WEBVTT

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 And we miss you and hope you can join with us soon.

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 Okay, Matthew 27, verses 57 to 66.

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 It's great that you've brought your Bibles.

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! It's taken a pandemic, hasn't it, for you to bring your Bibles.

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 It's a good thing.

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 General elections.

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 You know, the day after a general election,

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 the stickers of the party that have lost the election

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 begin to be taken off, don't they?

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 The posters in people's windows begin to be taken down.

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 Because in a political election,

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 the loser just kind of slides away, don't they?

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 Nobody celebrates the losing party in an election.

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 And I think we're tempted to feel a little bit like that

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 when we come to this part of Matthew 27.

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 All the hopes that were in Jesus,

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 all the plans that the Jews had,

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 they thought that he would be the great Messiah,

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 but on Good Friday he's put to death.

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 And it feels like it's all over.

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 And yet we know, don't we, from the Gospel,

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 that actually it isn't all over.

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 And death, wonderfully, is not the end of the story.

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 But I want us to go to that evening, Good Friday evening,

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 and I want us to see, first of all,

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 unwavering devotion to Jesus.

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 Can you see it with me?

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 Verses 55 and 56.

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 Unwavering devotion to Jesus.

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 Listen to what Matthew writes.

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 I'm in the right passage.

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 Do you see what it says?

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 Verse 55,

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 There were also many women there,

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 looking on from a distance,

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 who'd followed Jesus from Galilee.

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 Ministerington,

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 among whom were Mary Magdalene,

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 and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph,

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 and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

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 So these followers of the crucified

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 are an example of devotion to Jesus.

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 Even when the cause of Jesus appears to be defeated.

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 Even when the cause of Jesus is clearly unpopular

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 in the eyes of the world.

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 Now these women,

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 they are comparatively minor characters,

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 aren't they, in the Gospels?

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 Minor characters.

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 And yet here,

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 in the midst of the Passion narrative,

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 Matthew wants you to know

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 that these women stuck by Jesus.

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 Even when the main characters,

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 the superstars,

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 the disciples,

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 the apostles have fallen away.

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 The shepherd was struck.

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 Do you remember that?

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 And the sheep have been scattered.

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 But not all the sheep have been scattered.

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 There are these remarkable sheep

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 that didn't run away.

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 And who were these women?

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 Well, first of all,

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 as we look carefully at the verse,

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 it wasn't that there was just a few of them.

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 It wasn't that there was just a handful.

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 Look what Matthew says.

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 He says,

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 there were many women.

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 But there are three in particular

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 that he names.

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 Doubtless,

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 they were known to Matthew

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 and the church of his day.

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 There's Mary Magdalene.

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 There's Mary,

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 the mother of James and Joseph.

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 And there's the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

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 You remember that last lady?

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 She is the lady that pestered Jesus

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 back in chapter 20

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 and said,

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 when you come into your kingdom,

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 let one of my sons sit on the right hand

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 and the other on the left hand.

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 And these women show their devotion to Jesus.

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 Look what it says about them.

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 It says,

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 in the end of verse 55,

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 they followed Jesus.

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 That is a basic statement

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 of what a Christian is,

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 of what a disciple is.

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 What is a Christian?

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 It is somebody who follows Jesus,

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 who follows the crucified.

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 The same verb is used in the 12 disciples.

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 Do you remember,

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 they left all

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 and they followed him.

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 And so there's neither male nor female

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 when it comes to the benefits

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 of redemption

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 or discipleship.

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 It says they followed him from Galilee.

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 That is,

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 they left home.

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 And for these past several months,

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 they've followed him.

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 It's a considerable sacrifice

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 for these women to make.

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 It's a sacrifice of time

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 and resources.

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 They followed Jesus

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 and they ministered to him.

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 Luke 8 verse 2 says

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 that these women actually

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 were quite wealthy

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 and they gave and supported

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 Jesus and the disciples financially.

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 They gave resources

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 to supply Jesus and the disciples.

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 And so in other ways,

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 they showed their following Jesus

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 in practical ways.

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 They show their love for Jesus,

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 don't they,

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 in this verse,

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 by looking on from afar.

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 It's probably as close as they can get

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 to the cross.

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 But there is this unwavering devotion.

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 Unwavering devotion,

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 which is shown by the women,

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 but not by Jesus' closest disciples.

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 Where are they?

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 Where are they to be found?

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 We don't know.

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 In Calvary,

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 in John 1925,

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 he tells us that

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 John was there near the cross.

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 But all the rest of them

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 have run.

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 Matthew mentions,

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 doesn't he,

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 only these women.

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 These women,

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 they stand forever

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 as an unwavering

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 and an enduring devotion

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 to Jesus.

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 When all the others

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 have abandoned him,

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 they remain standing

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 to the end.

