WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.300 Well, thank you. 00:00:02.780 --> 00:00:04.259 Hello, everybody, again. 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:11.419 It's my great privilege to tell you the greatest story ever told. 00:00:12.380 --> 00:00:17.019 It has been told probably to billions of people on this earth, 00:00:17.580 --> 00:00:22.240 and today hundreds of millions will hear it again. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:25.280 It may be the first time you'll ever hear it, 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.440 or you've heard it a lot before, 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:31.420 but I do want to say to you, 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:36.179 if you hear this story and believe it, 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:38.200 it will change everything. 00:00:39.380 --> 00:00:42.500 In fact, this story is the story. 00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:49.159 This story is the one thing that changes everything. 00:00:50.340 --> 00:00:52.320 I wonder if you remember 9-11. 00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:55.240 Judy and I were on our wedding anniversary, 00:00:56.040 --> 00:00:57.780 and we thought we'd put the telly on. 00:00:57.780 --> 00:00:58.579 We'd gone away. 00:00:58.759 --> 00:00:59.780 I thought we'd put the telly on, 00:00:59.820 --> 00:01:02.340 and there it was, a plane going into a building. 00:01:03.439 --> 00:01:06.920 And I just remember we were consumed by the event. 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:08.200 We couldn't turn the telly off. 00:01:08.700 --> 00:01:11.840 We were transfixed in shock, 00:01:12.439 --> 00:01:14.799 and I could actually say we were bewildered. 00:01:15.020 --> 00:01:16.180 Bewildered is the idea, 00:01:16.620 --> 00:01:20.000 I don't know how to process this. 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.700 Bewildered is, I am completely thrown. 00:01:25.980 --> 00:01:27.379 I've been hit for a six. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:31.180 This is, I just don't know what to make of it. 00:01:32.340 --> 00:01:34.980 And I do remember saying something like, 00:01:35.819 --> 00:01:39.099 you know, the world will never be the same again. 00:01:39.780 --> 00:01:41.799 That was sort of like what I thought. 00:01:42.900 --> 00:01:45.960 As a person, you've certainly had your ups and downs, 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:51.119 and either way, you can be bewildered. 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:53.359 Bewildered is when you're just taken aback 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:55.439 by the enormity of what's happened. 00:01:55.919 --> 00:01:58.039 Yesterday, got a phone call. 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:00.339 My brother-in-law, serious accident, 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:04.000 smashed in by a car, thrown, neck injury. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.980 So I go and visit him in the hospital, 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:13.840 totally bruised, millimetres. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:16.719 They said millimetres, 00:02:17.400 --> 00:02:19.020 and he would have been a quadriplegic. 00:02:20.180 --> 00:02:20.620 Can you imagine? 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:21.840 So I'm sort of going, 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:26.439 imagine if it had been a few more millimetres. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:27.740 Everything. 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:30.259 Everything would have been changed. 00:02:30.259 --> 00:02:34.399 Whatever you may have faced, 00:02:34.500 --> 00:02:36.019 you can look back and say, 00:02:36.599 --> 00:02:37.620 with the big things, 00:02:38.079 --> 00:02:40.959 that you were changed in your life deeply. 00:02:41.979 --> 00:02:45.519 And today is a story where I would say 00:02:45.519 --> 00:02:47.139 that when you do get it, 00:02:48.060 --> 00:02:49.099 I mean, everything. 00:02:49.199 --> 00:02:50.479 We say, oh, now that I get this, 00:02:50.719 --> 00:02:51.859 everything has changed. 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:55.139 Like, there is nothing without exception 00:02:55.139 --> 00:02:58.099 that is not changed by what's happened. 00:02:58.099 --> 00:03:00.719 Now, we're looking at a passage, 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:02.219 and it's quite intriguing. 00:03:03.680 --> 00:03:07.099 This Bible passage is from the Bible, 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:11.780 and it's from a part of the Bible called Mark, 00:03:12.019 --> 00:03:13.560 and what was just read to you 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:16.439 was from part of that Bible story. 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:19.740 And I want to talk about three people. 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:23.000 First of all, Mark, who is he? 00:03:23.340 --> 00:03:25.519 Secondly, about a man called Peter, 00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:29.120 who is sort of what the story is about, 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:30.100 though it's Jesus, 00:03:30.260 --> 00:03:31.420 and then actually some women. 00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:33.719 The women get a Guernsey, 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:34.400 they run, 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:36.000 and they win the race, 00:03:36.040 --> 00:03:36.960 which is very appropriate. 00:03:39.100 --> 00:03:40.360 So the story I have to tell, 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:41.840 remember I said I have a story to tell you, 00:03:41.920 --> 00:03:43.180 the biggest story I've ever heard. 00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:45.580 You won't get all of it necessarily, 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:48.600 but if I was to tell you the story 00:03:48.600 --> 00:03:50.439 in less than a minute, 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.780 the God of all the universe, 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:56.280 there's only one who is the creator of all things, 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:57.819 loved his world so much 00:03:57.819 --> 00:03:59.560 that he sent his son, 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:01.659 and Jesus became a man. 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:04.900 He lived on this earth the perfect life 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:07.139 that we could never possibly live, 00:04:07.460 --> 00:04:10.099 but the reason he came was not to show off, 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:13.099 but to having lived the perfect life, 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:17.839 he chose to die the death we deserve, 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:19.539 because we've not lived the perfect life 00:04:19.539 --> 00:04:20.439 so we could be forgiven. 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:21.879 That's the cross. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:23.839 Then he's risen from the dead, 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:26.939 saying to anyone that puts their faith in him, 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:28.799 I now can forgive you, 00:04:29.159 --> 00:04:30.239 and having conquered death, 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.519 I can give you life forever in heaven. 00:04:33.219 --> 00:04:33.879 It's amazing. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:36.120 Changes people's lives. 00:04:37.059 --> 00:04:38.339 Well, let me start talking to you 00:04:38.339 --> 00:04:39.419 about the three people, 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:42.579 because we'll get to that story as it unfolds. 00:04:44.059 --> 00:04:44.539 Mark. 00:04:45.599 --> 00:04:46.459 Who's Mark? 00:04:46.459 --> 00:04:48.599 Now, I know you've done a series on Mark, 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:50.639 but please forgive me if everything I say, 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:52.159 oh, yeah, yeah, we've heard this, 00:04:52.259 --> 00:04:53.579 but just be patient. 