WEBVTT

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 Today's reading is from John chapter 11, starting at verse 1, and we read.

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 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

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 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.

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 So the sister sent to him, saying, Lord, he whom you love is ill.

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 But when Jesus heard it, he said, this illness does not lead to death.

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 It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.

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 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

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 So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

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 Then after this, he said to his disciples, let us go to Judea again.

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 The disciples said to him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?

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 Jesus answered, are there not 12 hours in the day?

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 If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

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 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.

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 After saying these things, he said to them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I will go to awaken them.

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 The disciples said to him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.

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 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought he meant taking rest and sleep.

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 Then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died, and for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe, but let us go to him.

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 So Thomas, called the twin, said to his fellow disciples, let us also go, that we may die with him.

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 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for days.

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 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to consult them concerning their brother.

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 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.

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 Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

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 But even now, I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.

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 Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again.

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 Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.

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 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life.

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 Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.

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 And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

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 Do you believe this?

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 She said to him, yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, who is coming into the world.

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 When she has said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, the teacher is here and is calling for you.

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 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.

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 Now, Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.

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 When the Jews who were with her in the house consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

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 Now, when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

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 When Jesus saw her weeped.

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 When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

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 And he said, where have you laid him?

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 They said to him, Lord, come and see.

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 Jesus wept.

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 So the Jews said, see how he loved him.

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 But some of them said, could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?

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 Then Jesus deeply moved again, came to the tomb.

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 It was a cave and a stone laid against it.

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 Jesus said, take away the stone.

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 Master, the sister of the dead man said to him, Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days.

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 Jesus said to her, did I not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?

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 So they took away the stone.

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 And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

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 I knew that you always hear me.

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 But I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.

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 When he had said these things, he cried out in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out.

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 Come out.

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 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips and his face wrapped with a cloth.

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 Jesus said to them, unbind him and let him go.

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 This is the word of God.

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 Amen.

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 Great.

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 Thank you, Bernard and Angie, for reading that for us.

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 Thank you, Christine, for sharing your story, a story which is full of tears, but also a story full of resurrection power.

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 And we are excited to continue to watch your story unfold and see how the life of God is working in your life.

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 So thank you for being vulnerable.

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 Thank you for being real with us and not just putting on a brave face.

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 Thank you for letting us into your life, Christine.

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 We really appreciate that.

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 Well, Watermark, it is really great to be with you again.

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 And it's great to be with you for the last time online.

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 Hopefully the last time in a very long time.

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 Hopefully the last time ever.

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 But at least the last time for a while.

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 We are so excited to see you next Sunday at Ebenezer in person so that we can sing and pray and worship and listen and take communion together as a church family.

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 Bring your vaccine pass.

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 Come early.

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 We're excited to see you next Sunday.

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 But today is Resurrection Sunday.

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 It is the heart of Christianity.

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 Today is the day that we celebrate not only that Jesus died on the cross to take upon himself the sins of all those who would trust in him and hope in him and come to saving faith in him.

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 In our place condemned he stood.

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 Today we celebrate not only the wonderful truth of our justification that our sins have been put in Christ.

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 But today we celebrate the fact that the tomb is empty.

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 That Jesus rose again to vindicate all his amazing claims.

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 To prove that he is the Christ.

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 To defeat the grave and put an end to death.

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 And so Christ is risen.

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 He is risen indeed.

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 Today we are going to look at this very fascinating passage in John 11.

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 It's a very famous passage.

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 And it's a passage which is full of intrigue and mystery.

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 If you're paying attention while Bernard and Angie were reading,

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 There's a whole lot of things in this passage that at first glance kind of make you think,

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 Hang on, what's going on here?

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 And so there's a couple of surprising and interesting things in this passage.

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 So let's dive in and then we're going to see how this applies to our lives today.

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 The first thing I think we should notice is the surprising ministry of Jesus.

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 The surprising tenderness and care of Jesus.

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 This passage is full of all the things that you and I experience in this world.

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 The brokenness and the pain of this world.

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 I don't know if you noticed in verse 8, Jesus says to his disciples,

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 Let's go to Judea.

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 And his disciples automatically say,

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 Jesus, don't you remember just recently the religious leaders here in Judea were trying to kill you,

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 trying to end your life.

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 Why would you go there?

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 And yet Jesus goes straight there.

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 He walks into, as dead trap as was, he walks into the brokenness of the world.

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 And of course, you notice the tears, right?

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 The passage is full of tears.

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 And Jesus joins Mary in her tears.

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 He even weeps with her.

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 And the surprising thing is that Jesus is going to raise Lazarus from the dead in a few minutes,

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 maybe half an hour's time.

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 And yet, despite that, he joins Mary in her tears.

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 You know, it's kind of like if you've got a young child or a child at home and something goes wrong.

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 Let's say they're building a Lego set and someone breaks down or they're making a drawing or craft and it gets crumbled,

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 damaged, or they spill their juice and there's tears, right?

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 Oh, no, the world has come to an end.

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 As a parent, what do you do?

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 And instinctively, I'll say, it's okay.

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 Don't worry.

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 Don't worry.

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 We're going to sort it out.

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 Look, I'll help you rebuild the Lego or I will help you with your craft or don't worry.

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 We'll wipe it up.

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 We'll get you some more juice.

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 We automatically run to the solution.

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 But Jesus doesn't do that.

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 Even though he's about to raise Lazarus from the dead, you might expect Jesus to say,

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 Mary, Mary, don't worry.

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 Just come with me to the tomb.

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 We'll raise him and it'll all be fine.

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 But Jesus doesn't do that.

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 He joins Mary in her tears.

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 He weeps with her.

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 He mourns with her.

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 Part of what the story wants to show us is that Jesus is not some pie-in-the-sky stoic,

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 a mighty ruler from another world who just finds our pain and our tears unbearable

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 and who wants to quickly solve our problems.

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 Do you remember Christine just shared that a few minutes ago?

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 She said, I was brought up and tempted to bury my pain just to cover over it,

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 to not expose it.

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 But Jesus is not like that.

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 Jesus' surprising tenderness in ministry as he moves towards the areas of our lives

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 where we are most burdened.

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 In fact, I don't know if you know, it's in verse 39.

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 There's this amazing little encounter where Martha, and Jesus says,

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 now open up the tomb.

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 And Martha says, Jesus, he's been in there for four days.

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 That tomb is not going to smell nice at all.

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 And friends, all of us have areas of our lives that stink as badly as that dead man's tomb.

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 All of us have areas in our life that we want to cover up, lock, and seal,

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 and don't want to let anybody or anything in.

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 But Jesus wants to move into those areas of our lives.

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 Jesus wants to bring his resurrection life and his redeeming power and his healing grace

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 to the areas that we find most burdensome, the areas that we find most troubling,

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 the areas that we find most disagreeable.

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 Christ wants to move in there.

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 One of the things that commentators quickly point out in this passage,

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 and you might have noticed it,

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 is the way that Jesus responds to Mary and Martha in the exact same way.

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 Look at verse 21.

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 Martha comes to Jesus and says, Lord, if you'd been here, my brother would not have died.

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 And Jesus says, your brother will rise again.

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 And Mary, a few verses later, comes to Jesus with the exact same words.

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 She says, Lord, if you'd been here, my brother would not have died.

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 And what does Jesus do?

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 He weeps with her.

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 To one, Jesus brings this theological truth.

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 He brings truth to Martha, and to Mary, he brings tears.

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 Tim Keller says, why does he do this?

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 Why does Jesus bring truth to one and tears to the other?

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 Why does he treat these two sisters differently?

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 Why does he respond to one sister in one way,

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 and another sister who brings the exact same problem in a completely different way?

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 And Tim Keller's answer is, because Jesus is perfect.

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 Jesus is perfect.

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 He knows each one of us.

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 He knows what we need.

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 See, some of us need truth.

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 We need the truth that will set us free.

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 Jesus, for some of us, will bring truth that confronts us,

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 that challenges us, that confronts the sin in our lives,

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 confronts the idols that we've been trusting in.

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 Jesus will sometimes bring a truth that will even confront the unbelief in our hearts.

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 He will bring his truth to set us free.

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 But for others of us, Jesus will just simply bring his tenderness,

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 the ministry of tears.

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 Jesus is perfect.

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 And for the areas of our lives where we are tempted to most cover up,

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 Jesus brings his surprising ministry of grace.

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 But notice, secondly, the surprising love of Jesus.

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 You probably would have picked this up in the very first verses.

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 When Bernard read it again, even though I've read this passage hundreds of times,

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 it always arrests me.

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 Look at verses 2 to 6 with me.

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 Verse 2 says,

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 Verse 5 says,

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 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

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 So, therefore, when he heard that Lazarus was ill,

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 he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

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 In other words, he stayed where he was and let Lazarus die.

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 Now, that doesn't make sense to us, right?

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 Because if Jesus, as Rebecca McLaughlin recently pointed out,

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 if Jesus said, or if the passage said,

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 you know, Jesus didn't care about Mary and Martha and Lazarus.

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 They meant nothing to him.

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 So, he stayed where he was and let them die.

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 Okay, that would make sense.

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 Callous, maybe, uncaring, but it would make logical sense.

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 If the passage said,

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 Jesus cared them and loved them deeply,

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 so he rushed to their side to come and help them in their time of need,

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 well, that would make sense to us as well.

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 Here the passage says,

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 Jesus loved them,

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 so he stayed where he was and let Lazarus die.

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 Why does he do that?

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 One of the things that Jesus wants us to see

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 is his surprising love for us

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 means that he orchestrates things

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 so that we will see our need for him.

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 Previously, the sisters call out to Jesus

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 because Lazarus, their brother, needs him.

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 They call on Jesus,

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 much like one of you or I

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 would call on a doctor or a nurse at the hospital

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 if we were at the bedside of someone we loved.

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 You call the doctor and say,

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 please, I need you here

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 because this person that I love is in need of you.

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 Mary and Martha call on Jesus

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 because Lazarus needs him.

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 They need him to do something for them.

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 But later on,

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 they run to Jesus

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 because they need him.

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 They don't just need Jesus to do something for them.

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 They don't just need his miraculous power

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 to solve their problems.

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 They call on Jesus

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 because they need his tender ministry.

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 Jesus' surprising love for us

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 means that because he loves us,

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 he won't always give us what we want,

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 but he will give us what we need.

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 What do Mary and Martha need?

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 Friends, what do you and I need?

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 We don't just need a miracle to solve our problems.

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 We need to encounter the sovereign,

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 all-pervasive love of Christ himself,

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 the risen Christ.

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 We need to encounter him in our lives.

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 We need to see his love for us

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 and run to him and encounter him.

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 In verse 4, we skip this,

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 it says this,

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 Jesus says,

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 this illness does not lead to death.

00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:16.500
 It is for the glory of God

00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.500
 so that the Son of God

00:17:17.500 --> 00:17:19.019
 may be glorified through it.

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:20.299
 And at first you read that

00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:20.619
 and you think,

00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:22.720
 that sounds very egotistical.

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:23.740
 Jesus is saying,

00:17:24.059 --> 00:17:25.779
 listen, I'm going to let Lazarus lie

00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:28.920
 so that when I rise and raise him from the dead,

00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.720
 all men will glorify me

00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.420
 and worship me

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:32.720
 and tell me how wonderful I am.

00:17:33.099 --> 00:17:35.200
 I think that sounds very egotistical.

00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:38.460
 But if you've been reading

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:40.559
 the book of John's Gospel

00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.059
 with us through the month of,

00:17:42.139 --> 00:17:43.099
 through Lent,

00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:44.259
 one of the things you'll see

00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:46.659
 is that Jesus is constantly avoiding the crowds.

