WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.360 It comes as no surprise to us really that Mark's account of the resurrection is the shortest of the four gospels. 00:00:07.500 --> 00:00:13.880 And as with most of the events about which he wrote, Mark summarized the details of the resurrection 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:21.620 to provide for us what he felt like was most important for his purpose and for his audience. 00:00:21.980 --> 00:00:28.699 Which is why his ending to his gospel is so different from the other three gospel authors. 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:35.420 And that's why I say on a routine basis that as you come to the gospels, you don't only need to read one. 00:00:35.519 --> 00:00:38.799 You need to lay the four gospels alongside one of another. 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:44.399 They're all reporting about the same events, but like a different reporter writing for different newspapers. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:49.480 They're going to cover it in just a little bit of a different way based on their audience, based on their target, 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:52.239 based on the point that they're trying to get across. 00:00:52.620 --> 00:00:53.820 And so you need to do that. 00:00:53.820 --> 00:01:00.039 Some point this week, maybe this afternoon, if you have time, lay the four gospel accounts of the resurrection beside one another 00:01:00.039 --> 00:01:04.299 and trace them and see exactly how all of this unfolded. 00:01:04.739 --> 00:01:08.340 Mark's is a very, very short account and it's unique. 00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:16.680 It's unique in that the entire account of resurrection in Mark's gospel is seen exclusively 00:01:16.680 --> 00:01:23.600 through the eyes of these women who had come to the tomb early on Sunday morning. 00:01:24.280 --> 00:01:34.400 And you'll find them present in all of the gospels, but it's only in Mark's gospel that we find only their account and their record listed. 00:01:35.420 --> 00:01:42.320 Which in fact is another gauge for the authenticity of Mark's account of the resurrection. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:52.099 And I mentioned this last week in first century Palestine, as significant as eyewitness testimony was to establishing a fact, 00:01:52.799 --> 00:01:59.399 they would not count women's testimonies as credible in establishing those facts. 00:01:59.959 --> 00:02:04.119 So those who would come and would suggest, well, Mark made all of this up. 00:02:04.120 --> 00:02:13.060 This is a fabrication of things to try to amass a following of this great teacher who actually was truly dead. 00:02:13.099 --> 00:02:15.140 He never really did rise from the dead. 00:02:15.140 --> 00:02:22.620 Well, if Mark was intent in the first century on fabricating a story that would actually be useful in amassing a following, 00:02:22.879 --> 00:02:27.080 he certainly wouldn't have used the exclusive testimony of a group of women. 00:02:27.080 --> 00:02:33.160 Because no one would have counted that at that time as authentic testimony. 00:02:34.060 --> 00:02:40.100 And so there's a uniqueness to this in that this is what provides some of the authenticity of this account. 00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:45.300 Part of the reason we can trust it is because of this. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:50.640 But then his structure conveys the reliability of his record. 00:02:51.920 --> 00:02:56.500 James Edwards takes this even further, and I think this is helpful for us all to remember. 00:02:57.080 --> 00:03:03.720 That the testimony of women is entirely in character with the divine economy. 00:03:04.600 --> 00:03:13.140 Those whose testimony is discounted in human society are the first to be included in the divine society. 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:19.360 And he quotes 1 Corinthians chapter 1, when Paul says it's the foolish things of this world. 00:03:19.640 --> 00:03:24.820 The things, in other words, not that are truly foolish, but that are considered foolish by the world. 00:03:24.820 --> 00:03:26.580 That confounds them. 00:03:27.080 --> 00:03:33.900 It's the ones that the world considers to be weak that actually are able to overcome. 00:03:34.600 --> 00:03:38.280 It's the ones who God has chosen to use. 00:03:38.380 --> 00:03:40.140 Those who are humble. 00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:42.980 Those who no one else would use. 00:03:43.040 --> 00:03:43.540 It's interesting. 00:03:44.020 --> 00:03:46.920 It comes as great encouragement to us in that. 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:52.739 Because if we're all honest with one another, there's no reason for him to use us. 00:03:53.879 --> 00:03:56.159 There's nothing strong about us. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:05.159 There's nothing particularly wise about us apart from the goodness and the grace of God at work in us. 00:04:05.699 --> 00:04:08.659 And yet, he still uses us. 00:04:08.659 --> 00:04:19.480 So as we use the balance of the day to examine this final chapter, it should be our joy to consider the testimony of these women. 00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:30.360 So what I wanted to do this morning is somewhat quickly, somewhat is a relative term, somewhat quickly work through the narrative. 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:34.960 And then I want to conclude by looking at two crucial questions. 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:37.420 The first question being, is it true? 00:04:38.280 --> 00:04:41.620 And then the second question being, is this relevant? 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:45.439 Even if it is true, why does it matter to me? 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:46.759 Why should it matter to me? 00:04:47.160 --> 00:04:48.640 Why should it matter to anyone else? 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:50.780 Okay, let's work through the narrative then together. 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:55.160 If you want to keep notes in your journals, if you've done that over the last couple years, 00:04:55.240 --> 00:04:58.780 the first thing that I have in my notes is simply preparing for the tomb. 00:04:59.740 --> 00:05:01.360 Preparing for the tomb. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:03.139 Look with me at verse 1. 00:05:04.460 --> 00:05:13.360 When the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go and anoint him. 00:05:14.020 --> 00:05:18.699 Very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb, 00:05:19.080 --> 00:05:20.340 and they were saying to one another, 00:05:21.020 --> 00:05:25.100 Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? 00:05:26.020 --> 00:05:31.139 So again, Mark mentions this same group of women that were present for Jesus' crucifixion. 