WEBVTT

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 Well, good morning, everyone.

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 If you were here on Friday,

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 I encouraged you to look to Jesus on the cross

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 and believe for forgiveness,

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 for reconciliation with God.

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 This morning, I invite you to not just look,

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 but to see the Lord for eternal life,

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 for meaning, for life, for hope.

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 So for that to happen,

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 we need to pray that God would help us

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 to see what we cannot see with our own eyes,

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 that he might give us eyes

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 so that we might see the glory of the risen Lord.

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 Let's pray.

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 Father, I pray that as we come to your word this morning,

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 we pray that it would come alive,

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 just as alive as Jesus is now and reigning.

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 So we need your spirit to come to help us

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 to see what we cannot see with human eyes,

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 lest we walk out of here like Thomas,

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 doubting, questioning, refusing to believe.

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 So help us in our unbelief

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 so that we might see the risen Lord, we pray,

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 for your glory.

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 Amen.

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 There are two questions for us here on Easter Sunday,

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 the truth question and the meaning question.

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 Whenever you talk about the resurrection of Jesus,

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 the truth question and the meaning question are intertwined.

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 The truth question is, did it really happen?

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 The meaning question is, who cares?

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 What's the point?

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 There are people who reject Christianity

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 because they don't think it's true.

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 Jesus didn't die because dead people don't die and that's that.

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 That's the truth question.

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 But there are other people who reject Christianity,

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 not because they are convinced it's not true,

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 but because they can't see why it would make any difference

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 in their life if it were true.

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 In other words, the meaning of it is insignificant

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 or irrelevant for what really concerns them in life.

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 And to answer a little bit of that,

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 I have written a blurb on the front of your bulletin.

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 I encourage you to read it at some point

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 about just very briefly five things

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 that the resurrection does for us.

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 Forty years ago, there was an assumption

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 that there are fixed laws

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 that make the world understandable

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 and scientifically manageable.

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 These laws, however, did not allow for the truth

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 of the claim that someone could rise from the dead

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 and live forever.

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 The world at that time,

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 with its scientific understanding of natural laws,

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 did not allow for resurrections,

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 so unbelief was often connected

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 to that kind of assumption,

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 to scientific facts.

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 Today, there's a different assumption behind unbelief.

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 Today, the assumption is

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 that there is a personal law inside of me,

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 not natural fixed laws,

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 but personal laws inside of me.

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 It's a law that says,

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 I don't have to adapt my life

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 to anything that I don't find helpful to be.

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 That is, truth for me is what I find acceptable

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 and what I find helpful for my life.

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 So in the end,

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 it doesn't matter whether Jesus rose from the dead

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 because whether he did or whether he didn't,

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 my issue is,

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 I don't care.

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 And if I don't care,

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 then I will just view the resurrection of Jesus

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 in the same way that I would view UFOs.

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 It may, may not exist.

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 Don't care.

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 It doesn't bother me

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 unless it's Independence Day

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 and one is right on top of me.

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 Some of us think that way

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 without even knowing that's the way we think.

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 We have just simply absorbed the culture in which we live.

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 I think both questions are important to address

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 at the same time.

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 As the world has made rapid advancement

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 in scientific understanding,

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 there has been

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 a chronological

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 snobbery

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 that assumes

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 any conclusions made in previous centuries

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 were just based on ignorance.

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 That truth is in my century

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 or in my era,

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 in my time

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 and those other people

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 were just ignorant,

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 gallible,

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 foolish people.

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 So the people around

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 when Jesus rose from the dead

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 were just that.

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 They were gullible

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 and ignorant

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 and foolish.

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 It's a bit odd

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 because when you look

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 at the first response

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 to the empty tomb,

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 we don't find gullibility.

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 Have a look at it there.

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 John chapter 20.

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 It was just read out to us.

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 If you haven't got your Bibles open,

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 please open them.

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 I want you to see these words.

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 John 20 verse 1.

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 Early on the first day of the week,

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 while it was still dark,

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 Mary Magdalene went to the tomb

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 and saw

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 that the stone

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 had been removed

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 from the entrance.

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 So she came running

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 to Simon Peter

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 and the other disciples,

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 the one Jesus loved,

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 and said,

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 they have taken the Lord

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 out of the tomb

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 and we don't know

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 where they have put him.

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 The very first response

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 to the resurrection of Jesus

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 is there must be

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 another explanation.

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 Mary,

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 one of the disciples of Jesus,

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 did not believe

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 in the resurrection.

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 Her first assumption was

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 that the body

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 had been moved.

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 We also see

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 in verse 13,

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 she was working

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 on the assumption

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 that the Jewish leaders

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 had come

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 and taken the body

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 of Jesus

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 and disposed of it

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 outside of the holy city,

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 gotten rid of it somewhere.

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 Mary is slow

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 to believe

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 Jesus had been risen,

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 but she's not the only one.

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 Even Peter and John,

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 though somewhat puzzled

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 at the disturbed grave clothes

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 in the empty tomb,

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 didn't automatically jump

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 to the conclusion

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 that Jesus had been resurrected.