00:17:47.419 --> 00:17:48.339
 Time and time again,

00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.460
 the crowds want to take Jesus

00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.679
 and make him king by force

00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:53.480
 and Jesus slips out of their way.

00:17:54.259 --> 00:17:56.079
 Jesus is constantly avoiding

00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.039
 the praise and the glory of man.

00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:01.319
 So what does Jesus mean here?

00:18:01.679 --> 00:18:03.259
 What he means is that

00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:05.019
 Jesus reveals himself,

00:18:05.259 --> 00:18:07.159
 not for the sake of his pride or his ego,

00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:10.099
 but so that people like Mary and Martha,

00:18:10.099 --> 00:18:11.659
 that people like you and I

00:18:11.659 --> 00:18:13.339
 can be drawn to him

00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:14.980
 and encounter him

00:18:14.980 --> 00:18:16.579
 in our place of need.

00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:18.419
 Jesus says the same thing,

00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.679
 actually, a couple of chapters later

00:18:19.679 --> 00:18:20.799
 in John chapter 14.

00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:21.879
 He says this,

00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.659
 the person who loves me

00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:25.279
 will be loved by my father.

00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:27.199
 I will love him

00:18:27.199 --> 00:18:29.219
 and reveal myself to him

00:18:29.219 --> 00:18:30.980
 or make myself known to him.

00:18:31.939 --> 00:18:33.879
 One of the ways that Jesus loves us

00:18:33.879 --> 00:18:36.639
 is by revealing who he is

00:18:36.639 --> 00:18:39.039
 and drawing us into himself

00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.720
 so that we can encounter his grace.

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.639
 Jesus doesn't love us primarily

00:18:43.639 --> 00:18:45.099
 by keeping us from suffering

00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:46.940
 or pain or death.

00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:49.440
 He loves us by drawing us into himself,

00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:51.460
 sometimes even allowing us

00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.920
 to go through suffering.

00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:55.700
 Because for those that have encountered

00:18:55.700 --> 00:18:56.680
 Jesus and his grace,

00:18:56.779 --> 00:18:58.940
 those who know how to find their rest

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.720
 in Jesus,

00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.019
 suffering,

00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:03.079
 though it feels like death,

00:19:03.079 --> 00:19:05.439
 death always leads to life.

00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:09.460
 Because that is the cruciform life.

00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:12.319
 That is the pattern of Easter,

00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.480
 death,

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:15.079
 and then resurrection.

00:19:16.679 --> 00:19:17.720
 And that leads us,

00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.279
 thirdly,

00:19:18.419 --> 00:19:20.000
 to the third thing,

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:22.639
 the surprising promise of Jesus.

00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:24.339
 The surprising ministry of Jesus

00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:26.199
 is the fact that he moves

00:19:26.199 --> 00:19:28.599
 into the very brokenness of our lives.

00:19:28.639 --> 00:19:30.259
 The areas that we most want to keep hidden,

00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:31.039
 Jesus moves in.

00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.559
 The surprising love of Jesus

00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:34.379
 is that he doesn't always give us

00:19:34.379 --> 00:19:35.399
 exactly what we want,

00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.579
 but because he loves us,

00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:37.700
 he gives us what we need.

00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.799
 And sometimes that will feel like death,

00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:41.500
 but actually it leads to life.

00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.619
 But thirdly,

00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:45.200
 the surprising promise of Jesus.

00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.119
 And in this,

00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:48.619
 we come to the heart of the passage.

00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:51.200
 This passage reveals not only

00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.980
 the wonderful attributes of Jesus

00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:54.839
 and his amazing love for us,

00:19:54.899 --> 00:19:55.940
 but it also reveals

00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:57.480
 the heart of Christianity,

00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:00.339
 the promise of resurrection hope.

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:01.720
 And so look with me

00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:04.359
 at verses 23 to 27.

00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:06.639
 Look at this conversation

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:07.659
 Jesus has with Martha.

00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:08.559
 Martha says,

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:08.799
 Lord,

00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:09.559
 if you'd been here,

00:20:09.639 --> 00:20:11.000
 my brother would not have died.

00:20:11.500 --> 00:20:12.319
 But even now,

00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:13.959
 I know whatever you ask,

00:20:14.199 --> 00:20:15.099
 God will give you.

00:20:15.959 --> 00:20:16.899
 Jesus says to her,

00:20:17.459 --> 00:20:18.899
 your brother will rise again.

00:20:19.859 --> 00:20:20.220
 Martha says,

00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:22.419
 I know he will rise again

00:20:22.419 --> 00:20:24.259
 at the resurrection on the last day,

00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.659
 and I look forward to that.

00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:26.959
 And Jesus says,

00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.220
 no,

00:20:27.339 --> 00:20:27.659
 Martha,

00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:29.240
 I am the resurrection

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:30.040
 and the life.

00:20:30.820 --> 00:20:32.400
 Whoever believes in me,

00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.660
 though he die,

00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:34.400
 he shall live.

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.380
 And whoever lives

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:37.800
 and believes in me

00:20:37.800 --> 00:20:41.040
 shall never die.

00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:45.580
 Why is this good news?

00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:46.960
 Why do Christians

00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.820
 all around the world

00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:49.440
 celebrate the good news

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:49.920
 of the resurrection?

00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.540
 Why is what Jesus is saying here

00:20:51.540 --> 00:20:52.759
 good news for people

00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.840
 like you and I?

00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:55.019
 Well,

00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.720
 there's a couple of things

00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:57.559
 that I think we ought to see

00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.359
 in this passage.

00:20:59.159 --> 00:21:00.019
 The first one is,

00:21:00.379 --> 00:21:01.740
 Jesus wants us to see

00:21:01.740 --> 00:21:03.740
 that the good news

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.480
 of the resurrection

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:06.179
 is not just a concept

00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:07.599
 or philosophy

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.839
 or a way of life.

00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.519
 It's a person.

00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:11.859
 It's a person.

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:13.000
 It's Jesus himself.

00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.079
 Now,

00:21:14.179 --> 00:21:14.720
 notice how,

00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:15.799
 when Jesus seeks

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.759
 to help Martha,

00:21:17.459 --> 00:21:19.359
 if he doesn't help her

00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:20.759
 just by giving her

00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:22.679
 religious or trite

00:21:22.679 --> 00:21:25.279
 religious sympathies,

00:21:26.019 --> 00:21:26.139
 where,

00:21:26.219 --> 00:21:26.339
 you know,

00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.599
 when someone passes away,

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:29.259
 what do we typically say?

00:21:29.339 --> 00:21:30.039
 We typically say

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.639
 they've gone to a better place.

00:21:32.199 --> 00:21:34.139
 And we say this

00:21:34.139 --> 00:21:35.859
 in order to comfort ourselves,

00:21:35.939 --> 00:21:36.799
 in order to make ourselves

00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:37.359
 feel better.

00:21:37.899 --> 00:21:39.119
 But what does that actually mean?

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:39.740
 I mean,

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:41.299
 that is so general,

00:21:41.439 --> 00:21:42.240
 so vague,

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.179
 so trite.

00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:45.279
 They've gone to a better place.

00:21:45.679 --> 00:21:45.899
 Well,

00:21:45.919 --> 00:21:46.819
 how do you know that?

00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:50.240
 And who's gone to a better place?

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:51.279
 And how do you know

00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:51.839
 that that's actually

00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:53.539
 a better place after all?

00:21:54.139 --> 00:21:54.819
 And how do you know

00:21:54.819 --> 00:21:55.879
 that they themselves

00:21:55.879 --> 00:21:56.539
 have gone there?

00:21:57.679 --> 00:21:58.159
 Jesus,

00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.980
 when he promises us

00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:00.799
 resurrection hope,

00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:02.419
 Jesus doesn't just give us

00:22:02.419 --> 00:22:03.259
 vague,

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:03.879
 religious,

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.939
 trite answers.

00:22:05.419 --> 00:22:06.359
 Jesus doesn't give us

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.679
 generalities like

00:22:07.679 --> 00:22:09.240
 you've gone to a better place

00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:09.879
 and don't worry,

00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.159
 everything's going to work out fine.

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:13.539
 Jesus gives us

00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.399
 something concrete,

00:22:14.539 --> 00:22:15.159
 something solid,

00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:16.720
 something that we can

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.539
 hold on to.

00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:19.539
 Jesus gives us

00:22:19.539 --> 00:22:21.220
 the rock solid assurance

00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:23.079
 that the promise

00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.880
 of the resurrection

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:24.980
 is not found

00:22:24.980 --> 00:22:26.039
 in a vague concept

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.720
 or Jesus,

00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:27.519
 let me put it this way,

00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.360
 Jesus doesn't just give us

00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:30.160
 a religious book.

00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:32.559
 He gives us himself,

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:34.120
 the historic,

00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:36.079
 physical,

00:22:36.299 --> 00:22:37.259
 human being,

00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.799
 fully God,

00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:39.380
 fully man,

00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.640
 that walked on the earth,

00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:41.900
 Jesus gives us himself.

00:22:42.620 --> 00:22:43.220
 Jesus says,

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:44.860
 I am the resurrection

00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:46.319
 and the life.

00:22:47.299 --> 00:22:47.439
 In,

00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.740
 you know,

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.619
 in the first century,

00:22:49.740 --> 00:22:50.819
 there was this form

00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:52.259
 of kind of religion

00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.459
 called Gnosticism,

00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:53.779
 which,

00:22:53.939 --> 00:22:55.459
 which said that

00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:56.279
 everything material

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:57.219
 is kind of bad,

00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.319
 it's all going to fade away

00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:58.959
 and die anyway.

00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:00.579
 And the really spiritual people

00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.459
 that don't really care

00:23:01.459 --> 00:23:02.519
 about the physical world,

00:23:03.199 --> 00:23:03.879
 spiritual people

00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.599
 are those that have

00:23:04.599 --> 00:23:06.019
 ascended to a higher

00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:07.439
 ethereal and philosophical

00:23:07.439 --> 00:23:09.319
 and spiritual realm.

00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:11.359
 And John,

00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:12.799
 who wrote the Gospel of John,

00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.119
 writes a bunch of letters

00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:15.099
 to the Christian church

00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.379
 to say,

00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:15.839
 no, no, no,

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:16.700
 that's not true.

00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:19.000
 True spiritual maturity

00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.099
 isn't just measured

00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:21.960
 in the ethereal realm,

00:23:22.399 --> 00:23:23.700
 it's confidence

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.639
 in the physical,

00:23:24.899 --> 00:23:26.159
 real person of Jesus.

00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.539
 Listen to how John

00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.460
 writes this in his letter.

00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:28.919
 He says,

00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:30.339
 that which was

00:23:30.339 --> 00:23:31.059
 from the beginning,

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:32.779
 that which we've heard,

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.359
 that which we've seen

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.099
 with our eyes,

00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:36.480
 that which we've looked upon

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.240
 and touched with our hands,

00:23:38.819 --> 00:23:40.279
 the word of life,

00:23:41.059 --> 00:23:41.880
 that which we've seen

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.299
 and heard,

00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:44.220
 him we proclaim to you.

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.920
 When John wants to write

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.039
 to these Christians

00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.860
 that are suffering

00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:48.480
 and struggling

00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:50.319
 and encountering difficulty,

00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.480
 he doesn't just say,

00:23:51.539 --> 00:23:52.720
 oh, let's just philosophize,

00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:53.779
 let me give you some vague,

00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:55.140
 spiritual, trite answers.

