:08.000 and this confidence that comes out of nowhere. 00:29:08.539 --> 00:29:09.480 Where does it come from? 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:12.339 It comes from the fact that they've seen Jesus died 00:29:12.339 --> 00:29:13.140 and rose again. 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:17.940 And in just, at one point in the book of Acts, 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.300 it's just a few weeks after Jesus has risen, 00:29:21.380 --> 00:29:24.800 the disciples confront, or they come face to face 00:29:24.800 --> 00:29:27.900 with the very authorities that arrested Jesus 00:29:27.900 --> 00:29:28.980 and had him crucified. 00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:32.420 And listen to how they respond to those threats. 00:29:32.560 --> 00:29:33.920 This is Acts chapter five. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.280 It says this. 00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:39.240 The disciples, it says this, verse 27. 00:29:39.240 --> 00:29:42.980 When the authorities had brought the disciples before them, 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:44.759 they set them before the council. 00:29:45.319 --> 00:29:46.960 And the high priest questioned them saying, 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:50.839 we strictly charge you not to teach in Jesus' name. 00:29:51.259 --> 00:29:53.620 Yet here you are, you fill Jerusalem with your teaching. 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:56.440 Now remember, these are the same authority 00:29:56.440 --> 00:29:59.200 that just a few weeks ago had killed Jesus. 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:01.220 These guys have real authority, right? 00:30:01.220 --> 00:30:04.559 But Peter and the apostles answered them, 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:06.839 we will obey God rather than you. 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:10.120 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead, 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:14.740 who you, suckers, killed by hanging him on the tree. 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:16.839 And we are witnesses to these things. 00:30:16.920 --> 00:30:18.079 And so is the Holy Spirit, 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:20.420 whom God has given to those who obey him. 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:23.539 So Peter looks these authorities in the eye and says, 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:24.620 you killed him. 00:30:24.860 --> 00:30:25.900 You guys are in trouble. 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.019 Okay? 00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:28.799 And we've seen him raised from the dead. 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.360 Verse 33. 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.740 When they heard this, 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:34.719 they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 00:30:34.919 --> 00:30:35.339 Verse 40. 00:30:35.959 --> 00:30:37.599 But they just beat them 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:40.139 and charged them not to speak in Jesus' name 00:30:40.139 --> 00:30:41.479 and they let them go. 00:30:42.179 --> 00:30:44.459 Then the disciples left the presence of the council, 00:30:44.859 --> 00:30:46.599 rejoicing that they were counted worthy 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:48.500 to suffer for the name of Jesus. 00:30:49.219 --> 00:30:52.059 And every day in the temple and from house to house, 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:53.779 they disobeyed the authorities 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:56.459 and they did not cease teaching and preaching 00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:59.199 that Jesus is the Christ or the Christ is Jesus. 00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:01.640 Friends, how is it that these men, 00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:04.980 who just a few weeks ago are cowering behind locked doors, 00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.440 afraid of the authorities, 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:09.779 now have the boldness, the audacity to look them in the eye 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:11.420 and say, you guys are in trouble. 00:31:11.840 --> 00:31:14.140 We've seen Jesus raised and you're in deep trouble. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:16.039 And they defy their orders 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:18.180 and at great risk to themselves, 00:31:18.599 --> 00:31:21.559 continue preaching and teaching of Jesus the Christ. 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:25.240 Because the resurrection changed their lives. 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:27.460 It gave hope where there was fear. 00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:30.259 It gave joy where there was sorrow. 00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:33.779 It gave confidence where there was anxiety. 00:31:33.779 --> 00:31:36.200 It gave life where there was death. 00:31:37.339 --> 00:31:38.940 Here's a more modern example. 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:44.119 1967, there was a lady called Johnny Erickson. 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:47.500 She was swimming in a creek with some friends. 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.639 She dived into a river. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:54.740 She didn't anticipate how shallow the river was. 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:57.240 As she dives in, she breaks her neck 00:31:57.240 --> 00:32:00.099 and she's instantly paralyzed from the shoulders down. 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:03.240 17 year old girl, very active, horse riding, 00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:06.019 very, very active young lady. 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:09.439 From 17 years old, she's paralyzed from the neck down. 00:32:10.159 --> 00:32:11.659 And she has two years of rehabilitation. 00:32:12.119 --> 00:32:14.599 She experienced severe anger, depression, 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:18.199 suicidal thoughts and doubts about her Christian faith. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:20.559 But having wrestled with God, 00:32:20.679 --> 00:32:23.980 she comes to trust Him and even love Him, 00:32:24.919 --> 00:32:26.240 despite what's happened to her. 00:32:27.379 --> 00:32:28.599 And so for the last 50 years, 00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:31.399 she's had to grapple with how does the resurrection impact 00:32:31.399 --> 00:32:33.199 not only her hope for eternity, 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:37.559 but life as a quadriplegic in this world. 00:32:38.459 --> 00:32:40.719 Listen to just one article she wrote. 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:44.179 She says that she tells about a day she's having a bad day. 00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.559 She says, 00:32:45.139 --> 00:32:46.459 For the fourth time that day, 00:32:46.839 --> 00:32:49.719 I needed my assistant to help lift me out of my wheelchair 00:32:49.719 --> 00:32:50.759 and lie me down. 00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:53.719 We had to readjust my corset once again. 00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:55.639 Shallow breathing, sweating, 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:57.259 and skyrocketing blood pressure 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:59.819 was signaling that something was wrong with my body. 00:33:00.660 --> 00:33:02.779 My assistant Francie wiped away my tears. 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:04.519 As she shifted my body, 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:05.579 I stared at the ceiling. 00:33:06.019 --> 00:33:07.619 I was done with being paralyzed. 00:33:07.819 --> 00:33:11.379 I was tired of the never-ending day-to-day disability routines. 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.319 I had my fill of it, 00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:14.539 and I mumbled to the ceiling, 00:33:14.940 --> 00:33:15.700 I want to quit. 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:18.740 Where do I go to resign from this stupid paralysis? 00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:21.339 Can't blame her, right? 00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:24.240 Physical affliction and emotional pain 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.640 are part of my daily routine. 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.640 But I've learned that self-pity 00:33:27.640 --> 00:33:28.819 can be a deadly trap. 00:33:29.640 --> 00:33:31.079 Christ's death and resurrection 00:33:31.079 --> 00:33:33.000 won us many amazing benefits. 