WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.099 In preparation for Easter, I read The Da Vinci Code. 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:08.859 I'm serious. I read The Da Vinci Code as preparation for Easter. 00:00:09.040 --> 00:00:13.200 I figured it sold like 30 million copies or something like that in hardcover. 00:00:13.820 --> 00:00:18.260 It's going to be a movie with Tom Hanks in a couple of weeks. 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:20.339 And I thought, you know, I should read this book. 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:24.080 And you know what? I'm really glad I read it because I discovered 00:00:24.080 --> 00:00:28.000 that I'm a direct descendant of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.179 So listen, I want a bit more respect from you folks. 00:00:34.579 --> 00:00:39.560 I have to confess that when I read that, I came downstairs to tell my wife, 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:41.480 and she wasn't particularly impressed, 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:45.579 that I'm a direct descendant of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. 00:00:46.019 --> 00:00:48.879 But if you read the book, it's right towards the end it's revealed 00:00:48.879 --> 00:00:54.700 that there are two family lines which are direct descendants of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. 00:00:54.740 --> 00:00:56.960 I can't remember what the other one is because that doesn't really matter. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:58.740 But one of them is St. Clair. 00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:01.380 And St. Clair was originally St. Clair. 00:01:01.500 --> 00:01:04.740 When the French St. Clairs invaded... 00:01:04.740 --> 00:01:07.620 That's the truth, folks. 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:10.960 So really, I'm a St. Clair. 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:16.320 And therefore, when Jesus and Mary Magdalene married and had children and all that stuff, 00:01:16.379 --> 00:01:17.780 I'm a direct descendant. 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:21.859 So me, I want a bit more respect, not all this laughter. 00:01:22.020 --> 00:01:22.400 Gosh. 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:22.480 Gosh. 00:01:22.820 --> 00:01:27.960 I have to confess that as I read the book, I would often have this experience that probably 00:01:27.960 --> 00:01:29.160 the author hadn't intended. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:34.780 I would break out laughing as I read the book, which I'm sure wasn't the intended part. 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:39.580 But it's like a few weeks ago, I was talking to a doctor friend. 00:01:39.579 --> 00:01:43.539 And I asked him as we were talking, if you ever watched CSI or ER or those shows. 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:49.420 And he said, well, the last time you watched CSI, they were saying how something... 00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:51.259 This proves that somebody died in such a way. 00:01:51.299 --> 00:01:53.500 And they threw up the x-ray to look at it. 00:01:53.560 --> 00:01:59.079 And the x-ray actually indicated the exact opposite of what they interpreted in the show. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:00.939 I mean, CSI got it completely wrong. 00:02:01.019 --> 00:02:05.200 And he said he has a hard time reading it, watching CSI, because they get things wrong 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.280 all the time, or ER. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:10.060 And I guess, you know, I would... 00:02:10.060 --> 00:02:17.379 The Da Vinci Code gets things so spectacularly wrong time after time after time that it was... 00:02:17.379 --> 00:02:19.520 I found it funny, actually. 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:23.780 But I kept reading it, and I really am glad that I did, because then I found out that I'm 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:25.919 descendant of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:30.739 And, of course, it really begs the question all the way through, if Jesus had just not 00:02:30.739 --> 00:02:35.199 died, if he really just had been a little bit of a failure, you know, he had this three-year 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:39.439 career, like some pop group in the 60s, you know, and then completely fades out of... 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:40.459 Like, why would anybody bother? 00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:44.039 Like, why would it matter that I'm the descendant, or anybody else is a descendant? 00:02:44.519 --> 00:02:49.519 But I'm here to share with you that the Da Vinci Code got it completely wrong, and that 00:02:49.519 --> 00:02:53.739 Jesus did die on the cross, and he rose again on the third day. 00:02:53.740 --> 00:02:59.980 And it doesn't matter whether you are a supposed direct descendant of Jesus. 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:08.300 What matters is that you can become the child of God by adoption and grace through faith 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:12.340 in Jesus Christ, who tasted all there is to taste of death. 00:03:13.160 --> 00:03:18.760 And after bearing our sins and our rebellion in his body, and on the third day, he rose again. 00:03:19.660 --> 00:03:20.600 He rose again. 00:03:20.599 --> 00:03:26.740 The story which we have before us today, that text in the Bible that we have before us today, 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:33.359 it begins with an experience that, well, it probably for the disciples, some of them thought 00:03:33.359 --> 00:03:35.979 they were maybe having an experience that they'd had before. 00:03:36.579 --> 00:03:40.479 And in fact, some of them maybe were thinking it had an experience like what some of you might 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:41.659 have had happen to you. 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:47.599 I don't know if you know this, but it's quite common that after a loved one has died, that 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:51.900 people believe they see their loved one within several days of their death. 