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:35.920 He mentions the same group of women that were present at the burial of Jesus, 00:05:36.220 --> 00:05:44.259 and all of this is important because it is a consistent witness to the events of Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:52.020 Now, these faithful women went to the tomb for the purpose of anointing the body of Jesus 00:05:52.019 --> 00:06:01.699 with certain oils, spices, which was a customary sign of love and respect for deceased loved ones. 00:06:02.259 --> 00:06:04.419 And they've had to wait till Sunday morning to do it. 00:06:04.919 --> 00:06:11.399 If you'll remember, there was such a small window of time between Jesus' death on Friday afternoon, about 3 o'clock. 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:15.459 Then Joseph had to go to Pilate after Jesus died at 3. 00:06:15.919 --> 00:06:20.279 He had to go to Pilate, get permission to actually take Jesus' body. 00:06:20.839 --> 00:06:25.579 But before he can get permission, Pilate has to send to the centurion, who is back at Golgotha, 00:06:25.739 --> 00:06:27.579 to ensure that he's truly dead. 00:06:27.959 --> 00:06:28.859 Word comes back. 00:06:29.099 --> 00:06:30.359 Yes, he's truly dead. 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:31.599 And then permission is granted. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:36.900 And then once the permission is granted, they have to actually go to the market to get the things that they need 00:06:36.900 --> 00:06:42.220 to quickly take him off the cross, to cleanse his body, to wrap it in a shroud, we're told, 00:06:42.400 --> 00:06:49.060 and then to actually get him to the tomb and seal it all before sundown, which would have been about 7 o'clock. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:50.980 This is a very short window. 00:06:51.640 --> 00:06:59.140 So what these women are doing is they're coming on Sunday to essentially pay their last respects to the Lord 00:06:59.139 --> 00:07:04.199 because they didn't have an opportunity to care for his body themselves on Friday. 00:07:04.479 --> 00:07:06.240 So that's what's taking place here. 00:07:06.579 --> 00:07:09.139 That's why they're actually coming to the tomb. 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:15.479 So at the end of the Sabbath, which would have been probably sundown on Saturday, 00:07:16.339 --> 00:07:21.419 they purchased some oil and spices because they were not anticipating Jesus' death. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:22.719 They did not bring this with them. 00:07:22.919 --> 00:07:23.839 They're all from Galilee. 00:07:23.939 --> 00:07:25.139 They wouldn't have brought this with them. 00:07:25.539 --> 00:07:26.919 So they have to go and purchase it. 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:33.199 And then as the sun is coming up on Sunday morning, they go to the tomb to, again, 00:07:33.420 --> 00:07:35.020 essentially pay their last respects. 00:07:36.040 --> 00:07:42.680 They even debate as they walked, we're told in verse 3, how they might gain access to the tomb. 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:48.860 They had seen the tomb sealed because they had been waiting around on Friday to witness that. 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:58.720 But it's like in the perhaps emotion of the weekend and in maybe the hurried nature by which they got the oils and the spices, 00:07:59.139 --> 00:08:03.840 no one stopped to consider we need to take someone who can actually roll this stone away. 00:08:04.360 --> 00:08:08.660 And so as they're walking, they're contemplating these things that they hadn't considered up to that point. 00:08:08.699 --> 00:08:11.120 How are we going to get the stone open? 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:14.019 How are we actually going to accomplish this thing that we want to do? 00:08:15.240 --> 00:08:24.060 And again, their goal was to care for what they thought would be Jesus' decomposing body before they traveled back to Galilee. 00:08:24.740 --> 00:08:31.540 Now what's necessary for us to understand here is that this was a sincere act of devotion 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:39.940 that was absolutely absent of any expectation of resurrection. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:48.200 The whole purpose for them going to the tomb is not to wait around to see if Jesus walks out of it. 00:08:48.800 --> 00:08:50.220 That's not why they're there. 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:57.779 And sometimes we, maybe we would never say this out loud, but maybe sometimes we get this thought in our heads. 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:01.460 We look back at the disciples who were completely absent in the whole deal. 00:09:02.199 --> 00:09:09.559 And then we see these women who had a severe lack of faith in the words of Christ at this point about his own resurrection. 00:09:10.719 --> 00:09:14.500 And we think, you know what, if it was me, I would have been there that morning. 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:18.719 Because I would have heard everything Jesus said and I would have listened to it. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.219 And I would have been there. 00:09:20.399 --> 00:09:23.679 Like, I remember a couple of years ago when we were still living near Harrisburg. 00:09:24.319 --> 00:09:26.419 They opened up a new Chick-fil-A in Harrisburg. 00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:34.679 And I guess the first, like, hundred people, Julie, something like that, the first hundred people in the door on the first day get a year's worth of free Chick-fil-A. 00:09:34.899 --> 00:09:37.860 And for days beforehand, the parking lot was full of tents. 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:42.579 People were camped out for days because they wanted free chicken sandwiches for a year. 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:49.160 And sometimes we think, you know what, I wouldn't do that for Chick-fil-A, but you better believe I would have done that for Jesus. 00:09:49.520 --> 00:09:54.280 I would have been camped out since Friday night just waiting for him to walk right out of the tomb. 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:55.560 No, you wouldn't. 00:09:55.559 --> 00:09:57.839 And they didn't. 00:09:58.739 --> 00:10:01.500 They had zero expectation for resurrection. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:10.459 They fully expected Jesus to still be dead so that they could anoint his decomposing body as really just an emotional response to his death. 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:14.219 And then they were going back to Galilee to get on with their lives. 00:10:14.399 --> 00:10:15.899 That's what's happening here. 00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:17.419 They loved Jesus. 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:18.759 They followed Jesus. 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:20.299 They believed in Jesus. 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:24.419 But the thought that he would rise from the dead was the furthest thing from their minds. 