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 Verse 8,

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 finally,

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 the other disciple

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 who had reached

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 the tomb first

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 also went in.

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 He saw

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 and believed.

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 Now,

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 you think,

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 he believes

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 in the resurrection,

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 but no,

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 verse 9,

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 they still did not

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 understand

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 from scripture

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 that Jesus

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 had to rise

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 from the dead.

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 I think

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 John's first assumption

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 is

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 that Jesus

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 has gone

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 from the tomb

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 straight to heaven.

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 That tells me

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 that these disciples

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 were not easily

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 excitable

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 or gullible people.

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 They weren't

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 actually looking

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 for a resurrection.

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 But what they were

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 confronted with

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 on that morning

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 was a

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 bodiless tomb.

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 That's what

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 they were confronted with.

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 There was no body

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 in the tomb.

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 You cannot play

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 around

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 with the resurrection

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 of Jesus

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 and can see

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 that maybe

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 it was just

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 some sort of

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 spiritual resurrection.

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 The body

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 wasn't there.

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 And one of the

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 great historical

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 evidences

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 of the resurrection

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 is that the tomb

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 where he was

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 buried

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 was emptied

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 on the third day

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 and the enemies

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 of Jesus

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 could not

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 produce a body.

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 The assumption

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 of Mary

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 that the Jewish

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 leaders had

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 taken the body

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 of Jesus

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 away

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 was her first

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 assumption.

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 And all the

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 Jewish leaders

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 needed to do

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 was to kill

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 off Christianity

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 was to go

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 boom

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 there's your

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 dead Lord.

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 In fact

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 it's

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 one of the

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 striking things

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 about

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 the resurrection

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 of Jesus

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 is that

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 in the days

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 and the weeks

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 and the months

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 that passed

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 nobody

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 was able

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 to be reduced

00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:05.279
 in order to

00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:05.840
 kill off the

00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:06.519
 things that both

00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:07.000
 the Jewish

00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:07.800
 and the Roman

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 rulers

00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:09.800
 hated so much.

00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:11.079
 the advancement

00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:11.639
 of this

00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:12.139
 cult

00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:12.460
 called

00:08:12.460 --> 00:08:13.000
 Christianity.

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 Some have

00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:17.780
 tried to say

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 well he didn't

00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:19.020
 really die

00:08:19.020 --> 00:08:21.120
 he was revived

00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:21.720
 in the cool

00:08:21.720 --> 00:08:22.360
 of the tomb

00:08:22.360 --> 00:08:24.000
 and moved

00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:24.500
 the stone

00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:25.319
 away on his

00:08:25.319 --> 00:08:25.819
 own.

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 This goes

00:08:27.780 --> 00:08:28.400
 against the

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 horrible realities

00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:30.720
 of crucifixion

00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:32.080
 and against

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 the rigorous

00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:33.200
 steps that

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 Pilate and

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 the leaders

00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:35.560
 demanded

00:08:35.560 --> 00:08:36.940
 to make sure

00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:37.620
 that he was

00:08:37.620 --> 00:08:38.419
 in fact dead.

00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:39.620
 John chapter

00:08:39.620 --> 00:08:40.120
 19

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 you can

00:08:40.599 --> 00:08:41.139
 read that.

00:08:42.919 --> 00:08:43.439
 Others have

00:08:43.439 --> 00:08:44.000
 tried to say

00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:44.339
 that the

00:08:44.339 --> 00:08:44.879
 disciples

00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:45.819
 stole the

00:08:45.819 --> 00:08:46.120
 body.

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 A couple

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 of things

00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:50.579
 about that

00:08:50.579 --> 00:08:50.860
 one.

00:08:51.179 --> 00:08:51.539
 It would

00:08:51.539 --> 00:08:52.059
 seem a bit

00:08:52.059 --> 00:08:52.559
 odd that if

00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:53.039
 they stole

00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:53.439
 the body

00:08:53.439 --> 00:08:53.799
 that they

00:08:53.799 --> 00:08:54.219
 would actually

00:08:54.219 --> 00:08:54.860
 unwrap the

00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:55.439
 grave clothes

00:08:55.439 --> 00:08:56.959
 first and

00:08:56.959 --> 00:08:57.299
 leave.

00:08:58.039 --> 00:08:58.459
 I mean who

00:08:58.459 --> 00:08:58.979
 wants to do

00:08:58.979 --> 00:08:59.299
 that?

00:08:59.899 --> 00:09:00.319
 Who wants

00:09:00.319 --> 00:09:00.899
 to unwrap

00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:01.339
 the grave

00:09:01.339 --> 00:09:01.879
 clothes and

00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:02.759
 cut away a

00:09:02.759 --> 00:09:03.099
 bloody

00:09:03.099 --> 00:09:03.559
 beaten

00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:04.419
 naked body?

00:09:04.419 --> 00:09:07.479
 No one

00:09:07.479 --> 00:09:07.759
 would do

00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:08.000
 that.