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 When everyone else

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 has left the tomb

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 a little bit later on,

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 the guards are positioned,

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 but in verse 66,

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 there's this lovely vigil

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 of these women.

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 Mary Magdalene was there.

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 And the other Mary,

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 sitting opposite the tomb,

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 unwavering devotion.

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 Now what does this mean

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 to you and I?

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 You will know if you've read

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 kind of modern

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 historical and theological circles,

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 they make an awful lot

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 of these women.

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 And they want to assign

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 to these women

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 and say,

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 well,

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 here they are given

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 an apostolic authority.

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 Here they are,

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 they are appointed

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 preachers of the gospel.

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 And you'll find

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 that an awful lot

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 is made of Mary Magdalene.

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 It's amazing to me

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 the amount of biography

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 that people are able

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 to dredge up

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 about Mary Magdalene.

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 Amazing tales.

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 In the Bible,

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 we're told,

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 first of all,

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 that she drove out

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 seven demons.

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 In Mark 16,

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 verse 9.

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 And the second thing

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 we learn is that

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 she came from Magdala.

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 That's all we know about her.

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 That's it.

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 That hasn't stopped,

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 does it?

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 Sensational mythology

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 building up around her.

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 And so if you've seen

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 the Da Vinci Code,

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 it's coming,

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 isn't it,

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 to the West End.

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 You'll know that somehow

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 she ends up in France,

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 she marries Jesus

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 and they have children.

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 I've just ruined the book

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 and the play for you.

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 But that is what

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 the Da Vinci Code is about.

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 And all this kind of mythology

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 but what matters to us

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 is what does the Bible

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 actually say?

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 It's not very glamorous

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 to the world,

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 is it?

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 But it is glorious

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 in God's eyes.

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 And it implies

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 that they followed Jesus.

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 And that's the glorious thing

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 about Mary Magdalene.

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 She was a follower

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 of Jesus

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 to the very end.

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 And these women,

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 they work behind the scenes

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 of Jesus' journey

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 to Jerusalem.

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 They use their gifts

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 to support Jesus' ministry.

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 And they show their

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 unwavering devotion

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 to the Lord.

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 And it is glorious

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 because it is so ordinary.

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 It is so ordinary.

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 They follow Jesus,

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 they serve Jesus

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 to the end,

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 and that is what God noticed.

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 And that is what

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 set them apart

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 in God's sight.

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 And that earns them

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 a mention

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 in the passages,

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 in the passion narratives

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 of Scripture.

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 What is it

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 that pleases God?

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 What is it

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 that prompts God

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 to make mention

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 of you

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 before the angels?

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 It's not

00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:09.099
 the great exploits

00:08:09.099 --> 00:08:10.039
 that you perform.

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 It's not

00:08:10.740 --> 00:08:11.600
 your popularity.

00:08:13.060 --> 00:08:13.620
 It's not

00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:14.560
 the famous names

00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:15.160
 that you might be able

00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:15.780
 to drop

00:08:15.780 --> 00:08:17.040
 in your conversation.

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 But it's that

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 you know

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 and follow

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 and serve

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 his son.

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 Listen to what God

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 says through Jeremiah.

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 He says this,

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 Let not the wise man

00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:27.600
 glory in his wisdom.

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 Let not the mighty man

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 glory in his might.

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 Let not the rich man

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 glory in his riches.

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 But let him

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 who glories

00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:36.759
 glory in this,

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 that he understands

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 and knows

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 that I am the Lord.

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 And so when God

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 engages in name dropping,

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 he loves to mention

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 nobodies.

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 Nobodies like Mary,

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 the mother of James and John.

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 Who was she?

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 She was a mum

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 and she followed Jesus.

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 That's it.

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 And it is glorious

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 and it is wonderful.

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 And God drops her name

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 and that is because

00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:12.980
 in God's economy

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 the last are first

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 and the first are last.

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 And so think,

00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:17.879
 how many great

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 ancient emperors

00:09:19.319 --> 00:09:20.199
 aren't even mentioned

00:09:20.199 --> 00:09:20.759
 in the Bible?

00:09:22.439 --> 00:09:24.439
 Giants of world civilization

00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:25.019
 that aren't even

00:09:25.019 --> 00:09:25.720
 given a footnote

00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:27.439
 but devoted servants

00:09:27.439 --> 00:09:28.159
 of Jesus

00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:30.659
 are remembered by name.

00:09:30.740 --> 00:09:31.779
 Here is the glory

00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:32.500
 of the ordinary.

00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:35.439
 The ordinary Christian life.

00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:38.220
 The twelve disciples,

00:09:38.360 --> 00:09:40.120
 they've got a glamorous ministry.

00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.580
 They are up front.

00:09:41.760 --> 00:09:43.080
 They're up front and centre.

00:09:43.460 --> 00:09:44.880
 They are the highest profile.