00:33:33.579 --> 00:33:34.940 But one of the greatest benefits 00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:37.519 is their power in our daily lives now 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:40.380 to know the power of Christ's resurrection, 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:43.200 even as we participate in the sufferings 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.779 and the hardships of this life. 00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:46.420 So that afternoon, 00:33:46.579 --> 00:33:47.500 I whispered a prayer. 00:33:48.500 --> 00:33:49.000 Yes, Lord, 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:50.680 I look forward to being made whole again 00:33:50.680 --> 00:33:52.519 and having a body that will never know pain 00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:53.220 in glory. 00:33:53.840 --> 00:33:54.600 But to be honest, 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:56.500 what I really want is a new heart 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:58.140 that doesn't want to give up 00:33:58.140 --> 00:34:00.400 or quit here and now. 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:02.440 She goes on to write that 00:34:02.440 --> 00:34:03.960 the resurrection of Jesus 00:34:03.960 --> 00:34:04.820 gives her hope 00:34:04.820 --> 00:34:07.240 in the midst of the brokenness of this world, 00:34:07.560 --> 00:34:08.500 even as she, 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:09.659 day by day, 00:34:09.740 --> 00:34:10.639 has to grapple 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:12.460 with the brokenness of her body 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:13.579 and the pain 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.539 and the emotional pain 00:34:14.539 --> 00:34:15.780 she struggles with. 00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:17.079 So friends, 00:34:17.139 --> 00:34:17.800 what about you? 00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:20.840 I know that many of us here 00:34:20.840 --> 00:34:22.720 are facing immense challenges. 00:34:23.680 --> 00:34:24.900 Immense, immense challenges. 00:34:25.100 --> 00:34:26.380 Not just first world problems, 00:34:26.500 --> 00:34:27.440 real problems. 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:28.720 Friends, 00:34:28.780 --> 00:34:29.160 some of us, 00:34:29.260 --> 00:34:32.260 relationships are so stressful 00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:33.140 and heartbreaking, 00:34:33.480 --> 00:34:35.320 it's a day by day reality. 00:34:36.620 --> 00:34:36.840 Friends, 00:34:36.900 --> 00:34:37.940 I know that for some of us, 00:34:38.080 --> 00:34:39.700 marriage is really hard 00:34:39.700 --> 00:34:40.740 and you feel like quitting. 00:34:41.860 --> 00:34:42.460 For some of us, 00:34:42.500 --> 00:34:43.880 our relationships with our kids 00:34:43.880 --> 00:34:44.860 or maybe our relationships 00:34:44.860 --> 00:34:45.640 with our parents 00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:47.740 is unbelievably difficult. 00:34:48.800 --> 00:34:49.400 Friends, 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:50.260 for some of us, 00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.760 we are facing chronic, 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:53.720 debilitating medical conditions. 00:34:54.580 --> 00:34:55.940 Some of us have to live 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:56.600 with deep, 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:57.660 deep grief, 00:34:58.600 --> 00:34:59.420 deep loss, 00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:00.700 hopelessness. 00:35:01.720 --> 00:35:02.000 And friends, 00:35:02.100 --> 00:35:02.940 life in this world 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:04.880 is unbelievably hard sometimes. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:06.180 Suffering is real. 00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:08.220 And it's not unchristian 00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.960 to grapple with the grief 00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:11.160 and the hardship of suffering. 00:35:11.280 --> 00:35:12.140 It's not unchristian 00:35:12.140 --> 00:35:14.780 to be immensely sad at times, 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:15.840 even angry. 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.240 But friends, 00:35:17.380 --> 00:35:18.440 Jesus' physical, 00:35:18.720 --> 00:35:19.660 bodily resurrection 00:35:19.660 --> 00:35:20.200 from the dead 00:35:20.200 --> 00:35:21.380 2,000 years ago 00:35:21.380 --> 00:35:23.140 means that Quentin Smith 00:35:23.140 --> 00:35:25.019 is unreservedly wrong. 