00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:08.759
 But more

00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:09.459
 significantly

00:09:09.459 --> 00:09:10.979
 if they

00:09:10.979 --> 00:09:11.439
 took the

00:09:11.439 --> 00:09:12.879
 body it

00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:13.279
 would mean

00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:13.599
 that the

00:09:13.599 --> 00:09:14.559
 disciples began

00:09:14.559 --> 00:09:15.000
 to risk

00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:15.819
 their lives

00:09:15.819 --> 00:09:17.059
 and in fact

00:09:17.059 --> 00:09:17.719
 give themselves

00:09:17.719 --> 00:09:18.719
 up to martyrdom

00:09:18.719 --> 00:09:19.299
 for the sake

00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:19.939
 of a hoax

00:09:19.939 --> 00:09:20.479
 that they knew

00:09:20.479 --> 00:09:21.039
 was false

00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:21.399
 and was

00:09:21.399 --> 00:09:21.799
 worthless.

00:09:23.099 --> 00:09:23.860
 Who dies

00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:24.419
 for a lie?

00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:28.459
 So how

00:09:28.459 --> 00:09:28.879
 else do you

00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:29.360
 account for

00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.259
 the dramatic

00:09:30.259 --> 00:09:31.179
 change in the

00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:31.860
 disciples as

00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:32.159
 well?

00:09:32.459 --> 00:09:33.099
 After Good

00:09:33.100 --> 00:09:33.960
 Friday if it

00:09:33.960 --> 00:09:34.399
 wasn't for

00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:34.980
 the resurrection

00:09:34.980 --> 00:09:37.159
 the fact is

00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:37.420
 that they

00:09:37.420 --> 00:09:37.899
 were utterly

00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:38.879
 dejected,

00:09:39.019 --> 00:09:39.300
 they were

00:09:39.300 --> 00:09:40.720
 terrified after

00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:41.279
 the death of

00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:41.759
 Jesus that

00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:42.399
 they too

00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:43.300
 would die.

00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:45.980
 The people

00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:46.279
 who had

00:09:46.279 --> 00:09:47.360
 killed their

00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:48.100
 boss,

00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:49.320
 their leader

00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:51.440
 were potentially

00:09:51.440 --> 00:09:52.080
 going to kill

00:09:52.080 --> 00:09:52.659
 them too.

00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:55.779
 They did not

00:09:55.779 --> 00:09:56.279
 have a hope

00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:56.980
 for resurrection,

00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:58.379
 they were ready

00:09:58.379 --> 00:09:58.980
 to go back

00:09:58.980 --> 00:10:00.620
 fishing but

00:10:00.620 --> 00:10:01.259
 were scared

00:10:01.259 --> 00:10:02.120
 of the authorities

00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:02.940
 that put their

00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:03.480
 teeth to the

00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:04.060
 death and so

00:10:04.060 --> 00:10:04.400
 they hid

00:10:04.400 --> 00:10:05.000
 themselves in

00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:05.500
 a room,

00:10:07.280 --> 00:10:07.820
 a bunch of

00:10:07.820 --> 00:10:08.480
 cowards,

00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:10.200
 hoping not to

00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:10.720
 be found,

00:10:11.220 --> 00:10:11.980
 hoping not to

00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:12.460
 be put to

00:10:12.460 --> 00:10:12.840
 death.

00:10:15.760 --> 00:10:16.440
 And then

00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:17.240
 Jesus appears

00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:17.620
 to them.

00:10:20.760 --> 00:10:21.520
 And in the

00:10:21.520 --> 00:10:22.280
 next coming

00:10:22.280 --> 00:10:22.980
 weeks these

00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:23.780
 men went

00:10:23.780 --> 00:10:25.300
 from cowards

00:10:25.300 --> 00:10:27.520
 to courageous,

00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.680
 bold men

00:10:28.680 --> 00:10:29.640
 willing to

00:10:29.640 --> 00:10:30.060
 die.

00:10:30.059 --> 00:10:32.819
 what had

00:10:32.819 --> 00:10:33.299
 happened to

00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:33.459
 them.

00:10:34.419 --> 00:10:35.099
 Their own

00:10:35.099 --> 00:10:35.859
 account was

00:10:35.859 --> 00:10:37.159
 they had

00:10:37.159 --> 00:10:39.379
 seen the

00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:40.479
 Lord alive.

00:10:42.319 --> 00:10:43.099
 The evidence

00:10:43.099 --> 00:10:43.599
 is there for

00:10:43.599 --> 00:10:43.879
 sure.

00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:46.799
 But doubting

00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:47.500
 the resurrection

00:10:47.500 --> 00:10:48.879
 of Jesus is

00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:49.279
 common.