00:09:46.260 --> 00:09:47.260
 They are celebrities

00:09:47.260 --> 00:09:48.560
 of the early church.

00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:51.579
 But don't forget,

00:09:51.699 --> 00:09:52.359
 it would not even

00:09:52.359 --> 00:09:53.259
 have been possible

00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:55.479
 without the faithful

00:09:55.479 --> 00:09:56.659
 and unsung

00:09:56.659 --> 00:09:58.959
 and often unnoticed

00:09:58.959 --> 00:10:00.059
 ministry of these women

00:10:00.059 --> 00:10:03.539
 travelling along with them,

00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:05.859
 supplying their needs,

00:10:05.979 --> 00:10:07.399
 financially providing for them.

00:10:07.399 --> 00:10:08.479
 But God notices.

00:10:10.079 --> 00:10:11.219
 And God notices

00:10:11.219 --> 00:10:13.219
 and he puts it forever on record

00:10:13.219 --> 00:10:14.419
 at this critical moment

00:10:14.419 --> 00:10:15.039
 in the gospel.

00:10:15.399 --> 00:10:16.399
 The record of the death

00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:17.659
 and the burial of Jesus.

00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:19.120
 And they're not only given

00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:20.159
 an honourable mention

00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:20.720
 in passing,

00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:22.000
 they are the unique

00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:22.899
 hand-picked,

00:10:23.459 --> 00:10:26.059
 God's hand-picked

00:10:26.059 --> 00:10:26.939
 star witnesses

00:10:26.939 --> 00:10:28.819
 to the resurrection

00:10:28.819 --> 00:10:29.299
 of his son.

00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:30.059
 How about that?

00:10:32.459 --> 00:10:33.699
 God honours those

00:10:33.699 --> 00:10:34.519
 who honour him.

00:10:38.019 --> 00:10:39.319
 And so we face the battle,

00:10:39.419 --> 00:10:39.659
 don't we,

00:10:39.919 --> 00:10:40.840
 Christian man or woman

00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:41.879
 or boy or girl,

00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:44.100
 that you don't value

00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:46.620
 your usefulness

00:10:46.620 --> 00:10:47.659
 as a disciple

00:10:47.659 --> 00:10:50.019
 by how prominent

00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:52.080
 you may be in the kingdom.

00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:55.320
 Because in the kingdom

00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:56.240
 we are all servants,

00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.940
 we use our different gifts

00:10:57.940 --> 00:10:59.659
 to follow the same king.

00:11:00.519 --> 00:11:01.620
 And not one of us,

00:11:01.800 --> 00:11:03.040
 not one of God's children

00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:04.659
 will miss his or her award.

00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:07.820
 He will make sure of it.

00:11:08.180 --> 00:11:09.639
 God takes pleasure

00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:11.059
 in his faithful

00:11:11.059 --> 00:11:12.279
 and wavering

00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:14.000
 Christian devotion

00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:16.379
 to his divine son.

00:11:18.699 --> 00:11:19.740
 And so you toil away

00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:20.379
 in the home

00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:22.279
 or the office.

00:11:23.659 --> 00:11:24.639
 You quietly encourage

00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:27.199
 the saints behind the scenes.

00:11:27.199 --> 00:11:29.199
 You persevere

00:11:29.199 --> 00:11:30.139
 in the fight

00:11:30.139 --> 00:11:32.039
 against stubborn sins.

00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:34.720
 You serve families.

00:11:36.419 --> 00:11:38.019
 You change nappies.

00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:40.659
 And all of that

00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:41.480
 is known to God.

00:11:42.980 --> 00:11:44.399
 And he sees that.

00:11:45.319 --> 00:11:46.679
 And he is pleased.

00:11:47.819 --> 00:11:48.679
 And all of it

00:11:48.679 --> 00:11:50.059
 is done with an eye

00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:51.220
 of unwavering devotion

00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:51.919
 to Jesus.

00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:54.460
 Now unwavering devotion

00:11:54.460 --> 00:11:55.000
 to Jesus,

00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:55.819
 let's see secondly

00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:56.960
 the utmost respect

00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:57.460
 for Jesus.

00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:59.240
 So back in Deuteronomy 21,

00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:01.159
 in the Jewish law

00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:02.079
 it said that anyone

00:12:02.079 --> 00:12:03.899
 who was crucified

00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:04.639
 on a cross,

00:12:04.699 --> 00:12:05.220
 who was hung up

00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:05.620
 on a tree,

00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:06.860
 needed to be taken down,

00:12:06.939 --> 00:12:08.000
 their body taken down,

00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:09.240
 by sundown.

00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:11.600
 But the Romans,

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:12.419
 they weren't bothered

00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:12.820
 by that.