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:57.519 In fact, just somebody connected to this congregation, just a couple of months ago, they were telling 00:03:57.519 --> 00:04:04.340 me that after their loved one died, that within the next couple of days, there were two particular 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:05.939 times when they saw their loved one. 00:04:06.859 --> 00:04:08.280 Now, I don't know what that means. 00:04:08.459 --> 00:04:10.159 Like, I'm just going to say they think they saw them. 00:04:10.180 --> 00:04:10.919 I don't know what that means. 00:04:11.019 --> 00:04:11.780 I'm not a psychologist. 00:04:11.780 --> 00:04:15.360 I'm not a doctor, and I don't really know what I think about it. 00:04:15.419 --> 00:04:20.279 But in fact, many people have told me over the years that shortly after the death of 00:04:20.279 --> 00:04:25.379 a loved one, they believe they see the loved one, and that the loved one, they believe 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:26.040 they see them. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:33.699 And so the story of the gospel today begins with the disciples seeing Jesus. 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:36.720 And at first, they don't really think it's like Jesus physically. 00:04:36.860 --> 00:04:38.459 They think it's something else. 00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:44.060 They, in fact, think that it's a spirit or a ghost, and they're terrified by what they 00:04:44.060 --> 00:04:44.419 see. 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:48.680 You know, part of the reason I think they're terrified is, and this is another very common 00:04:48.680 --> 00:04:52.359 experience which people often don't like to talk about unless it's with their very closest 00:04:52.359 --> 00:04:58.839 friends, but it's a very common experience that when somebody dies suddenly, our last words 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:00.819 with that person weren't always good. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:08.620 I mean, many people have had the experience that they've had a terrible fight with the 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:09.099 person. 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:13.800 They've been very angry at that person, and then the person has died suddenly. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:20.100 And it can often be something which causes a lot of grief and guilt because of the parting 00:05:20.100 --> 00:05:23.779 being so terrible and maybe so vitriolic. 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:30.219 And all of the disciples, with the exception maybe of John, who had a bit of an ambiguous 00:05:30.219 --> 00:05:37.559 last few hours with Jesus before his crucifixion, other than John, the beloved disciple, who had 00:05:37.559 --> 00:05:41.199 a bit of an ambiguous thing, the other ten of them had failed miserably. 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:44.399 I mean, quite bluntly, they had failed miserably. 00:05:44.599 --> 00:05:47.919 They had abandoned Jesus. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:49.120 They'd been hiding. 00:05:49.879 --> 00:05:55.160 Peter had denied them, and they had not done a really good—they hadn't really been very 00:05:55.160 --> 00:05:58.439 courageous or even just good friends. 00:05:59.220 --> 00:06:04.620 And so I guess they're troubled with a guilty conscience, and then all of a sudden they think 00:06:04.620 --> 00:06:10.220 that they see Jesus in this locked room, and they're terrified, and they're spooked. 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:15.259 And part of the reason that they're spooked—you know, it's one of those—probably those experiences—all 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:18.339 of us have had experiences, you know, where the hair in the back of our neck starts to 00:06:18.339 --> 00:06:18.719 rise. 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:24.899 And for them, it was—they're just literally talking about Jesus, and there they think 00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:25.480 they see him. 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:33.180 In fact, you see, what had happened is that they were discussing that at least four times 00:06:33.180 --> 00:06:35.019 that day people had seen Jesus. 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:37.939 Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus. 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:43.939 The women in the garden, the women leaving to tell the disciples had seen Jesus. 00:06:43.939 --> 00:06:46.079 Peter had seen Jesus. 00:06:46.500 --> 00:06:50.800 And then these two men who'd been walking to Emmaus on their way back, they had seen Jesus. 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:56.879 And they're all in this closed room talking about it with their guilty consciences, and 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.980 there Jesus is standing in the middle of a locked room. 00:07:01.159 --> 00:07:02.500 And they are spooked. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:05.279 The hair goes up in the back of their necks. 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:06.759 They are scared. 00:07:06.759 --> 00:07:10.819 And Jesus is so kind. 00:07:11.339 --> 00:07:12.659 He says, peace to you. 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:15.099 They're still terrified and frightened. 00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:17.219 Actually, I'm going to just look at a few of the things in the text. 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:21.860 If you want to follow along, it's page 917 of your Pew Bibles, Luke 24. 00:07:22.860 --> 00:07:27.620 And I'm just going to read verse 38, and we'll just sort of look at the story in detail. 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:32.399 And Jesus said to them, why are you troubled? 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:33.459 Verse 38. 