00:23:55.660 --> 00:23:56.000
 He says,

00:23:56.059 --> 00:23:57.140
 there is a person

00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.120
 who walked on the earth

00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.819
 that we felt

00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:59.400
 and touched

00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:00.279
 and looked upon

00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:01.360
 and encountered.

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.480
 He's risen,

00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:03.120
 he's alive,

00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.599
 trust and bank in him.

00:24:05.579 --> 00:24:06.200
 Jesus says,

00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.460
 I am the resurrection

00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.160
 and the life.

00:24:08.799 --> 00:24:09.120
 Do you remember

00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:10.000
 when Jesus rises

00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.640
 from the dead,

00:24:11.080 --> 00:24:11.920
 one of his disciples,

00:24:12.160 --> 00:24:12.420
 Thomas,

00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.799
 he wasn't there

00:24:13.799 --> 00:24:14.539
 when the disciples

00:24:14.539 --> 00:24:15.680
 first encountered Jesus

00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:16.460
 and the disciples

00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.120
 run to him and say,

00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.080
 Thomas, he's risen,

00:24:18.160 --> 00:24:18.700
 he's risen.

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:20.000
 And Thomas says,

00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:21.319
 unless I touch

00:24:21.319 --> 00:24:23.500
 the scars in his hand

00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:24.259
 and the mark

00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.319
 and I put my hand

00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.319
 in his side,

00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:27.279
 I will not believe it.

00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:29.299
 We call Thomas

00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:30.100
 doubting Thomas

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.819
 and we sometimes

00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:32.539
 use that word

00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.440
 disparaging me.

00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.960
 But Thomas is on to something.

00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:36.100
 Thomas is saying,

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.939
 don't just give me

00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:38.219
 vague generalities.

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:39.439
 I want something concrete.

00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:39.899
 I want something

00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:40.799
 to bank my life

00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:41.500
 and I want to know

00:24:41.500 --> 00:24:42.879
 that if Jesus is risen,

00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.319
 there's something real

00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.379
 and concrete to that.

00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:46.459
 Don't just give me

00:24:46.459 --> 00:24:47.579
 an ethereal philosophy.

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.639
 And Jesus says,

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.959
 I am the resurrection.

00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:51.899
 The resurrection of hope

00:24:51.899 --> 00:24:52.559
 is a person.

00:24:52.659 --> 00:24:53.159
 It's concrete.

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:53.619
 It's real.

00:24:53.699 --> 00:24:54.559
 You can bank your life

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:54.879
 for me.

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.359
 Two years ago,

00:24:57.699 --> 00:24:58.879
 one of my heroes,

00:24:59.159 --> 00:24:59.779
 Tim Keller,

00:25:00.039 --> 00:25:01.059
 the pastor in New York,

00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:03.220
 he had just written

00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:03.799
 this book

00:25:03.799 --> 00:25:05.179
 around about Easter

00:25:05.179 --> 00:25:07.440
 and about hope in death.

00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.079
 And the book

00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:09.619
 had been published

00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.240
 for a month

00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.079
 and he goes to the doctor.

00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:12.359
 He said,

00:25:12.519 --> 00:25:13.639
 they have some scans.

00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.139
 He had some pain

00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:15.659
 in the stomach

00:25:15.659 --> 00:25:17.399
 and the doctor calls him up

00:25:17.399 --> 00:25:17.619
 and says,

00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:18.440
 I've got bad news.

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.779
 You've got late stage

00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.799
 pancreatic cancer

00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:22.139
 and you're going

00:25:22.139 --> 00:25:22.919
 to die from this.

00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.639
 It may be a couple

00:25:23.639 --> 00:25:24.079
 of months,

00:25:24.619 --> 00:25:25.379
 maybe a year,

00:25:25.639 --> 00:25:26.319
 maybe two years

00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:26.859
 if you're lucky,

00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:27.940
 but you're going

00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.700
 to die from this.

00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.480
 And Tim Keller says

00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.660
 that after 40 years

00:25:31.660 --> 00:25:32.400
 of being a minister,

00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:35.700
 all the theology

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.580
 and everything

00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.700
 he had shared

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:38.400
 with others

00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.920
 suddenly had to

00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:41.160
 be real for him.

00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:42.380
 And he wrote

00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:42.960
 an article

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.180
 for the Atlantic Magazine

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.480
 a few months later

00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:45.880
 and he says,

00:25:45.960 --> 00:25:46.900
 before the cancer,

00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:47.900
 the resurrection

00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.620
 of Jesus

00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.440
 had been mostly

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:50.460
 theoretical for me,

00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:51.819
 but not now.

00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:53.080
 And he says,

00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:53.720
 he goes back

00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:54.279
 and he looks

00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:55.360
 at all his old sermons

00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:56.559
 and his theology

00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.660
 of the resurrection

00:25:57.660 --> 00:25:58.220
 of Jesus

00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.420
 and how that guarantees

00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.339
 his own resurrection

00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:01.019
 to glory.

00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:01.799
 And he says this,

00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.220
 he says,

00:26:02.900 --> 00:26:04.279
 Christ's resurrection

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:04.819
 and therefore

00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.839
 my own resurrection

00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:07.600
 became even more formidable.

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:09.259
 The theology

00:26:09.259 --> 00:26:10.299
 gave my place

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.039
 a footing,

00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.360
 but still

00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:13.559
 I needed more.

00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:14.740
 He's saying,

00:26:14.940 --> 00:26:15.539
 the theology

00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.279
 was strong

00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.700
 in my head.

00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:17.360
 I believed it.

00:26:17.420 --> 00:26:18.059
 I understood it.

00:26:18.140 --> 00:26:19.380
 It was good.

00:26:19.460 --> 00:26:20.000
 It was real.

00:26:20.079 --> 00:26:20.920
 It gave me comfort,

00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:23.259
 but it wasn't enough.

00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:24.700
 I didn't just need theology.

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.259
 And he goes on

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.700
 the article

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.240
 to write,

00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:28.200
 what he needed

00:26:28.200 --> 00:26:30.100
 was the heartwarming

00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:30.779
 encounter

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.279
 with the living

00:26:32.279 --> 00:26:33.460
 Christ.

00:26:35.259 --> 00:26:36.000
 Because that's what

00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:36.980
 Jesus says to Martha.

00:26:37.539 --> 00:26:38.100
 Martha says,

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:39.059
 I know in the last day

00:26:39.059 --> 00:26:39.700
 he will rise

00:26:39.700 --> 00:26:40.019
 and yes,

00:26:40.059 --> 00:26:40.759
 that'll be wonderful.

00:26:40.860 --> 00:26:41.420
 And Jesus says,

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:41.980
 don't you see,

00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:43.400
 I am the resurrection.

00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:44.240
 Martha,

00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:44.940
 if you want hope

00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:45.660
 from your tragedy,

00:26:45.799 --> 00:26:47.100
 you've got to come to me.

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.460
 You've got to come to me.

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:48.779
 Friends,

00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.600
 don't you long

00:26:49.600 --> 00:26:50.559
 for something concrete

00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.120
 and real?

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.080
 Friends,

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.480
 don't you long

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.500
 in all the tragedy

00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:55.079
 of this world

00:26:55.079 --> 00:26:55.960
 for something real?

00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.259
 You don't just need

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.740
 theology.

00:26:57.900 --> 00:26:58.440
 You don't just need

00:26:58.440 --> 00:26:59.119
 a red book.

00:26:59.200 --> 00:26:59.880
 You don't just need

00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:01.039
 a philosophy.

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.880
 You need to live in Christ.

00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:04.039
 Jesus says,

00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:05.660
 I am the resurrection life.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:07.359
 Come to me.

00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:08.539
 But notice,

00:27:08.680 --> 00:27:08.940
 secondly,

00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:11.220
 that Jesus says here

00:27:11.220 --> 00:27:12.819
 that the resurrection

00:27:12.819 --> 00:27:13.140
 of hope

00:27:13.140 --> 00:27:14.559
 is not only a person,

00:27:14.900 --> 00:27:15.500
 but the hope

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.019
 of the resurrection

00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.140
 is the end of death.

00:27:17.759 --> 00:27:18.400
 Look what he says

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.099
 to Martha.

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.400
 He says,

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.920
 whoever believes in me,

00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.859
 though he die,

00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.480
 yet shall he live.

00:27:24.500 --> 00:27:25.940
 And whoever lives

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:26.859
 and believes in me

00:27:26.859 --> 00:27:28.740
 shall never die.

00:27:29.480 --> 00:27:30.980
 Jesus is saying here

00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:32.779
 that the great enemy

00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:33.539
 of humanity,

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.599
 the one thing

00:27:34.599 --> 00:27:36.160
 that all human beings

00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:37.960
 have sought to evade,

00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:40.759
 the great enemy

00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:41.480
 of humanity

00:27:41.480 --> 00:27:43.279
 has been defeated,

00:27:43.500 --> 00:27:44.299
 has been destroyed.

00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:46.059
 Jesus says,

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.839
 the one thing in the world

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:47.559
 that we all seek

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:48.400
 to avoid,

00:27:48.839 --> 00:27:49.920
 the things that we spend

00:27:49.920 --> 00:27:50.859
 our entire lives

00:27:50.859 --> 00:27:51.799
 trying to evade,

00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:53.160
 has been transformed

00:27:53.160 --> 00:27:54.600
 from a verdict,

00:27:54.600 --> 00:27:55.600
 a sentence,

00:27:56.340 --> 00:27:57.820
 into a servant.

00:27:58.940 --> 00:27:59.840
 What once was

00:27:59.840 --> 00:28:00.620
 our great enemy

00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:01.740
 now gets turned

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.700
 into our servant

00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:04.740
 that actually helps us

00:28:04.740 --> 00:28:06.040
 and escorts us

00:28:06.040 --> 00:28:07.860
 into fullness of life.

00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:09.519
 What once brought

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.380
 judgment

00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:12.040
 now takes us

00:28:12.040 --> 00:28:12.880
 by the hand

00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.980
 and walks us

00:28:13.980 --> 00:28:16.060
 from one form of life

00:28:16.060 --> 00:28:17.980
 into the fullness of life.

00:28:18.580 --> 00:28:19.720
 It's kind of like

00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.700
 death gets transformed

00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.880
 from a doorway

00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.160
 into judgment,

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:25.319
 into an entrance hole,

00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:27.660
 into fullness of life.

00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:29.960
 I don't even remember

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:31.120
 the great poem

00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:32.420
 by John Dunn

00:28:32.420 --> 00:28:33.620
 called Death,

00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.779
 Be Not Proud.

00:28:34.940 --> 00:28:36.120
 I remember reading this

00:28:36.120 --> 00:28:36.700
 in high school

00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:38.519
 and just being astounded

00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:39.360
 by this poem.

00:28:39.940 --> 00:28:40.480
 He writes this,

00:28:40.539 --> 00:28:41.640
 I'll just quote a short section.

00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:42.000
 He says,

00:28:42.080 --> 00:28:42.420
 Death,

00:28:42.940 --> 00:28:43.960
 be not proud.

00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.860
 Though some have called thee

00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:47.759
 mighty and dreadful,

00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.920
 thou art not so.

00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:52.579
 One short sleep past,

00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:54.259
 we wake eternally

00:28:54.259 --> 00:28:57.099
 and death will be no more.

00:28:57.779 --> 00:28:58.160
 Death,

00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:00.460
 thou shalt die.

00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:02.220
 Friends,

00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.140
 Jesus says that

00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:05.240
 for those who are in Christ,

00:29:05.319 --> 00:29:05.879
 those who have come

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:07.180
 to save in faith in Him,

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.619
 because He has died

00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.539
 and risen again,

00:29:09.640 --> 00:29:11.240
 because the tomb is empty

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:13.059
 and the grave has opened,

00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.220
 death has been transformed

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.519
 from a sentence,

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.339
 a verdict,

00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:17.740
 into a servant

00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:19.379
 that brings you into life.