00:10:25.959 --> 00:10:27.679 They'd witnessed him raise others. 00:10:28.299 --> 00:10:35.099 They had seen him in Bethany stand outside of the tomb of Lazarus and say, Lazarus, come forth. 00:10:36.079 --> 00:10:38.599 And then immediately see him walk out of the tomb. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:42.179 They'd witnessed Jesus do this, but the thought of him raising himself, 00:10:42.939 --> 00:10:50.079 because some type of healer like this, some type of power like this is only possible so long as the healer himself is alive. 00:10:50.299 --> 00:10:54.479 But if the healer is dead, who's going to raise him? 00:10:55.419 --> 00:10:57.579 So there's no thought of resurrection here. 00:10:58.659 --> 00:11:03.659 So their preparations were for a dead Jesus, not a living Savior. 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.259 A dead one. 00:11:06.039 --> 00:11:06.979 A dead loved one. 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:09.120 That's preparing for the tomb. 00:11:09.339 --> 00:11:11.620 Number two, arriving at the tomb. 00:11:12.439 --> 00:11:13.439 Arriving at the tomb. 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:21.900 So being that they expected a sealed, guarded tomb containing the corpse of Jesus, 00:11:22.760 --> 00:11:28.880 what they discovered upon their arrival produced an incredible amount of shock and then immediate fear. 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:37.740 But what's interesting here is that their discovery did not cause them to contemplate the possibility that Jesus had risen. 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:39.939 Let's look at it. 00:11:40.100 --> 00:11:41.279 Two things I want to point out. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.179 I want to point out what they saw and then what they heard. 00:11:44.340 --> 00:11:44.500 Okay? 00:11:44.700 --> 00:11:46.139 Let's first look at what they saw. 00:11:46.439 --> 00:11:46.960 Verse four. 00:11:47.340 --> 00:11:50.340 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back. 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:51.840 It was very large. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:12:06.800 Now this whole statement at the very end of verse five, they were alarmed, might be the understatement of Mark's gospel. 00:12:08.540 --> 00:12:09.420 I mean, can you imagine? 00:12:10.940 --> 00:12:15.160 First, there's the shock of the stone has been rolled away, 00:12:15.159 --> 00:12:21.659 which immediately in their mind associates with someone has stolen his body. 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:23.719 How low can these people get? 00:12:24.219 --> 00:12:24.659 Shock. 00:12:26.439 --> 00:12:27.519 Then it's fear. 00:12:28.199 --> 00:12:33.539 Because when they go inside the tomb, suddenly there's a being who wasn't there when they first walked in the door. 00:12:33.879 --> 00:12:34.839 Now he's there. 00:12:35.980 --> 00:12:37.539 Alarm is an understatement here. 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:42.959 In fact, if you get into the Greek language here, this is probably not even the best translation. 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:45.519 What they were was absolutely terrified. 00:12:46.040 --> 00:12:46.900 They were terrified. 00:12:47.900 --> 00:12:50.320 So the first thing they see is the large stone. 00:12:51.379 --> 00:12:58.040 Matthew 28 says that the soldiers guarding the tomb had fainted out of fear. 00:12:58.660 --> 00:13:06.400 So we can assume that as they walk up, they also see the limp bodies of these soldiers next to the tomb. 00:13:06.840 --> 00:13:09.240 And their first reaction is someone has come. 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:14.399 They have assaulted the soldiers and they've stolen Jesus's body. 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:19.820 And we know this was their thought because as we lay out the gospel side by side, 00:13:20.539 --> 00:13:27.159 John chapter 20 tells us that Mary Magdalene, before getting to the tomb, 00:13:27.700 --> 00:13:30.159 the women see that the stone has been rolled away. 00:13:30.379 --> 00:13:32.960 They automatically assume he's been stolen. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:38.080 And before going further to look, Mary runs back to tell Peter and John. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.900 So she doesn't even see the empty tomb yet. 00:13:41.060 --> 00:13:45.060 She just sees their stone rolled away, assumes that the body has been stolen, 00:13:45.060 --> 00:13:51.080 and she runs back to Peter and to John and gets them so that they could come and check it out themselves. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:53.800 Their assumption here was not resurrection. 00:13:54.160 --> 00:13:55.879 Their assumption was conspiracy. 00:13:55.879 --> 00:14:00.460 And not only does this explain further their expectations, 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.799 it reveals, hear me, 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:13.019 that an empty tomb is not sufficient in and of itself to affirm Jesus's resurrection. 00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:16.960 It's not enough. 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:19.799 We're going to come back to that in a minute, okay? 00:14:19.799 --> 00:14:23.740 That brings us to verse 5, which was the next thing that they saw. 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:27.899 After Mary Magdalene left to get help, the others mustered up the courage. 00:14:27.959 --> 00:14:30.399 And what courage this must have been, honestly, 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:34.379 to actually go into the tomb to see what might have happened. 00:14:35.500 --> 00:14:40.199 And when they enter, we're told that an angel suddenly appears with them. 00:14:41.479 --> 00:14:45.099 Now, I recognize that Mark says a young man, 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:50.600 but the description that Mark gives of the clothing of this young man 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:53.720 and his sudden appearance in the tomb, 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:57.740 clearly Mark intends to communicate that this was an angel 00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:01.899 who has taken the form of a young man, a human-like form. 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:03.899 It's the best way that he knows to express it. 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:06.879 And again, if you lay out the other gospels side by side, 00:15:07.019 --> 00:15:08.540 they all affirm this was an angel. 00:15:08.540 --> 00:15:11.700 In fact, a couple of them actually mentioned there were two angels. 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:14.080 Mark only mentions the one. 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:16.139 But they walk inside. 00:15:16.259 --> 00:15:17.460 It's empty when they first get in. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:21.180 And then all of a sudden, this angel suddenly appears before them. 