00:07:33.579 --> 00:07:35.560 And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 00:07:36.439 --> 00:07:42.259 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:48.060 Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:52.800 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:08:07.340 See, one of the things which the text, even as Luke is recounting this true incident of how Jesus appeared after his death and resurrection to the disciples, 00:08:07.840 --> 00:08:14.759 even as Jesus is convincing them that he is alive, he is also convincing them that he really died. 00:08:16.340 --> 00:08:19.699 At the same time, he's convincing them of both at the same time. 00:08:19.699 --> 00:08:22.659 And that's why he's saying, you know, listen, I want you to come up. 00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:23.800 I want you to touch me. 00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:25.599 You know, in a sense, you know, you can punch me. 00:08:25.659 --> 00:08:26.659 You can do whatever you want. 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:30.659 I want you to feel that I am a completely solid person. 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:36.500 You're not just having an experience of seeing a loved one and in grief after they've died. 00:08:36.639 --> 00:08:37.740 And I'm not a ghost. 00:08:38.080 --> 00:08:38.980 You can come and touch me. 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:43.200 But one of the things is even when he's proving that he's alive, he's proving that he had died. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:49.299 He said, come and look and look at the nail prints in my hands and look at the nail prints in my feet. 00:08:49.299 --> 00:08:53.319 And there's a similar story which is told in John of the same incident. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:09:00.939 And, you know, he's even saying, you know, he's almost offering to remove part of his robe so you can see where the spear went in. 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:09.179 That the risen body of Jesus bore the marks of the show that he had suffered and he had died. 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:25.039 It's a real characteristic of Gnostics, of many mystical types, of many people who were very, very spiritual, of Muslims as well, to not want to believe that Jesus actually died. 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:27.099 They all have different theories about it. 00:09:27.559 --> 00:09:32.039 You know, Holy Blood and Holy Grail and the Da Vinci Code and the Koran. 00:09:32.039 --> 00:09:34.980 And they all have different theories of what happens. 00:09:35.079 --> 00:09:40.519 But they don't want to actually say that Jesus died upon the cross, died a shameful death. 00:09:41.099 --> 00:09:48.579 And yet in the actual evidence that's given, in the eyewitness accounts of what happened after the death and resurrection of Jesus, 00:09:48.719 --> 00:09:54.759 we see that Jesus himself wants to convince the disciples that he really had died. 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:58.319 I mean, they already had seen that he had died. 00:09:59.159 --> 00:10:03.179 They knew about the spear going into the side. 00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:05.120 They knew about the blood and the water coming out. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.580 They knew where he had been buried. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:14.480 Everything about this account shows that the disciples believed Jesus to be dead and expected him to stay dead. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:21.860 And even as Jesus is proving the resurrection, he wants to show them that he really had suffered and that he really had died. 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:25.399 Yet he wants to show them that he's really alive. 00:10:26.440 --> 00:10:32.139 And then the story goes, they obviously have touched his hands and his feet. 00:10:32.800 --> 00:10:36.000 But in verse 41, it says something which is a little bit puzzling at first. 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:41.919 It says, but while they still did not believe for joy and marveled, he said to them, have you any food here? 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:47.740 So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb and he took it and ate it in their presence. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:51.840 See that phrase, but while they still did not believe for joy and marveled? 00:10:52.860 --> 00:10:57.460 Quite a few years ago, my wife and I were in a real financial crisis. 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:04.800 And just a terrible, terrible, terrible, we have never been in such a bad financial crisis as quite a few years ago. 00:11:04.899 --> 00:11:07.560 And needless to say, we were praying about it a lot. 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:13.220 And then one day out of the blue, a check came for us. 00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:18.340 And I opened the check up and I thought, oh wow, this is going to really help. 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:23.320 Because we were wondering if we were going to have to declare bankruptcy, which we didn't want to do. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:29.860 And we were just, and we got this, I got this check and I opened it up and I just thought, this is just so fantastic. 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:31.200 This is just going to really help. 00:11:31.200 --> 00:11:35.300 And then I put it in my pocket and I'm starting to go home. 00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:41.060 And then I look at the check again and I realize that there's one zero more there than I had thought the first time. 00:11:41.800 --> 00:11:44.220 An extra zero in a good place. 00:11:44.220 --> 00:11:54.100 Not only was that check there to help me cover my expenses, but there was ten times more money in that check than I had thought. 00:11:54.560 --> 00:11:56.279 And I had this experience. 00:11:56.800 --> 00:11:59.279 I'd look at the check and I couldn't believe it. 00:11:59.320 --> 00:12:00.740 And then I'd put it back in my pocket. 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:03.920 And then like 15 seconds later, I'd look at the check. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:05.960 And then I'd put it back in my pocket. 00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:07.080 And then I'd look at the check. 