00:35:25.800 --> 00:35:26.740 We did not come 00:35:26.740 --> 00:35:27.600 from nothing, 00:35:27.700 --> 00:35:28.539 by nothing, 00:35:28.720 --> 00:35:29.480 for nothing. 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:31.720 This world is not hopeless 00:35:31.720 --> 00:35:32.760 and without reason. 00:35:33.660 --> 00:35:34.480 Jesus can look at 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.400 each one of us in the eye 00:35:35.400 --> 00:35:36.860 in the midst of our suffering 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:37.579 and our hardship 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:38.260 and he can say, 00:35:38.720 --> 00:35:39.760 peace be with you. 00:35:39.760 --> 00:35:41.360 I am no longer dead. 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.160 I am alive. 00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:44.040 Everything sad 00:35:44.040 --> 00:35:45.480 is coming untrue 00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:47.460 because I am making 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:50.100 all things new again. 00:35:50.920 --> 00:35:51.460 Friends, 00:35:51.540 --> 00:35:52.360 life is hard. 00:35:52.720 --> 00:35:53.680 It's very hard. 00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:55.080 Suffering is real. 00:35:55.500 --> 00:35:56.620 But that suffering 00:35:56.620 --> 00:35:58.100 does not define us. 00:35:58.200 --> 00:35:59.420 It is not your identity. 00:36:00.060 --> 00:36:01.420 Jesus' resurrection is. 00:36:01.760 --> 00:36:02.580 The hope 00:36:02.580 --> 00:36:04.000 of the resurrection 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:06.020 for suffering saints 00:36:06.020 --> 00:36:06.920 in this world. 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:09.360 Let me close with 00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:10.659 our last point 00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.720 and I'll try and make this 00:36:11.720 --> 00:36:12.480 quite quick. 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:14.240 The surprise of the resurrection, 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.260 the hope of the resurrection, 00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:16.980 the message of the resurrection. 00:36:17.159 --> 00:36:19.280 Look at verse 21 and 23 with me. 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:21.619 Jesus says to them again, 00:36:22.180 --> 00:36:23.059 peace be with you 00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:24.700 as the Father has sent me, 00:36:24.860 --> 00:36:26.360 even so I am sending you. 00:36:26.940 --> 00:36:27.639 When he said this, 00:36:27.680 --> 00:36:28.539 he breathed on them 00:36:28.539 --> 00:36:29.180 and said to them, 00:36:29.280 --> 00:36:30.480 receive the Holy Spirit. 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:32.599 If you forgive the sins of any, 00:36:32.599 --> 00:36:33.420 they are forgiven. 00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:35.579 If you withhold forgiveness from any, 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.860 it is withheld. 00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:39.260 In John's gospel, 00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.300 one of the things 00:36:40.300 --> 00:36:41.559 Jesus tells his disciples 00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:42.460 again and again, 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:43.920 those who hope and trust in him, 00:36:44.039 --> 00:36:44.880 put their faith in him, 00:36:45.059 --> 00:36:46.200 is that there's something 00:36:46.200 --> 00:36:47.860 distinctively different about them. 00:36:48.240 --> 00:36:49.059 They're not better, 00:36:49.180 --> 00:36:49.780 they're not Christians, 00:36:49.980 --> 00:36:50.900 they're not more righteous 00:36:50.900 --> 00:36:51.740 or more holy, 00:36:52.220 --> 00:36:52.599 they're not, 00:36:53.440 --> 00:36:53.800 you know, 00:36:54.079 --> 00:36:55.360 there's nothing better about them, 00:36:55.400 --> 00:36:56.519 but there is something distinctive. 00:36:57.260 --> 00:36:58.659 What's distinctive about them? 00:36:59.099 --> 00:37:00.599 This world is not their home. 00:37:01.240 --> 00:37:02.320 Jesus says that 00:37:02.320 --> 00:37:03.300 this world is not your home, 00:37:03.380 --> 00:37:04.300 you are pilgrims 00:37:04.300 --> 00:37:05.639 or sojourners in this world, 00:37:05.639 --> 00:37:07.139 your home is in heaven 00:37:07.139 --> 00:37:08.659 and glory with me. 