00:12:12.919 --> 00:12:13.700
 They would leave people

00:12:13.700 --> 00:12:14.799
 on the cross for days

00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:16.419
 to rot on the tree

00:12:16.419 --> 00:12:17.759
 or they would

00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:18.799
 bury them

00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:20.039
 in a mass grave

00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:21.480
 at the site

00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.059
 of the execution.

00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:23.340
 It's a shameful end

00:12:23.340 --> 00:12:24.059
 for the saviour.

00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:26.700
 But there's one man

00:12:26.700 --> 00:12:27.240
 in Jerusalem,

00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:29.620
 one man who's got

00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:30.799
 the utmost respect

00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:31.379
 for Jesus

00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.799
 and one man

00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:33.580
 who's got sufficient

00:12:33.580 --> 00:12:34.740
 influence to prevent

00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:35.460
 this indignity

00:12:35.460 --> 00:12:35.980
 from happening.

00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:38.220
 And once again,

00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:39.480
 he's a minor character,

00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:39.920
 isn't he,

00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:40.720
 in the story?

00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:43.340
 But he is God's man

00:12:43.340 --> 00:12:43.960
 of the hour

00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.720
 and Joseph Barimathea.

00:12:46.840 --> 00:12:48.000
 He is an example

00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.920
 to you and I

00:12:48.920 --> 00:12:50.620
 of honouring the saviour.

00:12:52.060 --> 00:12:53.139
 Honouring the saviour

00:12:53.139 --> 00:12:55.320
 at great personal cost

00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:56.360
 and liability.

00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:58.779
 What do we know

00:12:58.779 --> 00:12:59.620
 about Joseph Barimathea?

00:12:59.800 --> 00:13:00.539
 Well, not very much

00:13:00.539 --> 00:13:00.879
 to be honest.

00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:01.720
 Verse 57

00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.259
 tells us

00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:05.060
 he was a rich man

00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:06.399
 and he was

00:13:06.399 --> 00:13:07.259
 from Barimathea

00:13:07.259 --> 00:13:08.060
 and he was called Joseph

00:13:08.060 --> 00:13:09.560
 and he was a disciple

00:13:09.560 --> 00:13:10.139
 of Jesus.

00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:12.460
 And we could learn

00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:13.019
 that he was wealthy

00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:13.960
 from verse 60.

00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:15.300
 You're not able

00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:15.840
 to kind of get

00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.519
 a new tomb

00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:17.100
 in Jerusalem.

00:13:17.419 --> 00:13:18.100
 They don't come cheap.

00:13:19.840 --> 00:13:20.560
 Luke in his account

00:13:20.560 --> 00:13:21.180
 tells us

00:13:21.180 --> 00:13:22.300
 that he was a council member.

00:13:22.500 --> 00:13:23.480
 He was part of the

00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:24.700
 Jewish ruling

00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:25.460
 Sanhedrin.

00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:27.560
 And that he was a good

00:13:27.560 --> 00:13:28.360
 and he was a just man

00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:29.500
 and he had not consented

00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:30.399
 to their decision

00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.519
 and to what they had done

00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.039
 to Jesus.

00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:33.980
 This man is a member

00:13:33.980 --> 00:13:34.519
 of the elite.

00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:36.840
 He's a member

00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:37.740
 of the Sanhedrin

00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:39.759
 and yet he was a disciple

00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:40.860
 a follower of Jesus.

00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.539
 And that was a very

00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.620
 dangerous thing to be

00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:46.620
 and it was especially

00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:47.680
 a dangerous thing to be

00:13:47.680 --> 00:13:48.440
 if you were a member

00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:49.720
 of that Jewish ruling council.

00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:52.279
 But here is a man

00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:53.460
 that doesn't lack backbone

00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:54.600
 and doesn't lack courage.

00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:55.460
 Look at verse 58.

00:13:57.159 --> 00:13:58.340
 He goes to Pilate

00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:00.480
 and he asks

00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:01.399
 for the body of Jesus.

00:14:02.919 --> 00:14:04.480
 He's got sufficient influence

00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.659
 that Pilate commands

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:06.759
 the body to be given to him.

00:14:07.019 --> 00:14:07.899
 And so here is a man

00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:09.500
 who acts in absolute defiance

00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:12.200
 of the clear consensus

00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:14.019
 of the council.

00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:16.940
 He stands alone.

00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:20.840
 and he makes a startling request

00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:21.420
 of Pilate

00:14:21.420 --> 00:14:22.600
 and it is motivated

00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:25.440
 by the utmost respect

00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:26.420
 for Jesus' dignity.

00:14:27.900 --> 00:14:29.200
 It's a costly decision.

00:14:29.320 --> 00:14:29.660
 It would have made

00:14:29.660 --> 00:14:30.920
 his former associates,

00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.820
 his bitterest enemies.