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:24.200 And what is this all about? 00:15:25.379 --> 00:15:34.759 By God's grace, the empty tomb was accompanied by a revelatory message from God. 00:15:36.399 --> 00:15:39.560 So if all we have is an empty tomb, there's lots of explanations 00:15:39.560 --> 00:15:40.660 we might could come up with. 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:43.879 But it wasn't just an empty tomb that the women found. 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:50.980 There was a supernatural messenger from God who brought a revelation from God 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:55.820 about the nature and the circumstances of Jesus's body. 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:57.980 So that's what they saw. 00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.759 Let's look at what they heard. 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.519 Verse 6 and 7. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:26.500 Now here's how I want to break down what they heard. 00:16:26.500 --> 00:16:29.080 There's three pairs of statements here. 00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:35.000 Each one contains an imperative, a command, something that they're being instructed to do. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:42.720 And each instruction is paired with an indicative or a statement of fact that is to support the 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.000 instruction that they've been given. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:47.139 And when you read the Bible, you see that God works like this all the time. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.480 God never gives an imperative without an indicative. 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:52.840 And sometimes the indicative is simply like we would do with our kids. 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:56.100 Do this because I said so and I'm your father, right? 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.620 And sometimes God does that. 00:16:57.899 --> 00:16:59.259 Do this because I am the Lord. 00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:01.180 That's what he does with the Ten Commandments, right? 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:04.819 So Jesus is doing, or excuse me, this angel is doing this same thing here. 00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:06.579 Let's just look at them quickly. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:12.940 In the first pair, in verse 6, the imperative is do not be alarmed. 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:14.180 That's the instruction. 00:17:14.599 --> 00:17:15.220 Calm down. 00:17:15.660 --> 00:17:16.460 Don't be afraid. 00:17:16.460 --> 00:17:23.360 The indicative that supports that is you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. 00:17:23.900 --> 00:17:28.680 In other words, this angel looks at the women and he says, don't be afraid. 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:32.759 I know who you are and I have a message for you. 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:34.400 Don't be afraid. 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:39.559 I know who you are and I have a message from God for you. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:44.340 Now there's a difference between the way they respond and the way the soldiers respond. 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:46.339 The soldiers see the angel. 00:17:46.959 --> 00:17:50.980 Matthew says they pass out and who knows when they come to, right? 00:17:51.559 --> 00:17:52.639 It's different with these women. 00:17:52.879 --> 00:17:53.119 Why? 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:56.079 Because the angel has a different purpose with these women. 00:17:56.519 --> 00:17:58.980 He immediately tells them, don't be afraid. 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.339 I know you. 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:01.519 I'm from God. 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:03.779 I have a message for you. 00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.720 They're terrified. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:07.920 Number two. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.860 This time Mark reverses it. 00:18:11.900 --> 00:18:13.460 The indicative comes first. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:14.920 Here it is. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.680 He has risen. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:19.059 He is not here. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:23.559 That comes with the following or preceding the imperative. 00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:25.799 See the place where they laid him. 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:33.419 So then it's only at this moment of revelation that these women can actually begin to understand 00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:35.259 what happened with Jesus. 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:38.619 If all they see is an empty tomb, it's not enough. 00:18:39.579 --> 00:18:45.220 All it is enough to say is that Jesus isn't there, but it doesn't explain why he isn't there. 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:53.200 But now God has sent a revelation to them through the messenger, his angel, who has now said he has risen. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:56.539 Literally, he has been raised. 00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:58.680 It's one word in Greek. 00:18:58.779 --> 00:18:59.860 It's a one word sentence. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.400 Egerthe. 00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:03.440 Egerthe. 00:19:04.019 --> 00:19:05.220 He has been raised. 00:19:05.900 --> 00:19:11.600 And with a single word, the angel announced the most incredible miracle to have ever occurred. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:15.120 Jesus was raised from the dead. 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:21.420 And the imperative that follows is for the women to look. 00:19:22.100 --> 00:19:23.360 Look, he's not here. 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:29.000 And the reason he's not here is because God has raised him. 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:35.759 You see, the observation of the empty tomb is worthless without the revelation that God has raised Jesus. 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:39.019 Edwards is helpful here. 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:43.160 It's not simply the empty tomb that proves the resurrection. 00:19:43.160 --> 00:19:43.300 It's the resurrection. 00:19:44.100 --> 00:19:49.460 It's the resurrection that makes the empty tomb meaningful, he says. 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:52.660 So we could give many explanations. 00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:54.860 Like I said, perhaps somebody stole the body. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:58.860 And skeptics have given all kinds of options for us to consider. 00:19:58.859 --> 00:20:06.279 But no skeptic can explain the supernatural appearance of an angel with a message from God. 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:17.019 And the point is that God in his marvelous grace gave these women a word of revelation that was necessary for their faith. 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:22.019 And that is precisely what he has done for us through the scriptures. 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:28.700 Suppose we found the tomb that Jesus was laid in today. 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:31.139 And we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was it. 00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:34.140 And we walked in and it was still empty. 00:20:35.620 --> 00:20:39.440 That wouldn't be enough for us to put our faith in Christ. 00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:48.080 But God in his grace has given us a revelation through the words of the Bible that help us to understand. 00:20:48.940 --> 00:20:51.880 It's not an epiphany that just happens. 00:20:52.280 --> 00:20:53.560 No, it's the scripture. 00:20:54.020 --> 00:20:55.660 The objective truth of God. 00:20:55.660 --> 00:20:57.660 Third step. 00:20:58.220 --> 00:21:00.580 The imperative is go and tell. 00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:02.060 Go and tell. 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.180 Go tell the disciples. 00:21:04.800 --> 00:21:06.840 And then there's a specific emphasis on Peter. 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:09.140 Of course, we've looked at this before. 00:21:09.540 --> 00:21:13.460 This is probably meant to be, in one sense, an encouragement to Peter. 00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:16.500 Because Peter had failed so miserably before. 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:22.259 There's a reminder to Peter specifically that restoration is coming for him in Galilee. 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:26.000 But then if you think, none of the other gospel authors really point that part out. 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.779 Only Mark does. 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.500 Well, why? 00:21:27.879 --> 00:21:30.420 Because Mark is writing Peter's eyewitness testimony here. 00:21:31.259 --> 00:21:35.559 And it's important for the people in Rome who he's writing to, who was his immediate audience, 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:40.119 to know that we know these things because Peter's actually the one that told us. 00:21:40.140 --> 00:21:43.319 He's the one that experienced this thing. 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:45.599 And then the indicative is this. 00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:46.339 It's a promise. 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:52.259 There you will see him just as he told you. 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:55.699 There you will see him just as he told you. 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:57.959 So they're commanded to go and tell. 00:21:58.299 --> 00:22:01.500 A pattern we find repeated in the New Testament. 00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:08.599 So that the gospel revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus is not a private matter. 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:11.740 But it's something that must be shared with others. 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:18.799 Peter and John said in Acts chapter 4, we cannot but speak what we have seen and heard. 00:22:20.099 --> 00:22:29.160 1 John chapter 1, that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you so that you too may have fellowship with us. 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:33.019 Because our fellowship is with the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:36.819 That's a pattern that passes down to us. 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:38.400 We have this same indicative. 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.559 Go and tell. 00:22:39.819 --> 00:22:40.620 Go and tell what? 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:42.279 Jesus has been raised. 00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:44.799 Why would we be motivated to do that? 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:47.639 First, because it's been commanded for us to do it. 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:56.799 Second, because like John said in 1 John chapter 1, the only way that people will begin to truly have fellowship with us is when they have fellowship in the Son. 00:22:57.679 --> 00:22:58.519 So we go and tell. 00:22:59.479 --> 00:23:01.759 But then there's this promise to consider again. 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.619 You will see him. 00:23:04.699 --> 00:23:07.399 Which was not a promise that originated with the angel. 00:23:08.119 --> 00:23:10.539 But that came directly from Christ himself. 00:23:10.619 --> 00:23:13.500 Chapter 8, chapter 9, chapter 10. 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:19.039 All affirm Jesus plainly speaking of his resurrection. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:25.059 I think the one that is probably in view here is from Mark 14. 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:29.639 After Jesus tells the disciples that they're all going to fall away. 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:38.659 He says, but after I am raised up, in verse 28, I will go before you to Galilee. 00:23:38.660 --> 00:23:40.660 In other words, I'm going to die. 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:41.860 I'm going to die, but I'm going to raise. 00:23:41.860 --> 00:23:42.779 That's a promise. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:45.700 And after I raise, I'm going to meet with you again in Galilee. 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:48.140 And when we meet there, you're going to be restored. 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:54.160 That's a wonderful promise that is reminding the disciples here. 00:23:54.860 --> 00:23:58.320 So what an encouraging message this must have been for Peter and the others. 00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:01.480 It's a promise that we can all cling to, isn't it? 00:24:03.619 --> 00:24:07.339 Jesus has risen, and you will see him. 00:24:08.460 --> 00:24:09.500 Just as he said. 00:24:11.500 --> 00:24:14.359 One day, you will see him. 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:18.319 City of Light came out with a new album this week. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:22.879 There's a particular song on there that I really have enjoyed the last couple of days. 00:24:24.059 --> 00:24:27.919 On that day, we will see you shining brighter than the sun. 00:24:28.639 --> 00:24:33.019 On that day, we will know you as we lift our voice as one. 00:24:34.279 --> 00:24:39.379 Till that day, we will praise you for your never-ending grace. 