00:10:49.479 --> 00:10:50.239
 Strangely enough

00:10:50.239 --> 00:10:50.819
 though, it's

00:10:50.819 --> 00:10:52.579
 the first person

00:10:52.579 --> 00:10:53.139
 to doubt the

00:10:53.139 --> 00:10:53.679
 resurrection,

00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:55.099
 the first

00:10:55.099 --> 00:10:55.679
 person who

00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:56.939
 was to

00:10:56.940 --> 00:10:57.340
 actually

00:10:57.340 --> 00:10:58.020
 specifically

00:10:58.020 --> 00:10:58.620
 doubt the

00:10:58.620 --> 00:10:58.960
 resurrection,

00:10:59.060 --> 00:10:59.300
 not just

00:10:59.300 --> 00:10:59.780
 question whether

00:10:59.780 --> 00:11:00.100
 it happened

00:11:00.100 --> 00:11:00.820
 or not have

00:11:00.820 --> 00:11:01.540
 a confused

00:11:01.540 --> 00:11:02.240
 assumption about

00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:02.540
 it, but to

00:11:02.540 --> 00:11:03.020
 say I will

00:11:03.020 --> 00:11:03.600
 not believe

00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:04.320
 it, was

00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:05.420
 in fact not

00:11:05.420 --> 00:11:06.260
 an opposer

00:11:06.260 --> 00:11:07.080
 of Jesus but

00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:07.440
 one of his

00:11:07.440 --> 00:11:08.320
 closest supporters,

00:11:09.020 --> 00:11:09.400
 Thomas.

00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:10.980
 Thomas wasn't

00:11:10.980 --> 00:11:11.360
 there when

00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:11.980
 Jesus first

00:11:11.980 --> 00:11:12.460
 appeared to

00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:13.080
 the disciples.

00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:13.780
 Have a look

00:11:13.780 --> 00:11:14.140
 at it there in

00:11:14.140 --> 00:11:14.820
 verse 24.

00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:15.780
 Now Thomas

00:11:15.780 --> 00:11:16.340
 called Didymus,

00:11:16.379 --> 00:11:16.680
 one of the

00:11:16.680 --> 00:11:17.200
 twelve, was

00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:17.720
 not with the

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:18.840
 disciples when

00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:19.680
 Jesus came.

00:11:20.160 --> 00:11:20.940
 So the other

00:11:20.940 --> 00:11:21.740
 disciples told

00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:22.640
 him, we have

00:11:22.640 --> 00:11:23.240
 seen the

00:11:23.240 --> 00:11:23.660
 Lord.

00:11:25.180 --> 00:11:25.660
 But he said

00:11:25.660 --> 00:11:26.480
 to them, unless

00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.960
 I see the

00:11:27.960 --> 00:11:28.879
 nail marks in

00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:29.520
 his hands and

00:11:29.520 --> 00:11:30.360
 put my finger

00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.020
 where the nails

00:11:31.020 --> 00:11:31.540
 were and put

00:11:31.540 --> 00:11:32.680
 my hand in

00:11:32.680 --> 00:11:33.360
 his side, I

00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.180
 will not

00:11:34.180 --> 00:11:35.080
 believe.

00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:37.800
 Unless I

00:11:37.800 --> 00:11:38.260
 see it for

00:11:38.260 --> 00:11:39.020
 myself, I

00:11:39.020 --> 00:11:39.580
 will not

00:11:39.580 --> 00:11:40.560
 believe it.

00:11:42.540 --> 00:11:43.280
 I will

00:11:43.280 --> 00:11:44.280
 believe if

00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:45.299
 Jesus comes

00:11:45.299 --> 00:11:45.860
 and shows

00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:46.419
 himself to

00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:46.759
 me.

00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:49.959
 The odd

00:11:49.959 --> 00:11:50.339
 thing is

00:11:50.339 --> 00:11:51.600
 that for

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:52.159
 Thomas, like

00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:52.480
 the other

00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:53.240
 disciples, the

00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.079
 resurrection was

00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:55.659
 not a new

00:11:55.659 --> 00:11:56.159
 idea.

00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:57.519
 As an

00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:58.399
 Orthodox Jew, he

00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:58.679
 would have

00:11:58.679 --> 00:11:59.699
 believed in

00:11:59.699 --> 00:12:00.519
 everyone being

00:12:00.519 --> 00:12:01.439
 resurrected to

00:12:01.439 --> 00:12:02.199
 face judgment

00:12:02.199 --> 00:12:05.139
 when God

00:12:05.139 --> 00:12:05.620
 calls the

00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:05.980
 end of the

00:12:05.980 --> 00:12:06.459
 world to

00:12:06.459 --> 00:12:06.759
 be.

00:12:08.319 --> 00:12:08.980
 But he

00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:09.539
 doubts the

00:12:09.539 --> 00:12:10.299
 resurrection of

00:12:10.299 --> 00:12:11.159
 Jesus here.

00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:13.720
 His

00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:14.879
 response to

00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:15.720
 the news is

00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:16.399
 absolute.

00:12:17.519 --> 00:12:18.320
 He makes

00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:19.060
 his demands

00:12:19.060 --> 00:12:19.899
 in absolute

00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.519
 terms.

00:12:20.680 --> 00:12:21.840
 Unless I

00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.080
 see and

00:12:23.080 --> 00:12:24.180
 place my

00:12:24.180 --> 00:12:25.100
 hands, I

00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.100
 will not

00:12:26.100 --> 00:12:26.580
 believe.

00:12:28.800 --> 00:12:29.720
 He demands

00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:30.220
 tangible

00:12:30.220 --> 00:12:30.820
 proof.