00:04:54.359 --> 00:04:56.620 Mark lived in the first century. 00:04:57.419 --> 00:05:00.779 When Jesus was crucified in the 30s AD, 00:05:01.159 --> 00:05:02.060 he was still a boy. 00:05:02.899 --> 00:05:05.699 In fact, he'd most likely met Jesus, 00:05:06.159 --> 00:05:08.339 heard Jesus, seen him do miracles, 00:05:08.479 --> 00:05:09.579 even followed him, 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.740 and when he grew up, 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:14.359 he wrote Mark. 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:17.199 Mark was a scribe. 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:20.879 A scribe was a professional writer. 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:23.180 People would pay them to write. 00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:25.020 In Jesus' day, 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:27.680 virtually not a single person could write. 00:05:27.879 --> 00:05:29.300 Do you remember what it was like in school? 00:05:30.020 --> 00:05:32.300 First class, second class, 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:33.840 third class, 00:05:33.960 --> 00:05:35.720 and I have all these couples 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:37.500 filling out their notice of intended forms. 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:38.939 They still can't write. 00:05:40.040 --> 00:05:41.540 Writing is hard. 00:05:41.540 --> 00:05:42.939 It takes a long time, 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:44.480 and back in those days, 00:05:44.580 --> 00:05:46.680 you needed to be a professional scribe 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:49.740 who'd spent many, many years 00:05:49.740 --> 00:05:50.879 learning how to write. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:53.540 So Mark ended up being a scribe 00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:54.340 for a number of people, 00:05:54.460 --> 00:05:55.740 including the Apostle Paul, 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:57.100 writing a lot of letters, 00:05:57.379 --> 00:06:01.220 and sometime in about 60s AD, 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:06.360 he helped Peter write his gospel. 00:06:06.360 --> 00:06:09.920 Now, this is most likely how it worked out. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:13.620 Peter was the boss of Jesus' disciples. 00:06:13.860 --> 00:06:14.560 He was the leader. 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:17.340 He had spent the last 30 years 00:06:17.340 --> 00:06:18.600 since Jesus had died. 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:20.560 Jesus died at the age of 33, 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:21.740 another 30 years, 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:25.860 telling the story of his eyewitness account 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:27.340 of being with Jesus 00:06:27.340 --> 00:06:29.220 and seeing him do all the miracles. 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:31.360 And at some point, 00:06:31.819 --> 00:06:32.639 he decided, 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:35.959 I'm going to have to have this written down. 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:37.199 I can't write. 00:06:37.939 --> 00:06:40.379 So I'm going to get Mark to be my scribe. 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:41.459 And what would have happened? 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:42.479 Mark wouldn't have just said, 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:42.979 you know, 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:44.500 tell me a story and I'll write it down. 00:06:44.699 --> 00:06:46.300 Now, they would have done it together. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:50.319 And Peter and Mark together would have, 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:51.839 well, Peter would have told him 00:06:51.839 --> 00:06:52.919 and they wrote it down. 00:06:53.879 --> 00:06:54.039 And, 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:56.060 but it's really unusual. 00:06:56.060 --> 00:06:59.819 How do you tell the story of Jesus 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:01.199 over three years 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.120 when writing took forever? 00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:07.540 So even Mark's gospel, 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:08.860 which is only a few pages, 00:07:09.060 --> 00:07:12.899 was extremely expensive to do and to copy. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:13.939 So how do you do it? 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:15.519 Well, Peter decided, 00:07:15.699 --> 00:07:18.540 let's ignore the first 30 years of Jesus' life. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:20.360 We'll start at age 30. 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:21.840 And then he said, 00:07:22.079 --> 00:07:24.240 also Jesus dying is really important. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:26.740 So halfway through this book, 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:27.720 why don't we just talk about 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:29.460 the last few weeks of his life 00:07:29.460 --> 00:07:30.420 and when he dies? 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:33.740 So that's an interesting way of writing a book. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:35.439 And I'm particularly interested, 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:37.019 you may not have noticed, 00:07:37.439 --> 00:07:38.759 but Mark finished 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:41.519 with the angel appearing to the ladies. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.180 And then we're told the ladies are so frightened, 00:07:45.340 --> 00:07:47.579 they run away and they're bewildered 00:07:47.579 --> 00:07:48.759 and they don't tell anyone. 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:50.639 Now you think, 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:51.759 why did he finish there? 00:07:52.019 --> 00:07:52.620 By the way, 00:07:52.620 --> 00:07:54.280 obviously some people didn't think 00:07:54.280 --> 00:07:54.959 that was good enough. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:55.639 So later on, 00:07:55.720 --> 00:07:57.660 some people added stuff at the end of Mark. 00:07:57.980 --> 00:07:58.759 But we know that, 00:07:58.800 --> 00:07:59.680 and if you look at your Bibles, 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:01.660 it says someone added this later. 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:02.879 This is not what Peter wrote. 00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:03.759 So I'm just interested, 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:06.620 why did Peter finish like that? 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:09.379 Well, let's talk about Peter. 00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:10.680 You've heard about Peter? 00:08:11.019 --> 00:08:11.660 Be patient. 00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:15.699 Peter was the leader of the disciples, 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:17.259 but as I put in the outline, 00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:19.959 he was a tragic failure. 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:21.399 In fact, 00:08:21.519 --> 00:08:24.019 Mark 14 just describes 00:08:24.019 --> 00:08:25.639 how terribly hopeless 00:08:25.639 --> 00:08:27.680 and despairingly, 00:08:28.219 --> 00:08:31.299 betrayingly, 00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:33.220 gutlessly, 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:35.879 he reacted to Jesus' hardship. 00:08:36.699 --> 00:08:36.939 In fact, 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:37.699 I'm very impressed. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:38.740 Peter was very honest. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:42.179 He did not let Mark write his story 00:08:42.179 --> 00:08:43.319 so that Peter was the hero. