WEBVTT

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 Today's scripture reading is from Luke chapter 4, the whole chapter.

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! Please follow along in your Bible or the Church Bible.

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! Our passage can be found on page 831 in the Church Bible.

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 On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared,

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 and they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

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 But when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

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 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

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 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the man said to them,

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 Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has reason.

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 Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee,

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 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise.

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 And they remembered his words.

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 And returning from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

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 Now it was Mary, Madeline, and Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them,

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 who told these things to the apostles.

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 But this was what seems to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

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 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb, stooping and looking in.

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 He saw the linen cloths by themselves, and he went home, marveling at what had happened.

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 That very day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

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 And they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

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 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

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 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

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 And he said to them,

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 What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?

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 And they stood still, looking sad.

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 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him,

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 Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?

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 And he said to them,

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 What things?

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 And they said to him,

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 Concerning Jesus of Nazareth,

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 a man who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

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 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him.

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 But we had hope that he was the one to redeem Israel.

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 Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

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 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us.

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 They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body,

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 they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

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 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said.

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 But him they did not see.

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 And he said to them,

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 O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken.

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 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?

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 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets,

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 he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

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 So they drew near to the village to which they were going.

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 He acted as if he were going farther,

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 but they urged him strongly, saying,

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 Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent.

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 So he went in to stay with them.

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 When he was at table with them,

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 he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.

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 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.

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 And he vanished from their sight.

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 They said to each other,

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 Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road,

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 while he opened to us the scriptures?

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 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.

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 And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

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 saying,

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 The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.

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 Then they told what had happened on the road

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 and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

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 As they were talking about these things,

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 Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,

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 Peace to you.

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 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they saw a spirit.

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 And he said to them,

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 Why are you troubled?

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 And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

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 See my hands and my feet,

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 that it is I myself.

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 Touch me and see,

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 for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.

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 And when he had said this,

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 he showed them his hands and his feet.

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 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling,

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 he said to them,

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 Have you anything here to eat?

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 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

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 and he took it and ate before them.

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 Then he said to them,

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 These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,

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 that everything written about me in the Lord of Moses

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 and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.

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 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures

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 and said to them,

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 Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer

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 and on the third day rise from the dead,

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 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins

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 should be proclaimed in his name to all nations,

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 beginning from Jerusalem.

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 You are witnesses of these things,

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 and behold,

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 I am sending the promise of my Father appoint you,

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 but stay in the city

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 until you are clothed with power from on high.

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 And he led them out as far as Bethany,

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 and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.

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 While he blessed them,

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 he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

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 And they worshipped him

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 and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

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 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

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 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word.

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 Great. Thanks, Colin and Kristen.

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 Well, once again, good morning.

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 Great to see you here.

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 If you are visiting for the first time,

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 my name is Kevin,

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 and it's a joy to be with you this morning.

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 Now, each year,

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 billions and billions of dollars around the world,

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 which legally belong to individuals,

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 such as you and I,

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 go unclaimed and unaccounted for.

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 Stocks, dividends,

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 mutual funds purchased decades ago,

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 long forgotten about,

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 insurance payouts,

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 which beneficiaries never knew existed,

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 contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes,

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 which are so safe,

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 they're still in there,

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 even payroll checks that were from former employees,

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 employers that were never collected.

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 Sometimes a loved one dies,

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 and they've got a life insurance policy,

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 but their loved ones never know about it.

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 And so they never collect the insurance policy,

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 meaning significant sums of money

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 that the person wanted their loved ones to have

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 on their passing,

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 go uncollected and accounted for.

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 Friends, I wonder how you would feel

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 if one day you're on your deathbed,

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 you've got a few hours left to live,

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 and someone comes here and says,

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 don't you know those tens,

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 even hundreds of millions of dollars

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 that belong to you?

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 You haven't claimed them?

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 You haven't collected them?

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 They're all going to waste.

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 What a pity it would be

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 if you never claimed,

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 never enjoyed all that was rightfully yours.

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 Well, in order to enjoy the benefits

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 that are rightly ours,

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 we need to clearly and thoroughly understand

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 what it is that has been given to us,

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 what it is that we have,

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 what it is that we are entitled to.

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 Now this morning,

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 we're looking at Luke's gospel, Luke 24,

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 and we're going to see a glimpse

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 of just what it is

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 that Christ has accomplished for us

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 through his death and resurrection.

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 If you've got a Bible, keep it open.

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 We're going to look at a couple of verses.

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 We're going to be looking at that

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 over the next half an hour or so.

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 But this weekend is obviously Easter weekend.

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 It is the high point of the Christian life,

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 the Christian calendar.

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 I hope that many of you were able

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 to join us this weekend

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 at the journey of the cross

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 as we went through this hall

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 and followed Jesus on his journey

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 from Gethsemane to the tomb.

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 But of course,

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 the Easter story doesn't end on the cross.

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 It doesn't even end in Joseph's tomb.

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 The Easter story continues

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 through Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday

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 when the disciples encounter

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 the risen, resurrected Christ.

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 And that's what we're going to look at today.

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 Now if you were paying attention

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 during the reading,

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 you'll notice that Luke here

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 gives three accounts

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 of very ordinary people

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 that encounter the risen Christ.

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 Three different stories of these people.

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 And these accounts are all similar

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 and different in some ways.

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 I don't know if you have ever seen

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 a piece of artwork

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 made up of three panels.

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 There we go, something like that.

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 It's called a triptych, I think,

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 is the technical word.

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 It's one piece of artwork

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 made of three panels.

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 And each art piece

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 is not exactly the same as the others,

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 but there's a continuation.

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 There's a story that's told

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 as you put them together.

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 And the meaning of the art

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 is found in both the similarities

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 and the differences.

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 As you look at each individual piece,

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 it tells you something.

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 But as you look at the piece together,

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 it tells you a much fuller story.

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 Luke's description of the resurrection

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 is something like this.

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 He gives us three accounts

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 of people encountering the risen Jesus,

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 which each speak to us individually,

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 but also together as a whole.

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 So let's take a look at them.

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 So the first story is this.

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 The first one happens early in the morning.

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 John's gospel tells us

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 this happened while it was still dark.

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 Mary Magdalene and some other ladies

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 go towards the tomb with spices

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 that they'd prepared

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 to freshly anoint the body.

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 But to their great surprise,

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 upon arriving at the tomb,

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 they discover the stone

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 has been rolled away.

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 The tomb is empty.

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 And while they're wondering

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 what's going on,

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 they're probably assuming

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 that either robbers have come in

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 during the night

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 or maybe the authorities

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 have stolen the body

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 and hid in it.

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 Jesus was a controversial figure.

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 While they're wondering

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 and trying to make sense of this,

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 two angels appear

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 and say to them,

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 why do you seek the living

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 in the place of the dead?

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 He is not here.

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 He has risen,

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 just as he told you.

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 And these ladies

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 discover the empty tomb.

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 Now, you may be new to church.

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 You may be new to Christianity.

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 And you may be saying,

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 come on, come on, come on.

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 Dead people don't rise.

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 Who do you take me to be?

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 Am I a fool?

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 Maybe you're a scientist.

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 Maybe you say,

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 listen, this is the 21st century.

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 We know these things, right?

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 But isn't that exactly the point?

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 Just like you and me,

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 these women went to the tomb

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 not expecting it to be empty,

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 not expecting not to find a body.

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 They went there knowing

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 that dead bodies don't rise.

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 They went there expecting

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 to find the tomb sealed,

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 Jesus behind the tomb,

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 and dead as he was on Friday.

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 N.T. Wright,

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 the famous theologian academic,

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 said ancient people knew perfectly well

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 that dead people don't rise.

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 We don't need modern science

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 to tell us that.

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 And that's exactly true, right?

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 Despite everything

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 that Jesus had said to them,

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 they were expecting a tomb

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 that was sealed in the body

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 behind the stone.

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 They were no more expecting

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 an empty tomb

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 than you and I would expect

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 to come home

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 from our grandmother's funeral,

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 to walk into the living room,

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 and there she is,

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 sitting, eating dim sum, right?

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 That's what they were expecting,

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 a tomb

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 with a stone rolled over,

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 Jesus behind there.

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 The other gospel writers

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 tell us

00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:24.519
 that the tomb

00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.480
 was sealed,

00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:26.039
 shut.