00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.900
 Paul says the same thing

00:29:21.900 --> 00:29:22.900
 in Corinthians.

00:29:23.059 --> 00:29:23.420
 He says,

00:29:23.940 --> 00:29:24.180
 Death,

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.139
 where is your sting?

00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:26.039
 Death,

00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.480
 where is your victory?

00:29:28.119 --> 00:29:29.660
 Death has been swallowed up

00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:30.519
 by life.

00:29:31.279 --> 00:29:32.079
 I've got a friend of mine

00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.680
 who's British

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:34.299
 and he says that

00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:36.019
 when he used to live in England,

00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.920
 he used to go and watch

00:29:36.920 --> 00:29:38.339
 football games

00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:39.299
 and you know,

00:29:39.339 --> 00:29:40.160
 in the Premier League,

00:29:40.539 --> 00:29:42.779
 the crowds can chant

00:29:42.779 --> 00:29:43.960
 the enemy,

00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:45.139
 the opposition side

00:29:45.140 --> 00:29:47.240
 and they sing these

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:49.140
 rude songs,

00:29:49.420 --> 00:29:50.440
 mocking their enemy.

00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:52.100
 One no down,

00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.100
 one no down,

00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:54.100
 you're gonna lose,

00:29:54.160 --> 00:29:54.660
 you're gonna lose.

00:29:54.800 --> 00:29:56.060
 There was a story recently

00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:57.320
 of one team

00:29:57.320 --> 00:29:58.360
 that has gone bankrupt

00:29:58.360 --> 00:29:59.520
 and so at their next game,

00:29:59.880 --> 00:30:00.759
 the whole crowd,

00:30:00.920 --> 00:30:02.220
 50,000 people,

00:30:02.320 --> 00:30:02.920
 start singing,

00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:04.540
 you're going bankrupt,

00:30:04.780 --> 00:30:05.440
 you're going bankrupt.

00:30:05.580 --> 00:30:07.020
 They're mocking their enemy.

00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.920
 Paul's doing the same thing.

00:30:09.020 --> 00:30:09.080
 Yeah,

00:30:09.080 --> 00:30:09.980
 he's mocking death,

00:30:10.060 --> 00:30:10.700
 he's saying death.

00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:12.740
 So just point out to me,

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:13.380
 sorry,

00:30:13.460 --> 00:30:14.560
 where is your sting again?

00:30:14.559 --> 00:30:15.460
 So death,

00:30:15.579 --> 00:30:16.799
 just remind me,

00:30:17.159 --> 00:30:18.639
 where is your victory?

00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:20.460
 You're going down,

00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.599
 you're going down.

00:30:22.379 --> 00:30:23.940
 Paul is mocking the fact

00:30:23.940 --> 00:30:24.539
 that death

00:30:24.539 --> 00:30:25.819
 has been destroyed.

00:30:26.679 --> 00:30:28.259
 Jesus says the same thing here.

00:30:28.359 --> 00:30:28.559
 He says,

00:30:28.619 --> 00:30:29.619
 whoever believes in me,

00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:31.339
 even though he walks

00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:32.119
 through the doorway

00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:32.839
 that was meant

00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:33.859
 to be a sentence,

00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:35.179
 is being converted

00:30:35.179 --> 00:30:36.019
 into a servant.

00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:37.139
 They will enter

00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:38.440
 into fullness of life.

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:40.799
 But notice

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:42.080
 thirdly here,

00:30:42.700 --> 00:30:43.660
 this is all

00:30:43.660 --> 00:30:44.600
 well and good,

00:30:44.840 --> 00:30:44.960
 it's,

00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:47.620
 but Jesus makes

00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.720
 these wonderful promises,

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:49.860
 wonderful assurances,

00:30:50.259 --> 00:30:51.820
 but there's something else here.

00:30:52.600 --> 00:30:54.480
 If Jesus promises

00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.039
 that

00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:56.940
 those who die in Christ

00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:58.460
 will rise to life,

00:30:58.779 --> 00:30:59.720
 why does Jesus

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:01.279
 raise Lazarus

00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:01.860
 from the dead?

00:31:02.680 --> 00:31:02.900
 I mean,

00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.340
 think about it,

00:31:03.340 --> 00:31:04.420
 if Jesus' words,

00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:04.740
 you know,

00:31:05.100 --> 00:31:06.279
 his message is simply

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.560
 that those who believe in him

00:31:07.560 --> 00:31:08.320
 will not feel

00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:09.220
 the effects of death,

00:31:09.560 --> 00:31:10.200
 they will pass

00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.140
 from life to life.

00:31:11.600 --> 00:31:12.539
 Why raise Lazarus

00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:13.060
 from the dead?

00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.560
 Why not just leave

00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:15.400
 Mary and Martha

00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:16.140
 with the comfort

00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:16.560
 and the hope

00:31:16.560 --> 00:31:17.259
 that Lazarus

00:31:17.259 --> 00:31:18.279
 will pass to glory

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:19.519
 and all will be well again

00:31:19.519 --> 00:31:20.160
 and you'll soon

00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:20.980
 get to be with him?

00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:22.360
 Why does Jesus

00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:23.180
 raise Lazarus

00:31:23.180 --> 00:31:23.680
 from the dead?

00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:25.340
 I think there's

00:31:25.340 --> 00:31:26.300
 two reasons here.

00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.240
 The first is,

00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:28.880
 Jesus wants to show us

00:31:28.880 --> 00:31:29.580
 that his words

00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.480
 are not in vain.

00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:31.840
 Do you remember

00:31:31.840 --> 00:31:33.539
 in Matthew chapter 9,

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.119
 there's an account

00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:36.279
 where some friends

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:37.119
 bring a paralytic

00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:37.639
 to Jesus

00:31:37.639 --> 00:31:40.180
 and he cannot walk

00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.039
 and Jesus says,

00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:41.539
 son,

00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.720
 your sins are forgiven you.

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.139
 What great news.

00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.720
 And some people

00:31:45.720 --> 00:31:46.700
 are around Jesus

00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.559
 and they're scoffing,

00:31:47.639 --> 00:31:47.940
 they're saying,

00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:48.839
 who does this man

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.319
 think he is?

00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.440
 How can he say,

00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:52.519
 who gave him the authority

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.359
 to say your sins

00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:53.819
 are forgiven?

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.899
 And they are agitated

00:31:55.899 --> 00:31:57.200
 and they are frustrated

00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:58.799
 by Jesus' audacity

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.740
 to claim

00:31:59.740 --> 00:32:00.659
 the forgiveness of sins.

00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.559
 And Jesus says,

00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:03.599
 which is easy to say,

00:32:03.679 --> 00:32:04.500
 your sins are forgiven

00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:06.079
 or pick up your mat

00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:06.700
 and walk?

00:32:07.359 --> 00:32:08.819
 But that you may know

00:32:08.819 --> 00:32:10.279
 that I have authority

00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.480
 to forgive sins.

00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.960
 He turns to the man

00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:13.419
 and he says,

00:32:14.179 --> 00:32:14.859
 pick up your mat

00:32:14.859 --> 00:32:15.799
 and walk.

00:32:16.679 --> 00:32:17.440
 And the man does.

00:32:18.519 --> 00:32:19.200
 Jesus is doing

00:32:19.200 --> 00:32:19.960
 the same thing here.

00:32:20.379 --> 00:32:20.839
 He says,

00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.819
 I am the resurrection

00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.220
 and the life.

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.179
 Whoever believes in me

00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:24.039
 will never die

00:32:24.039 --> 00:32:24.899
 and those that do die

00:32:24.899 --> 00:32:26.159
 will pass straight to life.

00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.440
 And the people around

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:27.779
 could say,

00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.700
 who's this man?

00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:28.900
 I mean,

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:29.720
 I know Jesus says

00:32:29.720 --> 00:32:30.539
 some bold things,

00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.700
 but really,

00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.680
 Jesus claims

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:34.400
 to be the resurrection

00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:34.900
 of the life.

00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:35.960
 Who,

00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:37.259
 what kind of audacity

00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.920
 does he have

00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:38.640
 to say that?

00:32:39.340 --> 00:32:40.019
 Jesus says,

00:32:40.160 --> 00:32:41.440
 what is easier to say?

00:32:41.860 --> 00:32:42.160
 To say,

00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:42.920
 I am the resurrection

00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:43.440
 of the life

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.519
 or to say,

00:32:44.620 --> 00:32:45.000
 Lazarus,

00:32:45.059 --> 00:32:45.799
 come out of the grave.

00:32:46.360 --> 00:32:48.000
 But that you may know

00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.519
 that I have the authority

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:51.039
 to raise the dead.

00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:52.819
 He looks at Lazarus

00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.180
 and he says,

00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.759
 Lazarus,

00:32:54.340 --> 00:32:55.000
 come forth.

00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:58.079
 Jesus is proving

00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.619
 that he's not just

00:32:59.619 --> 00:33:02.460
 some wild teacher

00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:04.000
 that says outrageous things.

00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.079
 He's not just coming

00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.759
 to stir the crowd.

00:33:05.859 --> 00:33:07.039
 He actually backs it up

00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:08.559
 with remarkable power

00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:09.220
 and authority.

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.720
 But I think there's

00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:11.319
 a second reason

00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:12.579
 why Jesus raises Lazarus

00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.039
 from the dead.

00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.319
 And that's because

00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:15.519
 Jesus wants to demonstrate

00:33:15.519 --> 00:33:17.559
 that the resurrection life

00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.700
 and the hope

00:33:18.700 --> 00:33:19.799
 of his own resurrection

00:33:19.799 --> 00:33:21.259
 are not just something

00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:22.960
 that are kept in on ice,

00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:24.980
 kept in heaven for us

00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:26.380
 that we just got

00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:27.019
 to hold on to.

00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:29.880
 But that the great reversal

00:33:29.880 --> 00:33:31.160
 of the brokenness

00:33:31.160 --> 00:33:31.640
 of our world,

00:33:31.740 --> 00:33:32.480
 the reversal

00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:34.180
 of the entropy

00:33:34.180 --> 00:33:34.839
 of the world,

00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.720
 the reversal

00:33:35.720 --> 00:33:37.200
 of the effects

00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:37.680
 of sin

00:33:37.680 --> 00:33:38.319
 and the brokenness

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:38.779
 in the world

00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.839
 has started

00:33:39.839 --> 00:33:40.660
 to take place

00:33:40.660 --> 00:33:42.380
 now in our lifetime.

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.559
 Jesus is communicating

00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:46.059
 that not just

00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:48.460
 that one day

00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.079
 when you die

00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:50.220
 all will be better again.

00:33:50.299 --> 00:33:50.700
 He's saying,

00:33:50.860 --> 00:33:51.640
 even now

00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.440
 I'm starting

00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:53.819
 to bring the foretaste

00:33:53.819 --> 00:33:55.559
 of that brokenness

00:33:55.559 --> 00:33:56.519
 and hope

00:33:56.519 --> 00:33:57.799
 into our world today.

00:33:58.720 --> 00:34:00.539
 Jesus raises Lazarus

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.379
 to give hope

00:34:01.379 --> 00:34:02.359
 to the people

00:34:02.359 --> 00:34:03.159
 of his day

00:34:03.159 --> 00:34:05.399
 that the resurrection

00:34:05.399 --> 00:34:06.460
 affects their lives

00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:07.579
 here and now.

