WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.900 Luke 24 verse 1, but on the first day of the week at early dawn, they went to the tomb taking the spices they had prepared. 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:13.540 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 00:00:14.260 --> 00:00:17.859 But when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:25.460 And while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 00:00:26.619 --> 00:00:31.460 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:34.359 Why do you seek the living among the dead? 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:37.119 He's not here. He's risen. 00:00:37.119 --> 00:00:50.219 Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise. 00:00:51.259 --> 00:00:53.000 And they remembered his words. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:01:00.140 And returning from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 00:01:00.140 --> 00:01:09.859 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 00:01:10.900 --> 00:01:14.620 But these words seemed to them an idle tale. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:17.159 And they did not believe them. 00:01:18.219 --> 00:01:20.700 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb. 00:01:21.560 --> 00:01:26.280 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves. 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:32.140 And he went home marveling at what had happened. 00:01:33.140 --> 00:01:33.299 Amen. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:40.299 As I mentioned last Sunday when we looked at the triumphal entry in Luke 19, 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:45.079 we really need to understand Luke's objective in writing the book. 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:50.280 And for it to get a good grasp of this text, even a familiar resurrection text like this one. 00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:58.200 Remember, he didn't seek in writing this to provide a biography of Jesus' life. 00:01:58.340 --> 00:01:59.719 That's not what the gospels are. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:04.760 They're not really biographies, though they certainly contain biographical information. 00:02:04.760 --> 00:02:07.439 That's not really the essence of what they are. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:13.659 He didn't write this to entertain us with some amazing stories about Jesus' works 00:02:13.659 --> 00:02:19.879 or stimulate our minds with some rehearsing of Jesus' teachings either. 00:02:20.079 --> 00:02:24.759 Now, all of those things happen, but that's not the reason why Luke is writing. 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:29.680 Neither is it why Matthew, Mark, and John wrote their gospels either. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:35.939 The New Testament gospels are collections of historical data 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:45.400 meant to persuade the reader to trust that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of God, 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:50.439 the Son of God, sent from heaven to save us from our sins. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:52.579 That's why he's writing. 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:58.560 That's his purpose in writing the book, collecting the material, and arranging it the way that he did. 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:03.680 Now, the other New Testament books, particularly Acts and the Epistles, 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:08.920 they focus on interpreting the data. 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:14.719 But the gospels aren't doing so much interpretation of the data. 00:03:14.939 --> 00:03:18.260 They're really presenting the historical data 00:03:18.260 --> 00:03:24.500 in order that the data itself might convince us of the good news of salvation in Jesus. 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:25.900 That's what gospel means. 00:03:25.980 --> 00:03:27.540 It means good news. 00:03:28.020 --> 00:03:29.719 So they're writing, they're collecting the data, 00:03:29.900 --> 00:03:32.740 they're describing what happened, they're telling us what happened, 00:03:32.740 --> 00:03:37.580 they're arranging it in order that they might convince us of good news. 00:03:37.740 --> 00:03:43.460 And that good news is that salvation has come in the person and the work of Jesus Christ. 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:49.740 But as with all information that is meaningful and pertinent, 00:03:50.820 --> 00:03:53.240 the data needs to be carefully examined. 00:03:53.240 --> 00:04:02.420 But the problem seems to be that not too many people seem inclined to give it a close examination. 00:04:03.620 --> 00:04:07.280 One author writing in the mid-20th century said, 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:12.420 the Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. 00:04:13.140 --> 00:04:17.819 It has been found difficult and left untried. 00:04:18.460 --> 00:04:22.160 I think that's pretty helpful for us in understanding our own times. 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:25.160 How many people in our lives, how many of us even today, 00:04:25.280 --> 00:04:29.500 maybe you count yourself a believer in Christ and a believer in the resurrection, 00:04:29.800 --> 00:04:34.140 but not because you've actually closely examined the evidence that the gospels give us, 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:36.580 just because for whatever reason in your life, 00:04:36.700 --> 00:04:37.800 your parents believe that, 00:04:37.880 --> 00:04:40.100 or that's just kind of the culture you've come up in, 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:43.940 so you've subscribed to the same things that the people around you believe. 00:04:44.940 --> 00:04:47.240 Now, I'm grateful that you believe the truth of it, 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:50.040 but it demands our close examination. 00:04:50.920 --> 00:04:56.960 Of course, there are many others who would outright deny the things that Christians claim are true of the resurrection of Jesus, 00:04:57.220 --> 00:05:00.579 not because they've examined the evidence and found that it is lacking, 00:05:00.900 --> 00:05:03.879 but they just find the concept itself to be difficult, 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:06.879 and they refuse to even really try it out. 00:05:07.740 --> 00:05:14.439 Now, my aim this morning is to examine at least a small portion of the material that Luke gives us, 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:16.939 and in these 12 verses, 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:22.060 what we find is that Luke is not interpreting the events. 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:29.620 He is describing them based on eyewitness testimonies he recorded, 00:05:29.860 --> 00:05:31.899 and as he does this, 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:35.100 the fact that he is giving us a description of events 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:38.019 means that he's making an assumption about the reader, 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:39.879 the reader in this case being you and me. 00:05:39.879 --> 00:05:41.699 He's making an assumption, 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:47.399 and the assumption is that we are actually interested in sorting these things out. 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.560 We're actually interested in considering the facts of the story 00:05:50.560 --> 00:05:54.920 to determine whether or not this whole ordeal is actually valid. 00:05:55.379 --> 00:06:00.519 And that's the idea that I want to build on this morning in the time that we have together. 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:02.500 It's really to ask this question, 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:09.459 is the resurrection of Jesus worthy of our consideration? 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:12.180 Is it worthy of our consideration? 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:15.879 Luke assumes that we think it is. 00:06:16.899 --> 00:06:18.180 But when I ask that question, 00:06:18.259 --> 00:06:19.980 whether you're a believer or not, 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.300 the question really holds true. 00:06:23.180 --> 00:06:24.480 If you're an unbeliever, 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:25.879 I want to convince you that actually, 00:06:26.060 --> 00:06:28.240 yeah, it is worthy of your consideration. 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:31.459 In fact, it actually demands your consideration. 00:06:31.459 --> 00:06:34.180 But even those of you who are already believers, 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:37.560 perhaps you've gotten to a point in your Christian life 00:06:37.560 --> 00:06:41.000 where you've lost the perspective of joy and hope 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:44.799 that rests solely in the resurrection of Jesus. 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:46.939 And for you, I also want to say, 00:06:47.539 --> 00:06:50.120 this is worthy, again, of your consideration. 00:06:51.419 --> 00:06:55.379 In fact, it demands your consideration day by day. 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:57.319 Now, looking at the text, 00:06:57.319 --> 00:07:01.219 I want to say something of the resurrection's credibility 00:07:01.219 --> 00:07:04.300 as in a historical event. 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:08.659 I want to say something of its essential nature 00:07:08.659 --> 00:07:10.740 in Christian theology. 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:13.500 That is to say that the resurrection matters. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:15.319 And then, of course, 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.199 I want to say something of its power 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:20.379 to compel us to saving faith. 00:07:20.539 --> 00:07:22.719 Okay, so those are the three categories 00:07:22.719 --> 00:07:24.039 of consideration for the morning. 00:07:24.040 --> 00:07:25.400 First thing is this, 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:29.300 the resurrection is historically credible. 00:07:30.020 --> 00:07:33.640 The resurrection of Jesus is historically credible. 00:07:34.100 --> 00:07:36.439 Look with me again at verses one to five 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:38.120 and then verses 10 to 12. 00:07:38.760 --> 00:07:41.220 But on the first day of the week at early dawn, 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:42.780 they went to the tomb, 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:44.879 taking the spices they had prepared, 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:48.160 and they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:50.080 But when they went in, 00:07:50.140 --> 00:07:52.000 they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:55.100 And while they were perplexed about this, 00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:58.100 behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:07:59.839 And as they were frightened 00:07:59.839 --> 00:08:01.600 and bowed their faces to the ground, 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:02.620 the men said to them, 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:05.000 why do you seek the living among the dead? 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:08.600 Now, I want you to skip down to verses 10 to 12. 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:12.100 Now, it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, 00:08:12.500 --> 00:08:13.819 Mary the mother of James, 00:08:14.120 --> 00:08:15.500 and the other women with them 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:17.540 who told these things to the apostles. 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:20.860 But these words seemed to them an idle tale. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:22.920 They did not believe them. 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:26.160 But then Peter rose and ran to the tomb, 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:27.460 stooping and looking in. 00:08:27.540 --> 00:08:29.819 He saw the linen cloths by themselves, 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:33.860 and he went home marveling at what had happened. 00:08:34.100 --> 00:08:36.460 The resurrection is historically credible, 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:37.919 and there's a few things here 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:39.879 that I want to point out to you to prove my case. 00:08:41.159 --> 00:08:42.340 Now, let me start with it this way. 00:08:42.340 --> 00:08:46.139 August 16, 1977, 00:08:47.940 --> 00:08:50.399 Elvis Presley died in his home in Memphis. 00:08:52.139 --> 00:08:56.200 Multiple physicians examined his body via autopsy 00:08:56.200 --> 00:08:57.740 to determine the cause of death. 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:02.060 Two different morticians prepared his body for burial. 00:09:02.059 --> 00:09:06.500 His wardrobe manager dressed him. 00:09:07.239 --> 00:09:09.419 His cosmetologist made him up. 00:09:10.199 --> 00:09:14.139 His hairstylist colored his hair jet black. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:19.239 And then finally, his family was brought together 00:09:19.239 --> 00:09:22.619 to view his lifeless body before its internment. 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:26.120 But despite all of that testimony, 00:09:27.060 --> 00:09:30.039 some people bought into a theory 00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:32.159 called the Graceland hoax, 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.980 which insisted that Elvis is still alive, 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:37.399 that he never died. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:41.840 Now, still, the evidence of his death was so great 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:43.519 that the burden of proof, 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:45.100 it didn't actually fall on those 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:46.919 who were claiming he was dead. 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:48.680 The evidence was tremendous 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:52.439 in putting forth the probability of Elvis's death. 00:09:52.719 --> 00:09:54.799 The burden of proof really fell on those 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:57.819 who were denying that he was dead 00:09:57.819 --> 00:09:58.779 and that he was still living, 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:01.319 but no such proof was ever actually given. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:04.059 Now, Jesus's resurrection 00:10:04.059 --> 00:10:09.099 is routinely considered a grand hoax by skeptics, 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:12.740 but the sheer amount of evidence 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:16.279 for the resurrection is so great 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:18.659 that the burden of proof 00:10:18.659 --> 00:10:21.819 really falls on those who reject it. 00:10:23.240 --> 00:10:25.319 And like with the Graceland hoax, 00:10:25.459 --> 00:10:27.600 no such proof has ever actually 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:30.439 satisfactorily been provided. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:33.579 And of course, the skeptics try. 00:10:33.779 --> 00:10:35.819 They've presented many different theories, 00:10:36.059 --> 00:10:38.159 but ultimately, those theories, 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:39.379 when it comes down to it, 00:10:39.459 --> 00:10:41.860 they actually require more faith to believe 00:10:41.860 --> 00:10:44.799 than the biblical narrative itself requires 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.599 to believe in the resurrection. 00:10:48.179 --> 00:10:50.759 Now, my objective is not to address 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:51.559 each of those theories. 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:53.539 We've done that before on Easter Sunday, 00:10:53.539 --> 00:10:55.620 and you can find all those recordings, 00:10:55.779 --> 00:10:57.559 and we can engage about that later. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:00.359 My purpose is not to address all of them. 00:11:00.579 --> 00:11:03.039 What I'd actually like to do in these 12 verses 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:06.919 is to present just a few of the pieces of evidence 00:11:06.919 --> 00:11:08.359 that Luke presents 00:11:08.359 --> 00:11:11.019 that need to be considered. 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:13.919 Three types of evidence are here in these verses. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:16.959 First, there is circumstantial evidence. 00:11:17.860 --> 00:11:18.839 Circumstantial evidence, 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:21.599 and we see this with the empty tomb 00:11:21.599 --> 00:11:23.579 in verses one to three. 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:25.819 There is a tomb. 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:29.819 Supposedly, Jesus' body was laid in, 00:11:30.299 --> 00:11:33.519 and it is no longer there. 00:11:34.479 --> 00:11:35.439 Circumstantial evidence. 00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:37.719 Now, we have to be careful with this, don't we? 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:38.720 Circumstantial evidence. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:42.540 Though it provides the context for certainty, 00:11:42.940 --> 00:11:45.759 it doesn't actually prove anything. 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.000 The fact that there's an empty tomb 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.440 doesn't prove anything. 00:11:50.740 --> 00:11:52.820 There are all kinds of explanations 00:11:52.820 --> 00:11:53.759 for an empty tomb 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:56.540 that do not involve resurrection, 00:11:56.940 --> 00:11:57.399 and of course, 00:11:57.519 --> 00:12:01.080 many possible explanations have been provided. 00:12:01.080 --> 00:12:04.400 Some of them certainly more rational than others. 00:12:04.540 --> 00:12:05.080 Some have said, 00:12:05.300 --> 00:12:07.860 well, they just went to the wrong tomb 00:12:07.860 --> 00:12:08.980 on that Sunday morning. 00:12:09.820 --> 00:12:11.420 Well, if they went to the wrong tomb, 00:12:11.540 --> 00:12:13.940 then so did the angels go to the wrong tomb. 00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:17.480 So did the Roman soldiers go to the wrong tomb. 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.879 So did Joseph of Arimathea, 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:21.560 whose tomb it actually belonged to. 00:12:21.700 --> 00:12:23.200 It just doesn't hold water, right? 00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:24.900 But that's one of the more ridiculous notions. 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:27.240 Others are a little more worthy 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:28.080 of our consideration 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:29.480 and of our thoughts for sure. 00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:31.120 But the point is 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:32.740 that the empty tomb itself 00:12:32.740 --> 00:12:33.920 doesn't actually prove anything, 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:36.020 but it is circumstantial evidence 00:12:36.020 --> 00:12:37.759 that we must take into consideration. 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:41.440 Now, those who actually saw the empty tomb 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:46.800 being even Jesus' closest friends and followers 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:50.840 never even considered the possibility 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:51.800 of a resurrection 00:12:51.800 --> 00:12:54.759 based on the fact that the tomb was empty. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.200 That just wasn't in their thoughts at all. 00:12:58.580 --> 00:13:00.240 These women, they go to the tomb, 00:13:00.400 --> 00:13:02.600 they don't assume that, 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:04.080 oh, he must have risen from the dead. 00:13:04.160 --> 00:13:05.660 That's the furthest thing from their minds. 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:07.040 Peter doesn't do that either. 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:09.080 Peter runs to the tomb in verse 12, 00:13:09.200 --> 00:13:10.020 and he marvels, 00:13:10.100 --> 00:13:11.980 but the marveling of Peter in this moment 00:13:11.980 --> 00:13:14.020 is not a marveling of faith. 00:13:14.180 --> 00:13:15.860 It is a marveling of confusion. 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:21.379 Confusion, perplexing disbelief 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:24.720 is what dominates Luke's account 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:26.340 of the resurrection here, 00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:29.340 at least in terms of those who saw the empty tomb. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:32.160 Now, John's gospel fills us in 00:13:32.160 --> 00:13:33.420 a little bit more on the details, 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:35.940 at least as it relates to Mary Magdalene. 00:13:36.899 --> 00:13:38.759 Mary was the first one to the tomb, 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.080 and when she finds that it's empty, 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:42.800 her first assumption 00:13:42.800 --> 00:13:44.960 is not that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:13:45.180 --> 00:13:46.120 Her first assumption 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:48.080 is that somebody stole his body, 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:49.580 and she immediately leaves 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:50.500 to go and tell somebody 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:51.920 they've stolen the body of the Lord. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:55.039 Later, she returns to the empty tomb, 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:59.279 and the Lord himself encounters her. 00:13:59.799 --> 00:14:01.159 But in that moment, 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:02.699 at least in the initial moment 00:14:02.699 --> 00:14:03.459 of the encounter, 00:14:03.819 --> 00:14:05.019 she was so convinced 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:06.279 that someone had stolen 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:07.179 the body of the Lord 00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:08.579 that she didn't even recognize 00:14:08.579 --> 00:14:10.000 that it was the Lord himself 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:11.939 standing before her. 00:14:12.339 --> 00:14:13.219 Now, my point is 00:14:13.219 --> 00:14:14.199 that the empty tomb, 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:15.240 in and of itself, 00:14:15.459 --> 00:14:17.379 it doesn't actually mean anything, 00:14:17.719 --> 00:14:18.379 and yet, 00:14:18.819 --> 00:14:21.659 it is still a necessary piece of evidence 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:24.620 because it provides the context 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:26.620 in which a resurrection 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:28.839 is one possibility. 00:14:30.659 --> 00:14:32.179 So, this notion 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:34.600 that Christians are claiming 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:35.439 a resurrection 00:14:35.439 --> 00:14:37.740 merely because 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:40.399 there is an empty tomb 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.319 that they suppose 00:14:41.319 --> 00:14:42.100 at one point, 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:43.419 Jesus was laid in, 00:14:43.480 --> 00:14:44.939 his lifeless body was laid in, 00:14:45.199 --> 00:14:46.039 well, no, 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.039 that's not what Christians 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:47.939 are saying at all. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.279 We recognize 00:14:49.279 --> 00:14:50.639 that the tomb being empty 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:51.299 in and of itself 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:52.699 doesn't actually mean anything, 00:14:53.039 --> 00:14:55.079 but it does provide the context. 00:14:57.419 --> 00:14:59.360 If the tomb is not empty, 00:14:59.799 --> 00:15:01.579 then the Lord isn't risen. 00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:03.879 Provides the context. 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.740 Now, whether you believe 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:05.779 the Bible or not, 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:07.279 you're going to have to answer 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.620 the circumstantial evidence. 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.339 You have to provide 00:15:09.339 --> 00:15:10.259 a solution for that. 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:11.879 Maybe your solution 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:12.220 is, well, 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.299 just somebody stole it. 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:14.539 Maybe Mary was right, 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:15.459 but you're going to have to deal 00:15:15.459 --> 00:15:16.240 with some other pieces 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:16.779 of evidence 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:18.019 that seem to contradict that. 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:19.440 There's lots of things 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:19.879 you might say, 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:20.560 but you've got to deal 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:21.039 with the fact 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.500 that the tomb 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:22.379 was actually empty. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:23.759 Circumstantial evidence. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:25.639 The second type of evidence here 00:15:25.639 --> 00:15:28.080 is supernatural evidence. 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.440 Supernatural evidence. 00:15:31.080 --> 00:15:31.879 This is seen 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:34.620 in the heavenly messengers, 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:35.480 the angels, 00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.600 who appear to the women 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.139 in verses four and five. 00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:43.180 Now, a naturalist 00:15:43.179 --> 00:15:45.399 will dismiss this evidence 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:46.319 on principle 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:49.799 because the naturalist worldview 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:51.139 doesn't allow 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.319 for anything supernatural at all. 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:55.799 But, of course, 00:15:55.959 --> 00:15:57.319 the burden of proof 00:15:57.319 --> 00:15:59.379 rests on the naturalist 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:01.219 because there is 00:16:01.219 --> 00:16:02.759 so much evidence 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.819 contrary to his basic principle 00:16:05.819 --> 00:16:07.339 of naturalism 00:16:07.339 --> 00:16:08.259 that all things 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.500 are only what can be observed, 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:10.479 that there is no 00:16:10.479 --> 00:16:12.339 supernatural occurrences 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:13.200 that ever happen 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:14.040 or have ever happened. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.320 There's so much evidence 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:17.300 to the contrary of that, 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.820 not only within Christianity, 00:16:19.220 --> 00:16:20.700 but across cultural 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:22.160 and religious divides. 00:16:22.280 --> 00:16:23.019 It's just there. 00:16:23.680 --> 00:16:24.780 I read an article this morning 00:16:24.780 --> 00:16:25.600 in the New York Times. 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.200 They were running an ad 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:27.940 on some research 00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:29.000 or an article 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:29.660 on some research 00:16:29.660 --> 00:16:30.080 they've done 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:31.759 on spirituality 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:33.040 in the United States 00:16:33.040 --> 00:16:33.879 over the last year. 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.720 And the article said, 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:36.759 this is not in relationship 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:37.400 to Christianity, 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.600 the article said 00:16:38.600 --> 00:16:41.000 92% of Americans 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.360 now have an understanding, 00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:44.240 a worldview 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:45.639 that acknowledges 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:47.860 that supernatural things happen. 00:16:49.019 --> 00:16:49.460 Now, again, 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.679 that's not just about Christianity. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:51.840 It's not saying 92% 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.240 of Americans are Christians. 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:54.299 It is far from that. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.279 It is just saying 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:56.460 that most people, 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:58.240 the vast majority of people, 00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:59.659 do not follow 00:16:59.659 --> 00:17:00.779 that line of thinking 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.700 that the naturalist, 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:02.539 the secularist, 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:04.740 secularist follows anymore. 