WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.700 John 20, 19-31. 00:00:05.480 --> 00:00:09.320 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, 00:00:09.939 --> 00:00:13.439 the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, 00:00:14.200 --> 00:00:16.980 Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 00:00:17.620 --> 00:00:18.640 Peace be with you. 00:00:20.339 --> 00:00:24.260 When he had said this, he showed them his hand and his sides. 00:00:25.460 --> 00:00:28.280 Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 00:00:28.280 --> 00:00:32.820 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. 00:00:33.579 --> 00:00:38.060 As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:43.240 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:45.400 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:49.900 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:54.299 If you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 00:00:54.299 --> 00:00:59.219 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the twin, 00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:01.799 was not with them when Jesus came. 00:01:02.839 --> 00:01:06.700 So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:12.759 But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails 00:01:12.759 --> 00:01:16.219 and place my finger into the mark of the nails 00:01:16.219 --> 00:01:21.099 and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. 00:01:22.840 --> 00:01:26.120 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again 00:01:26.120 --> 00:01:27.939 and Thomas was with them. 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:32.519 Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:34.759 and said, Peace be with you. 00:01:34.760 --> 00:01:41.420 Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here and see my hands 00:01:41.420 --> 00:01:44.620 and put out your hand and place it in my side. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:48.439 Do not disbelieve, but believe. 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:52.980 Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God. 00:01:53.820 --> 00:01:57.900 Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? 00:01:58.900 --> 00:02:02.840 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:07.320 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples 00:02:07.320 --> 00:02:09.300 which are not written in this book. 00:02:10.420 --> 00:02:14.719 These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, 00:02:15.080 --> 00:02:20.659 the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 00:02:21.780 --> 00:02:22.920 Good morning, everyone. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:23.599 Thanks, Ian. 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:33.359 Well, none of us expect to attend a funeral one day 00:02:33.359 --> 00:02:37.139 and bump into that person at Woolies the next, do we? 00:02:37.939 --> 00:02:44.019 The finality of death makes it so frightening and so painful. 00:02:44.020 --> 00:02:49.780 Have you ever known a person to survive beyond the grave? 00:02:52.980 --> 00:02:57.260 Not just out of it for a few minutes on the operating table, 00:02:57.460 --> 00:02:58.740 but after being buried. 00:02:58.860 --> 00:03:00.540 Have you ever known one person? 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:06.840 The death of our loved ones and the threat of death, 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:11.219 as Ian just talked about, it robs us of peace. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:20.140 In our scientific age, we all know that death is final. 00:03:20.139 --> 00:03:27.539 Even if we go to other religious beliefs, we find the same assumption. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:31.279 Buddhists and Hindus believe in reincarnation 00:03:31.279 --> 00:03:34.799 or other beliefs of joining ancestral spirits 00:03:34.799 --> 00:03:38.159 or going to a spiritual paradise. 00:03:38.739 --> 00:03:42.799 The soul might be believed to go on, but not the body. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:49.159 Perhaps the ancient Egyptian practice of mummification 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:54.419 is one of the few exceptions, thinking death was a temporary interruption. 00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:58.259 But they're still on display in museums. 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:01.139 And for the sake of sleeping at night, 00:04:01.219 --> 00:04:04.159 we kind of hope those mummy corpses don't come back to life. 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:12.939 There is a solid line that is universally understood. 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:16.339 Death of the body is final. 00:04:17.019 --> 00:04:18.540 That's why we're all afraid of it. 00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:20.640 That's why it robs us of peace. 00:04:21.840 --> 00:04:25.220 So the claim that the man Jesus rose bodily from the dead, 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:28.700 never to die again, seems simply unbelievable. 00:04:31.260 --> 00:04:34.400 It would be absolutely amazing news if it was true. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.180 We all crave for death to be conquered. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:42.040 Our hopes are in scientific advancement to at least prolong life. 00:04:42.040 --> 00:04:45.180 Our craving for death to be conquered, I think, 00:04:45.259 --> 00:04:49.600 is tapped into with myths and stories like the fountain of youth 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:54.379 or Wolverine healing himself or Superman being immortal 00:04:54.379 --> 00:05:02.180 or more recent movies of a personality being transplanted into a new body. 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:09.719 Although it would be the best news you have ever heard, 00:05:09.719 --> 00:05:11.680 if death could be conquered, 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:16.779 it belongs in fantasy and science fiction, doesn't it? 00:05:16.779 --> 00:05:20.859 We want it to be true, but it's just, it's unbelievable. 