00:14:34.920 --> 00:14:35.840
 And it's a great reminder

00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.380
 to you and I

00:14:36.380 --> 00:14:37.840
 that to publicly identify

00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.560
 with the disgraced

00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:40.780
 and humiliated king

00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:41.799
 of the Jews

00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:43.639
 may destroy your reputation.

00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.419
 And in this case

00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.059
 it may well have been

00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:48.980
 political suicide.

00:14:50.579 --> 00:14:53.000
 To make a public stand

00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:55.379
 on matters pertaining

00:14:55.379 --> 00:14:56.820
 to the truth of God's word.

00:14:59.080 --> 00:15:01.399
 To stand for God's truth

00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:02.519
 and the cause of Christ

00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:03.440
 and his righteousness

00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:05.200
 maybe in work

00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.480
 or in your family

00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.740
 or in school.

00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:10.580
 And you know

00:15:10.580 --> 00:15:11.440
 it would be so costly.

00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:14.779
 And we are called upon

00:15:14.779 --> 00:15:16.159
 by God

00:15:16.159 --> 00:15:18.019
 to step out publicly

00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:20.820
 and to identify with Christ.

00:15:21.580 --> 00:15:22.840
 To be loyal to him.

00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.980
 You can imagine, can't you,

00:15:26.060 --> 00:15:27.820
 what the columnists

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:28.980
 and the media

00:15:28.980 --> 00:15:30.220
 would call Joseph.

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:31.320
 The comments on Twitter

00:15:31.320 --> 00:15:32.360
 and Insta.

00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.820
 How unpatriotic.

00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.519
 How undignified.

00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:39.899
 How backward.

00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:42.159
 How dishonorable.

00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:45.159
 You see,

00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:46.039
 if you're going to show

00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.360
 the utmost respect

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:47.980
 for Jesus

00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:50.680
 you are going to invite

00:15:50.680 --> 00:15:52.580
 the utmost disrespect

00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:54.320
 from the world.

00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:55.500
 And that is the way

00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.480
 it was

00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:58.700
 and that is the way it is.

00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:00.899
 It's the way it always will be.

00:16:03.240 --> 00:16:04.720
 But isn't Jesus worth it?

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.220
 Jesus,

00:16:05.220 --> 00:16:05.720
 Jesus,

00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:09.960
 the apparently failed

00:16:09.960 --> 00:16:11.200
 candidate for king

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:12.440
 in the eyes of the world.

00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.820
 An object of utmost ridicule,

00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:16.820
 dying in disgrace,

00:16:16.940 --> 00:16:18.259
 the laughter of the world

00:16:18.259 --> 00:16:18.899
 in his years.

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.060
 But for Joseph,

00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.840
 even in his death,

00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:25.500
 Jesus is worthy

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.399
 of utmost respect.

00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.420
 He's honored by God.

00:16:29.540 --> 00:16:30.600
 He becomes Jesus'

00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:32.379
 personal funeral director.

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:33.779
 And what did that involve?

00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:38.200
 It says fairly carefully,

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:38.559
 literally,

00:16:38.720 --> 00:16:39.939
 that when Joseph

00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:41.639
 had taken the body,

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.340
 it's really careful language

00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.360
 how he treated

00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:46.220
 and respected

00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:47.419
 the body of Jesus.

00:16:47.419 --> 00:16:48.979
 and loved it.

00:16:49.199 --> 00:16:50.519
 He wrapped it in

00:16:50.519 --> 00:16:52.740
 a clean linen cloth.

00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:55.399
 He laid the body

00:16:55.399 --> 00:16:56.759
 in his tomb

00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.479
 which he'd hewn

00:16:57.479 --> 00:16:58.199
 out of the rock.

00:16:58.699 --> 00:16:59.479
 And he rolled

00:16:59.479 --> 00:17:00.399
 a large stone

00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.019
 against the door

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:01.519
 of the tomb

00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:02.419
 and departed.

00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:03.620
 It was unpleasant work.

00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.639
 It was difficult work.

00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.000
 It was despised work.

00:17:07.399 --> 00:17:08.159
 But in showing

00:17:08.159 --> 00:17:09.720
 the utmost respect

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.519
 for his Lord,

00:17:10.700 --> 00:17:11.399
 Joseph becomes

00:17:11.399 --> 00:17:12.019
 the key man,

00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:12.460
 doesn't he?

00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.700
 In this final aspect

00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.980
 of our Lord's humiliation

00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:17.640
 is burial.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.180
 There's simply no way

00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:20.000
 is there that Peter

00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:21.319
 or James

00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:21.980
 or John

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.720
 could have waltzed

00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:23.640
 into Pilate's office

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.140
 and said,

00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.340
 could we have the body?

00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.920
 They could never have

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.680
 saundered in there,

00:17:28.759 --> 00:17:29.259
 the disciples,

00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:30.299
 and requested

00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:31.120
 such a favor.