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:46.399 Peter made sure that Mark wrote down 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.159 all the times he got it wrong, 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:49.419 so no one thought, 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:50.779 oh, isn't Peter amazing? 00:08:50.899 --> 00:08:52.079 I'm sure if you had a chance 00:08:52.079 --> 00:08:53.959 to have your biography written, 00:08:54.100 --> 00:08:55.600 you would sort of come out pretty good, 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:56.299 but not Peter. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:08:59.839 So a number of things happened. 00:09:01.299 --> 00:09:01.819 Let me just, 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:03.740 I'm sorry I know you've heard this, 00:09:04.179 --> 00:09:05.120 but let me just go back, 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:05.600 because apparently 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.399 I only got up to Mark 8 recently. 00:09:09.139 --> 00:09:10.379 It's Thursday night. 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:13.339 Jesus gets crucified the next morning. 00:09:13.340 --> 00:09:15.500 And what happens is 00:09:15.500 --> 00:09:18.519 Jesus is walking to the Garden of Gethsemane 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:19.680 where he's going to pray 00:09:19.680 --> 00:09:21.180 and be arrested. 00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:22.480 And as he's walking along, 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:23.780 he says to his disciples, 00:09:24.019 --> 00:09:24.340 actually, 00:09:24.820 --> 00:09:26.139 you're all going to deny me 00:09:26.139 --> 00:09:27.000 and run away. 00:09:28.019 --> 00:09:29.139 Peter says, 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:29.500 well, 00:09:29.879 --> 00:09:30.460 they might, 00:09:30.540 --> 00:09:31.200 but not me. 00:09:32.139 --> 00:09:32.780 Jesus says, 00:09:32.879 --> 00:09:33.080 oh, 00:09:33.139 --> 00:09:33.399 Peter, 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:34.200 I'm telling you, 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:35.000 tonight, 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:36.740 you're going to actually deny me 00:09:36.740 --> 00:09:37.340 three times 00:09:37.860 --> 00:09:39.560 before the cock crows twice. 00:09:39.559 --> 00:09:42.259 And then Peter said to Mark, 00:09:42.699 --> 00:09:45.059 write down what I said. 00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:46.799 I said, 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:48.599 I, 00:09:49.119 --> 00:09:49.399 Peter, 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:51.179 insisted emphatically, 00:09:51.619 --> 00:09:54.099 even if I have to die with you, 00:09:54.199 --> 00:09:56.019 I will never disown you. 00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:57.039 Peter says, 00:09:57.119 --> 00:09:57.739 write that down. 00:09:59.079 --> 00:10:01.359 And that's what Mark writes down. 00:10:02.619 --> 00:10:04.059 When they get to the Garden, 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:05.959 Jesus actually tells 00:10:05.959 --> 00:10:07.879 just Peter, 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:08.799 James and John, 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:11.839 I am absolutely devastated. 00:10:12.019 --> 00:10:13.419 This is what Peter told Mark 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:14.199 to write down. 00:10:15.259 --> 00:10:15.839 Peter says, 00:10:15.979 --> 00:10:18.759 Jesus began to be deeply distressed 00:10:18.759 --> 00:10:19.500 and troubled, 00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:20.939 saying, 00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:24.719 my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow 00:10:24.719 --> 00:10:26.559 to the point of death. 00:10:27.079 --> 00:10:27.839 He said to them, 00:10:28.099 --> 00:10:29.339 stay here and keep watch. 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:30.219 Now, 00:10:30.579 --> 00:10:31.620 never really before 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:34.199 had Jesus ever spoken like that 00:10:34.199 --> 00:10:35.719 to his disciples. 00:10:36.339 --> 00:10:37.179 And it's just to Peter, 00:10:37.319 --> 00:10:37.919 James and John, 00:10:37.959 --> 00:10:38.240 he's saying, 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:38.639 guys, 00:10:38.840 --> 00:10:40.659 I am overwhelmed. 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:43.320 I am frightened. 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.560 I am fearful. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.440 Would you watch for me? 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:49.460 Peter goes and prays. 00:10:49.460 --> 00:10:49.759 Sorry, 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:51.259 then Jesus goes and prays. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:53.720 But what happens is 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.799 Jesus comes back 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:57.039 and he finds them asleep. 00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:59.879 So Peter said to Mark, 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:00.779 write this down. 00:11:00.860 --> 00:11:01.560 He came up 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:02.259 and he said, 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:02.680 Peter, 00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:04.120 are you asleep? 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:06.399 could you not keep watch 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:07.799 for one hour? 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.500 Watch and pray 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:10.600 so that you will not 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:11.860 fall into temptation. 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:13.000 The spirit is willing, 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:14.080 but the body is weak. 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:15.340 I mean, 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:16.320 how did Peter feel? 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:17.879 How often did 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.179 Jesus reach out 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:19.379 and say, 00:11:19.460 --> 00:11:19.580 look, 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:20.820 I've always been there for you, 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:21.759 but right now, 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:23.019 could you be there for me? 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:24.639 I really need your help. 00:11:24.740 --> 00:11:25.919 I'm really frightened 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:26.539 and scared. 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:27.879 Would you be there for me? 00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:29.139 And Peter falls asleep 00:11:29.139 --> 00:11:30.039 with James and John. 00:11:31.199 --> 00:11:31.460 Well, 00:11:31.480 --> 00:11:32.639 he must have felt dreadful. 00:11:33.980 --> 00:11:34.960 Jesus went away 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.120 and to make things work, 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:37.220 Jesus comes back 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:38.059 the second time 00:11:38.059 --> 00:11:40.199 and they're asleep again. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:41.860 And so we read 00:11:41.860 --> 00:11:42.759 in Mark 14, 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:43.319 40, 00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:45.020 when Jesus came back, 00:11:45.080 --> 00:11:46.600 he found them sleeping again 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:47.940 because their eyes were heavy. 00:11:48.400 --> 00:11:50.080 They did not know 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.640 what to say to him. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:55.540 Peter was bewildered. 00:11:56.420 --> 00:11:58.760 He was lost for words. 00:11:59.160 --> 00:12:01.100 He could not believe 00:12:01.100 --> 00:12:02.460 he'd fallen asleep. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.600 And when Jesus woke him up again, 00:12:04.680 --> 00:12:05.400 he's sort of going, 00:12:06.300 --> 00:12:10.880 I'm so sorry. 