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:43.599 And we will keep on singing till that glorious day. 00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:46.339 And we come here to this promise. 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:49.179 I don't think this promise is just for the disciples. 00:24:50.139 --> 00:24:51.819 It's immediately for the disciples. 00:24:52.419 --> 00:24:54.299 There's a promise in this for you and me. 00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:57.699 Believe Jesus. 00:24:58.959 --> 00:25:01.379 One day, you will see him. 00:25:03.139 --> 00:25:05.399 Paul says, right now, we just know in part. 00:25:06.099 --> 00:25:09.000 But one day, we will know him in his fullness. 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:15.319 We will sing our songs to him in his physical presence. 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:22.399 And until that day comes, we will sing, Christ the Lord is risen today. 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:26.539 Until that day comes, we will sing, come behold the wondrous mystery. 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:30.980 Until that day comes, we will sing in Christ alone and the other songs, 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:33.899 lifting our praise to the Savior that we long to see, 00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:36.319 clinging to the promise that he gave here. 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:39.339 You will see him. 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.919 He has risen. 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:49.159 Thirdly, there's fleeing from the tomb or running from the tomb or getting out of there, 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:50.259 however you want to write it down. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:52.659 Because that's essentially what they're doing. 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:53.740 Verse 8. 00:25:54.339 --> 00:25:56.099 It's a really strange way to end, isn't it? 00:25:56.099 --> 00:26:11.419 Three words immediately pop out. 00:26:12.240 --> 00:26:15.719 Trembling, astonishment, afraid. 00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:24.360 Now, for those of us who have grown up in a Christian culture, that surprises us. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:28.660 But we're so familiar with the gospel story. 00:26:28.759 --> 00:26:33.779 We're so familiar with the resurrection narrative that sometimes we assume that the people involved 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:36.980 in the resurrection narrative were just as familiar with it. 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:39.000 And that's just not the case. 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:46.339 These women's immediate reaction was not to sing, 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:49.339 Christ the Lord is risen today. 00:26:51.079 --> 00:26:52.400 They didn't sing that. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:54.359 That's not their first reaction. 00:26:54.740 --> 00:26:57.339 They don't fall on the ground and begin to worship or pray. 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.720 They didn't have a prayer meeting at the tomb. 00:26:58.920 --> 00:27:00.019 That's not what happened. 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:01.759 They ran. 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:03.819 Why? 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.859 Because they're terrified. 00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:11.059 And before we drop the hammer on them about that, 00:27:11.179 --> 00:27:15.119 for running in fear instead of stopping and considering a moment of faith, 00:27:15.199 --> 00:27:16.599 before we give them a hard time, 00:27:17.299 --> 00:27:23.500 we need to recognize that their fearful, overwhelmed response 00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:26.939 is the same reaction any of us would have had too. 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:32.039 They're probably exhausted in every way you can think. 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:38.460 So downtrodden since the sudden, in their perspective, 00:27:38.639 --> 00:27:40.399 sudden crucifixion of Jesus, 00:27:40.700 --> 00:27:42.940 that they probably haven't slept since Friday. 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:49.859 They've probably been with the disciples emotionally, mentally, physically, 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.579 absolutely depleted. 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:57.559 And they come that morning, already mourning over the death of Jesus, 00:27:57.720 --> 00:28:02.339 prepared to mourn even further and express this grief as they anoint his body. 00:28:02.399 --> 00:28:07.039 And the first thing that they see is shock because they think someone has actually stolen his body, 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:10.799 which just adds to the stress of this moment for them. 00:28:11.919 --> 00:28:15.639 And then they go inside and they're terrified because an angel appears before them. 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:19.540 And at this moment in verse 8, they haven't had time to process this. 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:22.440 They haven't had time to process all that's happening. 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:24.340 They did what any of us would do. 00:28:24.620 --> 00:28:27.680 They got out of there because they didn't know what else to do. 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:30.500 They ran in fear. 00:28:32.900 --> 00:28:38.040 We should also remember that as these truths begin to settle on their hearts and on their minds, 00:28:38.120 --> 00:28:39.340 perhaps as they're running, 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:44.540 Matthew and John both write that their fear began to turn to joy. 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:50.180 Perhaps not because there's a complete understanding of what exactly has happened, 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:53.440 but the fact that there is hope that something has happened 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:57.119 and their fear starts to begin turning to joy. 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:00.700 But the struggle with Mark 16 is this is where Mark leaves it. 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:07.819 He gives us no resurrection appearance like the other gospel authors do. 