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:07.779 So, given the probability, 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:08.440 then, 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:10.579 of supernatural occurrences, 00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.680 the presence 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:14.500 of heavenly messengers 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.599 at the tomb 00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:17.259 actually makes 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:18.120 a lot of sense, 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.620 doesn't it? 00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:23.059 God regularly uses angels 00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:24.519 to accomplish His purposes 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.200 in the Scriptures. 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:26.839 In Luke, 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:28.920 angels are often seen 00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:29.880 as messengers 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:33.000 specifically at Jesus' birth, 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.259 resurrection, 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:35.779 and ascension. 00:17:37.420 --> 00:17:39.220 This kind of explanation 00:17:39.220 --> 00:17:40.279 that they give 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:41.220 to the women here, 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:43.400 this explanation 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.740 of the empty tomb 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:45.599 of resurrection, 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:48.039 had to come 00:17:48.039 --> 00:17:49.500 from a divine source 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.900 to strengthen 00:17:50.900 --> 00:17:51.700 its credibility. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:56.880 A purely human explanation 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:59.559 would not have sufficed 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:01.519 if it was a purely 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.919 human messenger 00:18:02.919 --> 00:18:04.119 standing at the tomb 00:18:04.119 --> 00:18:04.940 telling the women, 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:06.919 He is not here, 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.240 He has risen, 00:18:09.179 --> 00:18:11.059 who would have believed that? 00:18:11.500 --> 00:18:12.220 It's actually 00:18:12.220 --> 00:18:13.659 the supernatural evidence 00:18:13.659 --> 00:18:14.399 itself 00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:15.859 that doesn't diminish 00:18:15.859 --> 00:18:16.619 the credibility 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.359 of the resurrection. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.859 It actually increases 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.220 the probability 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:22.099 of the resurrection. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:24.799 It increases its plausibility. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.819 It doesn't diminish it. 00:18:26.259 --> 00:18:26.740 So, we've got 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:27.980 circumstantial evidence. 00:18:28.700 --> 00:18:29.519 There's an empty tomb. 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:30.099 We have to deal 00:18:30.099 --> 00:18:30.740 with that, right? 00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:31.859 There's a lot of explanations 00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.379 potentially, 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.099 but we have to deal 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:33.399 with it. 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:35.519 There's supernatural evidence 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.220 that we're going to build 00:18:36.220 --> 00:18:36.980 on top of that. 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.319 Well, there's a lot 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:38.859 of stories here. 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:39.740 There's a lot of accounts 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:40.279 that are saying 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:40.819 that there were 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.779 these heavenly messengers. 00:18:41.980 --> 00:18:42.419 This was kind of 00:18:42.419 --> 00:18:43.039 a unique moment. 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:43.879 They're the ones 00:18:43.879 --> 00:18:45.039 who interpret 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.879 the empty tomb 00:18:46.879 --> 00:18:47.460 for the women. 00:18:48.379 --> 00:18:49.799 But the strongest evidence 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:51.079 is the third type. 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:53.319 It's eyewitness testimony. 00:18:54.159 --> 00:18:55.200 It's eyewitness testimony. 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:56.799 And of course, 00:18:56.879 --> 00:18:57.799 the eyewitness testimony 00:18:57.799 --> 00:18:58.639 in these verses 00:18:58.639 --> 00:19:01.319 is the group of women 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:03.440 who have gone to the tomb. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:07.139 Now, we'd be foolish 00:19:07.139 --> 00:19:08.940 to say that eyewitness testimony 00:19:08.940 --> 00:19:09.779 is inerrant. 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:10.879 It isn't. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:12.259 Keith's a lawyer. 00:19:12.399 --> 00:19:12.960 He'll tell you 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.839 just because somebody 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:15.039 says they saw something 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.579 doesn't necessarily mean 00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:17.700 that they really did see 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:18.720 what they think they saw. 00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:20.559 I understand that. 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.740 Yet, it's still 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.240 a very powerful form 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.339 of proof, isn't it? 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:28.039 There were literally 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:30.919 hundreds of eyewitnesses 00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:32.299 of the resurrected Christ 00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:34.059 who at the time 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:35.119 the Gospels were written, 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:36.099 at the time 00:19:36.099 --> 00:19:37.159 the New Testament epistles 00:19:37.159 --> 00:19:37.720 were written, 00:19:38.199 --> 00:19:39.079 could have taken 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.959 that material 00:19:39.959 --> 00:19:41.279 and found 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:44.439 more than 500 witnesses 00:19:44.439 --> 00:19:44.339 ! 00:19:44.339 --> 00:19:46.319 and asked them 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:47.039 to cooperate 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.859 their accounts 00:19:47.859 --> 00:19:49.339 of actually seeing 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:50.539 the resurrected Christ. 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:54.119 they're plentiful. 00:19:55.379 --> 00:19:56.500 The very purpose 00:19:56.500 --> 00:19:57.299 of the apostles, 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:58.099 their mission 00:19:58.099 --> 00:20:00.039 was to give witness 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.500 to Jesus' resurrection. 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:02.460 However, 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.440 to establish 00:20:04.440 --> 00:20:05.799 the strongest 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:07.859 possible credibility 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:08.839 for the reliability 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:09.759 of the resurrection, 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.539 it was essential 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:13.960 that it be this group 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.720 of women 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:17.059 who were the first witnesses 00:20:17.059 --> 00:20:19.319 of the resurrected Lord. 00:20:19.639 --> 00:20:20.059 Essential. 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:21.940 Let me explain. 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:24.019 On one hand, 00:20:24.759 --> 00:20:25.659 that these women 00:20:25.659 --> 00:20:26.559 are recorded 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:27.879 as the first witnesses 00:20:27.879 --> 00:20:28.759 of the resurrection 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:30.139 actually pushes 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.480 against the notion 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:33.339 that this was a hoax 00:20:33.339 --> 00:20:35.039 perpetrated 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.859 by Jesus' disciples. 00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:38.039 And here's why 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:38.720 we say that. 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.680 It is irrefutable 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:42.259 that the culture 00:20:42.259 --> 00:20:43.279 in which they lived 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.839 generally viewed women 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:47.180 as inferior to 00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:49.200 and less reliable 00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:50.379 than men. 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.940 Now, 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:52.559 that's not to say 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.339 anything of what 00:20:53.339 --> 00:20:54.619 the disciples believed. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:55.339 It's what their 00:20:55.339 --> 00:20:56.960 cultural culture 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.180 generally thought. 00:20:58.299 --> 00:20:59.659 It's how they lived 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.299 and believed. 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:01.519 Now, 00:21:01.579 --> 00:21:02.399 if the disciples 00:21:02.399 --> 00:21:04.240 desired to fabricate 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.039 a hoax 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.259 that people 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.639 would readily believe 00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:09.220 in their culture, 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:11.659 it is doubtful, 00:21:12.200 --> 00:21:13.119 highly unlikely, 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.599 that they would have 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.399 used women 00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:17.460 as their key witnesses. 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:17.640 witnesses. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.240 That's an important 00:21:19.240 --> 00:21:20.340 piece for us 00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:21.000 to tuck into 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.259 our pocket there. 00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:24.000 But the strength 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.720 of this evidence 00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:25.920 is far greater 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.380 than that. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:28.740 Had anyone 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.860 other than these 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.640 women been the 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:31.519 first to the tomb, 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:33.100 the evidence 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:33.740 would have been 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.740 insufficient 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:36.460 according to 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.440 their own customs. 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:40.279 A matter 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.340 could not be 00:21:41.340 --> 00:21:41.980 established 00:21:41.980 --> 00:21:43.460 without at least 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.180 two or three 00:21:44.180 --> 00:21:44.660 witnesses 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.720 to corroborate 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:46.220 the account. 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.480 That was the law. 00:21:48.220 --> 00:21:49.100 It had been the law 00:21:49.100 --> 00:21:49.980 for a long time 00:21:49.980 --> 00:21:50.460 in Israel 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.820 and it was 00:21:51.820 --> 00:21:52.680 a law 00:21:52.680 --> 00:21:53.440 even among 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.519 Rome to some 00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:55.059 extent. 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:57.420 Because of the 00:21:57.420 --> 00:21:58.420 faithfulness 00:21:58.420 --> 00:21:59.720 of these women, 00:22:00.019 --> 00:22:00.720 because of their 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:01.360 loyalty 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:02.400 to Jesus, 00:22:02.840 --> 00:22:03.920 that in this case 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.900 exceeded the 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:05.420 disciples, 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:07.800 exceeded the 00:22:07.800 --> 00:22:08.120 men, 00:22:09.500 --> 00:22:10.380 because their 00:22:10.380 --> 00:22:11.259 love for the 00:22:11.259 --> 00:22:11.600 Lord, 00:22:12.560 --> 00:22:13.320 there is an 00:22:13.320 --> 00:22:14.380 unbroken 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:15.640 chain of 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:16.140 evidence 00:22:16.140 --> 00:22:17.000 regarding the 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.100 details of 00:22:18.100 --> 00:22:19.220 Jesus' death 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.620 and his 00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:20.500 crucifixion, 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:22.019 his burial 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.960 in Joseph of 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.940 Arimathea's tomb, 00:22:24.519 --> 00:22:25.580 and in his 00:22:25.580 --> 00:22:26.220 resurrection 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.540 on the third 00:22:27.540 --> 00:22:27.880 day. 00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:30.519 Only one 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.540 of the disciples 00:22:31.540 --> 00:22:32.300 was present 00:22:32.300 --> 00:22:32.820 for Jesus' 00:22:33.060 --> 00:22:33.740 crucifixion. 