00:34:08.239 --> 00:34:08.619
 Do you remember

00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:09.400
 Martha's words

00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:09.840
 to Jesus?

00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.340
 She says,

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.539
 I know that he will

00:34:11.539 --> 00:34:12.420
 rise again

00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.279
 at the resurrection

00:34:13.279 --> 00:34:14.219
 on the last day.

00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:15.880
 And what does Jesus say?

00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:17.039
 Jesus says,

00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:18.119
 you're right,

00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:18.519
 Martha,

00:34:19.179 --> 00:34:20.079
 he will rise again.

00:34:20.940 --> 00:34:21.480
 I wish there was

00:34:21.480 --> 00:34:22.139
 something I could do

00:34:22.139 --> 00:34:22.739
 about that now,

00:34:22.819 --> 00:34:23.400
 but you know,

00:34:23.440 --> 00:34:24.599
 my resurrection power,

00:34:25.259 --> 00:34:26.400
 I only have jurisdiction

00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:27.179
 on the last day.

00:34:27.539 --> 00:34:28.079
 There's nothing

00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.960
 I can do about it.

00:34:29.420 --> 00:34:30.119
 I guess we better

00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:30.819
 just hold on

00:34:30.819 --> 00:34:31.739
 until we all die

00:34:31.739 --> 00:34:32.719
 and get to glory,

00:34:32.819 --> 00:34:33.039
 right?

00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.559
 No, no, no.

00:34:34.639 --> 00:34:35.840
 That's not what Jesus is.

00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:37.019
 Jesus says,

00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.659
 I am the resurrection.

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.880
 I am the life.

00:34:39.880 --> 00:34:41.400
 And those who hope in me

00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.559
 will never die.

00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:43.579
 And you want to know

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.679
 my resurrection power

00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:46.219
 now in your lifetime?

00:34:46.819 --> 00:34:47.299
 Lazarus,

00:34:47.380 --> 00:34:48.179
 come forth.

00:34:49.059 --> 00:34:50.279
 Jesus speaks

00:34:50.279 --> 00:34:51.960
 the hope of the resurrection

00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:53.259
 into their life

00:34:53.259 --> 00:34:53.980
 there and then.

00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.519
 And he does the same

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.139
 for us.

00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:58.599
 One pastor says it like this,

00:34:58.739 --> 00:34:59.879
 Jesus' resurrection

00:34:59.879 --> 00:35:01.539
 means not merely

00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.279
 that Christians

00:35:02.279 --> 00:35:03.000
 have a hope

00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:04.079
 for the future

00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.179
 that they've just

00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:06.319
 got to hold on to,

00:35:06.919 --> 00:35:08.339
 but that they have a hope

00:35:08.339 --> 00:35:10.079
 that comes from the future

00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.960
 that begins now

00:35:11.960 --> 00:35:13.059
 in our lifetime.

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:14.940
 Friends,

00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:15.379
 do you remember

00:35:15.379 --> 00:35:15.940
 what happened

00:35:15.940 --> 00:35:16.940
 in the Garden of Eden

00:35:16.940 --> 00:35:18.019
 way back in the beginning?

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:19.099
 Genesis 3,

00:35:19.500 --> 00:35:20.519
 Genesis 2 in fact,

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.699
 God says to Adam and Eve,

00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:24.119
 on the day

00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:25.079
 that you reject

00:35:25.079 --> 00:35:26.059
 my word

00:35:26.059 --> 00:35:27.119
 and reject me,

00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:28.319
 you will surely die.

00:35:29.639 --> 00:35:30.539
 And Adam and Eve

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.579
 don't believe him.

00:35:31.639 --> 00:35:32.239
 And so they

00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:33.079
 reject God,

00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:34.259
 they reject his word.

00:35:34.960 --> 00:35:35.879
 And what happens?

00:35:36.419 --> 00:35:37.219
 They don't die.

00:35:37.919 --> 00:35:38.259
 Well,

00:35:38.279 --> 00:35:38.919
 not physically,

00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.719
 not initially,

00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.919
 not at first,

00:35:43.279 --> 00:35:44.519
 but if anybody

00:35:44.519 --> 00:35:45.480
 has eyes to see,

00:35:45.480 --> 00:35:46.960
 you'll know that

00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:47.719
 death enters

00:35:47.719 --> 00:35:48.599
 into our world

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:50.179
 and it creeps

00:35:50.179 --> 00:35:51.659
 into every corner

00:35:51.659 --> 00:35:52.679
 and crevice

00:35:52.679 --> 00:35:54.000
 of our world.

00:35:54.699 --> 00:35:54.920
 I mean,

00:35:54.920 --> 00:35:55.599
 what is death?

00:35:56.219 --> 00:35:57.059
 Death is a loss

00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:57.699
 of life,

00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:57.940
 yeah,

00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:58.340
 sure,

00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:00.079
 but it's more

00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:01.099
 than just physical.

00:36:01.659 --> 00:36:02.260
 It's a loss

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:02.760
 of hope.

00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:04.179
 It's a loss

00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:05.059
 of vitality.

00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.260
 It's a loss

00:36:06.260 --> 00:36:07.019
 of relationships.

00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:08.280
 It's a loss

00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:08.920
 of peace.

00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:09.960
 It's a loss

00:36:09.960 --> 00:36:10.599
 of joy.

00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:11.839
 It's a loss

00:36:11.839 --> 00:36:12.519
 of meaning.

00:36:13.679 --> 00:36:14.339
 Death creeps

00:36:14.339 --> 00:36:15.079
 into our world

00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:15.659
 as a result

00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:16.199
 of sin

00:36:16.199 --> 00:36:17.360
 and the fallenness

00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:18.019
 and the brokenness

00:36:18.019 --> 00:36:18.579
 of our world.

00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:19.799
 And you know

00:36:19.799 --> 00:36:20.739
 what Jesus is doing?

00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.299
 Jesus is saying

00:36:22.299 --> 00:36:22.880
 that because

00:36:22.880 --> 00:36:23.639
 the tomb

00:36:23.639 --> 00:36:24.159
 is empty,

00:36:24.299 --> 00:36:25.239
 because of my

00:36:25.239 --> 00:36:25.980
 resurrection,

00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.980
 I am reversing

00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:28.599
 the effects

00:36:28.599 --> 00:36:29.159
 of sin

00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:29.739
 and death

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:30.679
 into this world

00:36:30.679 --> 00:36:31.400
 even now.

00:36:32.199 --> 00:36:32.500
 Do you remember

00:36:32.500 --> 00:36:33.380
 the Christmas carol

00:36:33.380 --> 00:36:34.400
 Joy to the World?

00:36:35.079 --> 00:36:35.739
 It says this,

00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:37.400
 no more let sin

00:36:37.400 --> 00:36:39.119
 and sorrows grow,

00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:40.339
 nor death

00:36:40.339 --> 00:36:41.759
 infect the earth.

00:36:42.219 --> 00:36:43.000
 He comes

00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:43.519
 to make

00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.139
 his blessings

00:36:44.139 --> 00:36:45.779
 flow far

00:36:45.779 --> 00:36:46.719
 as the curse

00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:47.519
 is found.

00:36:48.380 --> 00:36:49.319
 Far as the curse

00:36:49.319 --> 00:36:49.799
 is found.

00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:51.519
 Jesus came

00:36:51.519 --> 00:36:52.639
 not just

00:36:52.639 --> 00:36:53.779
 to give us

00:36:53.779 --> 00:36:54.380
 hope for the world

00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:54.759
 to come

00:36:54.759 --> 00:36:55.920
 as glorious

00:36:55.920 --> 00:36:56.619
 and as amazing

00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.099
 as that's going

00:36:57.099 --> 00:36:57.440
 to be.

00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:59.119
 Jesus came

00:36:59.119 --> 00:36:59.799
 for those of us

00:36:59.799 --> 00:37:00.559
 that are pilgrims

00:37:00.559 --> 00:37:01.239
 and sojourners

00:37:01.239 --> 00:37:02.380
 in this world

00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:04.519
 to peel back

00:37:04.519 --> 00:37:06.359
 to reverse

00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:07.259
 the curse

00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.079
 that entered

00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:08.819
 into our lives.

00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:09.880
 When Jesus says

00:37:09.880 --> 00:37:10.779
 I am the resurrection

00:37:10.779 --> 00:37:11.219
 and the life

00:37:11.219 --> 00:37:11.920
 and then raises

00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:12.940
 Lazarus from the dead

00:37:12.940 --> 00:37:13.699
 there and then,

00:37:14.259 --> 00:37:15.380
 Jesus is demonstrating

00:37:15.380 --> 00:37:16.579
 to Mary and Martha,

00:37:16.759 --> 00:37:17.539
 to the whole world,

00:37:17.639 --> 00:37:18.359
 to you and I,

00:37:18.440 --> 00:37:19.059
 that he hasn't just

00:37:19.059 --> 00:37:20.139
 come to pay the penalty

00:37:20.139 --> 00:37:20.880
 for our sin.

00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:22.400
 He hasn't just been

00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.699
 a benevolent benefactor

00:37:23.699 --> 00:37:24.559
 that pays up

00:37:24.559 --> 00:37:25.559
 our penalty

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.219
 and our price.

00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:27.900
 Jesus has come

00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:29.119
 to push back darkness,

00:37:29.279 --> 00:37:30.400
 to make his blessings

00:37:30.400 --> 00:37:31.719
 flow as far

00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:32.279
 as the curse

00:37:32.279 --> 00:37:32.779
 is found

00:37:32.779 --> 00:37:34.119
 in your life,

00:37:34.199 --> 00:37:35.079
 in your family,

00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.500
 in your heart

00:37:36.500 --> 00:37:37.099
 today,

00:37:37.099 --> 00:37:38.500
 to bring light

00:37:38.500 --> 00:37:39.059
 and light

00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:39.679
 to bear in the

00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.500
 brokenness of this

00:37:40.500 --> 00:37:40.860
 world.

00:37:43.059 --> 00:37:43.940
 On Friday,

00:37:44.079 --> 00:37:44.880
 in our Good Friday

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:45.339
 service,

00:37:45.639 --> 00:37:47.000
 we started watching

00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:48.199
 the story of Dan

00:37:48.199 --> 00:37:51.519
 and the brokenness

00:37:51.519 --> 00:37:53.299
 of sin in his life

00:37:53.299 --> 00:37:54.839
 and how darkness

00:37:54.839 --> 00:37:56.719
 had crept into his life.

00:37:57.599 --> 00:37:58.119
 We're going to watch

00:37:58.119 --> 00:37:58.940
 the rest of the story.

00:37:59.019 --> 00:37:59.319
 We're going to watch

00:37:59.319 --> 00:37:59.839
 the full thing

00:37:59.839 --> 00:38:00.639
 from beginning to end

00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:01.339
 and let's see

00:38:01.339 --> 00:38:02.019
 how Jesus

00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:03.199
 brought his resurrection,

00:38:03.420 --> 00:38:04.139
 hope and life

00:38:04.139 --> 00:38:05.639
 into Dan's life

00:38:05.639 --> 00:38:07.900
 and correspondingly

00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:08.759
 into all of ours.

00:38:09.179 --> 00:38:10.179
 Let's watch the story

00:38:10.179 --> 00:38:10.659
 together.

00:38:12.339 --> 00:38:12.980
 You know,

00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:13.839
 I used to think

00:38:13.839 --> 00:38:15.460
 people of religion

00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.799
 and faith

00:38:16.799 --> 00:38:18.400
 were very uncool,

00:38:19.239 --> 00:38:19.960
 boring,

00:38:20.400 --> 00:38:20.980
 progressive,

00:38:21.900 --> 00:38:22.599
 just completely

00:38:22.599 --> 00:38:23.279
 out of touch

00:38:23.279 --> 00:38:23.980
 with reality.