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:27.519
 There were guards

00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:28.299
 put in place

00:12:28.299 --> 00:12:29.279
 to make sure

00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:30.600
 that no robbers

00:12:30.600 --> 00:12:31.560
 could steal the body,

00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:32.799
 and the disciples

00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:33.379
 couldn't come

00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:34.220
 and take the body

00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:35.399
 and claim that he was risen.

00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:36.679
 And yet,

00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:37.639
 despite that,

00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:38.720
 every precaution

00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.220
 was taken

00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:39.960
 to make sure

00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:40.860
 the body of Jesus

00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:41.860
 remained in place.

00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:43.019
 And yet,

00:12:43.100 --> 00:12:44.620
 these first eyewitnesses,

00:12:44.980 --> 00:12:46.360
 against their own intuition,

00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:47.800
 against everything

00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:48.340
 they knew

00:12:48.340 --> 00:12:49.600
 about life and death,

00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:50.919
 came to see

00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:52.060
 that the once sealed,

00:12:52.220 --> 00:12:53.259
 heavily guarded tomb

00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:54.419
 was empty.

00:12:56.419 --> 00:12:56.899
 Now,

00:12:56.980 --> 00:12:57.899
 some people might say,

00:12:58.039 --> 00:12:58.259
 yeah,

00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:58.899
 but, you know,

00:12:58.960 --> 00:12:59.580
 the disciples,

00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:00.340
 they were obviously

00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.080
 intellectually

00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:02.639
 or emotionally biased.

00:13:02.820 --> 00:13:02.940
 I mean,

00:13:02.980 --> 00:13:04.019
 they were looking

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.860
 for a resurrection.

00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:05.840
 And so,

00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:06.680
 they confused

00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:08.940
 the hallucinations

00:13:08.940 --> 00:13:10.159
 with visions.

00:13:10.420 --> 00:13:11.659
 And they confused

00:13:11.659 --> 00:13:12.200
 these visions

00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.019
 thinking they saw

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:14.420
 the real Jesus.

00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:14.860
 They thought

00:13:14.860 --> 00:13:15.639
 this was appearances

00:13:15.639 --> 00:13:16.199
 of Jesus.

00:13:17.220 --> 00:13:17.539
 But friends,

00:13:17.620 --> 00:13:18.299
 can't you see

00:13:18.299 --> 00:13:19.600
 the whole point

00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.539
 the historical writers

00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:21.059
 are making

00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.299
 is just how much

00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:23.779
 these first witnesses

00:13:23.779 --> 00:13:25.080
 were not expecting

00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:25.840
 to find Jesus.

00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.319
 They weren't biased at all.

00:13:27.399 --> 00:13:27.980
 They weren't looking

00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:29.399
 for a risen Christ.

00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.220
 They were looking

00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:31.059
 for a dead body.

00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.019
 And yet,

00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:33.259
 despite everything

00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:34.360
 that they should have known,

00:13:34.699 --> 00:13:35.419
 what they saw

00:13:35.419 --> 00:13:36.399
 was the empty tomb

00:13:36.399 --> 00:13:37.519
 and were reminded

00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:38.580
 of what Jesus said.

00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:39.740
 Okay,

00:13:39.819 --> 00:13:40.299
 first story.

00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.200
 Second story,

00:13:41.259 --> 00:13:41.620
 what happens?

00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:42.779
 Now it's mid-afternoon.

00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.700
 Sunday afternoon,

00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:44.840
 three days after,

00:13:44.840 --> 00:13:46.519
 Jesus has been crucified.

00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:47.660
 It's Sunday afternoon.

00:13:47.860 --> 00:13:48.940
 Here we have two disciples.

00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:49.899
 One of them is a man

00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:50.680
 called Cleopas.

00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.440
 The other one,

00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.360
 we don't know their name.

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.500
 And they're walking

00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.940
 the 11 kilometer journey

00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.840
 from Jerusalem

00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.840
 to a town called Emmaus.

00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.220
 And along the way,

00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.360
 Jesus himself

00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:01.280
 comes and walks

00:14:01.280 --> 00:14:02.080
 alongside them.

00:14:02.120 --> 00:14:03.060
 And he hears them talking

00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:04.980
 and Jesus plays the fool.

00:14:05.080 --> 00:14:05.740
 He plays ignorant.

00:14:06.160 --> 00:14:06.800
 And he says,

00:14:07.139 --> 00:14:07.280
 hey,

00:14:07.300 --> 00:14:07.680
 what are you guys

00:14:07.680 --> 00:14:08.399
 talking about?

00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:09.660
 And they say,

00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:10.900
 where have you been?

00:14:11.320 --> 00:14:12.080
 Don't you know?

00:14:12.860 --> 00:14:14.139
 Jesus of Nazareth.

00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:15.320
 The one that we had

00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:17.340
 high expectations for.

00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:18.379
 He's been killed.

00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:19.580
 The authorities killed him.

00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:22.000
 And they say,

00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:22.480
 don't you know

00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:23.220
 what's been going on

00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:23.540
 in Jerusalem?

00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:23.920
 And sorry,

00:14:24.020 --> 00:14:24.500
 Jesus says,

00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:24.980
 no, no,

00:14:25.060 --> 00:14:26.180
 what's been going on?

00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:27.240
 Tell me.

00:14:27.300 --> 00:14:28.400
 And they tell him

00:14:28.400 --> 00:14:29.340
 about himself.

00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.580
 They say,

00:14:30.660 --> 00:14:30.860
 you know,

00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:31.320
 Jesus,

00:14:31.540 --> 00:14:32.360
 the one we had hoped

00:14:32.360 --> 00:14:33.700
 would save Israel,

00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:34.720
 rescue Israel.

00:14:35.600 --> 00:14:36.720
 And Jesus plays along

00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:37.420
 for a little while

00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:38.660
 and then Jesus says,

00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:39.879
 but isn't that what

00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:40.480
 the Old Testament

00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:41.379
 scriptures said

00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:42.120
 was to happen?

00:14:42.659 --> 00:14:43.559
 And starting with

00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:44.100
 the Old Testament,

00:14:44.319 --> 00:14:45.079
 Jesus goes through

00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:46.339
 all the Old Testament

00:14:46.339 --> 00:14:47.439
 and shows them,

00:14:47.579 --> 00:14:48.500
 reveals to them

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:49.879
 how the Messiah

00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:51.699
 has to die in judgment

00:14:51.699 --> 00:14:52.919
 for the sin of his people.

00:14:53.419 --> 00:14:54.939
 Rise again in vindication.

00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:56.439
 And then they stop

00:14:56.439 --> 00:14:57.319
 for an early dinner

00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:58.500
 and as they are

00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:00.199
 breaking bread,

00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:01.799
 suddenly their eyes

00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:02.240
 are opened

00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:03.399
 and they realize

00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:03.860
 who it is

00:15:03.860 --> 00:15:04.659
 that's in front of them

00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:06.559
 and Jesus is no longer there.

00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:08.279
 And what do they say?

00:15:08.659 --> 00:15:09.339
 They say,

00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.480
 did not our hearts

00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:11.439
 burn within us

00:15:11.439 --> 00:15:12.379
 while he talked to us

00:15:12.379 --> 00:15:12.879
 on the road

00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.740
 and opened the scriptures?

00:15:14.439 --> 00:15:15.919
 Here they encountered Jesus

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.480
 in such a profound way.

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:18.579
 It wasn't just intellectually.

00:15:18.779 --> 00:15:19.459
 It wasn't just like,

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.480
 oh wow,

00:15:20.579 --> 00:15:20.740
 okay,

00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.620
 I guess let's just

00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:22.240
 connect the dots.

00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:24.100
 It wasn't just emotionally.

00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:24.759
 They didn't have

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.679
 an emotional reaction.

00:15:26.199 --> 00:15:26.759
 There's something

00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.899
 so profoundly deep

00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.279
 within them

00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.740
 that the deepest longings,

00:15:30.819 --> 00:15:32.000
 the deepest yearnings,

00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.480
 the deepest hopes

00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:34.220
 of their hearts

00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:35.980
 were being engaged

00:15:35.980 --> 00:15:37.779
 as they realized

00:15:37.779 --> 00:15:39.600
 Jesus is not dead.

00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:41.459
 He's alive.