00:22:33.740 --> 00:22:35.440 This group 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:35.839 of women 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:36.160 though, 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:37.480 they were 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:37.880 there. 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.559 Look at 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:40.319 chapter 23 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:41.160 verse 49. 00:22:42.940 --> 00:22:43.259 And all 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:44.099 his acquaintances 00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:44.700 and the women 00:22:44.700 --> 00:22:45.019 who had 00:22:45.019 --> 00:22:45.599 followed him 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:46.420 from Galilee 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:48.059 stood at a 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:48.579 distance 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:50.099 watching these 00:22:50.099 --> 00:22:50.579 things. 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.539 Watching what 00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:51.940 things? 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.539 The crucifixion. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.660 They saw 00:22:54.660 --> 00:22:55.380 his death. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.359 They saw 00:22:56.359 --> 00:22:57.079 the spear 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:58.299 plunge into 00:22:58.299 --> 00:22:59.039 his side. 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:00.599 They heard 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:01.460 his words. 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:03.340 They watched 00:23:03.340 --> 00:23:04.039 him suffer. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:06.039 They watched 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:07.180 him die. 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.079 Only John 00:23:09.079 --> 00:23:10.700 was present 00:23:10.700 --> 00:23:11.120 among the 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:11.559 disciples. 00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.000 John's 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:13.680 testimony 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:14.579 on its own 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.039 would not 00:23:15.039 --> 00:23:15.299 have been 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:16.660 enough to 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.380 establish the 00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:17.720 chain of 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:18.019 evidence, 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.380 but this 00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:18.700 group of 00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:18.880 women, 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:19.120 they were 00:23:19.120 --> 00:23:19.400 there. 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:20.840 Multiple 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.279 witnesses. 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:23.740 None of 00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.259 the disciples 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:24.980 were present 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.380 when Jesus' 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.279 body was 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.840 removed from 00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.380 the cross 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:28.880 and laid 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:29.579 in Joseph's 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:29.880 tomb. 00:23:29.880 --> 00:23:32.040 But these 00:23:32.040 --> 00:23:32.460 women were 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:32.800 there. 00:23:33.760 --> 00:23:34.120 Again, 00:23:34.260 --> 00:23:35.040 chapter 23, 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:36.620 verse 55. 00:23:37.880 --> 00:23:38.300 The women 00:23:38.300 --> 00:23:38.660 who had 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:39.100 come with 00:23:39.100 --> 00:23:39.500 him from 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.960 Galilee 00:23:39.960 --> 00:23:40.740 followed 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.840 Joseph of 00:23:41.840 --> 00:23:42.320 Arimathea 00:23:42.320 --> 00:23:43.360 and they 00:23:43.360 --> 00:23:44.020 saw the 00:23:44.020 --> 00:23:44.380 tomb. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.840 They saw 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.760 how his 00:23:46.760 --> 00:23:47.260 body was 00:23:47.260 --> 00:23:48.320 laid and 00:23:48.320 --> 00:23:49.280 after seeing 00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:49.760 it all, 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.380 they returned 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.300 and prepared 00:23:52.300 --> 00:23:52.880 the spices 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.640 and ointments. 00:23:54.100 --> 00:23:54.340 Now Luke 00:23:54.340 --> 00:23:54.900 doesn't mention 00:23:54.900 --> 00:23:55.260 it in that 00:23:55.260 --> 00:23:55.460 verse, 00:23:55.560 --> 00:23:55.780 but they 00:23:55.780 --> 00:23:56.260 must have 00:23:56.260 --> 00:23:56.900 saw a 00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:57.700 massive stone 00:23:57.700 --> 00:23:58.480 rolled into 00:23:58.480 --> 00:23:59.520 place because 00:23:59.519 --> 00:23:59.960 we know 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.240 on their 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:00.900 way to 00:24:00.900 --> 00:24:01.220 the tomb 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:01.660 on Sunday 00:24:01.660 --> 00:24:02.019 morning, 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.759 they were 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.680 asking one 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:03.900 another, 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.379 how are we 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:04.819 actually going 00:24:04.819 --> 00:24:05.240 to move 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.960 this stone 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.920 so that we 00:24:06.920 --> 00:24:07.420 can get to 00:24:07.420 --> 00:24:07.819 the body 00:24:07.819 --> 00:24:08.099 of the 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.240 Lord? 00:24:08.299 --> 00:24:08.680 They saw 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:09.099 it all. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.039 For the 00:24:12.039 --> 00:24:12.480 strongest 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.200 eyewitness 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:13.700 testimony 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.379 possible, 00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:15.079 it was 00:24:15.079 --> 00:24:15.720 necessary 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.420 that these 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:16.920 women were 00:24:16.920 --> 00:24:17.579 the first 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.359 to see 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:18.799 the empty 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:19.160 tomb, 00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:20.160 to receive 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:20.879 the angelic 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.240 message, 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:21.920 and to 00:24:21.920 --> 00:24:22.940 meet the 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.559 risen Lord. 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:25.299 All of 00:24:25.299 --> 00:24:26.079 this evidence, 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:28.240 evidence of 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:28.880 the historical 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.599 credibility 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.140 of the 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:30.599 resurrection, 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:31.200 and there's 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.819 much more 00:24:31.819 --> 00:24:32.480 than this 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.620 available for 00:24:33.620 --> 00:24:34.120 anyone that's 00:24:34.120 --> 00:24:34.539 willing to 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.120 actually look 00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:35.359 at the 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:35.700 data, 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.240 including the 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:38.579 personal 00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.279 appearances of 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.620 the Lord. 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.319 Still, 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.420 the credibility 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.000 of the 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.500 resurrection 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.579 doesn't say 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.299 anything about 00:24:45.299 --> 00:24:46.099 its purpose, 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:47.240 which is where 00:24:47.240 --> 00:24:47.779 we now turn 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:48.299 our attention. 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:49.819 So the first 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:50.359 thing to say 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.299 here with Luke's 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.240 little section 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.440 is that the 00:24:53.440 --> 00:24:54.120 resurrection of 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.640 Jesus is 00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:55.180 historically 00:24:55.180 --> 00:24:55.819 credible, 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.399 but the 00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:56.859 second thing 00:24:56.859 --> 00:24:57.439 is to say 00:24:57.439 --> 00:24:58.299 the resurrection 00:24:58.299 --> 00:24:58.980 of Jesus 00:24:58.980 --> 00:25:00.200 is theologically 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:01.519 crucial. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.599 It's critical. 00:25:04.939 --> 00:25:05.639 Without it, 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.259 nothing else 00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.079 makes sense. 00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.259 Look with me 00:25:09.259 --> 00:25:09.759 at what the 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:10.919 angels say 00:25:10.919 --> 00:25:11.839 in verse 5. 00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:14.159 As the women 00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:14.700 were frightened 00:25:14.700 --> 00:25:15.099 and bowed 00:25:15.099 --> 00:25:15.539 their faces 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.179 to the ground, 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:16.819 the men said 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:17.099 to them, 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:17.740 why do you 00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:18.139 seek the 00:25:18.139 --> 00:25:18.579 living among 00:25:18.579 --> 00:25:19.079 the dead? 00:25:20.039 --> 00:25:20.659 He's not 00:25:20.659 --> 00:25:21.039 here. 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.159 He has 00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.500 risen. 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.779 Remember how 00:25:24.779 --> 00:25:25.500 he told you 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:26.000 while he was 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.420 still in 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:26.880 Galilee, 00:25:27.279 --> 00:25:27.640 that the 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:28.059 Son of 00:25:28.059 --> 00:25:29.259 Man must 00:25:29.259 --> 00:25:30.039 be delivered 00:25:30.039 --> 00:25:30.779 into the 00:25:30.779 --> 00:25:31.180 hands of 00:25:31.180 --> 00:25:31.859 sinful men 00:25:31.859 --> 00:25:32.859 and be 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.319 crucified 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.440 and on 00:25:34.440 --> 00:25:34.839 the third 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:36.519 day rise. 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.900 The resurrection 00:25:38.900 --> 00:25:40.240 is so crucial 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.900 to Christian 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:42.220 theology that 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.000 the angelic 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:43.819 message here 00:25:43.819 --> 00:25:44.819 reads almost 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.599 like a mild 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:46.279 rebuke. 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:48.259 Now I think 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:48.980 typically when we 00:25:48.980 --> 00:25:49.480 come to this, 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.299 we imagine the 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.539 angels are making 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.000 this statement, 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.980 why do you 00:25:52.980 --> 00:25:53.500 seek the living 00:25:53.500 --> 00:25:54.160 among the dead? 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.400 almost tongue 00:25:55.400 --> 00:25:55.980 in cheek as 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:56.920 if we got 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:57.200 you, 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:57.940 surprise. 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:00.519 I don't think 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:00.960 that's at all 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:01.279 how they're 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.960 saying this. 00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:03.720 I think they're 00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:04.480 asking a serious 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.180 question to the 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.400 women. 00:26:05.860 --> 00:26:06.519 Why are you 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:06.920 here? 00:26:08.600 --> 00:26:09.400 Why are you 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:10.019 seeking the 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.519 living one 00:26:10.519 --> 00:26:11.000 among the 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:11.380 dead? 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.180 They're making 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.980 an affirmation, 00:26:14.120 --> 00:26:14.640 something that 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.640 it seems like 00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.060 from their 00:26:16.060 --> 00:26:16.759 perspective the 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.279 women should 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:18.160 have already 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:18.960 known and been 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:19.720 expecting and 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.400 anticipating. 