00:12:07.160 --> 00:12:13.100 I just couldn't believe that not only had God answered prayer by sending a check, but the check had an extra zero in it. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:21.120 Ten times more money, which was, it was like literally one of the most spectacular answers to prayer that had ever happened in my life. 00:12:21.240 --> 00:12:23.100 It cleared up our financial problems. 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:25.960 That extra zero made that much of a difference. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:32.000 But I literally at that time had that experience of believing but not believing because of joy. 00:12:32.560 --> 00:12:41.980 I had to keep looking and looking and looking at that check because it was so hard to believe that not only I'd had it, but it had that extra zero. 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:45.639 And that's exactly what is being described here. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:49.840 But while they still did not believe for joy and marveled. 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.800 They just, they look at Jesus. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.039 They touch Jesus. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:55.320 They hear Jesus. 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:57.279 He's not angry at them. 00:12:57.639 --> 00:12:59.139 He says peace to them. 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:00.980 And they know it's Jesus. 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:09.800 There's something about him which, you know, you know one of the things, a lot of the gospel accounts, I was thinking about this all week. 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:14.019 You know, a lot of the gospel accounts, people don't recognize Jesus at first. 00:13:14.099 --> 00:13:15.919 They recognize him but don't recognize him. 00:13:16.059 --> 00:13:22.779 You know, I'm just going to give you my pious imagination about this. 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:23.500 Okay, folks. 00:13:23.979 --> 00:13:26.179 But you know what I wonder if it, you know what I wonder if it was? 00:13:26.959 --> 00:13:31.199 Remember, over the last couple of weeks we've been talking about the fall in the church. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:43.940 And in the fall I've said how every single thing in the universe has been sort of bent or twisted, is now slightly out of shape as a result of man's fall. 00:13:44.780 --> 00:13:45.700 You know what I think it was? 00:13:45.800 --> 00:13:53.740 I think in a world where everything is slightly bent and we don't see that everything is slightly bent because everything is slightly bent. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:58.720 But after the resurrection, Jesus was the one unbent thing in the entire universe. 00:13:59.680 --> 00:14:03.820 And they couldn't figure out how he looked like Jesus but didn't look like Jesus. 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:09.680 And that's also maybe one of the reasons why people were so startled and so fearful when they first see Jesus. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:16.639 Because it would be as if the entire room and the entire universe all of a sudden feels like it's slightly out of whack. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:21.360 And as if the ground that we're standing on isn't quite level. 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:26.620 It's as if gravity isn't quite just pulling us towards the earth but maybe pulling us a little bit to the side. 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:35.559 And everything is profoundly disorienting because the one unbent thing in the universe is standing in their presence. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.480 And so they're startled. 00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:41.220 They're afraid. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.319 They're overcome with wonder. 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:45.179 They're overcome with joy. 00:14:45.179 --> 00:14:52.379 And they actually take, Jesus takes a piece of fish and some honeycomb and eats it in their presence. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:57.519 Which in Jewish custom of that day, that means he's having table fellowship with them. 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.019 It means he's their friend. 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:00.979 Verse 44. 00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:02.620 Then he said to them, 00:15:03.359 --> 00:15:06.459 These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, 00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:14.120 that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning me. 00:15:14.120 --> 00:15:19.259 Jesus said that when we read the Bible, the Bible is a story of Jesus. 00:15:20.179 --> 00:15:21.919 And he opened their understanding. 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:26.980 He opened their mind that they might comprehend the scriptures. 00:15:26.980 --> 00:15:28.820 Then he said to them, 00:15:28.820 --> 00:15:36.060 Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and arise from the dead the third day, 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:42.120 and that repentance and remission of sin should be preached in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:44.639 And you are witnesses of these things. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:55.720 You know, when I read the comics on Saturday, I still miss Calvin and Hobbes. 00:15:56.199 --> 00:15:58.419 And I still miss The Far Side. 00:15:58.779 --> 00:16:03.319 And I think that comics have never quite recovered from those two writers retiring. 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:06.259 But the one comic strip I always read is Dilbert. 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:10.340 And you know, there is the pointy-headed boss. 00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:11.319 Isn't that what his name is? 00:16:11.659 --> 00:16:13.519 What's the boss who's completely clueless? 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:15.539 And I still remember this one time. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:20.080 He would take his computer mouse and he would talk into it. 00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:27.360 And he couldn't understand why talking into the mouse wouldn't bring the secretary or wouldn't bring anybody. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:30.919 Like, he didn't understand that the mouse was connected to the computer. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:34.139 He thought it was some type of phone or intercom or whatever. 00:16:34.139 --> 00:16:40.480 And of course, they make a whole series of rude jokes about the boss who's so completely and utterly dumb. 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:48.379 And, you know, it's because that the mouse is designed to fit in with the computer in a particular way that it only works and such. 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:53.439 Well, you folks know this better than I do because I can hardly work a computer at all. 00:16:54.279 --> 00:17:01.939 And what Jesus is saying in all of these things is that even though the disciples at times thought that things were going way out of whack 00:17:01.940 --> 00:17:09.480 and that everything was way out of control, what Jesus is saying is that while everything might look like it was chaotic and right out of control, 00:17:09.580 --> 00:17:16.460 in fact, everything that happened happened because it was God's plan with nothing left out. 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:19.039 There wasn't a part of God's plan that didn't work. 00:17:19.420 --> 00:17:22.000 There wasn't a part of God's plan that got done a wrong way. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:29.380 That every single thing that happened had been promised over centuries and centuries and centuries. 00:17:29.819 --> 00:17:32.259 Jesus fulfills all of those promises. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:38.200 And at the very, very pinnacle of God's promises are these three things. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.359 The first one is that Christ would suffer. 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:44.740 And that means that he was to die upon the cross. 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:51.880 The second thing that was necessary was that a part of God's plan is that Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day. 00:17:52.460 --> 00:17:55.960 And that's what Luke is trying to share with us as to what in fact happened. 00:17:56.500 --> 00:18:00.579 And the third thing, and the third thing involves you and me. 00:18:01.420 --> 00:18:08.960 The third thing is that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:12.240 That's what I'm doing today. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:15.920 My job is just what the apostle's job is. 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:17.279 That's your job as well. 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:21.039 That we are to go out and tell the world that Jesus really did die. 00:18:21.599 --> 00:18:23.180 And that he died upon the cross. 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:30.180 That we are to tell the world that Jesus really did conquer sin and death and hell and the evil one when he rose from the dead. 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.819 That it all was part of God's plan. 00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:34.079 That it was something that God had created and set up. 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:38.059 And the third thing is that there's something that fits with this. 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:42.220 Remember the story about the boss. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:43.940 And he talks into the mouse. 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:47.759 Thinking it's like a telephone or an intercom or a radio. 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:49.500 And he doesn't understand why it doesn't work. 00:18:49.859 --> 00:18:55.000 Well it doesn't work because the mouse is designed to work with the computer in a very, very particular way. 00:18:55.559 --> 00:19:00.920 And part of God's plan is that the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus. 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:08.259 That his plan is that we human beings respond to what Christ has done in a particular way. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:14.480 And that response is to turn from our preoccupations. 00:19:14.840 --> 00:19:17.060 To turn from our self-centeredness. 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:19.019 To turn from our own plans. 00:19:19.220 --> 00:19:21.060 To turn our back in all of these. 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:22.639 And to look to Jesus. 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:24.639 And to come to him. 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.919 To come to him. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:30.759 And that as part of God's whole plan. 00:19:30.879 --> 00:19:32.980 After what Christ has done on the cross. 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:35.179 After his triumph in the resurrection. 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:38.860 And as we respond appropriately to him. 00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:41.080 By turning towards him. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.940 And in a sense opening our arms. 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:44.940 So that he might embrace us. 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:46.500 And he might take us to himself. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:50.680 That a wonderful transaction happens at the exact same time. 00:19:50.680 --> 00:19:54.480 That we not only know the end of our longings and our yearnings. 00:19:55.019 --> 00:19:59.360 But that all that separates us from God is completely and utterly removed. 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:03.340 And God designed this whole thing to fit together. 00:20:03.340 --> 00:20:05.140 Mouses work with computers. 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:06.740 You know. 00:20:07.080 --> 00:20:09.220 The parts of the car are all to work together. 00:20:09.580 --> 00:20:11.600 And God designed this whole thing. 