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.220
 And the point here

00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:44.120
 is that these disciples,

00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:44.980
 they didn't see

00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:45.839
 the empty tomb.

00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:46.759
 For them,

00:15:46.819 --> 00:15:47.319
 they encountered

00:15:47.319 --> 00:15:48.279
 the risen Jesus.

00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:48.579
 How?

00:15:48.679 --> 00:15:49.339
 In the scriptures

00:15:49.339 --> 00:15:51.100
 and in the sacraments

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:53.419
 as they connected the dots

00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:54.899
 and saw that Jesus was alive.

00:15:55.579 --> 00:15:56.699
 How about the third story?

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.419
 Well, the third story,

00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:58.519
 it's now evening time.

00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.480
 So we've had morning,

00:15:59.559 --> 00:16:00.159
 we've had afternoon.

00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:01.620
 It's now the evening.

00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:03.299
 And Jesus appears again

00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.480
 amongst the rest

00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.240
 of his disciples

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.139
 in the house

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:06.820
 where they're staying.

00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:08.840
 And they not only see him,

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:10.399
 but they touch him.

00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:11.200
 Jesus says,

00:16:11.299 --> 00:16:12.220
 feel my hands,

00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:12.980
 look at my feet,

00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:13.299
 where the,

00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:13.919
 he says,

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.019
 touch me and see.

00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:15.919
 Look,

00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:16.940
 a spirit doesn't have

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:17.419
 these things.

00:16:17.779 --> 00:16:18.659
 And the point here

00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:19.899
 is that Jesus appears

00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.299
 to them in physical,

00:16:21.720 --> 00:16:22.899
 bodily form.

00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:24.179
 This is not a spirit.

00:16:24.639 --> 00:16:25.220
 This is not,

00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.419
 Jesus just rose

00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.139
 in their hearts

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:28.019
 philosophically.

00:16:28.980 --> 00:16:30.379
 Jesus didn't appear

00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:31.399
 from another world

00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:32.659
 and send them a message

00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.419
 from another world.

00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.799
 Jesus physically,

00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:36.079
 bodily appeared

00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:36.879
 in their midst

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.620
 and showed them

00:16:37.620 --> 00:16:38.379
 that he had risen

00:16:38.379 --> 00:16:39.399
 from the dead.

00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:40.620
 And he eats with them

00:16:40.620 --> 00:16:41.620
 and he speaks with them

00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:42.720
 and he communes with them

00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.340
 and he reveals himself

00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:44.840
 to them.

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:45.860
 Okay,

00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:46.779
 so there's three

00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:47.699
 different stories.

00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:48.480
 Now,

00:16:48.519 --> 00:16:49.039
 what's the point

00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:49.559
 of all this?

00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.059
 Why is Luke

00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:51.899
 telling us these stories?

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.399
 Why didn't Luke

00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:53.379
 just give us one story?

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.379
 Luke is building a case here.

00:16:56.379 --> 00:16:57.699
 Luke is like a good lawyer,

00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.680
 a good barrister,

00:16:58.800 --> 00:16:59.020
 right?

00:16:59.180 --> 00:17:00.320
 And he's building

00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:01.060
 an argument

00:17:01.060 --> 00:17:01.700
 and he's getting

00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:02.640
 all his witnesses

00:17:02.640 --> 00:17:03.240
 in place.

00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:04.480
 Imagine here in Hong Kong

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.460
 there's a motor car

00:17:05.460 --> 00:17:06.120
 accident somewhere,

00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.380
 right?

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:07.140
 And somebody

00:17:07.140 --> 00:17:08.420
 is tragically killed.

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.200
 And the prosecutors,

00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:11.160
 the DOJ,

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:13.620
 they want to prosecute

00:17:13.620 --> 00:17:14.380
 the driver

00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:15.600
 for maybe manslaughter

00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:16.680
 or reckless driving.

00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:17.900
 And so they're building

00:17:17.900 --> 00:17:18.420
 their case

00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:18.819
 and they get

00:17:18.819 --> 00:17:19.559
 all their witnesses

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:20.519
 and they find a lady

00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.319
 who was on the side

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:21.680
 of the road

00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.980
 and witnessed the accident.

00:17:23.600 --> 00:17:24.519
 And then they see

00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:26.880
 there's a residential block

00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:27.559
 across the road

00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:28.379
 and there's a guard

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.379
 that stays in the guardhouse

00:17:29.379 --> 00:17:30.619
 and he witnessed everything.

00:17:31.179 --> 00:17:31.879
 And then they find

00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:33.279
 the car driving behind

00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:34.119
 and they've got

00:17:34.119 --> 00:17:35.460
 a dashboard camera

00:17:35.460 --> 00:17:36.200
 and the camera

00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.220
 witnessed everything

00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:37.679
 and they get

00:17:37.679 --> 00:17:38.799
 their three witnesses

00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:40.460
 all from different angles

00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:40.839
 and they say,

00:17:40.919 --> 00:17:41.639
 tell us your story.

00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:42.339
 What did you see?

00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.039
 What did you see?

00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:44.279
 And the witnesses

00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:46.019
 all tell the same story

00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:47.299
 but from a different angle.

00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:48.599
 Oh, I saw this happen.

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:49.599
 I saw this happen.

00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:50.940
 It's the same story.

00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:53.139
 Luke here is like a barrister.

00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:54.940
 He's building his case

00:17:54.940 --> 00:17:56.340
 and each narrative

00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:57.600
 tells us the same story

00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:58.539
 from a different angle.

00:17:59.120 --> 00:18:00.180
 The woman discover

00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.180
 an empty tomb.

00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.559
 The stone is rolled away.

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.519
 There's nobody inside

00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:04.720
 and they get a message

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.740
 saying this is the place

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.200
 of the dead.

00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:06.799
 Why are you looking

00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.840
 for living people here?

00:18:08.299 --> 00:18:09.019
 The disciples

00:18:09.019 --> 00:18:09.980
 on the road to Emmaus,

00:18:10.120 --> 00:18:11.700
 they encounter Jesus

00:18:11.700 --> 00:18:13.620
 but they don't recognize him.

00:18:13.940 --> 00:18:15.000
 They encounter Jesus

00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.880
 in the scriptures

00:18:15.880 --> 00:18:17.779
 and in the sacraments.

00:18:18.220 --> 00:18:19.259
 As Jesus opens

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:19.720
 the scriptures

00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:20.960
 and breaks bread

00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:22.720
 and they recognize

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.140
 Jesus is with us.

00:18:24.779 --> 00:18:25.600
 And then the other,

00:18:25.900 --> 00:18:27.460
 the 11 apostles

00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:28.600
 and the others with him,

00:18:28.840 --> 00:18:30.220
 they see Jesus physically.

00:18:30.340 --> 00:18:30.960
 They touch him.

00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:31.440
 They hold him.

00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.240
 They look at the marks

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:32.799
 in his hands.

00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:33.960
 And Luke is saying,

00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.019
 look at all the witnesses.

00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:36.620
 But each time

00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.700
 the case is building

00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.500
 and the evidence

00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:39.160
 is getting more

00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:40.000
 and more substantial.

00:18:40.600 --> 00:18:41.440
 So the two women,

00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:42.120
 they go to the tomb

00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:42.860
 but they don't actually

00:18:42.860 --> 00:18:43.660
 see Jesus.

00:18:43.880 --> 00:18:44.640
 They just see the tomb

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.039
 is empty

00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:46.400
 and they hear angels.

00:18:46.920 --> 00:18:48.180
 It's not the most

00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:50.279
 compelling evidence.

00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:51.460
 But then,

00:18:51.619 --> 00:18:52.519
 the two disciples,

00:18:52.680 --> 00:18:53.980
 they actually see Jesus

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:55.859
 and they've got

00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:56.720
 a thousand years

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.259
 of testimony

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:57.740
 and witness

00:18:57.740 --> 00:18:58.460
 and oh,

00:18:58.519 --> 00:18:59.279
 it makes sense.

00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.759
 And then finally,

00:19:00.879 --> 00:19:01.879
 the 11 apostles,

00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:03.119
 these are God's

00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.160
 authorized disciples

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.079
 that are going to go out.

00:19:05.420 --> 00:19:06.639
 They actually physically

00:19:06.639 --> 00:19:07.299
 see Jesus

00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:07.839
 and touch him.