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:11.180 And what are we supposed to do with that? 00:29:11.180 --> 00:29:15.580 What I'd like to point out to you, at least at this point, 00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:19.000 is a progression of faith that we find here. 00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:26.019 We've already noted that the empty tomb itself is not enough to produce a saving faith 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:29.140 because there's lots of ways we could explain that. 00:29:31.140 --> 00:29:33.560 Revelation is necessary. 00:29:33.559 --> 00:29:40.879 But even the revelation itself on its own is not enough. 00:29:44.079 --> 00:29:48.039 In order for these women to express a saving faith, 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:50.519 at least the way that the gospels begin to lay it out, 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:57.079 is that there must be an encounter with the risen Lord. 00:29:57.079 --> 00:30:05.740 You see, it's not a subscription to a set of given facts in the revelation 00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:08.119 that produces saving faith. 00:30:09.659 --> 00:30:12.279 James talks about this, and I want to be really careful 00:30:12.279 --> 00:30:13.639 because I don't want to confuse you here. 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:15.599 The word gives life, of course. 00:30:15.939 --> 00:30:18.019 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 00:30:18.179 --> 00:30:19.480 I'm not denying that. 00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:21.419 I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. 00:30:22.200 --> 00:30:23.500 I'm not denying that at all. 00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:27.900 But in this moment, James says, and is it James chapter 2? 00:30:28.019 --> 00:30:30.300 He says, you believe that God is one? 00:30:30.340 --> 00:30:31.640 In other words, you believe the scriptures? 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:32.580 Great. 00:30:32.980 --> 00:30:35.880 So do the demons, and they tremble as a result of it. 00:30:36.580 --> 00:30:39.500 So we're not talking here, in terms of saving faith, 00:30:39.500 --> 00:30:45.120 we're not talking about subscribing to the facts of Christianity 00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:47.440 and some type of agreement with the scripture 00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:50.420 just because you're not an atheist, 00:30:50.420 --> 00:30:53.320 so you're going to choose something, and this seems to work, 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:56.740 and so you're going to ascribe or give assent intellectually 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:58.100 to these particular facts. 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:59.200 That's not enough. 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:01.480 So the empty tomb on its own is not enough. 00:31:01.580 --> 00:31:02.539 It needs revelation. 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:05.700 But the revelation, just subscribing to the facts of it, 00:31:05.820 --> 00:31:06.779 isn't enough either. 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:09.140 What's necessary here for saving faith? 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:11.900 A personal encounter with the risen Lord is. 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:15.320 And let me walk you through a couple of examples here. 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.920 Remember Mary Magdalene. 00:31:17.920 --> 00:31:22.300 John says that she ran from the tomb when she saw the stone. 00:31:22.820 --> 00:31:24.220 She gets Peter and John. 00:31:24.480 --> 00:31:27.100 They run to the tomb, and she follows after them. 00:31:27.519 --> 00:31:30.880 They see that the tomb is empty, and then they hit the road. 00:31:31.080 --> 00:31:32.220 They just go back home. 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:33.920 It's the strangest thing. 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:35.160 They just go back home. 00:31:35.300 --> 00:31:37.240 But Mary sticks around for a moment. 00:31:38.360 --> 00:31:39.840 And do you remember what happened with Mary? 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:42.740 Then she saw the two angels. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:45.299 She didn't see them in Mark 16. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:47.099 She sees them in John 20. 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.179 She's alone now. 00:31:49.220 --> 00:31:50.819 They pass on the revelation. 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:52.119 And you remember what she did? 00:31:52.399 --> 00:31:53.279 She didn't believe. 00:31:54.559 --> 00:31:56.240 It's not that she thought they were liars. 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:58.159 She didn't know how to believe that. 00:31:58.859 --> 00:32:00.819 And she stands at the tomb, and she weeps. 00:32:00.819 --> 00:32:05.519 And then she hears somebody behind her, and she thinks it's the gardener. 00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:09.679 And she says, please tell me, what have you done with my Lord? 00:32:10.599 --> 00:32:11.740 Just tell me where you put him. 00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:12.799 I'll go get him myself. 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:15.200 And it's Jesus. 00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:16.179 She doesn't realize it. 00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:17.879 And you remember what Jesus said? 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.220 One word. 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:20.319 Do you remember what the word was? 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.279 Her name. 00:32:22.519 --> 00:32:23.079 That's it. 00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:24.480 Mary. 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:29.259 And something in that moment, in this encounter with the risen Lord, 00:32:29.620 --> 00:32:33.339 Mary immediately finally recognizes that this is indeed the risen Christ. 00:32:33.579 --> 00:32:34.319 And you know what she does? 00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:37.880 She falls on her face, and she clings to him in this moment. 00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:39.839 My Lord. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.240 My God. 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:47.319 You see, the word is great, but there's a lot of people that sit Sunday by Sunday 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:50.220 in church services, and they hear the word, and they let it go in one ear 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:51.319 and out the other. 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.660 They would tell you that they're Christian. 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:55.019 They wouldn't necessarily deny the things that they've heard. 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:57.960 But unless they've had a personal encounter with the risen Lord 00:32:57.960 --> 00:33:01.279 through the work of the Holy Spirit, they will not have saving faith. 