00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:31.940
 He rejects

00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:32.660
 the witness of

00:12:32.660 --> 00:12:33.519
 ten or more

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:33.940
 of his

00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:35.440
 closest mates.

00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:36.800
 He dictates

00:12:36.800 --> 00:12:37.680
 absolute terms to

00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.300
 God about

00:12:38.300 --> 00:12:39.620
 believing, which

00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.680
 reveal a lack of

00:12:40.680 --> 00:12:41.240
 wisdom and

00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:41.779
 humility.

00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:44.279
 What he has

00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:44.700
 not yet

00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:45.539
 grappled with

00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:47.039
 is that

00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.519
 seeing does

00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:50.299
 not equal

00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:50.940
 believing.

00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:54.180
 You see, many

00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:54.960
 people saw the

00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:55.539
 miracles of

00:12:55.539 --> 00:12:57.320
 Jesus and

00:12:57.320 --> 00:12:57.740
 yet they

00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.659
 didn't believe.

00:12:59.399 --> 00:13:00.060
 They in fact

00:13:00.060 --> 00:13:00.919
 plotted to kill

00:13:00.919 --> 00:13:02.000
 him when they

00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:03.060
 saw Jesus

00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:04.919
 command Lazarus

00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:05.600
 to walk out of

00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:06.100
 the tomb.

00:13:06.460 --> 00:13:07.460
 Dead man walking.

00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.120
 They saw it

00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:08.840
 happen and

00:13:08.840 --> 00:13:09.259
 instead of

00:13:09.259 --> 00:13:09.720
 going, my

00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:10.820
 goodness, who

00:13:10.820 --> 00:13:11.660
 is this man?

00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.500
 They went, right,

00:13:12.600 --> 00:13:13.000
 it's time to

00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:13.519
 kill this guy.

00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:17.019
 Seeing doesn't

00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:18.019
 equal belief.

00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:19.540
 And it's a

00:13:19.540 --> 00:13:20.280
 mistake that's so

00:13:20.280 --> 00:13:20.820
 easy to make.

00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:21.259
 The assumption

00:13:21.259 --> 00:13:21.820
 that if God

00:13:21.820 --> 00:13:22.420
 would appear to

00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:23.620
 me or directly

00:13:23.620 --> 00:13:24.399
 intervene in

00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:25.100
 certain aspects of

00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:25.879
 my life for my

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.379
 good as I

00:13:26.379 --> 00:13:27.600
 determine it, then

00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:28.460
 I would believe.

00:13:28.580 --> 00:13:29.379
 In other words,

00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.460
 if God would

00:13:30.460 --> 00:13:31.379
 appear to me on

00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:32.660
 my terms, then

00:13:32.660 --> 00:13:33.480
 I would believe

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:34.780
 he is God.

00:13:36.400 --> 00:13:37.280
 Of course, the

00:13:37.280 --> 00:13:38.160
 irony of that is

00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:38.719
 that a God who

00:13:38.719 --> 00:13:39.299
 submits to my

00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:40.039
 terms isn't so

00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:40.779
 much of a fancy

00:13:40.779 --> 00:13:41.559
 God after all.

00:13:45.179 --> 00:13:45.879
 I remember

00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:49.240
 going through

00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.000
 US customs.

00:13:50.159 --> 00:13:50.500
 Here's another

00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:50.799
 one of those

00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:51.339
 US customs

00:13:51.339 --> 00:13:51.799
 stories.

00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:53.579
 Going from

00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:55.059
 Canada into

00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:55.839
 the US,

00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.360
 walking up to

00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:58.879
 the counter,

00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:00.139
 handing over my

00:14:00.139 --> 00:14:01.659
 passport, and the

00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:03.039
 custom guy takes a

00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:03.779
 look at it, big

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:05.679
 long pause, and

00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:07.559
 he says here,

00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.259
 you're a

00:14:09.259 --> 00:14:10.139
 clergyman.

00:14:11.959 --> 00:14:13.059
 Yes, yes I

00:14:13.059 --> 00:14:13.339
 am.

00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:16.240
 Right, I've got a

00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:17.059
 question for you,

00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:19.120
 and it was like,

00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:20.659
 is this like one of

00:14:20.659 --> 00:14:21.639
 those test things?

00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:23.019
 You know, I'm saying

00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.959
 I'm here on business,

00:14:24.100 --> 00:14:24.799
 I've got something to

00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:25.659
 declare, is he trying

00:14:25.659 --> 00:14:26.539
 to check me out,

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.779
 what's the deal here?

00:14:28.659 --> 00:14:29.240
 And he said, what

00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:30.019
 would you say to a

00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:31.199
 person who says to

00:14:31.199 --> 00:14:33.720
 you, show me God and

00:14:33.720 --> 00:14:34.899
 I'll believe in him?

00:14:34.899 --> 00:14:37.079
 And so I'm thinking,

00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.319
 oh, in that moment

00:14:38.319 --> 00:14:40.079
 God help me, you

00:14:40.079 --> 00:14:40.579
 know, I might be

00:14:40.579 --> 00:14:41.779
 stuck in Canada, I

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:44.340
 mean, please help me

00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:44.919
 in this moment.