00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:09.079
 The case is building,

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.859
 building, building.

00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:11.980
 And Luke's point here is,

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:13.379
 it's real.

00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.980
 It's not what any

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.160
 of the disciples expected.

00:19:16.940 --> 00:19:17.680
 It's not what they

00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.420
 were looking for.

00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:20.059
 No one had the bias

00:19:20.059 --> 00:19:21.079
 that Jesus is going

00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:21.799
 to rise again

00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:23.559
 and yet it happened.

00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:24.579
 It's true.

00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:26.039
 It's real.

00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.279
 Jesus really rose.

00:19:29.980 --> 00:19:30.500
 Except,

00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:32.319
 Luke is saying

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.059
 more than that,

00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:33.539
 isn't he?

00:19:34.899 --> 00:19:35.220
 You see,

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.220
 in Luke's gospel,

00:19:36.839 --> 00:19:37.659
 Luke's account

00:19:37.659 --> 00:19:38.599
 of the death

00:19:38.599 --> 00:19:39.319
 of Christ

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.059
 is different

00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:41.039
 from all the other gospels.

00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:41.279
 In fact,

00:19:41.339 --> 00:19:41.879
 each gospel

00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:42.980
 has its own emphasis.

00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.619
 And Luke pulls out

00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.399
 things that the other

00:19:45.399 --> 00:19:46.639
 writers don't pull out.

00:19:47.399 --> 00:19:47.779
 And so,

00:19:47.879 --> 00:19:48.859
 look at one or two

00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.439
 of them with me.

00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:50.359
 One of the things,

00:19:50.439 --> 00:19:51.219
 in the build-up

00:19:51.219 --> 00:19:52.319
 to the crucifixion,

00:19:52.839 --> 00:19:53.679
 Luke makes the point

00:19:53.679 --> 00:19:54.759
 that there is kind

00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:55.399
 of demonic,

00:19:55.619 --> 00:19:56.699
 satanic activity

00:19:56.699 --> 00:19:57.339
 that's kind of

00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.759
 brooding around here.

00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:00.000
 Three times

00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.319
 in Luke chapter 22,

00:20:01.919 --> 00:20:03.119
 Jesus references

00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:03.679
 Satan,

00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.439
 or Luke references

00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:05.319
 the work of Satan.

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:06.519
 Look at verse 3.

00:20:06.639 --> 00:20:06.779
 He says,

00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:08.899
 Satan entered Judas,

00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.839
 called Iscariot,

00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:10.819
 and he went

00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:11.679
 and conferred

00:20:11.679 --> 00:20:12.439
 with the chief priest

00:20:12.439 --> 00:20:13.039
 how he might

00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:13.879
 betray him.

00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:14.799
 Verse 31,

00:20:15.139 --> 00:20:15.619
 Jesus says,

00:20:15.679 --> 00:20:16.240
 Simon, Simon,

00:20:16.240 --> 00:20:17.960
 Satan has demanded

00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:18.759
 to have you

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.640
 that he might

00:20:19.640 --> 00:20:20.700
 sift you like weak,

00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.460
 but I have prayed

00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:22.160
 for you that your faith

00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:22.759
 may not fail.

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:24.019
 And then when

00:20:24.019 --> 00:20:25.059
 Jesus arrests

00:20:25.059 --> 00:20:25.920
 in Gethsemane,

00:20:26.140 --> 00:20:26.480
 he says,

00:20:26.660 --> 00:20:27.920
 this is now the hour,

00:20:28.059 --> 00:20:29.259
 the power of darkness.

00:20:29.779 --> 00:20:30.620
 And there's the sense

00:20:30.620 --> 00:20:32.819
 that the forces of evil

00:20:32.819 --> 00:20:33.920
 are like a kettle

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.519
 of velchers.

00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.579
 They're kind of circling

00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:36.980
 or a pack of hyenas.

00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.740
 They're smelling something

00:20:38.740 --> 00:20:39.620
 and they're brooding,

00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:40.420
 they're moving in.

00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.940
 There's evil

00:20:41.940 --> 00:20:42.940
 that's brooding

00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:44.019
 around the scene here,

00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:44.259
 right?

00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:45.700
 But there's something else

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.519
 Luke also says

00:20:46.519 --> 00:20:47.900
 in his Passion account.

00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.859
 Luke makes the point

00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.759
 of the innocence of Jesus.

00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.900
 The innocence of Jesus.

00:20:54.099 --> 00:20:54.980
 Three times during

00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:56.240
 the trial of Jesus,

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.819
 Pontius Pilate says,

00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:58.920
 I find no guilt

00:20:58.920 --> 00:20:59.400
 in this man.

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.700
 There's nothing in here

00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:01.220
 that makes him

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.279
 worthy of dying.

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.720
 And Pilate sends

00:21:03.720 --> 00:21:04.599
 him away to Herod

00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:05.980
 and Herod sends him back

00:21:05.980 --> 00:21:06.180
 saying,

00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.200
 I can find no guilt

00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.200
 in him worthy of death.

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:09.119
 Even, I mean,

00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:09.579
 remember,

00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.359
 Herod didn't really

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.359
 love Jesus, right?

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.759
 Herod wasn't a good man.

00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:13.900
 But Herod says,

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:14.960
 there's nothing in him

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.740
 deserving of death.

00:21:16.280 --> 00:21:17.380
 And then even while

00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:18.720
 Jesus is dying

00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:19.500
 on the cross,

00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.820
 the centurions,

00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.840
 the Roman soldiers

00:21:21.840 --> 00:21:22.759
 whose job it is

00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:23.200
 to make sure

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:23.960
 that he's dead

00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:25.340
 and justice is served,

00:21:25.340 --> 00:21:26.800
 the centurion says,

00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:27.960
 surely this man

00:21:27.960 --> 00:21:28.500
 was innocent.

00:21:29.560 --> 00:21:30.380
 And Luke is building

00:21:30.380 --> 00:21:31.019
 the case here

00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:31.840
 that everybody

00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:33.080
 who had eyes to see

00:21:33.080 --> 00:21:34.300
 could see that

00:21:34.300 --> 00:21:35.240
 this was a

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.780
 travesty of justice.

00:21:37.060 --> 00:21:37.860
 Jesus was an

00:21:37.860 --> 00:21:38.540
 innocent man

00:21:38.540 --> 00:21:39.360
 that did not

00:21:39.360 --> 00:21:40.140
 deserve to die.

00:21:40.700 --> 00:21:41.720
 The authorities

00:21:41.720 --> 00:21:42.360
 can tell,

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.399
 the centurions

00:21:43.399 --> 00:21:43.719
 can tell,

00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:44.879
 everybody knows

00:21:44.879 --> 00:21:45.879
 Jesus was an

00:21:45.879 --> 00:21:46.519
 innocent man.

00:21:47.419 --> 00:21:48.659
 And you get the sense

00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:49.899
 that for the disciples,

00:21:50.679 --> 00:21:52.119
 part of their confusion,

00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:53.439
 part of their despair,

00:21:53.679 --> 00:21:55.079
 part of their hopelessness,

00:21:55.419 --> 00:21:56.539
 is these two things

00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.219
 coming together.

00:21:57.719 --> 00:21:58.539
 The sense of

00:21:58.539 --> 00:22:00.339
 this evil forces

00:22:00.339 --> 00:22:01.219
 that are brooding

00:22:01.219 --> 00:22:02.679
 and the injustice

00:22:02.679 --> 00:22:03.500
 that's going on,

00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.339
 it feels like,

00:22:04.740 --> 00:22:05.699
 well, where is hope?

00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.979
 Is there any hope

00:22:06.979 --> 00:22:07.500
 in the world?

00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:08.459
 When you've got

00:22:08.459 --> 00:22:09.459
 these two things

00:22:09.459 --> 00:22:10.139
 going on,

00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:11.560
 the sense is that

00:22:11.560 --> 00:22:12.300
 maybe Jesus

00:22:12.300 --> 00:22:13.080
 was a victim

00:22:13.080 --> 00:22:14.660
 of a terrible plot.

00:22:15.120 --> 00:22:16.000
 That the forces

00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.640
 of evil

00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.340
 and the forces

00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:17.820
 of hell

00:22:17.820 --> 00:22:18.840
 and the injustice

00:22:18.840 --> 00:22:19.640
 of man,

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.000
 these things

00:22:21.000 --> 00:22:22.420
 destroyed Jesus.