00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:29.659 Here's something I hadn't fully appreciated even until this week. 00:05:29.719 --> 00:05:31.319 I was struck by it this week. 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:38.180 The founding members who started the whole Christianity movement, 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:42.719 who wrote the New Testament, they didn't believe it at first either. 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:46.659 Not even they thought it was possible. 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:53.539 But we are about to hear their account of what they saw with their own eyes, 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:55.199 what they experienced. 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:57.060 They say it's undeniable. 00:05:57.060 --> 00:06:01.040 And here we run into a dilemma. 00:06:03.560 --> 00:06:08.000 Dismissing their testimony simply on the grounds that it's never happened before 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:11.720 or since is not rational. 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:18.240 Because if Jesus really is the unique son of God, 00:06:18.500 --> 00:06:21.000 if what he came to achieve was unique, 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:24.300 if what he promises to you is unique, 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:30.300 then you should demand that what he did is totally unique 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:33.439 and unheard of in the history of the world. 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:38.259 Anything less than that, anything less than unbelievable, 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:41.080 I don't think would be worth listening to. 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:46.840 So let's hear what they experienced. 00:06:46.960 --> 00:06:48.019 Let's hear their story. 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:53.220 Let's hear what convinced these people and changed their lives. 00:06:53.220 --> 00:07:01.860 So we pick up the story on the evening of that first Sunday, 00:07:02.020 --> 00:07:04.340 that first Easter Sunday, John tells us. 00:07:05.140 --> 00:07:09.780 We heard last week that Peter and John, who's writing this account, 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:14.540 had seen inside the tomb with Jesus' grave clothes 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:16.660 that formed something like a cast. 00:07:17.300 --> 00:07:20.540 And while the cast was intact, there was no body in it. 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:24.580 Perhaps he was taken directly to heaven. 00:07:26.220 --> 00:07:30.439 And then Mary, not Jesus' mother, but someone with a dirty past, 00:07:30.840 --> 00:07:32.600 she is the first eyewitness. 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:37.240 While crying at the tomb, she turns around and sees Jesus standing there, 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:41.020 but she assumes he is an ordinary man, a gardener. 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:43.620 She wasn't expecting it. 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:49.019 There's this little word that keeps appearing in John's account. 00:07:50.300 --> 00:07:52.540 Out of all the verbs he could have chosen, 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:58.800 John chooses one of the most mundane verbs to say something profound. 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:03.959 Mary saw Jesus standing. 00:08:03.959 --> 00:08:08.899 Dead people don't stand. 00:08:09.379 --> 00:08:12.079 We see this word coming up in our story a few times. 00:08:12.620 --> 00:08:15.939 She asked the gardener, where have you laid him? 00:08:17.219 --> 00:08:20.079 And when Jesus calls her by name, she recognised him. 00:08:20.339 --> 00:08:23.659 And this woman with a history becomes the first to testify 00:08:23.659 --> 00:08:25.659 to the greatest event of all time. 00:08:25.919 --> 00:08:28.879 She runs back to Jesus' most devout disciples 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:33.059 and says five simple words that demand a verdict from them. 00:08:33.759 --> 00:08:36.399 I have seen the Lord. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:41.399 Now, out of everyone in the world, 00:08:42.039 --> 00:08:45.840 these guys were the most inclined to believe. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:50.480 Every five of them would have wanted it to be true. 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.679 They had the most to gain for it to be true. 00:08:54.679 --> 00:09:01.079 In fact, before Jesus died, he told them that he would rise. 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:07.479 And they had seen with their own eyes Jesus do other unbelievable things, 00:09:08.379 --> 00:09:11.739 turning water into wine, healing a paralysed man, 00:09:11.859 --> 00:09:16.239 giving sight to a blind man, raising Lazarus from the dead. 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:21.659 Surely these guys, out of everyone, will be the quickest to believe. 00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:26.240 But what do we find them doing? 00:09:26.459 --> 00:09:29.980 On that night, after hearing Mary's words, 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:32.399 they're hiding. 00:09:33.459 --> 00:09:37.519 They're hiding behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.839 They feared the Jewish leader's power. 00:09:42.719 --> 00:09:45.620 They had orchestrated Jesus' death. 00:09:45.620 --> 00:09:50.019 Now, all they had to do is pick off that inner circle of followers 00:09:50.019 --> 00:09:53.960 and the Jesus movement would be dead and soon forgotten. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:56.620 Their fear is understandable. 00:09:58.419 --> 00:10:02.620 But not if what Mary said is true. 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:06.659 If not even death could stop their Lord, 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:08.240 what could anyone do to them? 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:11.220 They should have had the door open, 00:10:11.519 --> 00:10:13.960 eagerly anticipating Jesus walking in. 