00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:33.120
 But it took a prominent

00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:34.340
 member of the Jewish council

00:17:34.340 --> 00:17:37.380
 who could do it

00:17:37.380 --> 00:17:39.259
 and had the guts

00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:39.799
 to do it.

00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:41.500
 And again,

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:41.920
 all of this

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:42.620
 is in the plan of God.

00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.080
 So do you remember

00:17:43.080 --> 00:17:43.799
 Isaiah 53?

00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:47.079
 In verse 10,

00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:49.039
 his grave was assigned

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:49.579
 with the wicked.

00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:51.919
 He was crucified,

00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:52.359
 wasn't he,

00:17:52.359 --> 00:17:52.919
 with the wicked.

00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:55.139
 And yet,

00:17:55.220 --> 00:17:56.779
 he was with a rich man

00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.579
 in his death

00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:59.440
 because he'd done

00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.240
 no violence

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.319
 nor was there

00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:01.879
 any deceit

00:18:01.879 --> 00:18:02.419
 in his mouth.

00:18:04.039 --> 00:18:04.519
 And so Jesus'

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:05.319
 body by right

00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:05.740
 should have been

00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:06.859
 flung onto

00:18:06.859 --> 00:18:08.779
 the mass grave

00:18:08.779 --> 00:18:10.119
 with the other corpses

00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:11.240
 of crucified criminals,

00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:13.220
 left in a heap

00:18:13.220 --> 00:18:14.519
 with other wicked men

00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.700
 and yet the prophet

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.660
 says God will

00:18:16.660 --> 00:18:17.700
 sovereignly intervene

00:18:17.700 --> 00:18:20.539
 by means of a rich man.

00:18:22.019 --> 00:18:23.180
 Joseph Arimathea,

00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:24.240
 and this intervention

00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.880
 by God

00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:27.359
 is making a theological point

00:18:27.359 --> 00:18:28.859
 that Jesus is innocent.

00:18:30.140 --> 00:18:31.120
 There's no deceit

00:18:31.120 --> 00:18:31.960
 found in his mouth.

00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:34.759
 Jesus of Nazareth

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.360
 is worthy

00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.600
 of the utmost respect,

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.519
 not the indignity

00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.819
 of a mass grave.

00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:42.720
 But it also helps us

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:43.559
 with a practical point,

00:18:43.620 --> 00:18:43.799
 isn't it?

00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:44.980
 How would

00:18:44.980 --> 00:18:46.100
 Jesus,

00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.340
 how else could it

00:18:47.340 --> 00:18:48.019
 be verified

00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:49.460
 that Jesus of Nazareth

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.460
 rose bodily

00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.319
 from the dead

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:52.840
 if he'd not been buried

00:18:52.840 --> 00:18:53.799
 in a specific

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.940
 identifiable

00:18:54.940 --> 00:18:56.019
 new tomb?

00:18:57.299 --> 00:18:58.240
 Owned by

00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.220
 a specific

00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.079
 well-known

00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.779
 figure in the community

00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:03.480
 with several witnesses.

00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:06.480
 And so it is,

00:19:06.539 --> 00:19:07.399
 we are ready

00:19:07.399 --> 00:19:08.480
 for the resurrection.

00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:11.799
 Joseph's tomb

00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:12.939
 becomes the staging

00:19:12.939 --> 00:19:13.859
 post

00:19:13.859 --> 00:19:14.939
 for the most

00:19:14.939 --> 00:19:15.919
 miraculous miracle

00:19:15.919 --> 00:19:16.639
 in all of history.

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.159
 Christ bodily

00:19:19.159 --> 00:19:20.359
 raising from the dead.

00:19:22.659 --> 00:19:23.179
 And Joseph

00:19:23.179 --> 00:19:23.939
 gives Jesus

00:19:23.939 --> 00:19:25.480
 his very own tomb

00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:27.319
 for a very

00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.539
 dignified burial.

00:19:28.819 --> 00:19:29.539
 Jesus didn't need it

00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:29.960
 for long.

00:19:31.059 --> 00:19:32.199
 It was only on loan.

00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.819
 And Jesus'

00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:36.439
 grieve is temporary

00:19:36.439 --> 00:19:38.139
 and so is ours

00:19:38.139 --> 00:19:39.359
 if we are in Christ.

00:19:40.740 --> 00:19:41.639
 As I want you to think

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.359
 as we finish

00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.299
 that Jesus

00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.859
 lay in

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:46.299
 Joseph's tomb.

00:19:48.480 --> 00:19:49.939
 Jesus lay

00:19:49.939 --> 00:19:52.460
 in Joseph's place.

00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.779
 Jesus lay

00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:57.119
 in a grieve

00:19:57.119 --> 00:19:58.319
 of Joseph's

00:19:58.319 --> 00:19:59.099
 own making.