00:14:47.480 --> 00:14:48.500
 And I said to him,

00:14:49.019 --> 00:14:51.480
 Jesus said, you see

00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.240
 me and you see the

00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.519
 Father.

00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:54.100
 So God actually has

00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:55.100
 revealed himself, he

00:14:55.100 --> 00:14:56.539
 has come into this

00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:57.480
 world and revealed

00:14:57.480 --> 00:14:57.919
 himself.

00:14:58.399 --> 00:14:59.360
 And he's done sort of

00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.639
 things, not just makes

00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.799
 claims that he's God,

00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.620
 but he did things to

00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:03.600
 prove he was God, he

00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:04.379
 raised people from the

00:15:04.379 --> 00:15:05.420
 dead, he healed the

00:15:05.420 --> 00:15:06.220
 sick, he calmed the

00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:07.360
 waters, and I said

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.899
 historical facts that

00:15:08.899 --> 00:15:10.820
 prove that he was who

00:15:10.820 --> 00:15:11.960
 he said he was.

00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:13.360
 But let me say that

00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:14.560
 plenty of people saw

00:15:14.560 --> 00:15:16.580
 Jesus and they saw the

00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:18.279
 miracles he did and yet

00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:19.300
 they still plotted to

00:15:19.300 --> 00:15:19.840
 kill him.

00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:21.560
 I said, I would say to

00:15:21.560 --> 00:15:22.600
 that person, don't make

00:15:22.600 --> 00:15:23.779
 this mistake of thinking

00:15:23.779 --> 00:15:25.000
 that seeing equals

00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:25.560
 believing.

00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.700
 And I said, the reality

00:15:26.700 --> 00:15:28.220
 is I could be God right

00:15:28.220 --> 00:15:29.080
 here, right in front of

00:15:29.080 --> 00:15:30.120
 you now and prove it to

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:31.560
 you, but if your heart

00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.620
 is one where you were

00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.240
 determined to will to

00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:35.799
 not to believe, you

00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:36.600
 won't.

00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:38.639
 I said, that's basically

00:15:38.639 --> 00:15:40.279
 what I would say to

00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:40.940
 that person.

00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:42.720
 I said, there is plenty

00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.259
 of evidence.

00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:44.639
 I said, I would

00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:45.960
 encourage that person to

00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.720
 go and read the

00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.580
 evidence in the

00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:49.399
 Gospels and ask for

00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.100
 eyes to see.

00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:53.039
 He gave me my passport

00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:54.100
 and he slid it across

00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:56.000
 and said, okay, you

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:56.360
 pass.

00:15:56.360 --> 00:16:05.120
 So what happens with

00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:05.539
 Thomas?

00:16:05.899 --> 00:16:06.800
 Reading on in verse

00:16:06.800 --> 00:16:07.379
 26.

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.019
 A week later, his

00:16:09.019 --> 00:16:09.800
 disciples were in the

00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.840
 house again and Thomas

00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:11.639
 was with them.

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:13.500
 Although the doors were

00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.639
 locked, Jesus came and

00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:15.419
 stood among them and

00:16:15.419 --> 00:16:16.360
 said, peace be with you.

00:16:17.539 --> 00:16:18.580
 And he said to Thomas,

00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:21.659
 over here, put your

00:16:21.659 --> 00:16:23.300
 hand, put your finger

00:16:23.300 --> 00:16:25.220
 here and see my hands

00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.300
 and reach out your

00:16:26.300 --> 00:16:27.019
 hand and put it into

00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.680
 my side.

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.560
 Stop doubting and

00:16:29.560 --> 00:16:30.080
 believe.

00:16:31.660 --> 00:16:33.360
 When Jesus did finally

00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:34.519
 appear to Thomas, he

00:16:34.519 --> 00:16:35.740
 says, just stop doubting

00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.399
 and believe.

00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:38.440
 So the call from Jesus

00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:40.700
 to Thomas was to stop

00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:41.960
 his disbelief.

00:16:43.220 --> 00:16:44.660
 And Jesus in that

00:16:44.660 --> 00:16:45.779
 moment was incredibly

00:16:45.779 --> 00:16:48.000
 merciful to him and

00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:48.980
 came to him in

00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.220
 demonstration of his

00:16:50.220 --> 00:16:51.460
 resurrection and Thomas

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.019
 believed.

00:16:53.139 --> 00:16:54.279
 The interesting thing

00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.139
 is though, that when

00:16:55.139 --> 00:16:58.120
 you go through the

00:16:58.120 --> 00:16:58.860
 gospels, the latter

00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.839
 part of the gospels,

00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:01.159
 and you move even

00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:02.259
 into the early parts

00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:04.500
 of Acts, Jesus'

00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.200
 intention was not for

00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:07.619
 everyone to see in the

00:17:07.619 --> 00:17:08.240
 same way.

00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.700
 In fact, Jesus did not

00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.799
 appear to everyone

00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:14.180
 after his resurrection.