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:19.879 But not even these most inclined to believe expected it to be true. 00:10:22.879 --> 00:10:24.580 Although the doors were locked, 00:10:24.820 --> 00:10:27.399 Jesus came and stood among them. 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:30.879 I couldn't help laughing imagining this moment. 00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:33.600 These men huddled in a living room, 00:10:33.860 --> 00:10:36.600 perhaps frantically planning what they should do next, 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.440 afraid and confused, 00:10:38.580 --> 00:10:40.060 full of sorrow and fear, 00:10:40.920 --> 00:10:42.980 believing they were safe behind locked doors 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:46.019 when suddenly an intruder is just standing there in their meeting. 00:10:47.399 --> 00:10:51.600 Perhaps John didn't record the statements of shock they uttered. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:55.180 Grey clothes were no barrier. 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:56.960 Locked doors are no barrier. 00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:59.259 He came into this world when he wanted to 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:01.500 and he will return to heaven when he chooses. 00:11:02.180 --> 00:11:04.139 He went into death when he wanted 00:11:04.139 --> 00:11:06.939 and he stood up when he wanted. 00:11:09.500 --> 00:11:11.480 It wasn't some spirit or vision. 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:13.460 It was the same body. 00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:16.179 He shows them his scars, 00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:20.080 his hands where the nails had pierced his flesh 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:22.740 and his side where the spear had ripped him open. 00:11:22.740 --> 00:11:26.180 And what's his message to them? 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:28.919 Peace be with you. 00:11:30.340 --> 00:11:35.620 And I don't know why the ESV translates their response as being glad. 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:38.639 The word is overjoyed. 00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:42.000 They rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 00:11:43.680 --> 00:11:45.039 No one expected it. 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:47.139 They didn't expect it. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:48.000 It was unbelievable. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.600 But their experience was undeniable. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:58.659 But Thomas, one of the inner circle wasn't there that night. 00:11:58.759 --> 00:12:02.720 Now he has five simple words that demand a verdict from him. 00:12:03.399 --> 00:12:07.220 Not just Mary now, but also the ten or so guys testify, 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:10.899 we have seen the Lord. 00:12:10.899 --> 00:12:17.179 Now I reckon Thomas gets a bit of a bad reputation. 00:12:17.480 --> 00:12:19.899 I think it's a bit unfair. 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:24.199 He's famous as doubting Thomas. 00:12:25.319 --> 00:12:29.199 Maybe he should be known as rational and reasonable Thomas. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:35.240 He just wants evidence, first-hand evidence. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:40.279 But it is fair to say that he was sceptical. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:46.419 I think Thomas is more sceptical than you or I ever will be. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:51.039 He had already seen Jesus do some unbelievable things. 00:12:51.699 --> 00:12:58.000 And he would have known and deeply trusted the other ten or so guys. 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:03.620 But instead of believing their testimony, he demands, 00:13:04.700 --> 00:13:10.120 unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:15.700 into the mark of the nails and place my hand into his side, 00:13:15.779 --> 00:13:16.600 I will never believe. 00:13:19.220 --> 00:13:20.240 It's unbelievable. 00:13:20.240 --> 00:13:25.940 I want undeniable evidence that this is the same body, 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:27.899 the same person who was crucified. 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:34.000 He's only asking for what the others had got to see themselves. 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:37.720 He's only asking for what you and I want. 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:42.159 Undeniable evidence that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:44.620 So much is at stake. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:48.500 The whole world as Thomas knows it, 00:13:48.740 --> 00:13:51.600 the world as you and I know it, hinges on this. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:01.120 John takes us a week forward, the next Sunday morning. 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:05.399 And all the disciples are inside again. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:08.320 The doors are still locked. 00:14:08.820 --> 00:14:12.820 So we can assume that they're still afraid of the Jews. 00:14:14.139 --> 00:14:17.259 I think this detail rings of authenticity. 00:14:17.720 --> 00:14:20.240 It doesn't paint John and the others in a good light, 00:14:20.960 --> 00:14:22.159 but it's realistic. 00:14:23.519 --> 00:14:27.720 They're mixed in their thoughts, rejoicing that Jesus is alive 00:14:27.720 --> 00:14:29.100 and yet still afraid. 00:14:29.100 --> 00:14:34.360 And again, Jesus came and stood among them. 00:14:34.820 --> 00:14:35.700 Peace be with you. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:40.100 And Jesus doesn't rebuke Thomas. 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:45.139 Instead, he invites him to come and see for himself. 00:14:45.320 --> 00:14:50.060 Put your finger here and see my hands and put your hand 00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:51.580 and place it in my side. 00:14:51.700 --> 00:14:53.960 Do not disbelieve, but believe. 