00:26:20.400 --> 00:26:22.480 for the 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:22.759 heavenly 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.360 messengers 00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.019 looking for 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.620 Jesus in 00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:24.940 the tomb 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.900 was scandalous. 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:29.040 So they 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:29.759 proclaimed his 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.320 resurrection, 00:26:30.560 --> 00:26:31.160 they reminded 00:26:31.160 --> 00:26:31.920 the women that 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:32.840 not only is he 00:26:32.840 --> 00:26:33.460 risen from the 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:33.860 dead, but 00:26:33.860 --> 00:26:34.620 remember he 00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:36.259 told you over 00:26:36.259 --> 00:26:36.840 and over in 00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.480 Galilee that he 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:37.980 was going to do 00:26:37.980 --> 00:26:38.519 this, that this 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.280 is exactly how 00:26:39.280 --> 00:26:40.340 things would 00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:40.860 happen. 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.320 The son of 00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:44.280 man must be 00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:44.680 delivered, 00:26:44.800 --> 00:26:45.240 they said. 00:26:45.300 --> 00:26:45.920 He must be 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:46.740 crucified, he 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:47.620 must be 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:48.860 raised. 00:26:48.859 --> 00:26:50.539 They insisted 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:50.979 on it. 00:26:52.099 --> 00:26:52.399 And the 00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.759 key word is 00:26:53.759 --> 00:26:56.279 must because 00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:56.879 the resurrection 00:26:56.879 --> 00:26:58.199 is crucial. 00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:00.419 It was 00:27:00.419 --> 00:27:01.219 critical that 00:27:01.219 --> 00:27:02.219 Jesus suffer, 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:04.119 die, and 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:05.259 rise if he 00:27:05.259 --> 00:27:06.099 was to truly 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:07.000 be Lord and 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.379 Savior. 00:27:07.899 --> 00:27:08.639 But as of 00:27:08.639 --> 00:27:09.579 that moment, 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.359 none of 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:12.439 Jesus' followers 00:27:12.439 --> 00:27:13.719 understood that. 00:27:14.959 --> 00:27:15.899 They hadn't 00:27:15.899 --> 00:27:16.859 yet comprehended 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.759 that Jesus' 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.839 death was an 00:27:18.839 --> 00:27:20.480 atonement for 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.339 their sins. 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.619 So they had 00:27:23.619 --> 00:27:24.599 no thought at 00:27:24.599 --> 00:27:25.139 all in their 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:26.220 mind of him 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:27.379 being vindicated, 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:28.480 of his death, 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.659 of his crucifixion, 00:27:29.959 --> 00:27:31.459 receiving vindication 00:27:31.459 --> 00:27:33.899 through resurrection, 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.679 which is exactly 00:27:34.679 --> 00:27:35.059 what the 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:36.119 resurrection does. 00:27:37.459 --> 00:27:38.099 It wasn't 00:27:38.099 --> 00:27:38.699 anywhere in their 00:27:38.699 --> 00:27:39.119 thoughts. 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:40.839 But they would 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.939 quickly realize that 00:27:41.939 --> 00:27:43.279 their salvation 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:46.679 hinged entirely 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:48.680 on Jesus' 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:49.519 resurrection. 00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.900 If Jesus 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:53.299 remained dead, 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.000 if he was 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.600 still in the 00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:54.940 tomb, 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:57.180 it would prove 00:27:57.180 --> 00:27:58.960 only that he 00:27:58.960 --> 00:27:59.580 was a sinner 00:27:59.580 --> 00:28:00.320 like everybody 00:28:00.320 --> 00:28:00.820 else, 00:28:01.600 --> 00:28:02.440 and that his 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:03.580 death ultimately 00:28:03.580 --> 00:28:06.019 was the justice 00:28:06.019 --> 00:28:06.680 of God 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:08.140 for his sin. 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:11.360 But he didn't 00:28:11.360 --> 00:28:12.100 stay in the 00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.299 tomb, 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.320 and he wasn't 00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:15.500 a sinner like 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.240 anybody else. 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.759 We get to 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:19.579 Acts chapter 2, 00:28:19.679 --> 00:28:20.079 and Peter, 00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:21.480 after all of the 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.200 encounters that he 00:28:22.200 --> 00:28:22.960 has with Jesus, 00:28:23.099 --> 00:28:24.720 of course he is 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.099 believing, 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.779 and he preaches 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:26.819 that amazing sermon 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.779 on Pentecost about 00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:29.059 40 days after this, 00:28:29.179 --> 00:28:30.240 or at least a few 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.720 weeks after. 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.720 What is it that he 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.079 says? 00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:34.939 Acts 2, 24. 00:28:35.639 --> 00:28:36.299 He proclaims, 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:37.259 God raised him 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.539 up. 00:28:38.940 --> 00:28:40.299 God raised Jesus, 00:28:40.519 --> 00:28:41.079 loosing the 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.779 pangs of death. 00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:43.480 Why, Peter says, 00:28:43.779 --> 00:28:45.039 because it was not 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:46.980 possible for him 00:28:46.980 --> 00:28:48.919 to be held by it. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.519 Why was it not 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:50.960 possible? 00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.200 Well, the angels 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.919 tell us. 00:28:53.599 --> 00:28:55.539 He is the living 00:28:55.539 --> 00:28:56.059 one. 00:28:57.980 --> 00:28:58.940 They're not just 00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.740 asking the women, 00:29:00.119 --> 00:29:00.659 why are you 00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:01.559 seeking for people 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.659 who are alive 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.839 in a cemetery? 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:05.079 No, they're saying, 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.039 why are you looking 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:06.879 for the living 00:29:06.879 --> 00:29:08.859 one among the 00:29:08.859 --> 00:29:09.299 dead? 00:29:12.939 --> 00:29:13.619 It wasn't 00:29:13.619 --> 00:29:14.500 possible for him 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.119 to be held by 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.399 death. 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.960 His death meant 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:17.919 something different 00:29:17.919 --> 00:29:19.019 than it means for 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:19.419 us. 00:29:20.919 --> 00:29:21.599 Now, there's always 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:22.439 been those skeptics, 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:22.899 and we've talked 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.659 about a few of them 00:29:23.659 --> 00:29:24.220 already, there's 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:24.819 always been those 00:29:24.819 --> 00:29:25.819 skeptics who reject 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:26.539 the resurrection 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:28.179 outright from 00:29:28.179 --> 00:29:29.159 outside of 00:29:29.159 --> 00:29:29.679 Christianity. 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.039 But there are 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.039 also many who 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.439 attempt to reject 00:29:34.439 --> 00:29:35.059 the resurrection 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:38.339 from inside the 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:38.740 realm of 00:29:38.740 --> 00:29:39.259 Christianity. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.899 Often, the reason 00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:43.599 behind this, there 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.079 may be many 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:44.980 reasons, but I 00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:45.899 think what seems 00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:47.119 to me often to 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:47.839 be the reason is 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.940 they're attempting 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.299 to maintain some 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.980 form of 00:29:50.980 --> 00:29:52.279 Christianity that 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:54.460 interacts well with 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.519 their understanding 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:56.399 of the natural 00:29:56.399 --> 00:29:57.000 sciences. 00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:59.659 So, they identify 00:29:59.659 --> 00:30:00.399 with Christian 00:30:00.399 --> 00:30:01.419 morals and ethics, 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.619 at least when those 00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:03.519 things are convenient 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.779 to them, but they 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:06.299 reject notions of 00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.000 the supernatural, 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.019 like resurrection. 00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:08.879 They would reject 00:30:08.879 --> 00:30:09.859 notions of miracles, 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:11.079 reject notions of 00:30:11.079 --> 00:30:12.440 healings and such. 00:30:13.519 --> 00:30:14.420 And there's many 00:30:14.420 --> 00:30:15.539 inconsistencies with 00:30:15.539 --> 00:30:16.200 that kind of view, 00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:17.460 but the basic error 00:30:17.460 --> 00:30:19.639 is that it supposes 00:30:19.639 --> 00:30:21.440 Christianity can 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:24.259 stand apart from its 00:30:24.259 --> 00:30:25.500 fundamental claims. 00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:26.500 Christians. 00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:28.980 But the truth is that 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.319 without the resurrection, 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:32.440 there is no 00:30:32.440 --> 00:30:33.059 Christianity. 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:36.119 Without the 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:38.019 resurrection, you 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:39.039 would have never 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:40.200 heard the name 00:30:40.200 --> 00:30:41.299 Jesus in your 00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:41.880 life. 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:44.779 Christianity 00:30:44.779 --> 00:30:45.420 wouldn't exist. 00:30:45.900 --> 00:30:46.980 The resurrection is 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:48.140 essential to it. 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.759 It is critical. 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.119 It is a theological 00:30:51.119 --> 00:30:52.640 necessity to the 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.319 Christian faith. 00:30:53.319 --> 00:30:54.460 It's a theological 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.899 necessity if any of 00:30:55.899 --> 00:30:56.460 us are going to have 00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.679 any hope of eternal 00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:58.359 life at all. 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:01.899 His resurrection, 00:31:02.179 --> 00:31:03.200 it's crucial to true 00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:03.659 hope. 00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:07.579 We always think of 00:31:07.579 --> 00:31:09.179 the crucifixion as the 00:31:09.179 --> 00:31:10.279 central moment of the 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.460 Christian faith, and 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.259 indeed it is. 00:31:13.539 --> 00:31:14.439 What is it that 00:31:14.439 --> 00:31:15.679 Christians see when they 00:31:15.679 --> 00:31:16.500 look at the cross? 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:19.339 They see the sinless 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.259 Son of God 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:23.980 bearing God's wrath 00:31:23.980 --> 00:31:25.879 in the stead of 00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.299 sinners. 00:31:27.180 --> 00:31:28.500 It is not merely 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.980 atonement. 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.759 It is a substitutionary 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:31.519 atonement that we 00:31:31.519 --> 00:31:32.079 believe in. 