00:38:24.779 --> 00:38:26.139
 I guess in hindsight,

00:38:26.659 --> 00:38:27.619
 some people still are.

00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:35.699
 So I grew up

00:38:35.699 --> 00:38:36.460
 in a great home

00:38:36.460 --> 00:38:37.599
 with loving parents

00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.319
 who worked hard

00:38:38.319 --> 00:38:38.900
 to give me

00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:39.859
 every opportunity.

00:38:40.519 --> 00:38:41.359
 I was encouraged

00:38:41.359 --> 00:38:42.599
 to focus on

00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.440
 getting a good education,

00:38:44.940 --> 00:38:46.819
 going to a good university,

00:38:47.219 --> 00:38:48.299
 getting a good job,

00:38:48.679 --> 00:38:49.679
 getting ahead in life,

00:38:49.859 --> 00:38:50.639
 etc, etc.

00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:51.920
 And I think I was

00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:52.519
 definitely going

00:38:52.519 --> 00:38:53.500
 down that path

00:38:53.500 --> 00:38:55.859
 and it wasn't until

00:38:55.859 --> 00:38:56.719
 probably a couple

00:38:56.719 --> 00:38:57.940
 of years later

00:38:57.940 --> 00:38:59.460
 that I was still

00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:00.099
 at university

00:39:00.099 --> 00:39:01.500
 and I met a couple

00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:02.319
 of my mates

00:39:02.319 --> 00:39:02.880
 who are still

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:04.000
 my best friends now

00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:05.920
 and they were

00:39:05.920 --> 00:39:07.699
 very similar to myself.

00:39:08.019 --> 00:39:09.179
 We enjoyed playing rugby,

00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:11.039
 drinking beer,

00:39:11.380 --> 00:39:12.440
 all those kind of things.

00:39:12.579 --> 00:39:13.880
 But they just happened

00:39:13.880 --> 00:39:15.239
 to be Christian as well.

00:39:15.960 --> 00:39:17.019
 And so they invited me

00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:17.839
 along to church

00:39:17.839 --> 00:39:20.559
 and there was no

00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:22.179
 kind of Hollywood moment,

00:39:22.279 --> 00:39:22.739
 I guess,

00:39:22.799 --> 00:39:24.500
 of a bolt of lightning

00:39:24.500 --> 00:39:25.860
 coming down from the sky

00:39:25.860 --> 00:39:27.960
 or beams of sunlight

00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:28.779
 shooting down

00:39:28.779 --> 00:39:29.900
 from between the clouds.

00:39:29.900 --> 00:39:30.840
 It was nothing like that.

00:39:30.940 --> 00:39:31.980
 It was a pretty slow

00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:32.980
 transition actually

00:39:32.980 --> 00:39:34.160
 over many months

00:39:34.160 --> 00:39:36.420
 from Jesus being,

00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:37.000
 to me,

00:39:37.559 --> 00:39:38.960
 a nice guy

00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:40.519
 but most definitely

00:39:40.519 --> 00:39:41.720
 a fictional character

00:39:41.720 --> 00:39:45.300
 to the real Lord

00:39:45.300 --> 00:39:47.519
 and my personal Savior.

00:39:48.599 --> 00:39:49.900
 And my definition

00:39:49.900 --> 00:39:50.660
 of success

00:39:50.660 --> 00:39:51.500
 was really turned

00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:52.119
 on its head

00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:53.440
 when I came

00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:54.420
 to that realization.

00:39:54.420 --> 00:39:55.659
 It went from

00:39:55.659 --> 00:39:56.700
 those things

00:39:56.700 --> 00:39:57.920
 that I had mentioned

00:39:57.920 --> 00:39:58.900
 before,

00:39:59.099 --> 00:40:00.019
 which are not necessarily

00:40:00.019 --> 00:40:01.300
 bad in and of themselves,

00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.740
 but the focus became

00:40:02.740 --> 00:40:04.480
 my relationships

00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.559
 and love

00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:06.539
 and how I was

00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:07.760
 displaying the love

00:40:07.760 --> 00:40:08.659
 that God had

00:40:08.659 --> 00:40:09.559
 showered on me

00:40:09.559 --> 00:40:10.260
 through Jesus

00:40:10.260 --> 00:40:13.159
 to those around me

00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:14.180
 through my relationships

00:40:14.180 --> 00:40:15.200
 with my family,

00:40:15.460 --> 00:40:16.079
 my friends,

00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:17.039
 my colleagues

00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:18.980
 and especially

00:40:18.980 --> 00:40:20.039
 back to God

00:40:20.039 --> 00:40:20.480
 himself.

00:40:21.980 --> 00:40:22.500
 So,

00:40:22.739 --> 00:40:23.019
 yeah,

00:40:23.400 --> 00:40:24.119
 that's it.

00:40:24.320 --> 00:40:24.940
 End of story.

00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:25.860
 We all live happily

00:40:25.860 --> 00:40:26.460
 ever after,

00:40:26.539 --> 00:40:26.759
 right?

00:40:27.139 --> 00:40:28.259
 If only that were so.

00:40:28.260 --> 00:40:32.900
 So,

00:40:33.120 --> 00:40:33.800
 fast forward

00:40:33.800 --> 00:40:35.040
 a few years later,

00:40:35.420 --> 00:40:36.580
 I was transferred

00:40:36.580 --> 00:40:37.660
 to Hong Kong

00:40:37.660 --> 00:40:39.280
 on a work secondment.

00:40:39.840 --> 00:40:41.200
 I had a really solid

00:40:41.200 --> 00:40:42.400
 community structure

00:40:42.400 --> 00:40:43.780
 around me.

00:40:43.940 --> 00:40:44.560
 I thought I was

00:40:44.560 --> 00:40:45.100
 at a point

00:40:45.100 --> 00:40:45.860
 in my life

00:40:45.860 --> 00:40:46.540
 where I could

00:40:46.540 --> 00:40:48.220
 move to a new

00:40:48.220 --> 00:40:48.820
 city

00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:50.180
 by myself

00:40:50.180 --> 00:40:50.860
 and I had it

00:40:50.860 --> 00:40:51.400
 all covered.

00:40:52.140 --> 00:40:52.480
 But,

00:40:52.920 --> 00:40:53.660
 in hindsight,

00:40:54.280 --> 00:40:55.000
 there was definitely

00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:56.380
 one major thing

00:40:56.380 --> 00:40:57.040
 missing there.

00:40:57.680 --> 00:40:58.240
 That was my

00:40:58.239 --> 00:40:58.659
 heart.

00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:01.319
 I think in my

00:41:01.319 --> 00:41:02.419
 heart I was

00:41:02.419 --> 00:41:04.099
 still really

00:41:04.099 --> 00:41:04.659
 restless.

00:41:05.059 --> 00:41:05.759
 Although I had

00:41:05.759 --> 00:41:06.399
 all those things

00:41:06.399 --> 00:41:07.059
 that I'd mentioned

00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:07.479
 earlier

00:41:07.479 --> 00:41:08.559
 and it probably

00:41:08.559 --> 00:41:10.099
 looked like success,

00:41:10.619 --> 00:41:11.419
 I think in my

00:41:11.419 --> 00:41:12.179
 heart I was

00:41:12.179 --> 00:41:12.799
 still

00:41:12.799 --> 00:41:15.219
 not at peace

00:41:15.219 --> 00:41:16.379
 and I was

00:41:16.379 --> 00:41:17.299
 still really afraid

00:41:17.299 --> 00:41:18.179
 of missing out

00:41:18.179 --> 00:41:18.699
 on what was

00:41:18.699 --> 00:41:19.659
 going on around me.

00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:20.959
 As a result,

00:41:21.159 --> 00:41:22.159
 I just completely

00:41:22.159 --> 00:41:23.159
 went off the rails.

00:41:23.839 --> 00:41:25.379
 It all came

00:41:25.379 --> 00:41:26.019
 to a head

00:41:26.019 --> 00:41:26.879
 one morning

00:41:26.879 --> 00:41:28.219
 after a few

00:41:28.219 --> 00:41:28.959
 weeks of

00:41:28.959 --> 00:41:29.919
 pretty consistent

00:41:29.919 --> 00:41:30.839
 partying,

00:41:31.139 --> 00:41:32.339
 I had woke up

00:41:32.339 --> 00:41:34.179
 and was

00:41:34.179 --> 00:41:34.719
 covered in

00:41:34.719 --> 00:41:35.159
 my own

00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:35.399
 vomit.

00:41:36.299 --> 00:41:37.379
 There was

00:41:37.379 --> 00:41:37.879
 so much

00:41:37.879 --> 00:41:38.639
 mess everywhere

00:41:38.639 --> 00:41:39.459
 that I tried

00:41:39.459 --> 00:41:40.659
 to salvage

00:41:40.659 --> 00:41:42.219
 my mattress

00:41:42.219 --> 00:41:42.779
 and my

00:41:42.779 --> 00:41:43.159
 pillows,

00:41:43.419 --> 00:41:43.939
 but I couldn't.

00:41:44.099 --> 00:41:44.500
 I had to

00:41:44.500 --> 00:41:44.919
 throw them

00:41:44.919 --> 00:41:45.419
 all out.

00:41:46.099 --> 00:41:46.579
 I guess it

00:41:46.579 --> 00:41:46.980
 was quite

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:47.859
 symbolic in

00:41:47.859 --> 00:41:48.279
 hindsight.

00:41:48.639 --> 00:41:49.199
 God had

00:41:49.199 --> 00:41:50.219
 literally

00:41:50.219 --> 00:41:51.099
 brought me

00:41:51.099 --> 00:41:52.139
 to my knees

00:41:52.139 --> 00:41:54.319
 in that

00:41:54.319 --> 00:41:54.819
 moment.

00:41:56.259 --> 00:41:57.179
 Around that

00:41:57.179 --> 00:41:57.900
 time there

00:41:57.900 --> 00:41:58.559
 was also

00:41:58.559 --> 00:41:59.480
 another guy

00:41:59.480 --> 00:41:59.900
 who was

00:41:59.900 --> 00:42:00.440
 associated

00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:01.179
 with our

00:42:01.179 --> 00:42:02.179
 rugby club

00:42:02.179 --> 00:42:03.900
 who had

00:42:03.900 --> 00:42:05.259
 died after

00:42:05.259 --> 00:42:06.259
 choking

00:42:06.259 --> 00:42:07.699
 after he

00:42:07.699 --> 00:42:08.219
 passed out

00:42:08.219 --> 00:42:08.679
 one night

00:42:08.679 --> 00:42:10.379
 and that

00:42:10.379 --> 00:42:11.059
 was a huge

00:42:11.059 --> 00:42:11.719
 tragedy for

00:42:11.719 --> 00:42:12.239
 us and a

00:42:12.239 --> 00:42:12.819
 huge wake

00:42:12.819 --> 00:42:13.659
 up call for

00:42:13.659 --> 00:42:14.440
 myself as

00:42:14.440 --> 00:42:14.679
 well.

00:42:14.679 --> 00:42:16.099
 I remember

00:42:16.099 --> 00:42:18.119
 just helplessly

00:42:18.119 --> 00:42:18.919
 crying out to

00:42:18.919 --> 00:42:19.759
 God that

00:42:19.759 --> 00:42:21.359
 morning and

00:42:21.359 --> 00:42:22.119
 man is he

00:42:22.119 --> 00:42:22.480
 gracious.