00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.440
 He could have just

00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.819
 wandered up to Pilate

00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:18.819
 one day and said,

00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:19.639
 wrong.

00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:23.900
 But his intention was

00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:26.340
 not to reveal himself

00:17:26.340 --> 00:17:26.820
 to everyone.

00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:27.860
 Yes, he did appear to

00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:29.580
 well over 500 people at

00:17:29.580 --> 00:17:30.400
 different times.

00:17:30.820 --> 00:17:32.440
 Enough saw him alive.

00:17:33.900 --> 00:17:35.220
 But his intention was

00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:36.259
 not for everyone to

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.480
 believe him in that

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:37.860
 way.

00:17:40.259 --> 00:17:41.360
 John, who wrote this

00:17:41.360 --> 00:17:42.420
 biography, was one of the

00:17:42.420 --> 00:17:43.080
 eyewitnesses.

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:44.080
 And this is what he says

00:17:44.080 --> 00:17:46.160
 about how we come to see

00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:46.780
 and believe.

00:17:46.779 --> 00:17:49.099
 Verse 30, Jesus did

00:17:49.099 --> 00:17:50.240
 many other miraculous

00:17:50.240 --> 00:17:51.180
 signs in the presence

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:52.240
 of his disciples, which

00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.480
 are not recorded in this

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:53.779
 book.

00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:58.379
 But these are written

00:17:58.379 --> 00:18:00.259
 that you may believe

00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.819
 that Jesus is the

00:18:01.819 --> 00:18:03.700
 Christ, the Son of God,

00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.599
 and that by believing

00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:05.639
 you may have life in

00:18:05.639 --> 00:18:06.200
 his name.

00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:07.799
 What he is saying is

00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:09.420
 that what is written in

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:11.299
 this biography of

00:18:11.299 --> 00:18:12.420
 Jesus' life, his

00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:13.639
 ministry, his death,

00:18:13.899 --> 00:18:15.059
 his resurrection, is

00:18:15.059 --> 00:18:16.399
 everything that you need

00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:17.060
 to believe.

00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:20.980
 In fact, he says,

00:18:21.060 --> 00:18:22.180
 Jesus did plenty of

00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:23.460
 other stuff, but I

00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:24.140
 haven't written them

00:18:24.140 --> 00:18:24.900
 down because you don't

00:18:24.900 --> 00:18:25.940
 need to know about it.

00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:32.519
 We have everything that

00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.940
 we need to believe right

00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:34.700
 in front of us.

00:18:35.300 --> 00:18:36.320
 So can I encourage you

00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:38.800
 this Easter to read

00:18:38.800 --> 00:18:40.460
 one of the biographies of

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.300
 Jesus, Matthew, Mark,

00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:41.900
 Luke, John.

00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:43.900
 Just read one of those

00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:46.160
 biographies and ask for

00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.480
 eyes to see the risen

00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:47.800
 Lord.

00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.019
 Of course, there are

00:18:51.019 --> 00:18:52.320
 also those who refuse

00:18:52.320 --> 00:18:53.300
 to accept the evidence

00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:54.380
 of Jesus' resurrection

00:18:54.380 --> 00:18:55.660
 or even look into it

00:18:55.660 --> 00:18:57.080
 because it's not a matter

00:18:57.080 --> 00:18:58.540
 of historical facts.

00:18:58.880 --> 00:18:59.759
 It's not a matter of

00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:00.680
 historical evidence.

00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.019
 It's a matter of the

00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:03.400
 claims that Jesus made.

00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.500
 And this is the unbelief

00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.100
 of the will.

00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:08.240
 That is, if Jesus rose

00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:09.799
 from the dead, then he

00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:11.539
 is who he says he is

00:19:11.539 --> 00:19:13.179
 and he is king and he

00:19:13.179 --> 00:19:13.879
 is Lord.

00:19:14.219 --> 00:19:15.980
 He is God and he

00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:17.319
 commands our allegiance.

00:19:18.019 --> 00:19:18.779
 And so the rejection

00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:20.119
 of the resurrection then

00:19:20.119 --> 00:19:21.199
 is a rejection of the

00:19:21.199 --> 00:19:21.419
 will.

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:22.119
 It's not about the

00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:22.399
 intellect.

00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:24.919
 It's about the heart.

00:19:25.799 --> 00:19:26.639
 It's about the will.

00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:28.679
 Look at what Thomas

00:19:28.679 --> 00:19:29.899
 says when he realized

00:19:29.899 --> 00:19:30.719
 that Jesus had come

00:19:30.719 --> 00:19:31.379
 back to life.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.639
 Verse 28 reveals the

00:19:33.639 --> 00:19:35.319
 consequences of the

00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:36.299
 resurrection of Jesus.

00:19:36.419 --> 00:19:37.179
 The meaning of it.

00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:38.720
 Thomas said to him,

00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:42.179
 my Lord and my God.

00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:44.960
 His first questions

00:19:44.960 --> 00:19:47.279
 were not, how are you

00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:48.519
 walking around with a

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.359
 hole in your side?