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:33.799 That it's not that he 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:35.240 died to be an example 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:35.799 to us. 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.240 It's not that he, in 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:39.420 some metaphorical sense, 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.640 died to give us a 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:42.319 pattern of atonement. 00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:43.460 No, that's not at all 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:45.079 what the crucifixion 00:31:45.079 --> 00:31:45.359 did. 00:31:45.619 --> 00:31:47.059 His crucifixion was in 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:48.000 our place. 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:50.240 He bears God's wrath, 00:31:50.259 --> 00:31:51.640 God's wrath, and 00:31:51.640 --> 00:31:53.579 so that we can receive 00:31:53.579 --> 00:31:54.480 his life. 00:31:55.460 --> 00:31:56.279 That's the Christian 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:57.319 view of the crucifixion. 00:31:57.839 --> 00:31:58.940 It is indeed the 00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:00.980 central moment of 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:02.240 history and of our 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.680 faith. 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:05.359 But how is it that we 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:06.700 can be so certain of 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:06.940 that? 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:10.660 That interpretation of 00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:13.140 the cross is only 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:15.559 possible in light of 00:32:15.559 --> 00:32:16.259 the resurrection. 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.519 If there's no 00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.119 resurrection, 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:21.199 there'd be no 00:32:21.199 --> 00:32:22.079 atonement. 00:32:22.719 --> 00:32:23.419 At least there'd be 00:32:23.419 --> 00:32:24.899 no way to validate or 00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:26.279 verify an atonement. 00:32:28.839 --> 00:32:30.199 The resurrection was 00:32:30.199 --> 00:32:31.259 necessary for the 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:32.599 crucifixion to actually 00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:34.919 prove capable of 00:32:34.919 --> 00:32:36.519 reconciling us to God. 00:32:38.399 --> 00:32:39.000 Christians have 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.379 understood this for 00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:41.279 2,000 years now. 00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:42.879 It's why we worship on 00:32:42.879 --> 00:32:45.779 Sunday, the day that 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:47.059 commemorates the 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.000 resurrection of the 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.779 Lord, and we don't 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:52.220 worship on Friday, the 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.919 day that would 00:32:52.919 --> 00:32:53.679 acknowledge and 00:32:53.679 --> 00:32:54.419 commemorate the 00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:55.379 crucifixion of the 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:55.599 Lord. 00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:05.679 The bottom line is that 00:33:05.679 --> 00:33:07.220 without the resurrection, 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:10.859 the cross means nothing. 00:33:10.859 --> 00:33:13.799 It doesn't mean anything at 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:14.139 all. 00:33:16.479 --> 00:33:17.759 That's not in any way to 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:19.839 diminish the cross, but it 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:20.979 is to acknowledge the 00:33:20.979 --> 00:33:24.119 essential nature of the 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:24.559 resurrection. 00:33:25.859 --> 00:33:26.919 And this is the 00:33:26.919 --> 00:33:27.859 interpretation the 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:29.459 apostles give later in the 00:33:29.459 --> 00:33:29.899 New Testament. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:31.199 Paul says in 1 Corinthians 00:33:31.199 --> 00:33:33.279 15, if Christ has not been 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.879 raised, then our preaching 00:33:34.879 --> 00:33:37.199 is in vain and your faith is 00:33:37.199 --> 00:33:37.559 in vain. 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:40.220 If Christ has not been 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.519 raised, your faith is 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:43.460 futile, and you are still 00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.419 in your sins. 00:33:45.419 --> 00:33:46.639 Now, why does he equate 00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:48.139 forgiveness of sins to the 00:33:48.139 --> 00:33:49.299 resurrection of Christ? 00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:51.059 Because the resurrection of 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:52.740 Christ is what proves the 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:54.279 atonement of the cross. 00:33:55.720 --> 00:33:57.259 And he says if Christ isn't 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.440 actually raised, we're wasting 00:33:58.440 --> 00:34:00.200 our time, and we are of all 00:34:00.200 --> 00:34:02.039 people to be most pitied in 00:34:02.039 --> 00:34:02.940 the world, he says. 00:34:04.619 --> 00:34:05.940 Without the resurrection, 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:08.519 there is no salvation. 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:11.960 So then the question 00:34:11.960 --> 00:34:13.460 becomes, what is the 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.840 motivation for this? 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:22.300 No one strong-armed God 00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:25.960 into sending his son to die 00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:27.340 and be raised. 00:34:28.940 --> 00:34:30.659 Why would he even do it? 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:35.099 God determined this plan. 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:37.440 God set the plan in motion. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:39.500 He orchestrated the events. 00:34:41.019 --> 00:34:43.079 God performed all of this 00:34:43.079 --> 00:34:44.219 for our salvation. 00:34:44.440 --> 00:34:45.259 But why? 00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:49.899 The only reasonable answer 00:34:49.899 --> 00:34:52.039 is love. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:55.420 It's the only possible answer. 00:34:56.779 --> 00:34:58.279 God does not need you, 00:34:58.280 --> 00:35:00.800 and he does not need me. 00:35:02.660 --> 00:35:04.200 There is nothing for him 00:35:04.200 --> 00:35:05.140 to be gained 00:35:05.140 --> 00:35:07.860 by doing all of this. 00:35:09.460 --> 00:35:10.920 The crucifixion and 00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.440 resurrection 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:14.400 is the ultimate expression 00:35:14.400 --> 00:35:17.180 of God's love for you 00:35:17.180 --> 00:35:20.040 and of his love for me. 00:35:20.720 --> 00:35:21.180 Indeed, 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.980 of his love for the world. 00:35:24.060 --> 00:35:25.580 This is why we sing songs 00:35:25.579 --> 00:35:26.539 of God's love. 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:29.719 What love, my God, 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:31.840 would hold you to the tree 00:35:31.840 --> 00:35:35.719 to bear the overwhelming debt 00:35:35.719 --> 00:35:36.960 for me 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:39.619 to go through hell 00:35:39.619 --> 00:35:42.059 and down into the grave 00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:44.779 to raise me up 00:35:44.779 --> 00:35:47.179 to see you face to face. 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:50.659 What love is this? 00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:54.339 It's an indescribable love, 00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:56.219 a compelling love, 00:35:57.440 --> 00:35:58.579 a divine love. 00:36:01.259 --> 00:36:01.960 The resurrection 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:03.719 is historically credible. 00:36:04.879 --> 00:36:07.039 It is theologically crucial, 00:36:08.039 --> 00:36:11.779 and we might say theologically joyful. 00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:13.500 What a joy it is. 00:36:13.500 --> 00:36:16.179 But there's one more thing 00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:17.360 I think we need to grasp 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:19.460 before we close our time. 00:36:20.559 --> 00:36:21.460 The third thing is this. 00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:22.760 The resurrection 00:36:22.760 --> 00:36:25.460 is spiritually compelling. 00:36:26.840 --> 00:36:29.179 It is spiritually compelling. 00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:30.300 Now, I want you to look 00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:31.860 at verses 8 and 9. 00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:35.019 The women have arrived 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:35.539 at the tomb. 00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:36.460 They've seen it empty. 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:37.500 They're perplexed. 00:36:38.659 --> 00:36:40.460 Two angels appear before them 00:36:40.460 --> 00:36:43.619 with a mild rebuke, perhaps. 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:46.460 Explain that Jesus has risen, 00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:47.460 that that's the explanation 00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.500 for the empty tomb. 00:36:48.800 --> 00:36:50.079 But then what the angels do 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:50.840 at the end is they say, 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:51.880 remember he told you 00:36:51.880 --> 00:36:52.720 that this was going to happen. 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:53.659 He told you all of this 00:36:53.659 --> 00:36:54.840 was going to unfold this way. 00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:56.880 Now look at verse 8. 00:36:57.559 --> 00:36:58.960 I think this is the most important 00:36:58.960 --> 00:37:00.000 verse of this section. 00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.980 And they remembered his words. 00:37:04.019 --> 00:37:05.380 And they remembered his words. 00:37:06.699 --> 00:37:07.880 And what was the result 00:37:07.880 --> 00:37:09.099 of them remembering his words? 00:37:09.599 --> 00:37:10.280 Verse 9. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:12.860 They returned from the tomb. 00:37:13.740 --> 00:37:15.280 They told all these things 00:37:15.280 --> 00:37:16.820 to the 11 and to all the rest. 00:37:18.019 --> 00:37:20.519 They ran and told. 00:37:20.699 --> 00:37:22.240 There's an indication of faith 00:37:22.240 --> 00:37:23.619 at work here. 00:37:24.820 --> 00:37:25.619 Something has happened 00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.119 in the women. 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:29.480 Now I want you to contemplate 00:37:29.480 --> 00:37:30.280 here at the end 00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:34.340 what compels an individual 00:37:34.340 --> 00:37:37.659 to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:37:37.659 --> 00:37:39.339 what actually compels 00:37:39.339 --> 00:37:40.460 our faith. 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:41.759 Because we would have 00:37:41.759 --> 00:37:42.379 to acknowledge 00:37:42.379 --> 00:37:43.879 that evidence itself 00:37:43.879 --> 00:37:46.139 is not enough 00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:47.779 to compel belief. 00:37:49.219 --> 00:37:50.759 I thought it was funny 00:37:50.759 --> 00:37:52.019 what Alistair Begg 00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:52.739 said about this. 00:37:52.799 --> 00:37:53.099 He said, 00:37:53.219 --> 00:37:54.599 if evidence compelled belief, 00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:55.779 nobody would smoke. 00:37:56.440 --> 00:37:57.500 But it will not 00:37:57.500 --> 00:37:58.339 compel belief. 00:37:59.179 --> 00:38:00.099 The evidence 00:38:00.099 --> 00:38:01.440 gives sufficient basis 00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:02.839 for further consideration. 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:03.619 That's what it does. 00:38:03.619 --> 00:38:04.519 So we can't go 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.480 to point number one 00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:06.219 and just say, 00:38:06.339 --> 00:38:07.039 well the resurrection 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:08.480 is historically credible 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.559 and end it there. 00:38:10.199 --> 00:38:11.359 Because that's not enough 00:38:11.359 --> 00:38:12.339 to actually compel us 00:38:12.339 --> 00:38:13.159 to do anything 00:38:13.159 --> 00:38:14.440 other than just to acknowledge 00:38:14.440 --> 00:38:16.339 that well the plausibility 00:38:16.339 --> 00:38:17.500 of this is quite high 00:38:17.500 --> 00:38:18.440 when you consider 00:38:18.440 --> 00:38:19.019 the evidence. 00:38:19.579 --> 00:38:21.119 You can see the empty tomb 00:38:21.119 --> 00:38:22.859 but it will not be enough 00:38:22.859 --> 00:38:23.619 to convince you 00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:24.559 that Jesus lives. 00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:27.179 You can agree 00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:28.400 that Jesus lives 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:30.720 but it will not be enough 00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:31.680 to convince you 00:38:31.680 --> 00:38:33.539 that his life matters. 00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:36.380 You can have 00:38:36.380 --> 00:38:38.240 a supernatural experience 00:38:38.240 --> 00:38:40.139 without believing the gospel. 00:38:40.780 --> 00:38:42.300 You can even see 00:38:42.300 --> 00:38:43.920 the risen Christ himself 00:38:43.920 --> 00:38:46.039 and still refuse 00:38:46.039 --> 00:38:48.039 to trust him as your savior 00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:49.980 and follow him as your Lord. 00:38:50.139 --> 00:38:51.599 It can't just be 00:38:51.599 --> 00:38:52.400 about the evidence. 00:38:52.740 --> 00:38:53.420 So if you're here 00:38:53.420 --> 00:38:54.039 and you're looking, 00:38:54.380 --> 00:38:54.539 you know, 00:38:54.579 --> 00:38:55.380 if somebody could just 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:56.440 finally convince me 00:38:56.440 --> 00:38:57.559 on the basis of evidence 00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:58.220 that all of this 00:38:58.219 --> 00:38:58.639 is real, 00:38:58.980 --> 00:39:00.079 it's not possible. 