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:11.099 They have died with Christ 00:37:11.099 --> 00:37:11.980 to things of this world, 00:37:12.199 --> 00:37:13.500 they've been raised with Christ, 00:37:13.579 --> 00:37:14.799 their home is now in heaven. 00:37:15.339 --> 00:37:16.239 They are to see themselves 00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:16.940 as pilgrims 00:37:16.940 --> 00:37:18.079 or sojourners in this world. 00:37:18.639 --> 00:37:19.559 Isn't that what John says, 00:37:19.920 --> 00:37:21.239 Jesus says in John 15, 00:37:21.359 --> 00:37:21.599 he says, 00:37:21.599 --> 00:37:22.980 if you were of this world, 00:37:23.299 --> 00:37:24.279 the world would love you, 00:37:24.579 --> 00:37:25.920 but you are not of this world. 00:37:26.179 --> 00:37:27.839 I've chosen you out of this world, 00:37:27.960 --> 00:37:29.639 therefore the world hates you. 00:37:30.739 --> 00:37:31.460 But of course, 00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:33.119 the death and the resurrection of Jesus 00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:34.380 makes this very real. 00:37:34.920 --> 00:37:37.019 Just as Jesus rose to new life, 00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.019 he says to his disciples, 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:40.319 you too will raise to new life 00:37:40.319 --> 00:37:41.139 in me, 00:37:41.219 --> 00:37:41.699 with me. 00:37:42.119 --> 00:37:42.860 And this means, 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:44.319 the world is not our home. 00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:45.920 The things of this world 00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:46.960 don't define us. 00:37:47.659 --> 00:37:48.759 The objects of this world, 00:37:48.839 --> 00:37:49.259 our status, 00:37:49.259 --> 00:37:49.860 our position, 00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:50.980 that's not our identity. 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:52.559 But friends, 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:55.519 that's not true for all people. 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:58.000 It's not true that all people 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:59.960 will one day be in glorious God. 00:38:00.059 --> 00:38:01.860 It's only those who are forgiven, 00:38:02.740 --> 00:38:03.840 those who know him, 00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:05.900 those who trust in him. 00:38:06.660 --> 00:38:08.460 And so how should we live our lives now? 00:38:08.539 --> 00:38:10.099 Those of us that have come to know Jesus, 00:38:10.340 --> 00:38:11.480 how should we live our lives? 00:38:11.800 --> 00:38:13.340 Well, Jesus says we've got two options. 00:38:13.960 --> 00:38:16.579 One option is just to knuckle down, 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:17.820 close ranks, 00:38:17.820 --> 00:38:19.820 and live in a Christian little commune, 00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:22.180 away from the horrible things of this world, 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:23.559 not being defiled, 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:25.099 keep out all the bad things, 00:38:25.140 --> 00:38:25.860 and bad people, 00:38:26.019 --> 00:38:28.220 and we live in a little Christian commune, 00:38:28.440 --> 00:38:29.120 just ourselves, 00:38:29.300 --> 00:38:30.280 and we hold on, 00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.800 and try not to fall away, 00:38:31.880 --> 00:38:33.300 and then one day we'll be with Jesus. 00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:36.579 We can live a kind of monastic life in this world, 00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:37.920 where everything is Christian, 00:38:38.200 --> 00:38:39.599 and you shop at a Christian shop, 00:38:39.800 --> 00:38:40.860 and you go to a Christian school, 00:38:41.099 --> 00:38:42.640 and you only work with Christian colleagues, 00:38:42.980 --> 00:38:44.320 and you only wear Christian clothes, 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:46.000 and just live in this little Christian commune, 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:47.719 and you hold on to one day, 00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:49.340 Jesus will come and get us. 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:52.760 Jesus says that's not what He wants. 