00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:02.700
 A grave

00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.179
 that Joseph

00:20:03.179 --> 00:20:04.139
 had hewn

00:20:04.139 --> 00:20:04.939
 out of the stone.

00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:06.339
 Joseph

00:20:06.339 --> 00:20:07.220
 had prepared

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.779
 his own grave.

00:20:09.019 --> 00:20:10.079
 It had his own

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:10.939
 name on it.

00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:11.939
 He was going

00:20:11.939 --> 00:20:12.720
 there someday

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.000
 but Jesus

00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.379
 lay in his

00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:16.259
 grave

00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.539
 instead.

00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:17.779
 dead.

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.680
 And so even

00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.500
 in this final

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.159
 step of

00:20:22.159 --> 00:20:22.740
 humiliation

00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.539
 of our Lord

00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:23.899
 as our

00:20:23.899 --> 00:20:24.399
 substitute

00:20:24.399 --> 00:20:26.059
 just as he

00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:26.740
 was in his

00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.519
 sufferings

00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.720
 and in his

00:20:28.720 --> 00:20:29.519
 death

00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:34.539
 in his burial

00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:34.659
!

00:20:34.660 --> 00:20:36.440
 Jesus is

00:20:36.440 --> 00:20:36.940
 taking your

00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.400
 place.

00:20:40.820 --> 00:20:41.420
 It's not

00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:41.640
 that the

00:20:41.640 --> 00:20:42.340
 mortal remains

00:20:42.340 --> 00:20:42.759
 of Joseph

00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:43.220
 and Arimathea

00:20:43.220 --> 00:20:43.560
 are still

00:20:43.560 --> 00:20:43.980
 kind of

00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:45.420
 lying somewhere

00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:45.640
 out there

00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:46.080
 in Palestine

00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:46.620
 but in a

00:20:46.620 --> 00:20:47.480
 metaphorical

00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:48.060
 sense

00:20:48.060 --> 00:20:50.080
 you have

00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.560
 prepared a

00:20:50.560 --> 00:20:51.000
 grave for

00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:51.560
 yourself.

00:20:53.600 --> 00:20:54.320
 Your sins

00:20:54.320 --> 00:20:54.779
 have hewn it

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.019
 out

00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:57.460
 and written

00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:58.299
 the epitaph

00:20:58.299 --> 00:21:00.139
 but if

00:21:00.139 --> 00:21:00.900
 Jesus has

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.720
 laid in

00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:03.019
 your grave

00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:04.079
 if Jesus

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.039
 has tasted

00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.039
 death's

00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:06.440
 sting

00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.099
 on your

00:21:07.099 --> 00:21:07.720
 behalf

00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.339
 in your

00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:08.879
 place

00:21:08.879 --> 00:21:11.200
 you don't

00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.579
 need to be

00:21:11.579 --> 00:21:12.000
 afraid of

00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:12.740
 dying anymore.

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.680
 And that

00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.519
 is such good

00:21:16.519 --> 00:21:17.059
 news isn't it

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.579
 because for the

00:21:17.579 --> 00:21:18.180
 last three to

00:21:18.180 --> 00:21:18.599
 four months

00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:19.319
 what have we

00:21:19.319 --> 00:21:20.000
 seen in our

00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.319
 culture?

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:20.900
 We've seen a

00:21:20.900 --> 00:21:22.059
 culture terrified

00:21:22.059 --> 00:21:23.559
 of dying.

00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:28.920
 And yet

00:21:28.920 --> 00:21:29.660
 because of

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.680
 Christ's

00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:31.180
 sufferings

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:31.960
 and death

00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:32.480
 and his

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:32.980
 burial

00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:33.920
 you who are

00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:34.839
 in Christ

00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:37.319
 we must not

00:21:37.319 --> 00:21:37.940
 be terrified

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.599
 of dying.

00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.339
 He's

00:21:45.339 --> 00:21:45.680
 tasted

00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.180
 death's

00:21:46.180 --> 00:21:46.440
 sting.