00:39:00.519 --> 00:39:01.039 We can give you 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.719 all the evidence 00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.199 in the world. 00:39:02.359 --> 00:39:03.239 Jesus himself 00:39:03.239 --> 00:39:04.000 can appear to you 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:04.679 and it will not make 00:39:04.679 --> 00:39:05.299 a difference 00:39:05.299 --> 00:39:07.279 in and of itself. 00:39:09.739 --> 00:39:10.759 Saving faith, 00:39:11.839 --> 00:39:12.919 that which compels 00:39:12.919 --> 00:39:13.559 your spirit 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.139 to believe 00:39:14.139 --> 00:39:14.879 in the resurrection, 00:39:15.279 --> 00:39:16.819 it is not equivalent 00:39:16.819 --> 00:39:18.419 to agreeing 00:39:18.419 --> 00:39:20.339 about the plausibility 00:39:20.339 --> 00:39:21.359 of the Bible's claims. 00:39:21.699 --> 00:39:23.399 That is not what we mean 00:39:23.399 --> 00:39:24.299 when we say 00:39:24.299 --> 00:39:25.539 you must believe 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:26.659 to be saved. 00:39:26.759 --> 00:39:28.099 That is not what we mean 00:39:28.099 --> 00:39:30.039 by Christian faith. 00:39:30.779 --> 00:39:32.339 If that were the case, 00:39:32.559 --> 00:39:33.659 all we would need to do 00:39:33.659 --> 00:39:34.319 is examine 00:39:34.319 --> 00:39:35.440 the various evidences 00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.900 so that we can come 00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:38.519 to an intellectual agreement 00:39:38.519 --> 00:39:39.259 on the facts. 00:39:39.519 --> 00:39:41.699 But we must not do that alone. 00:39:42.759 --> 00:39:43.839 In the end, 00:39:45.119 --> 00:39:46.440 intellectual assent 00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:48.099 doesn't accomplish anything, 00:39:48.519 --> 00:39:49.759 doesn't do anything for you 00:39:49.759 --> 00:39:51.699 in a spiritual sense. 00:39:51.699 --> 00:39:54.659 you can agree 00:39:54.659 --> 00:39:56.480 while remaining 00:39:56.480 --> 00:39:57.099 in a state 00:39:57.099 --> 00:39:58.319 of unbelief. 00:40:01.099 --> 00:40:02.139 Unbelief, then, 00:40:02.919 --> 00:40:04.019 is not about 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:05.619 insufficient evidence 00:40:05.619 --> 00:40:08.439 as if more compelling evidence 00:40:08.439 --> 00:40:09.839 will actually move you. 00:40:11.439 --> 00:40:12.039 Unbelief 00:40:12.039 --> 00:40:13.939 is about the hardness 00:40:13.939 --> 00:40:15.779 of your heart. 00:40:15.780 --> 00:40:20.900 what, then, 00:40:21.140 --> 00:40:23.120 can compel 00:40:23.120 --> 00:40:24.500 belief? 00:40:26.160 --> 00:40:27.000 What, then, 00:40:27.080 --> 00:40:27.760 can actually 00:40:27.760 --> 00:40:28.880 transform 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:30.660 the heart? 00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:33.220 Now, I think 00:40:33.220 --> 00:40:34.380 that's one of the things 00:40:34.380 --> 00:40:36.019 that Luke is emphasizing 00:40:36.019 --> 00:40:36.860 in this chapter. 00:40:37.600 --> 00:40:38.360 It's not only that 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:39.120 he's noting it, 00:40:39.120 --> 00:40:40.640 I think he's emphasizing it 00:40:40.640 --> 00:40:41.320 in his account. 00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:44.580 Consider the three big scenes 00:40:44.579 --> 00:40:45.239 of the chapter. 00:40:46.319 --> 00:40:47.159 The first one, 00:40:47.279 --> 00:40:47.539 of course, 00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:48.099 is the women 00:40:48.099 --> 00:40:48.779 at the tomb, 00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:49.799 verses 8 and 9. 00:40:49.900 --> 00:40:51.059 Just look at the verses again. 00:40:51.819 --> 00:40:52.719 And they remembered 00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:53.699 his words, 00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:55.099 and it was upon 00:40:55.099 --> 00:40:56.360 remembering his words 00:40:56.360 --> 00:40:58.840 that they moved 00:40:58.840 --> 00:41:00.360 toward an act of faith. 00:41:01.679 --> 00:41:03.639 The determinative factor 00:41:03.639 --> 00:41:04.519 in their faith 00:41:04.519 --> 00:41:06.079 was not the empty tomb, 00:41:06.819 --> 00:41:08.219 and it was not 00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:09.440 the presence of the angels. 00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:10.759 That doesn't mean 00:41:10.759 --> 00:41:11.639 those things didn't matter. 00:41:11.739 --> 00:41:12.440 I'm saying those aren't 00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:13.940 the determinative factors 00:41:13.940 --> 00:41:14.380 for them. 00:41:14.579 --> 00:41:17.279 What made the difference 00:41:17.279 --> 00:41:18.500 was their recollection 00:41:18.500 --> 00:41:19.940 of Jesus' words. 00:41:22.179 --> 00:41:23.659 Remembering his words 00:41:23.659 --> 00:41:25.699 triggered something 00:41:25.699 --> 00:41:27.299 in their hearts. 00:41:29.299 --> 00:41:30.539 Their faith 00:41:30.539 --> 00:41:31.840 had less to do 00:41:31.840 --> 00:41:33.099 with the tomb 00:41:33.099 --> 00:41:33.860 and the angels 00:41:33.860 --> 00:41:35.039 than it did 00:41:35.039 --> 00:41:35.980 with believing 00:41:35.980 --> 00:41:37.860 the word of God. 00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:37.900 God, 00:41:38.700 --> 00:41:42.079 when the word of Christ 00:41:42.079 --> 00:41:43.019 takes root 00:41:43.019 --> 00:41:44.900 in someone's heart, 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:48.300 the only possible outcome 00:41:48.300 --> 00:41:51.140 is a joyful trust 00:41:51.140 --> 00:41:53.099 that runs and tells 00:41:53.099 --> 00:41:54.460 all that you have seen 00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:56.260 and heard. 00:41:56.260 --> 00:41:56.360 God's heart. 00:41:59.460 --> 00:42:00.500 But it's not just 00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:01.320 the women at the tomb 00:42:01.320 --> 00:42:02.160 that we see that in. 00:42:02.420 --> 00:42:03.620 We also see it 00:42:03.620 --> 00:42:05.120 with the disciples 00:42:05.120 --> 00:42:06.060 who are on the road 00:42:06.060 --> 00:42:06.900 to Emmaus. 00:42:07.540 --> 00:42:08.520 Now, you can read 00:42:08.520 --> 00:42:09.000 this account 00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:10.100 in verses 13 00:42:10.100 --> 00:42:11.240 all the way to 35, 00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:12.320 and the gist of it 00:42:12.320 --> 00:42:13.560 is there's two disciples 00:42:13.560 --> 00:42:14.060 of Jesus. 00:42:14.460 --> 00:42:15.560 They're very discouraged. 00:42:16.120 --> 00:42:16.880 This is the day 00:42:16.880 --> 00:42:17.620 of the resurrection. 00:42:18.200 --> 00:42:18.800 They've heard 00:42:18.800 --> 00:42:19.400 the testimony 00:42:19.400 --> 00:42:20.060 of the women, 00:42:20.180 --> 00:42:21.140 but they didn't believe it, 00:42:21.139 --> 00:42:21.980 and they decided 00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:22.539 to go home, 00:42:22.699 --> 00:42:23.039 presumably, 00:42:23.579 --> 00:42:25.000 to a town called Emmaus 00:42:25.000 --> 00:42:25.920 a few miles away. 00:42:26.519 --> 00:42:27.259 And they're just walking 00:42:27.259 --> 00:42:27.779 on the road 00:42:27.779 --> 00:42:28.500 and they're distraught. 00:42:28.779 --> 00:42:29.219 They're mourning, 00:42:29.420 --> 00:42:29.759 grieving, 00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:31.219 because Jesus is dead. 00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:33.480 Jesus appears to them 00:42:33.480 --> 00:42:35.159 and in some sense 00:42:35.159 --> 00:42:35.980 he conceals 00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:36.960 his identity to them. 00:42:37.039 --> 00:42:37.440 They're not able 00:42:37.440 --> 00:42:38.059 to recognize 00:42:38.059 --> 00:42:39.079 that it's him at first. 00:42:39.940 --> 00:42:40.719 And what he does 00:42:40.719 --> 00:42:42.339 is he opens 00:42:42.339 --> 00:42:43.119 the scriptures 00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:46.659 for them to understand 00:42:46.659 --> 00:42:47.480 that the Messiah 00:42:47.480 --> 00:42:48.420 must suffer, 00:42:48.599 --> 00:42:48.739 die, 00:42:48.799 --> 00:42:49.639 and rise from the dead. 00:42:49.639 --> 00:42:50.960 He does it 00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:51.539 from the scriptures. 00:42:51.960 --> 00:42:52.239 Now I want you 00:42:52.239 --> 00:42:53.339 to look at verse 32. 00:42:55.299 --> 00:42:56.859 They said to each other, 00:42:57.500 --> 00:42:58.519 this is after Jesus 00:42:58.519 --> 00:42:59.019 leaves them, 00:42:59.659 --> 00:43:00.639 they said to each other, 00:43:01.759 --> 00:43:02.960 did not our hearts 00:43:02.960 --> 00:43:04.480 burn within us 00:43:04.480 --> 00:43:06.059 while he talked 00:43:06.059 --> 00:43:07.139 to us on the road, 00:43:07.239 --> 00:43:08.679 while he opened 00:43:08.679 --> 00:43:10.079 to us the scriptures? 00:43:12.299 --> 00:43:13.440 And they rose 00:43:13.440 --> 00:43:14.339 that very hour 00:43:14.339 --> 00:43:16.039 and they returned 00:43:16.039 --> 00:43:16.619 to Jerusalem 00:43:16.619 --> 00:43:17.759 and they found the eleven 00:43:17.759 --> 00:43:18.819 and those who were 00:43:18.819 --> 00:43:19.559 with them gathered 00:43:19.559 --> 00:43:20.420 together saying, 00:43:20.539 --> 00:43:22.239 the Lord has risen indeed 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:23.179 and has appeared 00:43:23.179 --> 00:43:23.860 to Simon. 00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:25.139 Then they told 00:43:25.139 --> 00:43:25.920 what had happened 00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:26.500 on the road 00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:27.440 and how he was known 00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:27.900 to them 00:43:27.900 --> 00:43:29.579 in the breaking of bread. 00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:31.960 What was the thing 00:43:31.960 --> 00:43:32.699 that moved them 00:43:32.699 --> 00:43:33.299 to faith? 00:43:33.840 --> 00:43:35.239 It wasn't this amazing 00:43:35.239 --> 00:43:36.599 experience they had 00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:38.259 with the risen Lord 00:43:38.259 --> 00:43:38.779 with them. 00:43:38.980 --> 00:43:39.960 That's not the thing. 00:43:40.239 --> 00:43:41.279 That's not what made 00:43:41.279 --> 00:43:42.179 their hearts burn 00:43:42.179 --> 00:43:42.679 within them. 00:43:42.940 --> 00:43:44.139 The burning of their hearts 00:43:44.139 --> 00:43:45.279 came before that. 00:43:45.579 --> 00:43:46.779 The burning of their hearts 00:43:46.779 --> 00:43:48.500 came as he opened up 00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:49.059 the word 00:43:49.059 --> 00:43:50.199 and he explained 00:43:50.199 --> 00:43:50.880 the gospel 00:43:50.880 --> 00:43:51.880 from the scriptures. 00:43:53.019 --> 00:43:53.940 As amazing 00:43:53.940 --> 00:43:54.960 as their experience 00:43:54.960 --> 00:43:55.300 was, 00:43:55.400 --> 00:43:56.119 the scriptures 00:43:56.119 --> 00:43:58.039 are what compelled 00:43:58.039 --> 00:43:58.659 their belief. 00:43:59.239 --> 00:43:59.960 But there's a third 00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:00.920 instance in the chapter 00:44:00.920 --> 00:44:01.900 of the same thing. 00:44:02.619 --> 00:44:03.699 It's the disciples 00:44:03.699 --> 00:44:04.460 in Jerusalem. 00:44:05.559 --> 00:44:06.880 They're gathered together 00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:08.159 in the house there. 00:44:08.880 --> 00:44:09.579 They're scared. 00:44:10.780 --> 00:44:11.880 They're distraught. 00:44:12.280 --> 00:44:13.300 They're confused. 00:44:13.699 --> 00:44:14.380 The women are saying 00:44:14.380 --> 00:44:15.179 they've seen Jesus, 00:44:15.360 --> 00:44:16.199 that the tomb is empty 00:44:16.199 --> 00:44:16.879 and all this stuff. 00:44:17.000 --> 00:44:17.579 Most of them don't 00:44:17.579 --> 00:44:18.119 actually believe 00:44:18.119 --> 00:44:18.739 that that's true. 00:44:19.139 --> 00:44:19.859 And then suddenly 00:44:19.859 --> 00:44:20.859 Jesus appears 00:44:20.859 --> 00:44:21.500 in the room. 00:44:23.199 --> 00:44:24.339 Even when he appears, 00:44:24.460 --> 00:44:25.079 the risen Lord, 00:44:25.159 --> 00:44:25.839 right in front of them, 00:44:26.039 --> 00:44:26.619 they're still just 00:44:26.619 --> 00:44:27.699 perplexed about the whole thing. 00:44:27.759 --> 00:44:28.019 They don't know 00:44:28.019 --> 00:44:28.919 what to think about that. 00:44:28.980 --> 00:44:29.779 They're even frightened 00:44:29.779 --> 00:44:30.759 by it. 00:44:30.819 --> 00:44:31.960 But look at what it says 00:44:31.960 --> 00:44:32.980 in verse 44. 00:44:33.980 --> 00:44:35.119 Jesus said to them, 00:44:36.079 --> 00:44:37.219 these are my words 00:44:37.219 --> 00:44:38.460 that I spoke to you 00:44:38.460 --> 00:44:40.099 while I was still with you, 00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:41.859 that everything written 00:44:41.859 --> 00:44:42.859 about me in the law 00:44:42.859 --> 00:44:44.199 of Moses and the prophets 00:44:44.199 --> 00:44:44.939 and the Psalms 00:44:44.939 --> 00:44:45.960 must be fulfilled. 00:44:46.199 --> 00:44:48.960 Then he opened their minds 00:44:48.960 --> 00:44:50.819 to understand the scriptures 00:44:50.819 --> 00:44:52.980 and said to them, 00:44:53.219 --> 00:44:53.779 thus it is written 00:44:53.779 --> 00:44:55.460 that the Christ should suffer 00:44:55.460 --> 00:44:56.879 and on the third day 00:44:56.879 --> 00:44:58.019 rise from the dead 00:44:58.019 --> 00:44:59.119 and that repentance 00:44:59.119 --> 00:45:00.779 for the forgiveness of sins 00:45:00.779 --> 00:45:01.919 should be proclaimed 00:45:01.919 --> 00:45:02.679 in his name 00:45:02.679 --> 00:45:03.839 to all nations 00:45:03.839 --> 00:45:06.099 beginning from Jerusalem. 00:45:06.460 --> 00:45:07.960 You are my witnesses 00:45:07.960 --> 00:45:10.000 of these things, 00:45:10.119 --> 00:45:10.639 he says. 00:45:12.480 --> 00:45:13.960 Everybody likes to pick 00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:14.619 on Thomas 00:45:14.619 --> 00:45:16.079 in the resurrection story. 00:45:16.199 --> 00:45:18.619 Everybody likes to look 00:45:18.619 --> 00:45:19.599 at Thomas and say, 00:45:19.939 --> 00:45:21.279 we even coined the name 00:45:21.279 --> 00:45:22.239 Doubting Thomas. 00:45:23.739 --> 00:45:25.279 He wasn't there that night. 00:45:26.379 --> 00:45:27.439 I don't know where he was 00:45:27.439 --> 00:45:28.139 but he wasn't there. 00:45:29.259 --> 00:45:30.019 And when they told him 00:45:30.019 --> 00:45:30.819 about it later, 00:45:31.519 --> 00:45:31.939 he said, 00:45:32.039 --> 00:45:33.199 unless I see it myself, 00:45:33.279 --> 00:45:33.699 I don't think 00:45:33.699 --> 00:45:34.480 I can believe it. 00:45:34.480 --> 00:45:39.320 Is that not exactly 00:45:39.320 --> 00:45:41.019 what every one of the disciples 00:45:41.019 --> 00:45:41.880 did to these women? 00:45:43.400 --> 00:45:45.719 Look again at verse 11. 00:45:46.860 --> 00:45:48.440 These words seemed to them 00:45:48.440 --> 00:45:49.679 an idle tale 00:45:49.679 --> 00:45:52.800 and they did not believe them. 00:45:53.139 --> 00:45:53.960 You know what the disciples 00:45:53.960 --> 00:45:54.780 said to the women? 00:45:55.599 --> 00:45:56.840 Unless we see it ourselves, 00:45:56.900 --> 00:45:57.639 we won't believe it. 00:45:58.240 --> 00:45:59.240 So we need to ease up 00:45:59.240 --> 00:46:00.059 on Thomas a little bit. 00:46:00.099 --> 00:46:01.099 He's just doing what everybody 00:46:01.099 --> 00:46:01.639 was doing 00:46:01.639 --> 00:46:03.179 at that particular moment. 