00:38:53.699 --> 00:38:54.559 There's another way. 00:38:55.420 --> 00:38:59.719 And another way is to take the message of the gospel into our world, 00:39:00.159 --> 00:39:05.039 so that many, many more people can discover the hope of Jesus, 00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.539 and be changed, 00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.599 and be forgiven, 00:39:08.139 --> 00:39:09.039 and be redeemed, 00:39:09.340 --> 00:39:10.420 and be saved, 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:13.279 and join us in glory for all eternity. 00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:15.099 Look at what Jesus says in verse 21. 00:39:15.559 --> 00:39:17.519 As the Father has sent me, 00:39:18.079 --> 00:39:19.699 so am I sending you. 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:22.279 Jesus was perfectly content in heaven, 00:39:22.380 --> 00:39:23.400 with the Father and the Spirit. 00:39:23.559 --> 00:39:24.500 He didn't need to come here, 00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:27.099 but because of His immense love for us, 00:39:27.500 --> 00:39:29.320 He left the community, 00:39:29.659 --> 00:39:31.460 or He left the comfort of heaven. 00:39:31.759 --> 00:39:33.460 He didn't leave the community of the Trinity. 00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:34.239 He's always with the Trinity. 00:39:34.239 --> 00:39:35.979 He left the comfort of heaven, 00:39:36.139 --> 00:39:37.599 and put Himself out, 00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:40.919 and was sent to save and rescue us, 00:39:41.919 --> 00:39:43.059 that we might be saved. 00:39:43.159 --> 00:39:44.159 And Jesus says now, 00:39:44.559 --> 00:39:46.359 as the Father has sent me, 00:39:46.839 --> 00:39:49.259 so now I send you. 00:39:49.719 --> 00:39:52.359 And if you go and proclaim forgiveness of sins to anyone, 00:39:52.419 --> 00:39:53.099 and they believe it, 00:39:53.159 --> 00:39:53.739 they are forgiven. 00:39:54.439 --> 00:39:56.059 If you withhold forgiveness, 00:39:56.799 --> 00:39:58.059 if you keep it to yourself, 00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.599 they will not know. 00:40:00.279 --> 00:40:02.599 They will not be with us in glory. 00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:05.099 And so filled with the power of the Spirit, 00:40:05.279 --> 00:40:07.779 Jesus calls us to tell the wonder of Jesus, 00:40:08.199 --> 00:40:09.319 the necessity of cross, 00:40:09.739 --> 00:40:11.880 the problem of our rebellion against God, 00:40:12.019 --> 00:40:13.460 but the hope of resurrection. 00:40:13.980 --> 00:40:17.099 To tell the horrific necessity of Easter Friday, 00:40:17.739 --> 00:40:19.719 and the beautiful hope of Resurrection Sunday. 00:40:20.279 --> 00:40:21.659 To tell our city and our world, 00:40:21.759 --> 00:40:23.199 that God so loved the world, 00:40:23.619 --> 00:40:24.940 that He sent His only Son, 00:40:24.940 --> 00:40:27.340 that whoever believes in Him, 00:40:27.800 --> 00:40:28.599 should not perish, 00:40:28.700 --> 00:40:29.880 but have eternal life. 00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:30.940 Friends, 00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:32.480 what is the great problem of our world? 00:40:33.300 --> 00:40:35.039 It's our rebellion against God. 00:40:35.940 --> 00:40:37.539 It's not politics or the economy. 00:40:38.240 --> 00:40:39.059 It's not tariffs. 00:40:39.619 --> 00:40:40.960 It's not the great problem of our world. 00:40:41.639 --> 00:40:42.639 The great problem of our world, 00:40:42.720 --> 00:40:43.340 is that our Maker, 00:40:43.480 --> 00:40:44.619 who made us to know Him, 00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:45.280 and love Him, 00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:46.420 and be in a relationship with Him, 00:40:46.720 --> 00:40:47.980 we've rebelled against Him, 00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:48.200 and said, 00:40:48.460 --> 00:40:50.280 we will do things our own way. 00:40:51.079 --> 00:40:53.039 And we've put ourselves in His place. 00:40:53.039 --> 00:40:54.719 We've sat on the throne of the universe. 00:40:55.480 --> 00:40:56.779 The great hope of Christianity, 00:40:57.179 --> 00:40:58.759 is that Jesus went to the cross, 00:40:58.840 --> 00:40:59.840 and died in our place, 00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:01.539 that we can be forgiven of our sins. 00:41:02.019 --> 00:41:03.380 And He rose again, 00:41:03.900 --> 00:41:05.659 to prove that what He said about Himself, 00:41:06.320 --> 00:41:07.659 and to conquer the grave, 00:41:07.739 --> 00:41:08.320 is true. 00:41:09.199 --> 00:41:11.199 And then Jesus sends out His disciples, 00:41:11.940 --> 00:41:12.960 full of the Spirit, 00:41:13.360 --> 00:41:14.500 to proclaim the message, 00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:16.400 to all that would hear. 00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:17.019 So friends, 00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:17.659 what about you? 00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:19.039 If you're a Christian, 00:41:19.159 --> 00:41:20.440 does your life reflect this? 00:41:20.440 --> 00:41:24.139 Are you living in a little Christian commune? 