00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:23.880
 And Jesus

00:22:23.880 --> 00:22:24.440
 was a victim

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.740
 of a travesty

00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:26.380
 of justice.

00:22:27.500 --> 00:22:28.259
 I wonder if that's

00:22:28.259 --> 00:22:28.820
 what Luke's

00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:29.759
 first readers

00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.259
 were feeling.

00:22:30.340 --> 00:22:31.020
 As they read

00:22:31.020 --> 00:22:31.440
 at the end

00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:33.100
 of chapter 23,

00:22:33.220 --> 00:22:33.820
 they just think,

00:22:34.300 --> 00:22:35.340
 what hope is there

00:22:35.340 --> 00:22:35.880
 in the world?

00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:37.440
 When you've got

00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.580
 such evil in the world

00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:39.839
 and such evil men

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:41.199
 doing these things,

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.240
 what hope is there

00:22:42.240 --> 00:22:42.960
 for any of us?

00:22:44.639 --> 00:22:45.339
 But friends,

00:22:45.419 --> 00:22:46.000
 don't you see?

00:22:47.099 --> 00:22:48.139
 Luke wants to tell us

00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:49.079
 that is exactly

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:50.559
 not what is happening.

00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:52.919
 Jesus' death

00:22:52.919 --> 00:22:53.519
 on the cross

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.779
 was not the result

00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:55.699
 of evil forces

00:22:55.699 --> 00:22:57.259
 and not the result

00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.139
 primarily of the

00:22:58.139 --> 00:22:59.179
 injustice of man.

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:01.099
 This was the purpose

00:23:01.099 --> 00:23:01.859
 and the plan

00:23:01.859 --> 00:23:02.980
 of God.

00:23:03.139 --> 00:23:04.619
 This was God's doing.

00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.259
 This is what God

00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:07.059
 had always planned

00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.539
 would happen.

00:23:07.539 --> 00:23:09.420
 The excruciating death

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.299
 of the Lord Jesus

00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:11.659
 was not because

00:23:11.659 --> 00:23:12.619
 of evil forces

00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.220
 in the world,

00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.759
 not the cowardness

00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.740
 of Pontius Pilate,

00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.039
 not the jealousy

00:23:17.039 --> 00:23:18.220
 of the Jewish people,

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:20.240
 not the treachery

00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.460
 of Judas Iscariot.

00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:23.279
 In spite of all them,

00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:23.960
 this was the

00:23:23.960 --> 00:23:25.480
 predetermined plan

00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.519
 and the purpose

00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:28.200
 of the triune God,

00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:29.259
 the sovereign God

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.799
 of Father,

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.159
 Son,

00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:30.579
 and Spirit

00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.019
 that He would send

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:33.299
 His Son into the world

00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.740
 to die on the cross

00:23:34.740 --> 00:23:35.299
 for the sins

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:35.779
 of all those

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.720
 who would believe in Him.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:38.140
 to take upon Himself

00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:40.180
 the sin of humanity

00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:41.339
 and rise again

00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:42.120
 on the third day

00:23:42.120 --> 00:23:42.980
 as confirmation

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.539
 that His atonement

00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:46.339
 offering was accepted.

00:23:47.339 --> 00:23:48.200
 And that's why

00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:49.880
 all three of these stories,

00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:51.180
 all three panels,

00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.579
 make the case

00:23:52.579 --> 00:23:53.779
 that this is what

00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.600
 was written about

00:23:54.600 --> 00:23:55.380
 and spoken about

00:23:55.380 --> 00:23:56.680
 hundreds of years before.

00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.140
 If you've got your Bible,

00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.100
 look at the first panel.

00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.720
 Look at verse 5.

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:02.500
 The angels said to the woman,

00:24:02.940 --> 00:24:03.559
 Why do you seek

00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:04.700
 the living amongst the dead?

00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.059
 He is not here.

00:24:06.600 --> 00:24:07.400
 He has risen.

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:09.160
 Remember how He told you

00:24:09.160 --> 00:24:09.779
 while He was still

00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.620
 with you in Galilee,

00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:11.700
 the Son of Man

00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.460
 must be delivered

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.100
 into the hands

00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:13.839
 of sinful men

00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.960
 and be crucified

00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:16.019
 on the third day.

00:24:16.700 --> 00:24:17.980
 The angels tell the woman,

00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:19.700
 Why are you surprised?

00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.120
 Jesus said this

00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:21.700
 was going to happen.

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.720
 Look at the second panel.

00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:23.660
 Look at verse 25.

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:25.240
 Jesus said to them,

00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:26.700
 Oh foolish ones,

00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:28.160
 how slow of heart

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.019
 you are to believe

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:30.180
 all that the prophets

00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.800
 have spoken.

00:24:31.400 --> 00:24:32.480
 Was it not necessary

00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:33.560
 that Christ should suffer

00:24:33.560 --> 00:24:35.220
 and then enter into His glory?

00:24:35.620 --> 00:24:37.019
 And beginning with Moses

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:37.980
 and the prophets,

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.480
 He interpreted to them

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.940
 all the scriptures

00:24:40.940 --> 00:24:42.740
 the things concerning Himself.

00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.980
 Look at the third panel,

00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:45.820
 verse 44.

00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:47.700
 Jesus said to the disciples,

00:24:48.259 --> 00:24:49.519
 These are my words

00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.540
 that I spoke to you

00:24:50.540 --> 00:24:51.560
 while I was still with you,

00:24:51.560 --> 00:24:53.220
 that everything written

00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.799
 about me

00:24:53.799 --> 00:24:54.380
 and the law

00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.039
 and the prophets

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:55.819
 and the Psalms

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:57.200
 must be fulfilled.

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:59.079
 Then He opened their eyes

00:24:59.079 --> 00:24:59.839
 to understand.

00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.120
 And He said to them,

00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.360
 It is written,

00:25:02.500 --> 00:25:03.880
 the Christ will suffer

00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:05.259
 and on the third day

00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:06.440
 rise from the dead

00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.640
 that the repentance

00:25:07.640 --> 00:25:08.839
 for the forgiveness of sins

00:25:08.839 --> 00:25:09.680
 should be proclaimed

00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.160
 to all nations.

00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.799
 Friends,

00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:13.940
 this is what God's word

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:15.120
 said would always happen.

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.759
 This is what the entire

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.960
 Old Testament is about.

00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.799
 This is what Isaiah said

00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:21.160
 700 years before

00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:22.940
 that the suffering servant

00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.059
 would give his life

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.440
 as an offering for sin,

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.440
 a guilt offering,

00:25:26.820 --> 00:25:28.220
 and rise again

00:25:28.220 --> 00:25:29.080
 and be vindicated

00:25:29.080 --> 00:25:29.860
 and live forever.

00:25:30.420 --> 00:25:31.820
 This is what Hosea the prophet

00:25:31.820 --> 00:25:33.240
 said 800 years before.

00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.519
 He said that God

00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:35.799
 would ransom His servant

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:37.259
 from the power of the grave,

00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:39.000
 redeem him from death.

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.940
 This is what King David

00:25:40.940 --> 00:25:41.539
 spoke about,

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:43.080
 Israel's greatest king,

00:25:43.380 --> 00:25:43.980
 that he,

00:25:44.080 --> 00:25:44.759
 the sinless one,

00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:45.820
 would defeat death

00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:46.420
 and the grave

00:25:46.420 --> 00:25:47.940
 and live at God's right hand

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.840
 and experience the pleasure

00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:51.480
 of God forever and ever.

00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:52.920
 Friends,

00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:53.779
 this is what the whole Bible

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.320
 is about

00:25:54.320 --> 00:25:56.160
 because this is what

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:57.400
 Christianity is about.

00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.120
 It is written

00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:00.000
 that the Christ

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.680
 will suffer

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.900
 and rise again.

00:26:02.100 --> 00:26:02.440
 Why?

00:26:02.779 --> 00:26:03.480
 Verse 47,

00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:05.240
 so that the repentance

00:26:05.240 --> 00:26:06.180
 for the forgiveness

00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.779
 of sins

00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.860
 may be proclaimed

00:26:07.860 --> 00:26:08.620
 in His name

00:26:08.620 --> 00:26:10.299
 to all people.