00:46:06.460 --> 00:46:07.440 Even when Jesus 00:46:07.440 --> 00:46:08.360 appeared in the room, 00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:09.199 they didn't immediately 00:46:09.199 --> 00:46:10.039 understand 00:46:10.039 --> 00:46:10.679 or believe 00:46:10.679 --> 00:46:11.420 what they saw. 00:46:13.799 --> 00:46:14.739 What compelled 00:46:14.739 --> 00:46:15.619 their belief then? 00:46:16.480 --> 00:46:17.299 Because we know 00:46:17.299 --> 00:46:18.019 it was compelled, 00:46:18.579 --> 00:46:19.920 just flip to the book of Acts 00:46:19.920 --> 00:46:20.599 and you'll see it. 00:46:22.360 --> 00:46:23.139 What did it? 00:46:23.139 --> 00:46:26.000 Jesus opened 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:27.000 their minds 00:46:27.000 --> 00:46:28.639 to understand 00:46:28.639 --> 00:46:29.119 the scriptures. 00:46:31.679 --> 00:46:32.739 This isn't just about 00:46:32.739 --> 00:46:34.019 the resurrection story either. 00:46:34.679 --> 00:46:34.980 Do you remember 00:46:34.980 --> 00:46:35.879 the story of Philip 00:46:35.879 --> 00:46:37.259 and the Ethiopian eunuch 00:46:37.259 --> 00:46:38.019 in the book of Acts? 00:46:39.259 --> 00:46:40.500 What was it that compelled 00:46:40.500 --> 00:46:41.379 the eunuch's belief? 00:46:42.259 --> 00:46:43.099 An explanation 00:46:43.099 --> 00:46:43.739 of Isaiah. 00:46:45.159 --> 00:46:46.139 What about Lydia 00:46:46.139 --> 00:46:46.879 and the other women 00:46:46.879 --> 00:46:47.579 who had gathered 00:46:47.579 --> 00:46:48.940 next to a body of water 00:46:48.940 --> 00:46:50.500 outside of Philippi 00:46:50.500 --> 00:46:51.500 when Paul showed up 00:46:51.500 --> 00:46:52.239 and began to preach 00:46:52.239 --> 00:46:53.119 the gospel to them? 00:46:53.940 --> 00:46:54.539 What was it 00:46:54.539 --> 00:46:55.059 that compelled 00:46:55.059 --> 00:46:55.679 their belief? 00:46:56.219 --> 00:46:57.559 The scripture literally says 00:46:57.559 --> 00:46:59.799 the Lord opened Lydia's heart 00:46:59.799 --> 00:47:00.980 to believe 00:47:00.980 --> 00:47:02.000 the gospel 00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:03.799 proclaimed from 00:47:03.799 --> 00:47:04.299 the scriptures. 00:47:04.659 --> 00:47:05.400 We just finished 00:47:05.400 --> 00:47:06.659 studying 1 Thessalonians. 00:47:06.819 --> 00:47:07.500 What was it 00:47:07.500 --> 00:47:08.460 in 1 Thessalonians 00:47:08.460 --> 00:47:09.199 chapter 1 00:47:09.199 --> 00:47:10.019 that we saw 00:47:10.019 --> 00:47:10.619 was evident 00:47:10.619 --> 00:47:11.480 in the conversion 00:47:11.480 --> 00:47:12.779 of the Thessalonian Christians? 00:47:13.099 --> 00:47:14.359 It was the Holy Spirit 00:47:14.359 --> 00:47:15.559 at work 00:47:15.559 --> 00:47:16.599 in the proclamation 00:47:16.599 --> 00:47:17.619 of the gospel 00:47:17.619 --> 00:47:19.099 from the scriptures. 00:47:19.719 --> 00:47:20.940 What about Peter 00:47:20.940 --> 00:47:22.699 in Acts chapter 10 00:47:22.699 --> 00:47:23.779 when messengers 00:47:23.779 --> 00:47:24.980 from Cornelius 00:47:24.980 --> 00:47:25.919 come to him 00:47:25.919 --> 00:47:26.199 and say 00:47:26.199 --> 00:47:27.199 would you please come 00:47:27.199 --> 00:47:28.759 and tell us 00:47:28.759 --> 00:47:30.819 this gospel? 00:47:31.079 --> 00:47:31.519 What is it 00:47:31.519 --> 00:47:32.579 that made the difference 00:47:32.579 --> 00:47:33.559 for Cornelius 00:47:33.559 --> 00:47:34.359 who was interested 00:47:34.359 --> 00:47:34.960 in the things 00:47:34.960 --> 00:47:35.539 but hadn't 00:47:35.539 --> 00:47:36.559 come to faith? 00:47:37.139 --> 00:47:38.159 It was the proclamation 00:47:38.159 --> 00:47:39.019 of the gospel 00:47:39.019 --> 00:47:39.939 from the scriptures 00:47:39.939 --> 00:47:42.299 over and over 00:47:42.299 --> 00:47:43.199 and over 00:47:43.199 --> 00:47:43.939 and over. 00:47:44.339 --> 00:47:44.919 The thing 00:47:44.919 --> 00:47:45.839 that compels 00:47:45.839 --> 00:47:46.919 belief in the scriptures 00:47:46.919 --> 00:47:48.799 is not the basic 00:47:48.799 --> 00:47:49.399 evidence 00:47:49.400 --> 00:47:50.500 of whatever account 00:47:50.500 --> 00:47:51.519 you may be considering. 00:47:51.880 --> 00:47:53.340 It's not an intellectual 00:47:53.340 --> 00:47:54.840 assent to the facts. 00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:56.260 It is a move 00:47:56.260 --> 00:47:57.260 toward believing 00:47:57.260 --> 00:47:58.920 God's word. 00:47:59.300 --> 00:48:00.019 It is a move 00:48:00.019 --> 00:48:00.980 toward trusting 00:48:00.980 --> 00:48:02.220 in what God 00:48:02.220 --> 00:48:02.840 has said. 00:48:03.220 --> 00:48:04.800 That is saving faith. 00:48:05.300 --> 00:48:07.280 That is Christian faith. 00:48:07.680 --> 00:48:09.079 That is what indicates 00:48:09.079 --> 00:48:11.059 a true believer. 00:48:13.480 --> 00:48:15.019 1 Corinthians 1 00:48:15.019 --> 00:48:16.420 it pleased God 00:48:16.420 --> 00:48:17.300 through preaching 00:48:17.300 --> 00:48:18.960 to save those 00:48:18.960 --> 00:48:19.519 who believe. 00:48:20.380 --> 00:48:21.119 Not through 00:48:21.119 --> 00:48:23.039 a great apologetic 00:48:23.039 --> 00:48:24.519 of all the evidences 00:48:24.519 --> 00:48:25.759 of why it's plausible 00:48:25.759 --> 00:48:26.559 that Jesus rose 00:48:26.559 --> 00:48:27.019 from the dead. 00:48:27.099 --> 00:48:27.920 No, just the preaching 00:48:27.920 --> 00:48:29.019 of the resurrection 00:48:29.019 --> 00:48:29.940 is why God uses. 00:48:31.280 --> 00:48:32.059 Romans 10 00:48:32.059 --> 00:48:33.400 Faith 00:48:33.400 --> 00:48:35.099 comes by hearing 00:48:35.099 --> 00:48:36.599 hearing 00:48:36.599 --> 00:48:37.480 specifically 00:48:37.480 --> 00:48:39.000 the words 00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:40.619 of Christ. 00:48:43.000 --> 00:48:43.639 God 00:48:43.639 --> 00:48:44.900 himself 00:48:44.900 --> 00:48:46.779 compels 00:48:46.779 --> 00:48:47.859 belief 00:48:47.859 --> 00:48:49.339 through the 00:48:49.339 --> 00:48:49.799 resurrection 00:48:49.799 --> 00:48:50.400 of Jesus 00:48:50.400 --> 00:48:51.980 and his 00:48:51.980 --> 00:48:52.659 instrument 00:48:52.659 --> 00:48:54.059 for calling 00:48:54.059 --> 00:48:55.019 us to himself 00:48:55.019 --> 00:48:56.940 is his 00:48:56.940 --> 00:48:57.400 word. 00:48:58.539 --> 00:48:59.359 The Bible. 00:49:01.159 --> 00:49:01.859 You may 00:49:01.859 --> 00:49:02.440 think 00:49:02.440 --> 00:49:03.719 that what you 00:49:03.719 --> 00:49:04.019 need 00:49:04.019 --> 00:49:04.539 is greater 00:49:04.539 --> 00:49:05.159 evidence 00:49:05.159 --> 00:49:06.879 to become 00:49:06.879 --> 00:49:07.339 a Christian. 00:49:08.480 --> 00:49:09.139 Or you may 00:49:09.139 --> 00:49:09.920 think that what 00:49:09.920 --> 00:49:10.279 you need 00:49:10.279 --> 00:49:10.900 as a Christian 00:49:10.900 --> 00:49:11.420 is greater 00:49:11.420 --> 00:49:11.920 evidence 00:49:11.920 --> 00:49:12.379 to really 00:49:12.379 --> 00:49:13.379 feel confident 00:49:13.380 --> 00:49:14.460 about the 00:49:14.460 --> 00:49:14.840 things that 00:49:14.840 --> 00:49:15.200 are here. 00:49:16.320 --> 00:49:16.700 It just 00:49:16.700 --> 00:49:17.240 isn't true. 00:49:18.480 --> 00:49:19.160 It just 00:49:19.160 --> 00:49:19.680 is not 00:49:19.680 --> 00:49:20.039 true. 00:49:22.519 --> 00:49:23.000 Jesus 00:49:23.000 --> 00:49:23.820 said as much 00:49:23.820 --> 00:49:24.240 at the end 00:49:24.240 --> 00:49:24.519 of his 00:49:24.519 --> 00:49:25.700 parable of 00:49:25.700 --> 00:49:26.039 the rich 00:49:26.039 --> 00:49:26.460 man and 00:49:26.460 --> 00:49:27.059 Lazarus 00:49:27.059 --> 00:49:28.480 and Luke 00:49:28.480 --> 00:49:28.980 16. 00:49:29.119 --> 00:49:29.440 You remember 00:49:29.440 --> 00:49:30.079 that parable. 00:49:32.039 --> 00:49:32.519 Lazarus 00:49:32.519 --> 00:49:33.039 was a 00:49:33.039 --> 00:49:33.820 poor man 00:49:33.820 --> 00:49:35.000 who ate 00:49:35.000 --> 00:49:35.340 from the 00:49:35.340 --> 00:49:35.640 crumbs 00:49:35.640 --> 00:49:36.079 of the rich 00:49:36.079 --> 00:49:36.420 man's 00:49:36.420 --> 00:49:36.720 table. 00:49:36.940 --> 00:49:37.800 He suffered 00:49:37.800 --> 00:49:38.160 in this 00:49:38.160 --> 00:49:38.440 life. 00:49:38.519 --> 00:49:38.780 The rich 00:49:38.780 --> 00:49:39.140 man had 00:49:39.140 --> 00:49:39.760 great pleasure 00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:40.579 and they 00:49:40.579 --> 00:49:41.180 both died. 00:49:41.179 --> 00:49:41.460 Jesus 00:49:41.460 --> 00:49:41.899 said 00:49:41.899 --> 00:49:42.519 Lazarus 00:49:42.519 --> 00:49:43.179 wakes 00:49:43.179 --> 00:49:43.500 up 00:49:43.500 --> 00:49:43.759 and he's 00:49:43.759 --> 00:49:43.960 in the 00:49:43.960 --> 00:49:44.259 presence 00:49:44.259 --> 00:49:44.599 of the 00:49:44.599 --> 00:49:44.879 Lord. 00:49:45.639 --> 00:49:45.980 As a 00:49:45.980 --> 00:49:46.259 believer 00:49:46.259 --> 00:49:46.579 though he 00:49:46.579 --> 00:49:46.879 suffered 00:49:46.879 --> 00:49:47.279 greatly 00:49:47.279 --> 00:49:47.639 in this 00:49:47.639 --> 00:49:47.980 life. 00:49:49.099 --> 00:49:49.480 The rich 00:49:49.480 --> 00:49:49.960 man though 00:49:49.960 --> 00:49:50.440 he enjoyed 00:49:50.440 --> 00:49:50.759 all the 00:49:50.759 --> 00:49:51.039 pleasures 00:49:51.039 --> 00:49:51.419 of this 00:49:51.419 --> 00:49:51.799 life 00:49:51.799 --> 00:49:53.039 opens 00:49:53.039 --> 00:49:53.619 his eyes 00:49:53.619 --> 00:49:54.259 in hell 00:49:54.259 --> 00:49:55.319 and there's 00:49:55.319 --> 00:49:55.539 this 00:49:55.539 --> 00:49:56.179 interaction 00:49:56.179 --> 00:49:56.719 in Jesus' 00:49:56.960 --> 00:49:57.219 story 00:49:57.219 --> 00:49:57.579 that he's 00:49:57.579 --> 00:49:57.799 telling. 00:49:57.899 --> 00:49:58.099 What is 00:49:58.099 --> 00:49:58.440 the thing 00:49:58.440 --> 00:49:59.319 that the 00:49:59.319 --> 00:49:59.599 rich 00:49:59.599 --> 00:49:59.779 man 00:49:59.779 --> 00:49:59.980 asked 00:49:59.980 --> 00:50:00.159 for? 00:50:00.359 --> 00:50:00.480 He 00:50:00.480 --> 00:50:00.639 said 00:50:00.639 --> 00:50:00.799 you know 00:50:00.799 --> 00:50:00.940 I've 00:50:00.940 --> 00:50:01.019 got 00:50:01.019 --> 00:50:01.219 some 00:50:01.219 --> 00:50:01.599 brothers 00:50:01.599 --> 00:50:02.319 if you 00:50:02.319 --> 00:50:02.440 will 00:50:02.440 --> 00:50:02.639 just 00:50:02.639 --> 00:50:03.019 let me 00:50:03.019 --> 00:50:03.239 go 00:50:03.239 --> 00:50:03.679 back 00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:04.119 they 00:50:04.119 --> 00:50:04.319 will 00:50:04.319 --> 00:50:04.799 believe 00:50:04.799 --> 00:50:05.179 what I'm 00:50:05.179 --> 00:50:05.519 saying 00:50:05.519 --> 00:50:05.980 because I 00:50:05.980 --> 00:50:06.239 will have 00:50:06.239 --> 00:50:06.619 come back 00:50:06.619 --> 00:50:06.919 from the 00:50:06.919 --> 00:50:07.199 dead 00:50:07.199 --> 00:50:07.859 to tell 00:50:07.859 --> 00:50:08.079 them. 00:50:08.819 --> 00:50:09.099 Here's 00:50:09.099 --> 00:50:09.459 what Jesus 00:50:09.459 --> 00:50:09.879 says. 00:50:11.359 --> 00:50:12.139 If they 00:50:12.139 --> 00:50:12.639 do not 00:50:12.639 --> 00:50:13.299 hear Moses 00:50:13.299 --> 00:50:13.679 and the 00:50:13.679 --> 00:50:14.059 prophets 00:50:14.059 --> 00:50:14.599 that is 00:50:14.599 --> 00:50:14.799 the 00:50:14.799 --> 00:50:15.139 scriptures 00:50:15.139 --> 00:50:16.239 if they 00:50:16.239 --> 00:50:16.799 will not 00:50:16.799 --> 00:50:17.299 listen to 00:50:17.299 --> 00:50:17.479 the 00:50:17.479 --> 00:50:17.899 scriptures 00:50:17.899 --> 00:50:18.779 neither 00:50:18.779 --> 00:50:19.239 will they 00:50:19.239 --> 00:50:19.979 be convinced 00:50:19.979 --> 00:50:20.879 if someone 00:50:20.879 --> 00:50:21.439 should rise 00:50:21.439 --> 00:50:21.739 from the 00:50:21.739 --> 00:50:21.979 dead. 00:50:23.059 --> 00:50:23.899 That same 00:50:23.899 --> 00:50:24.219 thing is 00:50:24.219 --> 00:50:24.559 true for 00:50:24.559 --> 00:50:24.799 you. 00:50:26.039 --> 00:50:26.319 Jesus 00:50:26.319 --> 00:50:26.939 himself 00:50:26.939 --> 00:50:27.699 could stand 00:50:27.699 --> 00:50:28.299 before you 00:50:28.299 --> 00:50:29.099 right now 00:50:29.099 --> 00:50:29.799 and it 00:50:29.799 --> 00:50:30.459 will not 00:50:30.459 --> 00:50:31.099 matter 00:50:31.099 --> 00:50:31.679 in terms 00:50:31.679 --> 00:50:31.979 of your 00:50:31.979 --> 00:50:32.539 faith. 00:50:35.619 --> 00:50:36.139 Evidence 00:50:36.139 --> 00:50:36.699 may change 00:50:36.699 --> 00:50:36.859 your 00:50:36.859 --> 00:50:37.379 mind 00:50:37.379 --> 00:50:39.119 only 00:50:39.119 --> 00:50:39.440 God 00:50:39.440 --> 00:50:39.659 can 00:50:39.659 --> 00:50:39.920 change 00:50:39.920 --> 00:50:40.059 your 00:50:40.059 --> 00:50:40.359 heart. 00:50:42.059 --> 00:50:42.739 And he 00:50:42.739 --> 00:50:43.259 does that 00:50:43.259 --> 00:50:43.719 through the 00:50:43.719 --> 00:50:44.059 word. 00:50:45.559 --> 00:50:46.139 A move 00:50:46.139 --> 00:50:47.019 toward faith 00:50:47.019 --> 00:50:48.359 is essentially 00:50:48.359 --> 00:50:49.000 a move 00:50:49.000 --> 00:50:49.579 to trust 00:50:49.579 --> 00:50:49.940 what he 00:50:49.940 --> 00:50:50.519 says 00:50:50.519 --> 00:50:51.719 for it 00:50:51.719 --> 00:50:52.079 is through 00:50:52.079 --> 00:50:52.719 his word 00:50:52.719 --> 00:50:53.119 that he 00:50:53.119 --> 00:50:53.859 calls us. 00:50:55.460 --> 00:50:55.940 And this 00:50:55.940 --> 00:50:56.559 Easter morning 00:50:56.559 --> 00:50:57.679 the question 00:50:57.679 --> 00:50:58.299 is not 00:50:58.299 --> 00:50:59.039 whether God 00:50:59.039 --> 00:50:59.659 is calling 00:50:59.659 --> 00:51:00.379 or compelling 00:51:00.379 --> 00:51:00.980 you or not. 00:51:01.859 --> 00:51:02.940 The question 00:51:02.940 --> 00:51:03.440 is 00:51:03.440 --> 00:51:05.119 am I 00:51:05.119 --> 00:51:05.679 answering 00:51:05.679 --> 00:51:06.359 his call? 00:51:08.440 --> 00:51:09.259 Will I 00:51:09.259 --> 00:51:09.679 trust 00:51:09.679 --> 00:51:10.359 his word 00:51:10.359 --> 00:51:11.579 repent 00:51:11.579 --> 00:51:13.319 and follow 00:51:13.319 --> 00:51:13.899 Jesus? 00:51:15.279 --> 00:51:16.199 Because he 00:51:16.199 --> 00:51:16.819 issues his 00:51:16.819 --> 00:51:17.179 call 00:51:17.179 --> 00:51:18.259 now 00:51:18.259 --> 00:51:19.679 in the 00:51:19.679 --> 00:51:19.980 scriptures 00:51:19.980 --> 00:51:20.440 that you 00:51:20.440 --> 00:51:20.879 have just 00:51:20.879 --> 00:51:21.179 heard. 00:51:23.739 --> 00:51:24.359 Now 00:51:24.359 --> 00:51:25.559 is the 00:51:25.559 --> 00:51:26.119 resurrection 00:51:26.119 --> 00:51:26.779 then worthy 00:51:26.779 --> 00:51:27.159 of our 00:51:27.159 --> 00:51:27.619 consideration? 00:51:29.159 --> 00:51:29.739 Absolutely 00:51:29.739 --> 00:51:30.539 it is. 00:51:30.539 --> 00:51:33.559 the 00:51:33.559 --> 00:51:33.940 abundance 00:51:33.940 --> 00:51:34.239 of 00:51:34.239 --> 00:51:34.659 evidence 00:51:34.659 --> 00:51:35.159 makes it 00:51:35.159 --> 00:51:35.699 historically 00:51:35.699 --> 00:51:36.219 credible. 00:51:37.880 --> 00:51:38.400 Its 00:51:38.400 --> 00:51:39.039 reality 00:51:39.039 --> 00:51:39.460 is 00:51:39.460 --> 00:51:40.139 theologically 00:51:40.139 --> 00:51:40.820 crucial. 00:51:41.179 --> 00:51:41.320 Without 00:51:41.320 --> 00:51:41.739 it there 00:51:41.739 --> 00:51:42.079 can be 00:51:42.079 --> 00:51:42.300 no 00:51:42.300 --> 00:51:42.800 salvation 00:51:42.800 --> 00:51:43.119 for 00:51:43.119 --> 00:51:43.460 sinners. 00:51:44.579 --> 00:51:45.380 It's 00:51:45.380 --> 00:51:45.659 also 00:51:45.659 --> 00:51:46.259 spiritually 00:51:46.259 --> 00:51:46.880 compelling 00:51:46.880 --> 00:51:48.559 as God 00:51:48.559 --> 00:51:49.079 uses 00:51:49.079 --> 00:51:50.059 its truth 00:51:50.059 --> 00:51:50.699 to draw 00:51:50.699 --> 00:51:51.119 us 00:51:51.119 --> 00:51:52.440 to saving 00:51:52.440 --> 00:51:52.940 faith. 00:51:53.460 --> 00:51:53.980 And we 00:51:53.980 --> 00:51:54.400 all do 00:51:54.400 --> 00:51:54.759 well 00:51:54.759 --> 00:51:55.739 to take 00:51:55.739 --> 00:51:55.880 it 00:51:55.880 --> 00:51:56.400 seriously. 00:51:57.079 --> 00:51:57.579 Let's 00:51:57.579 --> 00:51:57.800 pray. 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:51:59.639 00:51:59.639 --> 00:52:17.440 voy voy 00:52:17.440 --> 00:51:59.639 ! 00:51:59.639 --> 00:52:17.440 voy 00:52:17.440 --> 00:52:17.440 00:52:17.440 --> 00:52:17.440 00:52:17.440 --> 00:52:17.440 00:52:17.440 --> 00:52:17.440