00:21:47.960 --> 00:21:48.839
 The German

00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:49.359
 reformer

00:21:49.359 --> 00:21:49.879
 Usainus

00:21:49.879 --> 00:21:50.460
 writes this

00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.559
 Jesus

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.059
 would be

00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.639
 buried

00:21:52.639 --> 00:21:54.279
 so that

00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.639
 we might

00:21:54.640 --> 00:21:54.980
 not be

00:21:54.980 --> 00:21:55.520
 terrified

00:21:55.520 --> 00:21:57.440
 in view

00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:57.740
 of the

00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.160
 grave

00:21:58.160 --> 00:21:59.660
 but that

00:21:59.660 --> 00:22:00.100
 we might

00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:00.500
 know that

00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:00.920
 he has

00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:01.680
 sanctified

00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:03.960
 our graves

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.680
 by his

00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:05.560
 own burial

00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:07.640
 so that

00:22:07.640 --> 00:22:08.060
 they are no

00:22:08.060 --> 00:22:09.060
 longer graves

00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:09.600
 to us

00:22:09.600 --> 00:22:10.480
 but bed

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.100
 chambers

00:22:11.100 --> 00:22:11.920
 and resting

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.400
 places

00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:13.220
 in which

00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.600
 we may

00:22:13.600 --> 00:22:14.140
 peacefully

00:22:14.140 --> 00:22:15.160
 and quietly

00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:15.980
 repose

00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.700
 until we

00:22:17.700 --> 00:22:18.180
 are again

00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.680
 raised to

00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:19.040
 life.

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:22.399
 and so

00:22:22.399 --> 00:22:22.599
 there's

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.099
 unwavering

00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:23.420
 devotion

00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:23.680
 to

00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.159
 Jesus

00:22:24.159 --> 00:22:25.599
 and

00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:25.779
 there's

00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:26.059
 utmost

00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.599
 respect

00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:26.859
 for

00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:27.299
 Jesus

00:22:27.299 --> 00:22:30.039
 and I

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.299
 noticed

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.559
 as I was

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:30.839
 preparing

00:22:30.839 --> 00:22:31.399
 do you

00:22:31.399 --> 00:22:31.819
 notice the

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.259
 cast

00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.899
 around the

00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:33.259
 cross

00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:33.599
 you've

00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:33.980
 got a

00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.279
 cohort

00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.579
 of

00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:34.899
 Roman

00:22:34.899 --> 00:22:35.240
 soldiers

00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:35.819
 you've

00:22:35.819 --> 00:22:36.079
 got a

00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:36.279
 group

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:36.519
 of

00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.200
 relatively

00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.740
 unknown

00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:39.420
 Galilean

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:39.659
 women

00:22:39.659 --> 00:22:40.180
 and you've

00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.440
 got a

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:40.720
 wealthy

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.099
 member

00:22:41.099 --> 00:22:41.319
 of the

00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.579
 Jewish

00:22:41.579 --> 00:22:42.299
 aristocracy

00:22:42.299 --> 00:22:44.119
 and I

00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:44.359
 think it's

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:44.759
 hard to

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:44.940
 think of

00:22:44.940 --> 00:22:45.220
 a more

00:22:45.220 --> 00:22:45.740
 diverse

00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.119
 cross

00:22:46.119 --> 00:22:46.440
 section

00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:46.639
 of

00:22:46.639 --> 00:22:47.059
 society

00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.379
 at that

00:22:47.379 --> 00:22:47.659
 time

00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:48.139
 and all

00:22:48.139 --> 00:22:48.539
 of them

00:22:48.539 --> 00:22:49.879
 together

00:22:49.879 --> 00:22:52.379
 were united

00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.599
 as followers

00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.039
 of the

00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:54.480
 crucified

00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:57.019
 and even

00:22:57.019 --> 00:22:57.440
 though

00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.740
 his cause

00:22:58.740 --> 00:22:59.180
 seemed

00:22:59.180 --> 00:22:59.859
 finished

00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:01.079
 and defeated

00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.700
 and it

00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:01.940
 seemed

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.519
 final

00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:04.399
 as we'll

00:23:04.399 --> 00:23:05.159
 see he is

00:23:05.159 --> 00:23:05.599
 not in the

00:23:05.599 --> 00:23:06.180
 grave anymore

00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:08.359
 and he

00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:08.919
 is risen

00:23:08.919 --> 00:23:10.859
 and so

00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.279
 Christ

00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:11.839
 says

00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:13.059
 to all

00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.419
 and to

00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:13.839
 every

00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:14.459
 one of

00:23:14.459 --> 00:23:14.679
 us

00:23:14.679 --> 00:23:15.079
 take

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.379
 up

00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:15.579
 your

00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:16.019
 cross

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.339
 and

00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:16.619
 follow

00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:16.959
 me

00:23:16.959 --> 00:23:19.659
 and we

00:23:19.659 --> 00:23:20.000
 may not

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.539
 consider

00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:21.279
 the cost

00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:21.879
 of doing

00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.259
 that

00:23:22.259 --> 00:23:23.019
 too high

00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:24.939
 but may

00:23:24.939 --> 00:23:25.240
 we be

00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:25.679
 willing to

00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:26.119
 bear his

00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.539
 shame

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:28.379
 and to

00:23:28.379 --> 00:23:28.819
 be followers

00:23:28.819 --> 00:23:29.059
 of the

00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.419
 crucified

00:23:29.419 --> 00:23:31.799
 let's pray

00:23:31.799 --> 00:23:32.139
 together