00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:12.539
 Friends,

00:26:12.580 --> 00:26:13.720
 this is what Easter is about.

00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:15.740
 Jesus went to the cross,

00:26:16.559 --> 00:26:17.000
 suffered,

00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.500
 mocked,

00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.559
 beaten,

00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.019
 crucified,

00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:22.360
 killed,

00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.059
 rose again.

00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:26.140
 That repentance of sins,

00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.799
 that hope in this life

00:26:27.799 --> 00:26:29.079
 and in the world to come

00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:30.779
 can be proclaimed

00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.579
 for everyone.

00:26:33.600 --> 00:26:35.660
 Later in 1 Corinthians 15,

00:26:36.420 --> 00:26:38.120
 if Christ has not been raised,

00:26:38.660 --> 00:26:39.640
 then our message,

00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:40.460
 the gospel,

00:26:40.680 --> 00:26:41.620
 the message of Christianity

00:26:41.620 --> 00:26:43.180
 is in vain.

00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:45.100
 Then all of our faith

00:26:45.100 --> 00:26:45.680
 is in vain

00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:47.600
 and we are still dead

00:26:47.600 --> 00:26:48.339
 in our sins.

00:26:49.180 --> 00:26:51.079
 If in Christ

00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:51.660
 we have hope

00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.940
 in this life only,

00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.779
 we are of all people

00:26:54.779 --> 00:26:55.779
 most to be pitied.

00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.079
 But in fact,

00:26:57.240 --> 00:26:58.600
 Christ has been raised

00:26:58.600 --> 00:26:59.200
 from the dead

00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:01.620
 and therein lies our hope.

00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.259
 Friends,

00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:04.819
 in verse 1 of Luke 24,

00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.860
 Luke writes this.

00:27:05.900 --> 00:27:06.339
 He says,

00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:08.140
 Now it was the first day

00:27:08.140 --> 00:27:08.779
 of the week.

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:09.920
 Friends,

00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:10.559
 but don't you see,

00:27:10.660 --> 00:27:11.600
 it wasn't just the first day

00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.000
 of the week.

00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:12.960
 It was the first day

00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:14.200
 of a whole new world,

00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.860
 a world in which hope

00:27:15.860 --> 00:27:16.819
 was being restored,

00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.180
 in which death

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.299
 and despair

00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.819
 and hopelessness

00:27:20.819 --> 00:27:21.819
 and fear

00:27:21.819 --> 00:27:23.319
 was passing away.

00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.279
 Now,

00:27:25.460 --> 00:27:26.259
 what does this mean

00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.900
 for us today?

00:27:28.600 --> 00:27:30.299
 How does this help us today?

00:27:30.840 --> 00:27:31.240
 Well,

00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.519
 look at these three stories

00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:33.240
 once again

00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:34.539
 and what do you notice

00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:35.940
 about the people in them?

00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:37.340
 What happens

00:27:37.340 --> 00:27:38.259
 to the people?

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.059
 In all three of them,

00:27:40.059 --> 00:27:42.079
 they undergo a profound change,

00:27:42.179 --> 00:27:42.639
 don't they?

00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.200
 And look at how Luke

00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:44.940
 describes them

00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.980
 before they encounter

00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.779
 the risen Jesus.

00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:47.440
 In verse 4,

00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.659
 they are perplexed

00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.339
 and confused.

00:27:49.679 --> 00:27:50.440
 In verse 5,

00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.200
 they are frightened

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:52.099
 and alarmed.

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.220
 In verse 11,

00:27:53.399 --> 00:27:53.980
 they are cynical

00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:55.019
 and disbelieving.

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.379
 In verse 17,

00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.679
 they are downcast

00:27:57.679 --> 00:27:58.379
 and sad.

00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.599
 In verse 21,

00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:01.000
 they are despondent

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.740
 and confused.

00:28:02.179 --> 00:28:03.019
 In verse 38,

00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:04.220
 they are troubled,

00:28:04.480 --> 00:28:04.919
 doubtful,

00:28:04.980 --> 00:28:05.500
 and fearful.

00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:07.119
 Here are a group

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.319
 of people you could say

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.839
 they are not flourishing.

00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:11.460
 They are experiencing

00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:13.879
 deep mental ill health,

00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:15.439
 emotional ill health.

00:28:16.139 --> 00:28:16.480
 And yet,

00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.220
 each one of them

00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:17.919
 go through

00:28:17.919 --> 00:28:19.220
 a profound transformation.

00:28:19.460 --> 00:28:20.079
 Look at how it ends.

00:28:20.139 --> 00:28:21.299
 Look at verse 52.

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.419
 And they worshipped him

00:28:23.419 --> 00:28:24.899
 and returned to Jerusalem

00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:26.500
 with great joy

00:28:26.500 --> 00:28:27.939
 and were continually

00:28:27.939 --> 00:28:29.039
 in the temple

00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.700
 praising God.

00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:32.939
 Here are confused,

00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:33.839
 despondent,

00:28:34.139 --> 00:28:35.460
 troubled men and women

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:37.299
 who are so deeply

00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.539
 and powerfully transformed.

00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:40.259
 They are barely recognizable.

00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:42.359
 And this wasn't just

00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:43.759
 a momentary transformation.

00:28:44.159 --> 00:28:45.359
 As you read the book of Acts,

00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:47.039
 Luke's sequel to his gospel,

00:28:47.419 --> 00:28:48.079
 you discover

00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:50.119
 this is a deep transformation

00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:51.200
 that goes on.

00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:52.500
 Many of them

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:54.019
 will go to their graves

00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:54.759
 like this.

00:28:55.619 --> 00:28:56.019
 Do you remember

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:58.139
 what the religious leaders

00:28:58.139 --> 00:28:59.379
 say about these disciples

00:28:59.379 --> 00:29:00.399
 in Acts chapter 4?

00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:02.539
 They are joyful.

00:29:02.879 --> 00:29:03.799
 They are threatened.

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:04.700
 They'll say,

00:29:04.779 --> 00:29:05.480
 if you don't shut up,

00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.259
 we're going to kill you.

00:29:06.259 --> 00:29:06.740
 And they say,

00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:07.440
 okay, fine.

00:29:07.500 --> 00:29:08.500
 We'll just keep on preaching.

00:29:09.019 --> 00:29:09.879
 And they say,

00:29:09.879 --> 00:29:11.200
 they recognized

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:13.220
 these as uneducated men

00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:15.559
 that had been with Jesus.

00:29:16.759 --> 00:29:17.400
 Friends,

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.019
 they encountered

00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:18.879
 the risen Lord

00:29:18.879 --> 00:29:20.740
 and that changed them.

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:23.019
 What accounts for this change

00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.000
 that takes place in them?

00:29:24.759 --> 00:29:26.279
 They had encountered

00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.099
 the risen Christ

00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:28.440
 and suddenly it all makes sense.

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:30.000
 Jesus' death

00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:30.779
 wasn't an accident.

00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:32.940
 this was God's plan

00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:34.599
 to rescue humanity

00:29:34.599 --> 00:29:35.460
 from the dire

00:29:35.460 --> 00:29:37.119
 and hopeless situation

00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:38.240
 from which we could not

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.139
 save ourselves.

00:29:39.899 --> 00:29:41.099
 Only a risen Christ

00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:42.180
 who conquered the grave

00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:43.720
 can defeat the tyranny

00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:44.879
 of death,

00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:45.799
 Satan,

00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:46.339
 and hell.

00:29:47.079 --> 00:29:48.399
 Only a risen Christ

00:29:48.399 --> 00:29:49.079
 could bring about

00:29:49.079 --> 00:29:50.160
 the promised new hope,

00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.480
 the new world,

00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.599
 the new creation

00:29:52.599 --> 00:29:53.099
 the prophets

00:29:53.099 --> 00:29:54.000
 had spoken about

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:55.019
 and longed for.

00:29:55.639 --> 00:29:56.059
 Friends,

00:29:56.119 --> 00:29:57.099
 in seeing the risen Christ,

00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:58.399
 they understand

00:29:58.399 --> 00:30:00.219
 that Jesus is God

00:30:00.219 --> 00:30:01.079
 who is sovereign

00:30:01.079 --> 00:30:01.919
 and majestic

00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:03.559
 and worthy of worship

00:30:03.559 --> 00:30:05.079
 and the one who gives hope

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.279
 to the hopeless.