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.000 And promised it in the scriptures. 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:14.660 Of the death of Christ. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:16.340 The resurrection of Christ. 00:20:16.840 --> 00:20:18.700 A proper human response. 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:21.720 And an unbelievable unmerited gift. 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:24.039 That comes as we turn to him. 00:20:24.840 --> 00:20:26.740 And that gift is to be even deepened. 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:28.819 As we move towards Pentecost. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:31.140 We'll see that the gift is to be even deepened. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:32.500 With the coming of the promise. 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:34.500 Which means the falling of the Holy Spirit. 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:37.980 Upon those who have repented and turned to Christ. 00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:39.400 You know. 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:42.660 Holy blood and Holy Grail. 00:20:42.779 --> 00:20:43.860 And the Da Vinci Code. 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:47.700 And modern skeptics. 00:20:47.700 --> 00:20:48.200 You know. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:51.580 There's one thing that none of them can really properly explain. 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:53.160 And that is. 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:54.299 How is it. 00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:58.220 That the disciples who were so scattered and dispirited. 00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:00.480 All of a sudden. 00:21:00.779 --> 00:21:03.640 There was an explosion of Christian faith. 00:21:04.620 --> 00:21:06.680 Thousands and thousands of thousands. 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.700 Right in the place where Jesus had died. 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:10.720 Thousands and thousands and thousands. 00:21:11.080 --> 00:21:13.380 Came to believe that he had risen from the dead. 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:16.740 I believe that he really did rise from the dead. 00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:20.740 I believe that is what explains the facts better than anything else. 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:23.080 And if that is the case friends. 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:25.220 That means that there is a God. 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:26.900 That he loves you. 00:21:27.900 --> 00:21:29.720 That it was part of his plan. 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:31.540 To launch a rescue mission. 00:21:32.260 --> 00:21:33.780 And as part of his plan. 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.060 His son died. 00:21:35.260 --> 00:21:36.500 His son rose. 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:41.019 And the father invites us to turn from our preoccupations to Christ. 00:21:41.660 --> 00:21:42.819 And in turning to Christ. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:43.960 Receive. 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:45.740 Vermission. 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:47.220 Forgiveness of sins. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.460 And the promise of the father. 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:51.140 Which is the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:53.240 Let's bow our heads in prayer. 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:53.319 Amen. 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:53.400 Amen. 00:21:53.400 --> 00:21:53.460 Amen. 00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:53.500 Amen. 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:55.400 Amen. 00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:55.460 Amen. 00:21:55.460 --> 00:21:57.400 Amen. 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:57.460 Amen. 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:59.400 Amen. 00:21:59.400 --> 00:21:59.460 Amen. 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:01.460 Amen. 00:22:01.460 --> 00:22:01.519 Amen. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:01.579 Amen. 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.519 Amen. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.519 Amen. 00:22:03.519 --> 00:22:03.579 Amen. 00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:03.640 Amen. 00:22:06.500 --> 00:22:06.980 Amen. 00:22:15.640 --> 00:22:17.799 Father, thank you for the promise. 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.960 Which is the Holy Spirit. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:25.960 And Father, pour out your Holy Spirit richly and fully and deeply upon us. 00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:32.859 Father, those amongst us who have never turned to your Son Jesus in repentance and faith. 00:22:32.859 --> 00:22:36.759 May your Holy Spirit fall upon them and help them to so turn. 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:40.939 And those of us who have turned to your Son in repentance of faith. 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:43.259 Father, deepen our repentance. 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.959 Deepen our faith. 00:22:45.919 --> 00:22:47.000 Deepen our surrender. 00:22:47.699 --> 00:22:52.259 Fan into flame within us ever deeper longings and yearnings to see you and to know you and 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.839 to live as your adopted children. 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:56.539 Fan that into ever deeper flame. 00:22:56.539 --> 00:23:02.839 And fan into flame within us an ever deeper ability to receive the ministry and the indwelling 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:04.940 presence and power of your Holy Spirit. 00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:08.920 All this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:09.759 Amen. 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:09.899 Amen.