00:19:53.939 --> 00:19:55.119
 The first thing that

00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:56.399
 impacted him was the

00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:57.659
 meaning of the

00:19:57.659 --> 00:19:58.240
 resurrection.

00:19:58.759 --> 00:19:59.939
 My Lord and my God,

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:00.659
 it's true.

00:20:00.960 --> 00:20:01.859
 Everything you said

00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:03.559
 about yourself is true.

00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:04.899
 He is God.

00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:06.019
 He is the king of the

00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:06.300
 universe.

00:20:06.420 --> 00:20:07.220
 He is my Lord.

00:20:07.280 --> 00:20:08.040
 He is my king.

00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.000
 He is my boss.

00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:10.300
 He is my ruler.

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:12.019
 He is my God.

00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:14.440
 Belief in the

00:20:14.440 --> 00:20:15.480
 resurrection of Jesus

00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:17.100
 for Thomas and for

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:19.120
 many of us may just

00:20:19.120 --> 00:20:20.740
 simply be in the end of

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.560
 the matter, a matter of

00:20:21.560 --> 00:20:21.860
 the will.

00:20:24.320 --> 00:20:25.620
 It is about who's in

00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:26.759
 charge of my life.

00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.380
 It's about who's in

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.800
 charge of my world.

00:20:29.799 --> 00:20:29.919
 God.

00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:32.680
 And we don't have

00:20:32.680 --> 00:20:34.079
 Thomas' direct evidence.

00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:36.119
 We are more like Peter

00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:37.159
 and John in the tomb.

00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:40.000
 There is evidence and

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:41.859
 either we see through it

00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:43.299
 or we don't.

00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:46.119
 And the issue for us here

00:20:46.119 --> 00:20:47.180
 this morning is do you

00:20:47.180 --> 00:20:47.559
 see?

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.960
 This is what I mean.

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:56.400
 Your doorbell rings this

00:20:56.400 --> 00:20:57.380
 afternoon and one of your

00:20:57.380 --> 00:20:59.420
 friends asked to come in

00:20:59.420 --> 00:21:00.279
 and have a chat with you.

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:03.360
 He comes and says, I have

00:21:03.360 --> 00:21:04.519
 some really bad news.

00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:06.920
 Your brother has just

00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:07.240
 died.

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:10.200
 And you say, shaking your

00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:10.960
 head, no, I don't believe

00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.120
 it.

00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.079
 I saw him this morning and

00:21:13.079 --> 00:21:13.920
 he was fine.

00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.539
 I don't believe it.

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.460
 It can't be true.

00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:20.539
 And your friend says, well,

00:21:20.559 --> 00:21:21.980
 we went off to the Easter

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:24.120
 show together and as we

00:21:24.120 --> 00:21:25.740
 were leaving, this car went

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.860
 out of control, jumped the

00:21:26.860 --> 00:21:28.960
 curve and hit him.

00:21:29.620 --> 00:21:32.019
 And I knelt over him and I

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.680
 waited for the ambulance and I

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:35.420
 saw it and he died in my arms

00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:36.519
 and he is gone.

00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:42.960
 And you say, oh, I see.

00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:46.840
 What do you mean?

00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.180
 Oh, I see.

00:21:52.019 --> 00:21:53.380
 What you mean in that

00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:56.160
 moment is the witness of your

00:21:56.160 --> 00:21:58.620
 friend has become a window

00:21:58.620 --> 00:22:02.900
 and the reality of the window

00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:04.200
 has become plain.

00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.620
 You were not there.

00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.880
 You did not see the

00:22:09.880 --> 00:22:10.340
 accident.

00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.860
 But still you say, and

00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:14.099
 it is right to say with all

00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:15.319
 your heart, I see.

00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.899
 I now understand.

00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:22.199
 And God has brought you here

00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:23.539
 this morning, my friends, for

00:22:23.539 --> 00:22:25.859
 this message and for this

00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:28.479
 Bible passage and for this

00:22:28.479 --> 00:22:30.179
 story of the resurrection of

00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:32.619
 Jesus so that you might go,

00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:34.919
 oh, I see.

00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.240
 Through the witness of John,

00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.980
 John says, I see.

00:22:41.980 --> 00:22:42.019
 I understand.

00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.059
 I see.

00:22:43.059 --> 00:22:44.059
 I understand.

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:46.700
 And that in seeing you might

00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:49.299
 believe in Jesus and have life

00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.259
 in his name.

00:22:52.420 --> 00:22:54.259
 John says, but these things are

00:22:54.259 --> 00:22:55.740
 written that you might believe

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:57.460
 that Jesus is the Christ,

00:22:57.859 --> 00:23:00.000
 the Son of God, and that by

00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.039
 believing you may have life in

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.759
 his name.

00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:05.400
 And so my prayer for you this

00:23:05.400 --> 00:23:08.900
 morning is that you will now,

00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:12.420
 before this service is over,

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:16.619
 or very soon, by God's grace,

00:23:16.779 --> 00:23:19.559
 say, oh, I see.

00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:23.519
 And in seeing the resurrected

00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:26.920
 Jesus, we'll live like he lives

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.900
 forever.

00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:29.820
 Amen.