00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.719
 Now, friends,

00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.539
 what does this mean

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.379
 for you and I?

00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:11.659
 Well,

00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:13.459
 I hope you can see

00:30:13.459 --> 00:30:15.199
 Luke is not just

00:30:15.199 --> 00:30:16.359
 telling us something.

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.199
 Luke is asking us

00:30:18.199 --> 00:30:18.759
 a question.

00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:19.980
 In fact,

00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:20.679
 he's asking us

00:30:20.679 --> 00:30:21.740
 two questions.

00:30:22.939 --> 00:30:24.099
 Luke is asking us

00:30:24.099 --> 00:30:25.679
 two very important questions

00:30:25.679 --> 00:30:26.459
 and I want you to think

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.220
 about these questions.

00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.420
 The first one is this.

00:30:29.120 --> 00:30:29.920
 Luke is asking,

00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.299
 based on the evidence

00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:32.299
 of your life,

00:30:32.960 --> 00:30:34.220
 looking at your hope,

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.140
 your joy,

00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.480
 your certainty,

00:30:37.120 --> 00:30:37.960
 your conviction,

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.079
 your worship,

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.740
 what does that tell you

00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.680
 about your belief

00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:43.160
 in the risen Christ?

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:44.620
 Friends,

00:30:44.680 --> 00:30:45.860
 have you encountered

00:30:45.860 --> 00:30:46.819
 the living Lord Jesus?

00:30:47.660 --> 00:30:49.519
 Do you really believe

00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:50.920
 in the risen Lord Jesus?

00:30:51.840 --> 00:30:52.120
 Now,

00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:52.640
 you may say,

00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:53.140
 yes,

00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:53.960
 of course I believe.

00:30:54.360 --> 00:30:55.259
 I've always believed.

00:30:55.340 --> 00:30:56.440
 I was baptized as an infant.

00:30:56.460 --> 00:30:57.880
 I've believed all my life.

00:30:58.360 --> 00:30:59.500
 But do you really?

00:31:01.000 --> 00:31:02.019
 How would you know

00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:03.059
 if your belief is genuine

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.079
 or just wishful thinking?

00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.680
 How would you know

00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.660
 if your faith is genuine

00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:07.559
 saving faith

00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:09.500
 or just religious superstition?

00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:11.319
 Cultural Christianity?

00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:14.660
 Just religious wishful thinking?

00:31:15.779 --> 00:31:15.980
 Friends,

00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.660
 can you see what Luke

00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:17.200
 is saying here?

00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:18.880
 Those who encounter

00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:21.519
 the risen Lord Jesus Christ,

00:31:21.660 --> 00:31:22.880
 their lives are different.

00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.059
 Their hope is different.

00:31:24.179 --> 00:31:25.319
 Their joy is different.

00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:27.000
 Their purpose is different.

00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:29.119
 Their disposition is different.

00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.819
 Their entire ambition

00:31:30.819 --> 00:31:32.519
 and character is different.

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.299
 Remember,

00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:34.279
 Luke is a physician.

00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.839
 He's a doctor here.

00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.119
 Like a good doctor,

00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:38.119
 he's examining us.

00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:38.819
 He's probing.

00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:39.460
 He's pressing.

00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.919
 He's examining the condition

00:31:40.919 --> 00:31:41.460
 of our faith

00:31:41.460 --> 00:31:42.579
 and he's asking the question,

00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.240
 you say you have faith

00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:45.079
 in the risen Lord,

00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:46.440
 where's the evidence?

00:31:47.019 --> 00:31:48.220
 Where's the changed life?

00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:50.640
 When risen Christ

00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.640
 comes into our lives,

00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:53.039
 he does not leave us the same.

00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.860
 Here's the second question

00:31:55.860 --> 00:31:57.000
 Luke wants to ask us.

00:31:57.819 --> 00:31:59.120
 If what the scriptures

00:31:59.120 --> 00:32:01.120
 said about the coming Messiah,

00:32:02.480 --> 00:32:03.319
 about his death

00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.100
 and his resurrection

00:32:04.100 --> 00:32:05.380
 proved true,

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.120
 what are you doing

00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.839
 about the rest

00:32:07.839 --> 00:32:08.480
 of the scriptures?

00:32:09.620 --> 00:32:10.240
 You see,

00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:10.960
 the Bible

00:32:10.960 --> 00:32:12.160
 in its entirety

00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:13.120
 and its totality

00:32:13.120 --> 00:32:13.799
 is God's word.

00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.500
 Jesus said

00:32:14.500 --> 00:32:15.019
 the scriptures

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:16.019
 cannot be broken.

00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:17.339
 It's not just that

00:32:17.339 --> 00:32:18.259
 one or two pages

00:32:18.259 --> 00:32:18.900
 proved true.

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:21.059
 Every single page,

00:32:21.160 --> 00:32:21.960
 every promise

00:32:21.960 --> 00:32:22.500
 of scripture

00:32:22.500 --> 00:32:23.359
 from thousands

00:32:23.359 --> 00:32:24.220
 of years ago

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.259
 right through today

00:32:25.259 --> 00:32:26.000
 is proved true.

00:32:27.019 --> 00:32:28.599
 And if what Jesus said,

00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:29.480
 if the scriptures said

00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:30.519
 about Jesus' death

00:32:30.519 --> 00:32:31.400
 and resurrection

00:32:31.400 --> 00:32:32.039
 on the third day

00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:32.920
 proved true

00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:34.059
 against everybody's

00:32:34.059 --> 00:32:34.700
 expectation,

00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:35.799
 friends,

00:32:35.859 --> 00:32:36.240
 what it means

00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.139
 is that everything else

00:32:37.139 --> 00:32:37.660
 from the scriptures

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.180
 is true.

00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:39.519
 And so what are you

00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:40.220
 doing about it?

00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.759
 What are you doing

00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:42.319
 with the parts

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:43.000
 that speak about

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.200
 his atoning sacrifice,

00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:45.200
 the fact that he died

00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:46.180
 in your place

00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:47.460
 as a guilt offering

00:32:47.460 --> 00:32:48.440
 for your sin

00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.660
 that you might be

00:32:49.660 --> 00:32:50.759
 cleansed and justified

00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.519
 and made new?

00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.620
 Friends,

00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.180
 what are you doing

00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.660
 with the scriptures

00:32:53.660 --> 00:32:54.440
 that speaks about

00:32:54.440 --> 00:32:55.720
 your need for faith

00:32:55.720 --> 00:32:56.480
 and repentance?

00:32:57.799 --> 00:32:58.559
 What are you doing

00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:59.059
 with the scriptures

00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:00.220
 that say that Jesus

00:33:00.220 --> 00:33:01.539
 is Lord over all

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.240
 and has authority

00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.779
 over every human being?

00:33:04.620 --> 00:33:05.420
 What are you doing

00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:05.940
 with the scriptures

00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.779
 that speak about

00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.740
 his imminent return

00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.819
 to judge the living

00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.480
 and the dead?

00:33:10.620 --> 00:33:10.900
 You see,

00:33:10.980 --> 00:33:11.759
 if Jesus proved

00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.200
 the scriptures

00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.039
 foretelling his death

00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.059
 and resurrection are true,

00:33:14.059 --> 00:33:15.559
 it means everything

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:16.179
 is true.

00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:17.819
 Well, friends,

00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:18.200
 you may say,

00:33:18.299 --> 00:33:18.839
 well, okay,

00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:19.740
 that's good,

00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.279
 but how does that

00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:21.159
 help me with my job

00:33:21.159 --> 00:33:21.460
 this week?

00:33:21.500 --> 00:33:22.019
 How does that help

00:33:22.019 --> 00:33:23.000
 me find a job

00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.279
 or with my aging parents

00:33:24.279 --> 00:33:25.599
 or find a spouse

00:33:25.599 --> 00:33:26.799
 or the difficulties

00:33:26.799 --> 00:33:27.399
 in life?

00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.399
 Friends,

00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.480
 not everything in life

00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:30.079
 will be solved

00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.720
 in this world.

00:33:31.700 --> 00:33:33.059
 Jesus never promised us

00:33:33.059 --> 00:33:33.919
 that follow him

00:33:33.919 --> 00:33:34.339
 and everything

00:33:34.339 --> 00:33:35.179
 will go your way.