00:14:53.960 --> 00:15:00.360 And from the lips that speak on behalf of all the world 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:06.120 in its scepticism, now comes one of the most profound 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:09.100 and personal expressions of believing. 00:15:09.680 --> 00:15:14.300 Seeing the scars for himself, he is brought to his knees in worship. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:17.700 My Lord and my God. 00:15:17.700 --> 00:15:26.220 So are you a rational person? 00:15:29.420 --> 00:15:32.460 And what will you do with the testimony of Mary, 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:37.980 the testimony of the disciples, and the testimony of Thomas? 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:41.159 We have seen the Lord. 00:15:43.399 --> 00:15:44.860 None of them expected it. 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:46.800 It was unbelievable, but it happened. 00:15:47.039 --> 00:15:48.200 They can't deny it. 00:15:51.460 --> 00:15:55.019 You might be thinking, I haven't seen Jesus standing in my living room. 00:15:55.420 --> 00:15:56.060 Neither have I. 00:15:56.059 --> 00:15:58.679 How am I supposed to believe? 00:16:01.079 --> 00:16:02.859 You and I are giving a clear answer. 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:08.459 Jesus said to Thomas, you have believed because you have seen me. 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:13.659 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 00:16:14.479 --> 00:16:19.559 To be blessed means to have God's acceptance, God's approval, his favour. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:22.059 This is such great news. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:25.059 You don't need to wait for a religious experience. 00:16:26.059 --> 00:16:29.039 You can have all the life that God offers you. 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:32.099 You can share in Jesus' victory over death. 00:16:32.739 --> 00:16:35.599 You can be assured that all your sin has been forgiven. 00:16:36.239 --> 00:16:40.339 You can have peace with God and certain hope for the future 00:16:40.339 --> 00:16:44.759 simply by believing and making Thomas' words your own, 00:16:45.199 --> 00:16:46.759 my Lord and my God. 00:16:49.599 --> 00:16:55.919 But what is our belief resting on if it's not on our own eyes? 00:16:55.919 --> 00:16:57.339 What's our belief resting on? 00:16:58.259 --> 00:17:02.979 Is it just ignoring reality and wishing for something to be true? 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.379 That's not Christian faith. 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:07.039 God loves truth. 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:09.200 He is truth. 00:17:09.899 --> 00:17:13.000 And he wants your faith to rest on truth. 00:17:15.180 --> 00:17:17.480 Did you notice that I skipped a bit in our story? 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:22.880 When Jesus first came to his disciples, he said this, 00:17:23.140 --> 00:17:26.500 As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:29.079 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:33.579 If you forgive the sins of any, they have forgiven them. 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:38.480 If you withhold forgiveness, it is withheld. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:44.680 These guys at that point in time were scared behind locked doors, 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:48.519 but they wouldn't stay there, keeping this peace to themselves. 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:50.779 When the Holy Spirit was given to them, 00:17:50.980 --> 00:17:54.200 they were empowered to go out and risk their lives, 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:57.400 and most of them did lose their lives 00:17:57.400 --> 00:18:01.160 because they boldly and publicly testified 00:18:01.160 --> 00:18:03.220 to what they had heard and saw. 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:09.480 And through their testimony, those who believe their message 00:18:09.480 --> 00:18:16.000 are forgiven all their sin, sharing in the same peace with God. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:25.299 A few years ago, Em and I had the privilege of visiting England. 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:31.339 Before we left, what I was looking forward to the most 00:18:31.339 --> 00:18:33.399 was seeing Liverpool play live. 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:35.940 And we got to see them. 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:39.299 They scored three goals, and the atmosphere was incredible. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.599 We were sitting in the opposition stands, 00:18:42.759 --> 00:18:44.700 surrounded by a bunch of passionate guys, 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:48.000 so I was too afraid to celebrate when Liverpool won. 00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:51.740 I thought that would be my highlight, 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:55.480 but it didn't turn out to be the highlight of the trip. 00:18:56.140 --> 00:19:00.160 It was in Manchester, and definitely not seeing Manchester United, 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:05.120 but we visited John Ryland's university, the gallery there. 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:09.440 And we got to see one of the earliest fragments 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:13.180 of the New Testament manuscripts, and here's a picture of it. 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.319 It's called P52. 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:21.000 It's a surviving fragment from John's Gospel. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:26.559 Within a hundred years of John writing the Gospel. 00:19:27.620 --> 00:19:32.500 So the bit on the piece of papyrus is in Chapter 18. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:39.960 It's hard to describe why this became the highlight of our trip. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.259 It's just this little piece. 