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:12.540 I don't know how this happened. 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:13.919 Jesus went away 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:14.879 and comes back again 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.319 and again. 00:12:15.659 --> 00:12:16.419 Peter's bewildered. 00:12:16.519 --> 00:12:17.839 He's lost for words. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:18.740 He's flummoxed. 00:12:20.219 --> 00:12:21.539 But when the time comes 00:12:21.539 --> 00:12:22.259 for Jesus 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.939 to be arrested, 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.360 Peter is all brave. 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:27.480 He actually has a sword 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:29.139 and I suspect 00:12:29.139 --> 00:12:30.439 he'd never used it before. 00:12:30.699 --> 00:12:31.719 And so when the baddies come, 00:12:31.719 --> 00:12:32.779 he sort of goes like that 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:34.139 and cuts off an ear, 00:12:34.579 --> 00:12:35.519 which doesn't sound 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:36.679 very fatal to me. 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:38.339 Jesus basically says, 00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:38.819 stop it. 00:12:39.419 --> 00:12:40.219 Don't do that anymore. 00:12:40.220 --> 00:12:43.700 And he lets them arrest him. 00:12:44.440 --> 00:12:45.120 And we're told, 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:45.720 Peter says, 00:12:45.800 --> 00:12:46.540 write this down, 00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:47.940 verse 50 of 14, 00:12:48.639 --> 00:12:49.139 everyone, 00:12:49.740 --> 00:12:51.160 everyone deserted him 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:51.540 and fled, 00:12:51.660 --> 00:12:52.220 including Peter. 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.759 They all ran into the darkness, 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.899 including Peter. 00:12:56.899 --> 00:12:59.539 But then comes 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:01.299 one of the really saddest points 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:01.779 for Peter, 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:02.720 the failure. 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:05.579 Jesus is taken 00:13:05.579 --> 00:13:06.779 to the religious leaders 00:13:06.779 --> 00:13:08.179 and because it's pitch dark, 00:13:08.340 --> 00:13:08.539 I mean, 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.439 Peter could have done this. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.600 He just would have followed 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:11.419 in the darkness, 00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:12.319 the torches, 00:13:12.879 --> 00:13:13.419 and eventually 00:13:13.419 --> 00:13:15.000 they get to the high priest's place 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.659 and Jesus gets taken in. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:17.500 But there's a courtyard 00:13:17.500 --> 00:13:18.699 and it's all dark 00:13:18.699 --> 00:13:20.299 and there's some fires burning. 00:13:20.439 --> 00:13:21.639 So Peter sort of sneaks in 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:22.479 and warms his hand 00:13:22.479 --> 00:13:23.639 and you probably know the story. 00:13:24.339 --> 00:13:24.539 You know, 00:13:24.899 --> 00:13:25.859 weren't you with Jesus? 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:26.219 No, 00:13:26.459 --> 00:13:26.620 no, 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:27.139 of course not. 00:13:27.719 --> 00:13:28.339 Then someone else, 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:29.059 weren't you with Jesus? 00:13:29.199 --> 00:13:29.359 No, 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:30.859 I don't even know the guy. 00:13:32.019 --> 00:13:33.099 Then the third time, 00:13:33.379 --> 00:13:34.899 I'm sure you were with Jesus. 00:13:35.019 --> 00:13:36.519 You are Galilean like him. 00:13:37.359 --> 00:13:39.819 And Peter says to Mark, 00:13:40.079 --> 00:13:42.259 write down what I said. 00:13:42.259 --> 00:13:46.879 I began to call down curses on myself. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.679 I swore to them, 00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:52.799 I don't know this man you're talking about. 00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:56.460 He called down curses on himself. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:59.399 May God himself strike me dead. 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:01.759 I don't know this man. 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:05.019 Immediately the cock crowed 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:05.840 the second time. 00:14:05.960 --> 00:14:07.059 Peter remembered the word 00:14:07.059 --> 00:14:08.399 Jesus had spoken to him 00:14:08.399 --> 00:14:09.860 before the cock crows twice. 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.059 You will disown me three times 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:13.500 and he broke down 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:15.459 and he wept 00:14:15.459 --> 00:14:17.299 and he must have run out 00:14:17.299 --> 00:14:18.239 and again, 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.739 the idea of being bewildered is 00:14:19.739 --> 00:14:21.759 I am so overwhelmed 00:14:21.759 --> 00:14:24.000 by what has just happened. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:26.239 I cannot think straight. 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:27.839 I am weeping. 00:14:28.359 --> 00:14:29.939 I am devastated. 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:32.299 All that I live for has been lost. 00:14:34.439 --> 00:14:37.619 Peter was an abject total failure 00:14:37.619 --> 00:14:38.819 and he says, 00:14:39.099 --> 00:14:40.379 make sure that's down there. 00:14:40.939 --> 00:14:42.939 Don't write me as some kind of super guy. 00:14:44.059 --> 00:14:45.439 But then we come to the women 00:14:45.439 --> 00:14:46.779 and I like this. 00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:48.379 I didn't even occur to me. 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:49.740 I had to read the Bible. 00:14:49.919 --> 00:14:52.039 Oh, the women are the heroes. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:53.279 Go ahead, ladies. 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:55.220 That running thing was very clever. 00:14:55.720 --> 00:14:57.139 Not sure how accurate it was. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:15:00.960 If Peter's a total failure, 00:15:01.259 --> 00:15:03.679 it turns out the women are the heroes. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:06.620 In fact, from this point, 00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:08.840 Peter is not even mentioned again. 00:15:10.019 --> 00:15:12.580 We don't know whether he was at the crucifixion or not. 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:13.220 He's not mentioned. 00:15:13.319 --> 00:15:14.179 I think he may have. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:17.179 He's just not mentioned anymore. 00:15:17.399 --> 00:15:19.159 He's probably away licking his wounds 00:15:19.159 --> 00:15:20.779 and feeling sorry for himself. 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:26.220 Well, the passage that was printed, 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:27.799 sorry, the reason I did it a bit longer, 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:28.659 it starts with, 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:31.179 then Jesus, with a loud cry, 00:15:31.339 --> 00:15:32.959 breathed his last and died. 00:15:33.939 --> 00:15:35.899 And we're told in verse 40, 00:15:36.459 --> 00:15:37.779 which is there, 00:15:38.899 --> 00:15:40.259 the women were there. 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.939 So let me read to you from verse 40. 