00:42:23.379 --> 00:42:24.639
 He ever so

00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:26.359
 slowly brought

00:42:26.359 --> 00:42:26.859
 me out of

00:42:26.859 --> 00:42:27.419
 that pit.

00:42:27.839 --> 00:42:28.699
 He showered

00:42:28.699 --> 00:42:29.460
 me with

00:42:29.460 --> 00:42:31.460
 grace upon

00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:32.099
 grace.

00:42:33.179 --> 00:42:34.839
 He ever

00:42:34.839 --> 00:42:35.500
 increasingly

00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.579
 brought joy

00:42:36.579 --> 00:42:37.699
 back into my

00:42:37.699 --> 00:42:38.539
 life through

00:42:38.539 --> 00:42:40.639
 his word,

00:42:40.839 --> 00:42:41.639
 through prayer

00:42:41.639 --> 00:42:42.619
 and through the

00:42:42.619 --> 00:42:43.440
 Christian community

00:42:43.440 --> 00:42:44.039
 around me.

00:42:44.039 --> 00:42:49.340
 I realise

00:42:49.340 --> 00:42:50.199
 that so many

00:42:50.199 --> 00:42:50.800
 of the things

00:42:50.800 --> 00:42:51.400
 in our life

00:42:51.400 --> 00:42:52.079
 that we hope

00:42:52.079 --> 00:42:53.079
 or we trust

00:42:53.079 --> 00:42:54.659
 in may not

00:42:54.659 --> 00:42:55.239
 actually come

00:42:55.239 --> 00:42:55.840
 to fruition.

00:42:56.820 --> 00:42:58.460
 They may

00:42:58.460 --> 00:42:59.199
 prove themselves

00:42:59.199 --> 00:42:59.840
 even to be

00:42:59.840 --> 00:43:00.639
 less reliable

00:43:00.639 --> 00:43:01.279
 or trustworthy

00:43:01.279 --> 00:43:02.159
 than we had

00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:02.900
 first thought.

00:43:03.579 --> 00:43:04.079
 But God

00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:04.699
 has really

00:43:04.699 --> 00:43:05.380
 taught me a

00:43:05.380 --> 00:43:06.119
 deeper truth

00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:06.800
 in all of

00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:07.099
 this.

00:43:07.699 --> 00:43:08.659
 That he is

00:43:08.659 --> 00:43:09.239
 trustworthy,

00:43:09.519 --> 00:43:10.139
 he alone,

00:43:10.739 --> 00:43:11.539
 and that the

00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:12.460
 way up is

00:43:12.460 --> 00:43:12.800
 down.

00:43:12.800 --> 00:43:14.740
 by surrendering

00:43:14.740 --> 00:43:15.840
 your dreams

00:43:15.840 --> 00:43:16.519
 and your

00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:17.300
 ambition and

00:43:17.300 --> 00:43:18.039
 your goals

00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:19.460
 and your

00:43:19.460 --> 00:43:20.039
 life to

00:43:20.039 --> 00:43:21.840
 God and

00:43:21.840 --> 00:43:22.560
 allowing him

00:43:22.560 --> 00:43:23.120
 to shape

00:43:23.120 --> 00:43:23.400
 that.

00:43:24.060 --> 00:43:24.760
 It may

00:43:24.760 --> 00:43:25.580
 look like

00:43:25.580 --> 00:43:25.980
 it's not

00:43:25.980 --> 00:43:27.360
 success to

00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:27.900
 the world,

00:43:28.320 --> 00:43:29.140
 but truly

00:43:29.140 --> 00:43:29.820
 there is not

00:43:29.820 --> 00:43:30.860
 a wiser thing

00:43:30.860 --> 00:43:31.539
 that you can

00:43:31.539 --> 00:43:32.600
 do that will

00:43:32.600 --> 00:43:33.160
 bring you a

00:43:33.160 --> 00:43:34.000
 greater return

00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:34.680
 on investment

00:43:34.680 --> 00:43:35.680
 in your life.

00:43:36.340 --> 00:43:37.039
 Trust in

00:43:37.039 --> 00:43:37.400
 Jesus.

00:43:38.019 --> 00:43:38.519
 He will

00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:38.960
 not let

00:43:38.960 --> 00:43:39.320
 you down.

00:43:48.320 --> 00:43:49.059
 Hey Dan,

00:43:49.119 --> 00:43:49.460
 I love

00:43:49.460 --> 00:43:50.400
 that story

00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:51.039
 and I love

00:43:51.039 --> 00:43:52.119
 seeing God

00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:52.559
 at work in

00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:52.820
 your life.

00:43:52.900 --> 00:43:53.199
 Thank you

00:43:53.199 --> 00:43:53.860
 for sharing

00:43:53.860 --> 00:43:55.380
 that story.

00:43:56.380 --> 00:43:57.179
 As we come

00:43:57.179 --> 00:43:58.019
 to close our

00:43:58.019 --> 00:43:58.679
 service today,

00:43:58.840 --> 00:43:59.699
 I want us

00:43:59.699 --> 00:44:00.199
 to notice

00:44:00.199 --> 00:44:00.880
 just one other

00:44:00.880 --> 00:44:01.440
 thing in this

00:44:01.440 --> 00:44:01.779
 passage,

00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:02.159
 and this will

00:44:02.159 --> 00:44:02.679
 be quick.

00:44:03.319 --> 00:44:03.899
 At the

00:44:03.899 --> 00:44:04.480
 very end

00:44:04.480 --> 00:44:04.919
 of John's

00:44:04.919 --> 00:44:05.219
 gospel,

00:44:05.399 --> 00:44:05.879
 the second

00:44:05.879 --> 00:44:06.359
 last chapter,

00:44:06.480 --> 00:44:07.059
 chapter 20,

00:44:07.339 --> 00:44:07.759
 John actually

00:44:07.759 --> 00:44:08.359
 tells us the

00:44:08.359 --> 00:44:09.139
 reason why

00:44:09.139 --> 00:44:10.579
 he writes

00:44:10.579 --> 00:44:11.119
 his gospel.

00:44:11.259 --> 00:44:11.579
 He says

00:44:11.579 --> 00:44:12.359
 these things

00:44:12.359 --> 00:44:12.859
 are written

00:44:12.859 --> 00:44:13.460
 so that you

00:44:13.460 --> 00:44:14.119
 may believe

00:44:14.119 --> 00:44:14.739
 that Jesus

00:44:14.739 --> 00:44:15.379
 is the

00:44:15.379 --> 00:44:15.739
 Christ,

00:44:15.859 --> 00:44:16.219
 the Son

00:44:16.219 --> 00:44:16.619
 of God,

00:44:17.159 --> 00:44:17.699
 and that by

00:44:17.699 --> 00:44:18.579
 believing you

00:44:18.579 --> 00:44:18.960
 may have

00:44:18.960 --> 00:44:19.639
 life in

00:44:19.639 --> 00:44:20.119
 his name.

00:44:20.359 --> 00:44:20.799
 That's the

00:44:20.799 --> 00:44:21.179
 reason why

00:44:21.179 --> 00:44:21.539
 I've written

00:44:21.539 --> 00:44:21.699
 this.

00:44:21.859 --> 00:44:22.759
 As you read

00:44:22.759 --> 00:44:23.219
 John's gospel,

00:44:23.339 --> 00:44:23.799
 you'll see he's

00:44:23.799 --> 00:44:24.759
 constantly pushing

00:44:24.759 --> 00:44:26.319
 us to say,

00:44:26.419 --> 00:44:27.119
 will you believe?

00:44:27.179 --> 00:44:27.639
 Will you believe

00:44:27.639 --> 00:44:28.199
 that Jesus

00:44:28.199 --> 00:44:29.019
 is the Christ,

00:44:29.099 --> 00:44:29.779
 the Son of God?

00:44:30.779 --> 00:44:32.059
 In verse 28

00:44:32.059 --> 00:44:32.840
 of our

00:44:32.840 --> 00:44:33.320
 passage,

00:44:34.139 --> 00:44:34.719
 Martha has

00:44:34.719 --> 00:44:35.279
 this conversation

00:44:35.279 --> 00:44:35.739
 with Jesus.

00:44:35.900 --> 00:44:36.460
 Jesus says,

00:44:36.840 --> 00:44:37.259
 I am the

00:44:37.259 --> 00:44:37.619
 resurrection

00:44:37.619 --> 00:44:37.860
 and the

00:44:37.860 --> 00:44:38.000
 life.

00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:38.239
 Whoever

00:44:38.239 --> 00:44:38.739
 believes

00:44:38.739 --> 00:44:39.000
 in me,

00:44:39.079 --> 00:44:39.420
 though he

00:44:39.420 --> 00:44:39.599
 die,

00:44:39.699 --> 00:44:40.340
 will live,

00:44:40.440 --> 00:44:40.719
 etc.

00:44:41.019 --> 00:44:41.599
 And he

00:44:41.599 --> 00:44:41.840
 says,

00:44:41.980 --> 00:44:42.619
 do you

00:44:42.619 --> 00:44:43.320
 believe this?

00:44:43.980 --> 00:44:44.460
 She says,

00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:44.739
 yes,

00:44:44.779 --> 00:44:44.980
 Lord,

00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:45.599
 I believe

00:44:45.599 --> 00:44:45.960
 that you

00:44:45.960 --> 00:44:46.239
 are the

00:44:46.239 --> 00:44:46.639
 Christ,

00:44:47.019 --> 00:44:47.619
 the Son

00:44:47.619 --> 00:44:47.880
 of the

00:44:47.880 --> 00:44:48.420
 living God.

00:44:49.440 --> 00:44:49.920
 Do you

00:44:49.920 --> 00:44:50.179
 see what

00:44:50.179 --> 00:44:50.500
 John is

00:44:50.500 --> 00:44:50.960
 saying here?

00:44:51.719 --> 00:44:52.519
 John is

00:44:52.519 --> 00:44:53.259
 telling us,

00:44:53.299 --> 00:44:53.860
 he's showing

00:44:53.860 --> 00:44:54.360
 us that

00:44:54.360 --> 00:44:54.880
 Martha,

00:44:55.779 --> 00:44:56.779
 like Dan,

00:44:57.299 --> 00:44:57.799
 like the

00:44:57.799 --> 00:44:58.299
 disciples,

00:44:58.900 --> 00:44:59.559
 like millions

00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:00.019
 of others

00:45:00.019 --> 00:45:00.519
 around the

00:45:00.519 --> 00:45:00.820
 world,

00:45:00.820 --> 00:45:02.000
 have come

00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:03.100
 to experience

00:45:03.100 --> 00:45:04.460
 life in

00:45:04.460 --> 00:45:04.940
 his name.

00:45:05.620 --> 00:45:06.039
 I've written

00:45:06.039 --> 00:45:06.500
 these things

00:45:06.500 --> 00:45:06.820
 that you

00:45:06.820 --> 00:45:07.320
 may see

00:45:07.320 --> 00:45:07.960
 that Jesus

00:45:07.960 --> 00:45:08.519
 is the

00:45:08.519 --> 00:45:08.860
 Christ,

00:45:08.940 --> 00:45:09.260
 the Son

00:45:09.260 --> 00:45:09.660
 of God,

00:45:09.740 --> 00:45:10.120
 and by

00:45:10.120 --> 00:45:10.660
 believing,

00:45:10.840 --> 00:45:11.480
 have life

00:45:11.480 --> 00:45:11.980
 in his

00:45:11.980 --> 00:45:12.340
 name.

00:45:13.340 --> 00:45:13.600
 Friends,

00:45:13.660 --> 00:45:13.960
 what about

00:45:13.960 --> 00:45:14.260
 you?