00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:44.460 We were there for about 20 minutes. 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:49.900 I think it became my highlight, to put it simply, 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:55.480 because my entire life, the forgiveness of my sin, 00:19:56.819 --> 00:20:00.620 my eternal life in knowing God, 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:08.340 is because I can totally rely on John writing his experience down. 00:20:08.339 --> 00:20:13.679 In verse 30 and 31, 00:20:14.220 --> 00:20:18.539 John says this is exactly what he wants us to get out of his testimony. 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:24.379 Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:26.019 which are not written in this book. 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:34.500 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, 00:20:34.859 --> 00:20:35.759 the Son of God, 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:41.379 and that by believing you may have life in his name. 00:20:41.380 --> 00:20:48.300 This is our way of being invited like Thomas to come, 00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:50.420 look at my scars, 00:20:51.220 --> 00:20:55.480 come read, come listen, and see who Jesus is. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.920 There's so much more I could have told you, says John, 00:20:59.060 --> 00:21:02.080 but this is plenty for you to believe. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:07.500 And God totally accepts the person who believes, 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.759 even though they haven't seen, 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:11.139 but the person who listens. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:19.859 Come, look at the scars on the Son of God's hands and under his ribs. 00:21:22.179 --> 00:21:24.419 What do these scars tell you? 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:37.160 They tell us that God intimately knows the suffering and injustice living in this sinful world. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:43.900 Only his wounds can speak fully into your wounds. 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:51.960 They tell us that all the world rejected God when he turned up. 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:55.840 Although he is the source of all of our life, 00:21:56.380 --> 00:22:01.079 every person has to one degree or another not wanted God. 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:08.279 The scars tell us that instead of blasting us away, 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.360 he bled for us. 00:22:13.660 --> 00:22:18.559 His scars tell us that his wounds have been healed. 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:21.940 God has accepted his sacrifice. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.960 God has accepted his sacrifice. 00:22:22.960 --> 00:22:23.960 God has accepted his sacrifice. 00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:31.180 You and I can be absolutely sure that his death has secured our forgiveness. 00:22:33.319 --> 00:22:38.100 His scars tell us that having died our death, 00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:41.759 he rose victorious out of the grave. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.519 And so will we. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:50.880 He has conquered death because he is the Lord of life. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:23:20.960 Jesus alone is the Lord of life. 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:21.960 He has conquered death. 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.960 He has conquered death. 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.960 Five simple words. 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:27.940 We have seen the Lord. 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:33.059 Invite a simple response from you and me. 00:23:34.960 --> 00:23:38.680 My Lord and my God. 00:23:38.680 --> 00:23:45.680 He alone can give you life and joy and peace. 00:23:45.680 --> 00:23:46.980 And joy and peace. 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:51.660 What will you do with those five words? 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:54.200 We have seen the Lord. 00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.900 Will you pray with me as we finish? 00:23:58.060 --> 00:23:58.500 Please pray. 00:23:58.500 --> 00:24:08.160 Lord, why you would bother to come down to earth to save us, 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.700 I don't know. 00:24:11.019 --> 00:24:13.359 But I praise you that you did. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:20.879 I praise you that you alone can take on death and have the victory. 00:24:22.099 --> 00:24:24.359 Lord, nothing else can do this. 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:26.599 No one else can do this. 00:24:26.599 --> 00:24:28.599 Thank you that you are holy. 00:24:28.599 --> 00:24:29.199 You are holy. 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.659 You are God. 00:24:31.939 --> 00:24:34.619 Thank you that you invite us to share in your life. 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:38.259 Thank you that we can know that you are with us in our pain. 00:24:39.399 --> 00:24:42.980 We can know that you forgive us fully because of your blood. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:46.299 Thank you that as we look into the future, 00:24:46.419 --> 00:24:50.079 we don't have to be afraid because we are safe in you. 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:54.980 Thank you that we have a good future ahead of us. 00:24:56.980 --> 00:25:03.139 Father, I pray that you would give each one of us eyes in our hearts 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:08.419 to see you and come to trust you and believe. 00:25:09.199 --> 00:25:10.119 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:10.619 Amen. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:13.679 Thanks, boy. 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:21.079 Amen.