00:15:41.940 --> 00:16:05.040 We now learn, 00:16:06.040 --> 00:16:09.040 even though Mark has sort of recorded the disciples 00:16:09.040 --> 00:16:10.440 and all the other guys, 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:12.680 we only now learn 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:15.300 that Jesus had been accompanied 00:16:15.300 --> 00:16:17.680 by a number of women the whole time as well. 00:16:18.760 --> 00:16:20.500 And basically their job, if you like, 00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:23.160 was to meet the needs of Jesus and the disciples. 00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:24.860 And just so you know, 00:16:25.020 --> 00:16:25.920 the two that are mentioned, 00:16:26.060 --> 00:16:27.680 there's four times the women are mentioned 00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:30.280 and there's two that are in every time. 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.580 One is Mary the Magdalene 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:33.760 and the other one is Mary, 00:16:33.920 --> 00:16:35.480 mother of James the Younger and Joseph, 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:37.480 which is actually Jesus' mum. 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:39.720 And then later on, 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:41.600 she's called Mary the mother of Joseph 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.500 and then again, 00:16:42.860 --> 00:16:46.740 Mary the mother of James the Younger. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:48.860 They're his brothers. 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:50.800 Very interesting. 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.300 Mary's never, 00:16:52.440 --> 00:16:55.920 not really referred to as the mother of Jesus anymore. 00:16:57.220 --> 00:16:58.779 She's the mother of his brothers. 00:16:59.519 --> 00:16:59.820 Anyhow. 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:03.240 So the women are there. 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.660 All the disciples have run away 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:08.480 and we're told they're there watching the crucifixion. 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:12.059 Now we heard about it on Good Friday. 00:17:12.380 --> 00:17:15.660 May I briefly tell you what they saw. 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:18.759 Because remember we hear them running away, 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:21.860 bewildered after they find the tomb empty. 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.740 What did they see? 00:17:24.640 --> 00:17:27.180 I suspect the first time the women saw him, 00:17:27.320 --> 00:17:29.040 they noticed that Jesus and the disciples 00:17:29.040 --> 00:17:31.640 didn't come home Thursday night 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.240 or just the disciples. 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:35.940 And the first time they see Jesus 00:17:35.940 --> 00:17:38.440 was when he was leaving Pilate's palace. 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:41.819 He was unrecognisable. 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:45.039 Spikes beaten into his head, 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:46.620 face swollen, 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:48.660 eyes and lips from being punched. 00:17:49.120 --> 00:17:51.079 His whole body was covered in blood 00:17:51.079 --> 00:17:52.180 because he'd been flogged. 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:53.359 It was horrific. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:58.599 No doubt they were absolutely gutted 00:17:58.599 --> 00:17:59.579 when they saw him. 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.679 Horrified, 00:18:01.959 --> 00:18:02.599 screaming, 00:18:03.199 --> 00:18:03.639 weeping, 00:18:03.979 --> 00:18:04.399 sobbing. 00:18:05.579 --> 00:18:06.119 Then they're there 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:07.059 and they see him crucified. 00:18:07.879 --> 00:18:09.159 I won't go into great lengths, 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:11.319 but the way a person was crucified, 00:18:11.579 --> 00:18:12.519 which is what they saw, 00:18:12.619 --> 00:18:13.979 a major beam's there. 00:18:14.419 --> 00:18:15.899 They would carry the cross beam, 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:16.959 they'd put it down 00:18:16.959 --> 00:18:19.419 and then they'd lie the person down, 00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:20.740 tie their arms on, 00:18:21.500 --> 00:18:22.979 put spikes through their wrists, 00:18:22.980 --> 00:18:24.160 put their ankles together, 00:18:24.360 --> 00:18:25.460 spike through the ankles, 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.819 then lift them up 00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.779 and drop the cross 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:29.220 in about a half a metre hole, 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:29.860 clunk, 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.700 hit a wedge so it would stay there. 00:18:31.799 --> 00:18:32.519 They saw it happen. 00:18:34.259 --> 00:18:36.400 They saw the next six hours 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:38.480 people screaming and yelling and jeering. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:40.339 It's a little bit hard to imagine, 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:42.299 but in some respects perhaps not. 00:18:42.440 --> 00:18:44.700 People go and watch stonings today. 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:49.339 People would go and watch crucifixions. 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.960 Not quite the same, 00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.299 but like going to a footy match. 00:18:52.980 --> 00:18:54.360 They'd all yell and jeer. 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:56.480 They'd probably take wages. 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:58.099 Who's going to cry for mummy first? 00:18:58.099 --> 00:19:02.360 It was a terrible, voyeuristic, 00:19:03.120 --> 00:19:06.339 gut-wrenching, bloodthirsty sport 00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:07.559 that people like to watch. 00:19:07.700 --> 00:19:09.140 And so the women saw them 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:12.660 yelling, ridiculing, mocking. 00:19:14.519 --> 00:19:15.740 And then we hear Jesus 00:19:15.740 --> 00:19:17.839 at the top of that reading, 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.980 verse 37, 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:20.860 he cries out with a loud cry. 00:19:21.360 --> 00:19:23.000 He actually says just before it, 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.900 my God, my God, 00:19:23.980 --> 00:19:25.360 why have you forsaken me? 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:28.680 And he dies. 00:19:29.860 --> 00:19:31.160 Then we read at the end, 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.140 verse 47, 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.019 that what happens was 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.400 not only did Jesus die, 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:39.400 but eventually the others were killed 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:41.120 and all taken off the cross. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:43.200 And what happens when everyone would go home? 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:45.420 So everyone went home, 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:47.279 the bodies are still on the crosses 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:49.019 and Mary Magdalene 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.539 and Mary, 00:19:49.819 --> 00:19:50.539 mother of Jesus, 00:19:50.980 --> 00:19:51.620 are just there. 00:19:53.259 --> 00:19:54.420 And while they're there, 00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:57.039 we're told a man, 00:19:57.580 --> 00:19:58.620 stranger to them, 00:19:58.700 --> 00:20:00.000 but obviously an important man 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:00.600 who's dressed up 00:20:00.600 --> 00:20:01.940 in his religious regalia, 00:20:03.080 --> 00:20:05.400 came to take the body of Jesus down. 00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:08.660 Now, I've noticed paintings 00:20:08.660 --> 00:20:10.500 have people lovingly 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:12.080 trying to get Jesus from the cross. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:12.800 There's only one way 00:20:12.800 --> 00:20:13.519 they'd get him down. 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:15.080 They'd lift it out of the thing 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:16.280 and it'd slam on the ground. 00:20:16.360 --> 00:20:17.640 The only way to get the spikes out 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:18.900 would be to hit them like this, 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:20.360 which would totally destroy 00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:21.800 hands and feet. 00:20:22.300 --> 00:20:23.220 And then the corpse 00:20:23.220 --> 00:20:24.940 was thrown into a grave. 00:20:25.960 --> 00:20:28.180 Well, this man took his body, 00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:30.500 put some kind of shroud on it, 00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:32.380 probably on a donkey or something, 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.560 and took it to a tomb. 00:20:33.559 --> 00:20:35.079 And we're told the women 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:36.119 followed them. 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:38.559 They actually followed them 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:40.460 and saw where Jesus was put. 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:44.000 Then we're told, 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:48.700 verse 1 of chapter 16, 00:20:49.679 --> 00:20:50.639 after all, 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:53.039 so that was Friday night 00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.240 and when the sun goes down, 00:20:54.339 --> 00:20:55.339 the Sabbath began, 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:56.759 which means they couldn't do anything 00:20:56.759 --> 00:20:58.279 except go to synagogue 00:20:58.279 --> 00:20:59.159 and be sort of, 00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.500 there's no markets. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:02.039 So at the end of Saturday, 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:03.039 could you imagine, 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:05.220 just how devastated, 00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:06.079 gutted, 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:06.819 grieving, 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:07.919 overcome, 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:10.019 bewildered you would be, 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:11.440 the one you thought 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:13.139 was the king of the world, 00:21:13.899 --> 00:21:14.539 now dead. 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:16.700 So we're told that night 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:18.679 when the Sabbath was over, 00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:20.839 they could go and buy spices. 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.960 Women were the ones 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.859 that normally would embalm the dead 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:26.419 and, I mean, 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.299 they weren't necessarily 00:21:27.299 --> 00:21:28.179 thinking straight, 00:21:28.299 --> 00:21:30.679 but he wasn't prepared properly, 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.799 so they were going to go 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:33.080 and do it. 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.500 And now we come to Sunday morning 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.420 and let me read to you, 00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.799 it's printed there for you, 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:40.180 from verse 2. 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.700 Very early on the first day 00:21:43.700 --> 00:21:44.100 of the week, 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.279 just after sunrise, 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:46.200 they were on their way 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.820 to the tomb 00:21:46.820 --> 00:21:48.700 and they asked each other, 00:21:48.779 --> 00:21:50.060 who will roll the stone away 00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:51.220 from the entrance of the tomb? 00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:53.600 See, they hadn't even thought about it. 00:21:54.140 --> 00:21:55.220 How are we going to get in there? 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:56.819 We saw this massive stone 00:21:56.819 --> 00:21:57.299 put across. 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:59.000 They weren't thinking straight, 00:21:59.059 --> 00:21:59.759 this is what you do 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:00.360 when you're grieving. 00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:02.120 They just hadn't worked out 00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:02.920 what they were going to do. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.539 But when they looked up, 00:22:05.600 --> 00:22:06.600 they saw that the stone, 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:07.620 which was very large, 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:08.579 had been rolled away 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:09.720 and as they entered the tomb, 00:22:09.779 --> 00:22:10.799 they saw a young man 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:12.160 dressed in a white robe 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:13.299 sitting on the right side. 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:15.079 They were alarmed. 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:17.059 The angel says, 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:17.960 don't be alarmed, 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.220 you are looking for Jesus, 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.220 the Nazarene, 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.180 who was crucified. 00:22:22.220 --> 00:22:24.660 He has risen. 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:27.360 He is not here. 00:22:27.980 --> 00:22:28.779 See the place 00:22:28.779 --> 00:22:30.160 where they laid him. 00:22:30.880 --> 00:22:32.079 But go tell his disciples 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.539 and Peter, 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.600 he's going ahead of you 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.400 into Galilee. 00:22:34.940 --> 00:22:36.120 There you will see him 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:38.480 just as he told you. 00:22:40.220 --> 00:22:42.000 Now, there is absolutely 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:44.500 no way in the world 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:48.039 these women expected this. 00:22:49.319 --> 00:22:50.559 They saw Jesus 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:52.039 so brutally murdered, 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:54.680 they knew he was dead 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:56.060 and they had been 00:22:56.060 --> 00:22:57.560 grieving enormously. 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.420 They were not thinking 00:23:00.420 --> 00:23:01.160 straight about 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:02.340 embalming his body 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.960 but that's what 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:04.019 they'd come to do. 00:23:05.380 --> 00:23:06.340 The last thing, 00:23:06.680 --> 00:23:08.120 the last thing 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:09.240 in a million years 00:23:09.240 --> 00:23:09.940 was that Jesus 00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.620 would come back 00:23:10.620 --> 00:23:11.120 from the dead. 00:23:12.240 --> 00:23:13.360 The last thing. 