00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.259
 In fact,

00:33:36.339 --> 00:33:37.119
 Jesus said

00:33:37.119 --> 00:33:38.599
 that in this world

00:33:38.599 --> 00:33:39.759
 you will have trouble,

00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.919
 you will have difficulty,

00:33:41.159 --> 00:33:42.000
 you will have hardship

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.440
 and tears and pain,

00:33:43.799 --> 00:33:45.059
 but take heart,

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.859
 I have overcome the world.

00:33:47.380 --> 00:33:48.099
 And how do you know

00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.660
 that's true?

00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:50.200
 Because he overcame

00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.799
 the grave.

00:33:51.720 --> 00:33:52.220
 And so, friends,

00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:53.440
 when work is hard

00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:54.039
 and difficult

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.700
 and you feel all alone,

00:33:56.440 --> 00:33:57.079
 take heart,

00:33:57.599 --> 00:33:58.480
 Jesus has overcome.

00:33:59.299 --> 00:33:59.579
 And, friends,

00:33:59.619 --> 00:34:00.299
 when your parents

00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.480
 are old and aging

00:34:01.480 --> 00:34:02.160
 and getting sick

00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:02.839
 and it's hard

00:34:02.839 --> 00:34:03.900
 to take care for them

00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:05.420
 and you feel exhausted

00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:06.400
 and worn down,

00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:07.700
 take heart,

00:34:07.859 --> 00:34:08.599
 Jesus has overcome.

00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:09.800
 And, friends,

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.840
 when work is hard

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:11.860
 and money is tight

00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:13.240
 and parenting is difficulty

00:34:13.240 --> 00:34:13.880
 and you've come

00:34:13.880 --> 00:34:14.900
 to the end of yourself,

00:34:15.580 --> 00:34:16.240
 take heart,

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.800
 Jesus has overcome.

00:34:19.080 --> 00:34:19.539
 Friends,

00:34:19.620 --> 00:34:20.440
 the grave is empty,

00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.140
 the resurrection is true,

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.000
 new hope abounds.

00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:25.340
 Friends,

00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:25.800
 what happens

00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:27.080
 if on your deathbed

00:34:27.080 --> 00:34:27.519
 one day

00:34:27.519 --> 00:34:28.360
 someone told you

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.280
 that you had tens

00:34:29.280 --> 00:34:30.420
 of millions of dollars

00:34:30.420 --> 00:34:31.440
 that was just waiting

00:34:31.440 --> 00:34:31.880
 for you

00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:33.940
 and you never appropriated it,

00:34:34.380 --> 00:34:35.539
 never took hold of it,

00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:37.000
 never used it,

00:34:37.740 --> 00:34:38.940
 what a pity that would be.

00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.220
 But, friends,

00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:40.620
 what happens

00:34:40.620 --> 00:34:41.260
 if one day

00:34:41.260 --> 00:34:43.160
 the risen Lord Jesus Christ

00:34:43.160 --> 00:34:44.940
 looks you in the eye

00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:46.039
 and he says,

00:34:46.120 --> 00:34:47.560
 I died and I rose again

00:34:47.560 --> 00:34:48.900
 to give you new hope,

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.300
 new life,

00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:51.400
 new joy

00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:52.460
 in this world

00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.740
 and forever

00:34:53.740 --> 00:34:56.140
 and you never took hold of it,

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:58.060
 never appropriated it,

00:34:58.300 --> 00:34:59.460
 never made it your own,

00:35:00.220 --> 00:35:01.600
 that would be a disaster.

00:35:03.039 --> 00:35:04.500
 And so as we come to a close,

00:35:04.580 --> 00:35:05.320
 let me remind you

00:35:05.320 --> 00:35:05.980
 of the words

00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.220
 we sang a little earlier.

00:35:07.940 --> 00:35:08.580
 Though the sun

00:35:08.580 --> 00:35:09.740
 had ceased its shining,

00:35:10.360 --> 00:35:11.039
 though the war

00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:12.280
 appeared as lost,

00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:14.600
 Christ has triumphed

00:35:14.600 --> 00:35:15.300
 over evil,

00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:16.780
 it was finished

00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:17.660
 upon the cross.

00:35:18.519 --> 00:35:19.420
 Death was once

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:20.320
 our great opponent,

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:22.260
 fear once had a hold

00:35:22.260 --> 00:35:22.680
 of me

00:35:22.680 --> 00:35:23.519
 and of you.

00:35:24.120 --> 00:35:25.019
 But the sun

00:35:25.019 --> 00:35:25.660
 who died

00:35:25.660 --> 00:35:26.539
 to save us

00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.740
 rose that we

00:35:27.740 --> 00:35:28.720
 would be free indeed.

00:35:28.920 --> 00:35:29.280
 Yes,

00:35:29.720 --> 00:35:30.440
 he rose

00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:31.400
 that we

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:32.660
 would be free indeed.

00:35:33.260 --> 00:35:34.140
 Let's pray together.

00:35:34.900 --> 00:35:35.740
 Lord Jesus,

00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:37.140
 we pray to you

00:35:37.140 --> 00:35:37.860
 because you are

00:35:37.860 --> 00:35:38.600
 not a philosophy,

00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:39.799
 you are not

00:35:39.799 --> 00:35:40.400
 an idea,

00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.440
 you are not

00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:42.039
 a concept,

00:35:42.539 --> 00:35:43.460
 you are alive.

00:35:44.119 --> 00:35:44.519
 And God,

00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.339
 seated in the throne

00:35:45.339 --> 00:35:45.759
 of heaven,

00:35:45.880 --> 00:35:46.940
 you hear our prayers.

00:35:47.339 --> 00:35:48.339
 You hear the smallest

00:35:48.339 --> 00:35:48.719
 prayers,

00:35:48.799 --> 00:35:49.539
 you hear the prayers

00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:50.980
 prayed with mixed

00:35:50.980 --> 00:35:51.380
 motives,

00:35:51.920 --> 00:35:53.400
 you hear even

00:35:53.400 --> 00:35:55.700
 the most insipid

00:35:55.700 --> 00:35:56.400
 and weakest

00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.059
 of prayers.

00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:58.500
 You come,

00:35:58.680 --> 00:35:59.240
 you respond

00:35:59.240 --> 00:35:59.980
 to our faith.

00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.119
 Jesus,

00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:01.780
 thank you for

00:36:01.780 --> 00:36:02.519
 conquering the grave.

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:03.139
 Thank you for

00:36:03.139 --> 00:36:04.039
 rising again.

00:36:04.180 --> 00:36:04.660
 Thank you that

00:36:04.660 --> 00:36:05.700
 the first day

00:36:05.700 --> 00:36:06.139
 of the week

00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:06.980
 is also the first

00:36:06.980 --> 00:36:07.599
 day of a whole

00:36:07.599 --> 00:36:08.180
 new world,

00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.160
 a world in which

00:36:09.160 --> 00:36:09.860
 we get to

00:36:09.860 --> 00:36:10.500
 participate

00:36:10.500 --> 00:36:11.980
 simply through

00:36:11.980 --> 00:36:12.800
 faith and repentance.

00:36:13.019 --> 00:36:13.320
 Christ,

00:36:13.780 --> 00:36:14.579
 come and be alive

00:36:14.579 --> 00:36:15.059
 in our hearts,

00:36:15.139 --> 00:36:15.519
 we pray.

00:36:16.019 --> 00:36:16.539
 Come and make

00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.460
 yourself real to us.

00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:18.280
 Come and change

00:36:18.280 --> 00:36:18.780
 our lives.

00:36:18.780 --> 00:36:19.300
 God,

00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.940
 for those of us

00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:20.480
 that are weighed

00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:21.600
 down with despair

00:36:21.600 --> 00:36:22.720
 and despondency,

00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:23.680
 God,

00:36:23.780 --> 00:36:24.340
 come and open

00:36:24.340 --> 00:36:24.920
 the eyes of our

00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.600
 heart to see

00:36:25.600 --> 00:36:26.480
 the new hope

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:26.980
 to which you've

00:36:26.980 --> 00:36:27.420
 given us.

00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:28.500
 In your great

00:36:28.500 --> 00:36:29.180
 and wonderful name

00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:29.600
 I pray.

00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:30.900
 Amen.

00:36:31.600 --> 00:36:31.920
 Amen.