00:41:24.519 --> 00:41:25.220 Don't do that. 00:41:26.119 --> 00:41:26.420 Go. 00:41:27.039 --> 00:41:27.980 Full of the Spirit. 00:41:28.099 --> 00:41:29.380 As the Father sent Jesus, 00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:30.940 so He sends us. 00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:32.500 Friends, 00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:33.460 Jesus has died, 00:41:33.659 --> 00:41:35.139 and He has risen again. 00:41:35.820 --> 00:41:37.380 It's not what the disciples expected. 00:41:37.940 --> 00:41:39.179 It's not what they were looking for. 00:41:39.539 --> 00:41:40.320 But it's true. 00:41:40.840 --> 00:41:41.559 It's real. 00:41:42.139 --> 00:41:42.940 John saw it. 00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:44.119 He writes about it. 00:41:44.119 --> 00:41:45.900 He wants us to believe it. 00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:47.700 Why does He want us to believe it? 00:41:48.059 --> 00:41:49.579 Because the resurrection of Jesus, 00:41:49.759 --> 00:41:51.019 changes everything. 00:41:51.219 --> 00:41:52.899 It changes the narrative of your life. 00:41:53.259 --> 00:41:54.579 It changes the narrative of mine. 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:56.239 It changes the suffering, 00:41:56.339 --> 00:41:57.019 and the brokenness, 00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:57.739 and the heartache, 00:41:57.819 --> 00:41:58.779 and the evil, 00:41:58.919 --> 00:42:00.179 and the injustice of this world. 00:42:00.599 --> 00:42:02.379 And it tells us that we can endure, 00:42:02.519 --> 00:42:03.480 because there is hope, 00:42:03.599 --> 00:42:04.839 beyond this life, 00:42:05.599 --> 00:42:06.079 forever. 00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:08.299 And then Jesus calls us, 00:42:08.359 --> 00:42:09.639 to go and take this message, 00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:10.659 this good news, 00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.839 to the ends of the earth, 00:42:11.839 --> 00:42:13.899 to the farthest corners of the world, 00:42:14.339 --> 00:42:15.379 that all may know Him, 00:42:15.380 --> 00:42:16.640 and believe in Him, 00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:18.539 and experience life in His name. 00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:20.460 Let's pray together, 00:42:20.579 --> 00:42:21.500 as we come before Him, 00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:23.240 and thank Him for this. 00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:25.000 Let me pray for us quick. 00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:26.220 Father God, 00:42:26.440 --> 00:42:27.660 as we thank You, 00:42:27.740 --> 00:42:29.660 for the hope of the resurrection. 00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:31.180 Thank You for the good news of Jesus. 00:42:31.880 --> 00:42:32.820 Jesus, thank You, 00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:34.200 that we can pray to You, 00:42:34.420 --> 00:42:35.860 and You are alive in heaven. 00:42:36.019 --> 00:42:36.860 You hear us. 00:42:37.340 --> 00:42:38.340 You hear our prayers. 00:42:38.740 --> 00:42:39.720 And You can answer them, 00:42:39.840 --> 00:42:41.180 because You are not in the grave. 00:42:41.599 --> 00:42:43.440 Lord, we don't need to pray to a shrine. 00:42:43.800 --> 00:42:45.139 We don't need to pray to a temple. 00:42:45.579 --> 00:42:47.000 We don't need to pray to a monument. 00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:48.980 We can pray to the living, 00:42:49.320 --> 00:42:50.280 resurrected Jesus, 00:42:50.380 --> 00:42:51.780 the one who walked in our world, 00:42:51.980 --> 00:42:53.059 and died and rose again. 00:42:53.639 --> 00:42:54.740 God, You are risen. 00:42:55.179 --> 00:42:56.360 This is great news indeed. 00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:57.440 Help us to live, 00:42:57.960 --> 00:42:59.320 in light of the hope of that. 00:42:59.720 --> 00:43:00.920 In Your great name I pray. 00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:02.000 Amen.