00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:15.340 It was absolutely impossible 00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:16.380 for someone like that 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:16.900 to come back. 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:18.400 They just did not expect it. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:20.460 So when the angel 00:23:20.460 --> 00:23:21.460 said that, 00:23:23.400 --> 00:23:24.140 it's like, 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:24.840 you know, 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:25.960 slap it, 00:23:26.040 --> 00:23:28.400 I just cannot process 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:30.300 what you have just said. 00:23:31.280 --> 00:23:33.240 My world has gone 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.880 from complete, 00:23:35.140 --> 00:23:36.340 total devastation 00:23:36.340 --> 00:23:36.680 to, 00:23:36.980 --> 00:23:37.740 is it possible? 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.140 No, 00:23:38.320 --> 00:23:39.180 surely not. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.759 Is it, 00:23:39.980 --> 00:23:40.259 is it, 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.360 I, 00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.259 can you understand 00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.519 what bewilderment means? 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:45.019 I just cannot 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:47.160 take this in. 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.559 And so we're told, 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.119 verse 8, 00:23:50.200 --> 00:23:51.299 trembling and bewildered, 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:53.180 the women went out 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:54.279 and fled from the tomb. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:55.879 They said nothing 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.500 to anyone 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:57.579 because they were afraid. 00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:59.740 And that's how it ends. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.900 That's how Peter 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:02.559 and Mark 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.139 decided 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:04.579 to finish the story. 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.779 Well, 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.279 why did it end 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:09.759 that way? 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:11.819 I mean, 00:24:11.879 --> 00:24:12.640 we know this isn't 00:24:12.640 --> 00:24:13.379 the end of the story 00:24:13.379 --> 00:24:14.519 because they literally did 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.759 when they came to their senses 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:16.799 thinking hallelujah, 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:17.960 went and told the disciples 00:24:17.960 --> 00:24:18.720 and off it went. 00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.799 We know Jesus 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:21.839 then appears to them 00:24:21.839 --> 00:24:23.140 and to the other disciples. 00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:24.000 In fact, 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.619 that's how Christianity 00:24:25.619 --> 00:24:26.480 started. 00:24:27.160 --> 00:24:28.819 This is 30 years later. 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.160 Peter had been telling 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.879 his story 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.839 for 30 years. 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.680 Everyone who was a Christian 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.700 or heard of Christianity 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:35.879 knew Jesus had risen 00:24:35.879 --> 00:24:36.579 from the dead. 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:39.559 In fact, 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.839 I think it would be impossible 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.720 for someone 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:43.000 in Mark's day 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:45.720 to not know 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:47.579 that Christians taught 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.919 Jesus died 00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:50.119 and rose from the dead. 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.559 I mean, 00:24:50.579 --> 00:24:51.799 if they knew anything else, 00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.839 but they would have known that. 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:55.319 That's what Christians 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:56.119 were all about. 00:24:56.460 --> 00:24:57.019 He died 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:57.879 and rose from the dead. 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:59.119 So why did they 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.079 write it like this? 00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:02.519 Well, 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.159 who knows? 00:25:03.159 --> 00:25:04.019 You realise 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:06.099 it was extremely expensive, 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:06.779 this gospel. 00:25:07.619 --> 00:25:08.799 It would have been endorsed 00:25:08.799 --> 00:25:09.579 by the apostle. 00:25:10.199 --> 00:25:11.279 It would have been started 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:12.179 to be distributed 00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:13.399 at great cost, 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:15.159 probably only to major 00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:15.899 church leaders 00:25:15.899 --> 00:25:17.199 or major churches. 00:25:17.879 --> 00:25:20.179 Copies were extensively done, 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:21.579 but it took a long time. 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.779 And the only way 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.500 you would have heard it, 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.959 you wouldn't go to the local library 00:25:24.959 --> 00:25:26.179 and get your own gospel. 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.559 You would have to be 00:25:27.559 --> 00:25:28.459 in a group of Christians 00:25:28.459 --> 00:25:29.819 and it would be read to you. 00:25:30.240 --> 00:25:31.899 Why did they finish like that? 00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:32.299 Well, 00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:34.719 it normally would have been read 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:35.339 out loud 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:37.259 and I guess 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:37.900 when it finished, 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:39.180 people would have responded 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.680 and commented. 00:25:43.900 --> 00:25:45.220 But I think more than anything, 00:25:45.360 --> 00:25:46.779 they could have related 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:48.100 to the women's 00:25:48.100 --> 00:25:49.000 bewilderment, 00:25:49.620 --> 00:25:49.920 terror, 00:25:50.279 --> 00:25:50.640 fear, 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:51.339 fleeing. 00:25:53.140 --> 00:25:54.039 Their lives have been 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.940 turned upside down. 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:57.539 I mean, 00:25:58.259 --> 00:26:01.320 this is the most significant news 00:26:01.320 --> 00:26:02.299 of human history. 00:26:02.539 --> 00:26:05.039 If Jesus did actually rise 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:05.980 from the dead, 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:09.000 that changes everything. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:10.440 In fact, 00:26:10.500 --> 00:26:10.980 I would argue 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:12.539 there's nothing more important 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:14.960 than Jesus rising from the dead. 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:15.960 You obviously have things 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.559 that you consider 00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.440 very important 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.820 and the temptation 00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:20.140 that every single Christian, 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:20.920 including people 00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:21.660 who are not Christians, 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:22.000 sorry, 00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:23.539 wherever we are, 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:24.740 we always have something 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.619 that's more important 00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.139 than this. 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:28.720 That's what sin is all about. 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:31.279 And so, 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.319 I don't know who you are, 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.659 but there'll be some here 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:36.680 that I'm shocked, 00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.779 I'm horrified, 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:38.879 except I'm not surprised 00:26:38.879 --> 00:26:39.899 because I'm identical. 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.659 This massive truth 00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:44.000 is no longer 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.059 the most important thing. 00:26:46.819 --> 00:26:47.940 My prayer for you 00:26:47.940 --> 00:26:48.319 would be 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.619 that you are bewildered, 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.359 that you are knocked 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.200 off your perch, 00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.480 you are hit for a six, 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:54.839 you are totally 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:56.220 knocked to the ground 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.659 by this truth, 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:58.720 realising 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.039 what I'm living for 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:00.579 at the moment 00:27:00.579 --> 00:27:01.799 isn't worth living for. 00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:03.480 My latest statement is 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:05.019 if what you're living for 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:06.279 isn't worth dying for, 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:07.619 it's not worth living for. 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:09.000 And there's a lot of people 00:27:09.000 --> 00:27:09.940 who think real estate, 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:10.879 money, career, 00:27:11.940 --> 00:27:13.099 that's not what life's about 00:27:13.099 --> 00:27:13.819 because believe me, 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:14.940 it's not worth dying for. 00:27:15.019 --> 00:27:15.920 You never hear someone 00:27:15.920 --> 00:27:17.339 on their deathbed 00:27:17.339 --> 00:27:17.720 saying, 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:19.119 if only I'd invested more 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:19.879 in the share market. 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:22.760 If only I had just 00:27:22.760 --> 00:27:23.700 nailed that deal 00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:25.200 with that new real estate. 00:27:25.520 --> 00:27:27.020 It's not important 00:27:27.020 --> 00:27:28.020 and they know it. 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.180 So my prayer is 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:31.280 whatever it is for you 00:27:31.280 --> 00:27:32.160 and same for me, 00:27:32.600 --> 00:27:34.440 we will be totally bewildered 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.220 when we realise 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:36.300 this is worthless. 00:27:37.900 --> 00:27:38.140 Okay? 00:27:38.780 --> 00:27:39.580 And last thing, 00:27:40.820 --> 00:27:43.020 Peter does get a mention. 00:27:44.020 --> 00:27:44.680 Did you notice 00:27:44.680 --> 00:27:45.380 verse seven? 00:27:46.340 --> 00:27:47.180 Very wonderful. 00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:50.120 The angel told the women 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:52.160 to tell the disciples 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.660 and Peter. 00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.300 See verse seven? 00:27:55.420 --> 00:27:56.560 Go tell his disciples 00:27:56.560 --> 00:27:57.220 and Peter. 00:27:57.800 --> 00:27:59.000 He's going ahead of you 00:27:59.000 --> 00:27:59.740 into Galilee. 00:28:01.020 --> 00:28:03.220 There is a very good chance 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.220 that Peter 00:28:04.220 --> 00:28:06.980 had completely lost face. 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:08.980 Saw himself as having 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:10.700 absolutely no authority, 00:28:11.400 --> 00:28:12.540 no credence. 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:13.840 He was immoral, 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:14.840 he was faithless 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:16.000 and he could not lead 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.500 and yet the angel says, 00:28:17.679 --> 00:28:18.159 tell Peter, 00:28:18.459 --> 00:28:19.059 tell Peter, 00:28:19.699 --> 00:28:20.559 Jesus has said 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:21.659 he'll meet him in Galilee. 00:28:22.259 --> 00:28:22.879 Can I just say 00:28:22.879 --> 00:28:24.039 the last thing I want to say? 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.419 It does not matter 00:28:25.419 --> 00:28:26.679 what you have done. 00:28:28.019 --> 00:28:29.419 Peter could not have done 00:28:29.419 --> 00:28:30.579 much worse 00:28:30.579 --> 00:28:31.480 than what he did. 00:28:32.639 --> 00:28:33.480 But Jesus says, 00:28:33.879 --> 00:28:34.319 tell him, 00:28:35.399 --> 00:28:35.939 tell him, 00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.699 forgiveness and future, 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:39.119 forgiveness and future. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:41.039 I pray for any of you 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:42.000 who do not yet 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:45.239 serve and follow Jesus, 00:28:45.439 --> 00:28:46.759 I pray that you will be 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.719 bewildered 00:28:47.719 --> 00:28:49.079 by the truth 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:50.679 that sets people free. 00:28:51.099 --> 00:28:52.779 You will be so unsettled 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.579 by the fact that 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.359 what you live for 00:28:54.359 --> 00:28:56.259 is just not worth living for 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:57.399 and you realise 00:28:57.399 --> 00:28:58.039 this 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.239 is 00:28:59.239 --> 00:29:00.359 everything 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:02.319 and it changes everything. 00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:03.500 Let me pray. 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.460 Let me pray. 00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:10.460 Let me pray. 00:29:17.460 --> 00:29:18.259 We will take you