00:45:15.600 --> 00:45:15.920
 Have you

00:45:15.920 --> 00:45:16.360
 come to

00:45:16.360 --> 00:45:16.800
 believe in

00:45:16.800 --> 00:45:17.120
 Jesus?

00:45:17.600 --> 00:45:18.260
 Not just

00:45:18.260 --> 00:45:18.700
 in theory,

00:45:18.820 --> 00:45:19.320
 not just

00:45:19.320 --> 00:45:20.240
 historically.

00:45:21.120 --> 00:45:21.460
 Have you

00:45:21.460 --> 00:45:21.800
 come to

00:45:21.800 --> 00:45:22.200
 believe that

00:45:22.200 --> 00:45:22.780
 he is the

00:45:22.780 --> 00:45:23.220
 Christ,

00:45:23.600 --> 00:45:24.200
 the Son

00:45:24.200 --> 00:45:24.440
 of the

00:45:24.440 --> 00:45:25.000
 living God,

00:45:25.600 --> 00:45:26.200
 who died

00:45:26.200 --> 00:45:26.800
 but rose

00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:27.220
 again,

00:45:27.219 --> 00:45:28.239
 and doing

00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:29.039
 so has

00:45:29.039 --> 00:45:29.299
 brought

00:45:29.299 --> 00:45:30.159
 light and

00:45:30.159 --> 00:45:30.739
 life to

00:45:30.739 --> 00:45:31.000
 bear?

00:45:31.579 --> 00:45:32.039
 The one

00:45:32.039 --> 00:45:32.659
 who is

00:45:32.659 --> 00:45:33.599
 raised in

00:45:33.599 --> 00:45:34.099
 glory and

00:45:34.099 --> 00:45:34.899
 offering life

00:45:34.899 --> 00:45:35.719
 to you

00:45:35.719 --> 00:45:36.119
 today?

00:45:36.879 --> 00:45:37.239
 Have you

00:45:37.239 --> 00:45:37.679
 come to

00:45:37.679 --> 00:45:38.079
 believe in

00:45:38.079 --> 00:45:38.239
 him?

00:45:39.239 --> 00:45:39.579
 Maybe

00:45:39.579 --> 00:45:39.939
 Jesus,

00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:40.259
 for the

00:45:40.259 --> 00:45:40.779
 very first

00:45:40.779 --> 00:45:41.419
 time today,

00:45:41.419 --> 00:45:42.059
 is calling

00:45:42.059 --> 00:45:42.480
 you to

00:45:42.480 --> 00:45:43.099
 surrender

00:45:43.099 --> 00:45:43.519
 your life.

00:45:43.579 --> 00:45:43.939
 As Dan

00:45:43.939 --> 00:45:44.199
 said,

00:45:44.579 --> 00:45:45.039
 often the

00:45:45.039 --> 00:45:45.480
 way up is

00:45:45.480 --> 00:45:45.819
 actually the

00:45:45.819 --> 00:45:46.259
 way down.

00:45:46.819 --> 00:45:47.219
 The way

00:45:47.219 --> 00:45:48.039
 to life is

00:45:48.039 --> 00:45:48.439
 to die

00:45:48.439 --> 00:45:49.019
 to ourselves

00:45:49.019 --> 00:45:49.419
 and to

00:45:49.419 --> 00:45:49.819
 surrender

00:45:49.819 --> 00:45:50.259
 to him,

00:45:50.779 --> 00:45:51.119
 and that

00:45:51.119 --> 00:45:51.980
 by believing

00:45:51.980 --> 00:45:52.379
 in him,

00:45:52.439 --> 00:45:52.859
 we may

00:45:52.859 --> 00:45:53.559
 have life

00:45:53.559 --> 00:45:53.959
 in his

00:45:53.959 --> 00:45:54.259
 name.

00:45:55.299 --> 00:45:55.480
 Friends,

00:45:55.539 --> 00:45:55.919
 maybe you

00:45:55.919 --> 00:45:56.339
 are a

00:45:56.340 --> 00:45:56.840
 Christian this

00:45:56.840 --> 00:45:57.120
 morning.

00:45:57.480 --> 00:45:57.960
 You did

00:45:57.960 --> 00:45:58.539
 that many,

00:45:58.700 --> 00:45:59.079
 many years

00:45:59.079 --> 00:45:59.300
 ago,

00:45:59.400 --> 00:45:59.880
 but if you're

00:45:59.880 --> 00:46:00.160
 honest,

00:46:00.260 --> 00:46:00.680
 the last

00:46:00.680 --> 00:46:01.340
 few years

00:46:01.340 --> 00:46:02.400
 have been

00:46:02.400 --> 00:46:03.140
 pretty dry.

00:46:03.960 --> 00:46:04.180
 You've

00:46:04.180 --> 00:46:04.440
 kind of

00:46:04.440 --> 00:46:04.760
 looked for

00:46:04.760 --> 00:46:05.120
 yourself.

00:46:05.220 --> 00:46:05.340
 You've

00:46:05.340 --> 00:46:05.840
 been seduced

00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:06.180
 by the

00:46:06.180 --> 00:46:06.519
 things of

00:46:06.519 --> 00:46:06.980
 this world.

00:46:07.800 --> 00:46:08.059
 Will you

00:46:08.059 --> 00:46:08.980
 freshly come

00:46:08.980 --> 00:46:10.280
 and believe

00:46:10.280 --> 00:46:11.140
 that life,

00:46:11.620 --> 00:46:12.180
 life to

00:46:12.180 --> 00:46:12.620
 the full,

00:46:13.220 --> 00:46:13.800
 is found

00:46:13.800 --> 00:46:14.300
 in him,

00:46:14.860 --> 00:46:15.320
 the one

00:46:15.320 --> 00:46:15.920
 who died

00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:16.559
 and rose

00:46:16.559 --> 00:46:16.920
 again?

00:46:17.820 --> 00:46:18.220
 This

00:46:18.220 --> 00:46:18.559
 morning,

00:46:18.680 --> 00:46:18.920
 Jesus

00:46:18.920 --> 00:46:19.539
 invites all

00:46:19.539 --> 00:46:19.840
 of us,

00:46:19.940 --> 00:46:20.320
 those for

00:46:20.320 --> 00:46:20.579
 the very

00:46:20.579 --> 00:46:21.140
 first time

00:46:21.140 --> 00:46:21.480
 and those

00:46:21.480 --> 00:46:21.700
 for the

00:46:21.700 --> 00:46:22.420
 100th time,

00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:23.420
 to come

00:46:23.420 --> 00:46:24.059
 and freshly

00:46:24.059 --> 00:46:25.240
 surrender

00:46:25.240 --> 00:46:26.320
 and to

00:46:26.320 --> 00:46:26.800
 declare that

00:46:26.800 --> 00:46:27.260
 we believe

00:46:27.260 --> 00:46:27.600
 that he

00:46:27.600 --> 00:46:28.200
 is Christ,

00:46:28.519 --> 00:46:29.059
 the son

00:46:29.059 --> 00:46:29.400
 of the

00:46:29.400 --> 00:46:29.960
 living God

00:46:29.960 --> 00:46:30.780
 and by

00:46:30.780 --> 00:46:31.400
 doing so,

00:46:31.860 --> 00:46:32.720
 experience life

00:46:32.720 --> 00:46:33.640
 in his

00:46:33.640 --> 00:46:33.920
 name.

00:46:34.480 --> 00:46:34.880
 Let's pray

00:46:34.880 --> 00:46:35.220
 together.

00:46:36.420 --> 00:46:37.200
 Lord Jesus,

00:46:37.580 --> 00:46:38.200
 thank you that we

00:46:38.200 --> 00:46:38.900
 get to pray to

00:46:38.900 --> 00:46:39.320
 you today.

00:46:39.519 --> 00:46:40.100
 We know that

00:46:40.100 --> 00:46:40.760
 you hear our

00:46:40.760 --> 00:46:41.400
 prayers because

00:46:41.400 --> 00:46:42.320
 you are alive

00:46:42.320 --> 00:46:42.740
 and you're

00:46:42.740 --> 00:46:43.019
 real,

00:46:43.260 --> 00:46:43.880
 seated in

00:46:43.880 --> 00:46:44.260
 glory.

00:46:44.980 --> 00:46:45.260
 God,

00:46:45.320 --> 00:46:45.840
 you are not

00:46:45.840 --> 00:46:46.760
 just a man

00:46:46.760 --> 00:46:47.440
 of history,

00:46:47.940 --> 00:46:48.260
 a figment

00:46:48.260 --> 00:46:48.600
 of our

00:46:48.600 --> 00:46:49.500
 imagination

00:46:49.500 --> 00:46:50.760
 or a

00:46:50.760 --> 00:46:51.680
 principle of

00:46:51.680 --> 00:46:52.280
 philosophy

00:46:52.280 --> 00:46:53.380
 from the

00:46:53.380 --> 00:46:53.920
 history books.

00:46:53.920 --> 00:46:53.960
 Christ,

00:46:54.400 --> 00:46:54.720
 you,

00:46:54.900 --> 00:46:55.159
 Christ,

00:46:55.240 --> 00:46:55.680
 are the

00:46:55.680 --> 00:46:56.300
 living God,

00:46:56.420 --> 00:46:57.119
 the real

00:46:57.119 --> 00:46:57.599
 one that

00:46:57.599 --> 00:46:58.320
 is alive

00:46:58.320 --> 00:46:58.860
 and glory

00:46:58.860 --> 00:46:59.619
 and the

00:46:59.619 --> 00:47:00.099
 one bringing

00:47:00.099 --> 00:47:00.599
 hope to

00:47:00.599 --> 00:47:01.159
 our lives

00:47:01.159 --> 00:47:01.360
 today.

00:47:01.460 --> 00:47:01.599
 Lord,

00:47:01.639 --> 00:47:02.079
 I pray for

00:47:02.079 --> 00:47:02.480
 all of my

00:47:02.480 --> 00:47:03.119
 brothers and

00:47:03.119 --> 00:47:03.380
 sisters.

00:47:03.519 --> 00:47:03.980
 I pray for

00:47:03.980 --> 00:47:04.519
 us as a

00:47:04.519 --> 00:47:04.940
 church that

00:47:04.940 --> 00:47:05.340
 we,

00:47:05.980 --> 00:47:06.139
 God,

00:47:06.240 --> 00:47:06.639
 as a

00:47:06.639 --> 00:47:06.880
 church,

00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:07.780
 will believe

00:47:07.780 --> 00:47:08.500
 evermore,

00:47:08.619 --> 00:47:09.059
 that more

00:47:09.059 --> 00:47:09.360
 and more,

00:47:09.460 --> 00:47:09.579
 God,

00:47:09.639 --> 00:47:09.820
 we will

00:47:09.820 --> 00:47:10.240
 believe in

00:47:10.240 --> 00:47:10.340
 you,

00:47:10.440 --> 00:47:10.960
 trust in

00:47:10.960 --> 00:47:11.039
 you,

00:47:11.139 --> 00:47:11.579
 hope in

00:47:11.579 --> 00:47:11.740
 you,

00:47:12.079 --> 00:47:12.860
 and experience

00:47:12.860 --> 00:47:13.579
 resurrection

00:47:13.579 --> 00:47:14.519
 life in

00:47:14.519 --> 00:47:14.880
 your name.

00:47:15.340 --> 00:47:15.579
 Christ,

00:47:15.639 --> 00:47:15.980
 come and do

00:47:15.980 --> 00:47:16.880
 that today

00:47:16.880 --> 00:47:17.340
 we pray.

00:47:18.019 --> 00:47:18.380
 Amen.