00:33:02.540 --> 00:33:03.680 We can take it further. 00:33:03.820 --> 00:33:04.620 It's not just Mary. 00:33:05.220 --> 00:33:08.940 Remember the two disciples in Luke 24 on the way to Emmaus? 00:33:09.640 --> 00:33:14.840 Jesus walks with them on the road for hours, explaining the scriptures to them, 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:19.279 but they don't recognize that it's Jesus until at the last moment he reveals himself 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.640 to be who he truly is. 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:24.880 And it's at that moment that they say, did not our hearts burn within us as we walked 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.440 along the way? 00:33:25.540 --> 00:33:26.480 And they believed. 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:26.880 Why? 00:33:27.080 --> 00:33:29.740 Because of this personal encounter with the risen Lord. 00:33:30.560 --> 00:33:35.400 And they run back to Jerusalem where the rest or 10 of the disciples and the women are there, 00:33:35.540 --> 00:33:37.400 but they're not believing yet. 00:33:37.800 --> 00:33:40.600 They've seen the empty tomb, but they don't have the saving faith yet. 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:44.780 They've listened to the testimony of the women, but they're not sure if they should trust that yet. 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:50.339 Perhaps that was just a hallucination on their part is perhaps how they reasoned it. 00:33:51.059 --> 00:33:52.139 And they're not believing. 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:57.259 And then suddenly, while the doors are locked in the room, Jesus suddenly appears in the room. 00:33:58.460 --> 00:34:02.319 They think they've seen a ghost, that it's just an apparition. 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:05.919 So Jesus says, I would like to have some dinner. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:12.380 And he sits down at the table and they watch him in his bodily resurrection, glorified body, 00:34:12.619 --> 00:34:16.480 but in his resurrection, begin to eat fish in front of them. 00:34:17.099 --> 00:34:20.619 And then he opens the Bible and he rehearses for them all over again. 00:34:20.819 --> 00:34:26.239 What Moses and the prophets and the Psalms said regarding his crucifixion and resurrection. 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:30.699 And it's at that moment that their hearts open and they begin to believe. 00:34:30.959 --> 00:34:31.179 Why? 00:34:32.219 --> 00:34:34.159 Because of the resurrected Lord. 00:34:35.500 --> 00:34:37.379 There's a fourth one I'll point out and we'll move on. 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:39.239 Do you remember Thomas? 00:34:40.439 --> 00:34:41.939 Thomas wasn't there that night. 00:34:42.399 --> 00:34:43.819 It was 10 of the disciples. 00:34:44.259 --> 00:34:45.519 Judas has already killed himself. 00:34:45.899 --> 00:34:47.339 Thomas is somewhere else. 00:34:47.379 --> 00:34:47.839 We don't know where. 00:34:47.979 --> 00:34:48.639 He's just not there. 00:34:49.879 --> 00:34:52.679 He comes back later and everybody says, you're not going to believe this, Thomas. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:53.919 Jesus was here. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:57.840 And he spoke to us and he told us all this stuff. 00:34:57.900 --> 00:34:58.680 It was really amazing. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:01.240 Thomas says, I don't believe you. 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:08.639 Unless I can touch the nail prints in his hands, unless I can force my hand in the spear mark of his side, 00:35:08.760 --> 00:35:10.039 I will not believe. 00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:12.539 And he has to wait eight days. 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:15.860 Eight days later, Jesus appears again. 00:35:16.180 --> 00:35:19.340 This time Thomas is with them, probably in Galilee now. 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:22.599 And as they're sitting there, Jesus singles out Thomas. 00:35:22.599 --> 00:35:26.000 And he says, Thomas, I want you to look at these nail prints in my hand. 00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:27.559 Why don't you stick your finger in that one? 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:31.319 Let me show you the print of the spear in my side. 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:33.519 Why don't you stick your hand in that one so you can know? 00:35:34.739 --> 00:35:35.920 And what does Thomas say? 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:38.159 My Lord and my God. 00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:42.039 You see, it's not just the empty tomb. 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:49.719 It's not the revelation just subscribing to it intellectually. 00:35:50.759 --> 00:35:55.019 It's an encounter with the risen Lord that produces saving faith. 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:59.219 And we don't need to be confused by that. 00:35:59.280 --> 00:36:00.780 I don't mean to confuse you by that. 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:06.259 This was actually the thing that was a mark of a true disciple in the book, 00:36:06.360 --> 00:36:09.119 or a true apostle in the book of Acts, 00:36:09.159 --> 00:36:11.219 was the fact that they had encountered the risen Lord. 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:14.159 But there was no expectation beyond those apostles 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:17.699 that anybody else would see physically the risen Lord. 00:36:17.699 --> 00:36:21.079 So they had to reflect on the words of Jesus. 00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.019 Remember what he said. 00:36:22.339 --> 00:36:24.639 I'm going to leave, and I'm going to send the Spirit. 00:36:25.899 --> 00:36:28.659 And everybody who encounters the risen Christ now 00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:32.379 experiences Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:36:32.980 --> 00:36:36.179 As the word of God is preached and heard and believed. 00:36:37.819 --> 00:36:39.859 That's how we encounter the risen Christ. 00:36:40.119 --> 00:36:42.419 If you're a believer today, you've had that encounter. 00:36:44.299 --> 00:36:46.799 You didn't believe because you're smarter than everybody else. 00:36:46.800 --> 00:36:49.660 Even though you might be smarter than everybody else. 00:36:50.940 --> 00:36:53.820 You believe because you've had an encounter with Christ. 00:36:55.060 --> 00:36:56.560 All right, let me conclude. 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:58.420 Two questions to answer, okay? 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:02.019 Is it true? 00:37:03.320 --> 00:37:04.240 Is it true? 00:37:05.860 --> 00:37:10.280 And people have been trying to deny and disprove Jesus' resurrection 00:37:10.280 --> 00:37:12.560 since the very day that it took place. 00:37:14.080 --> 00:37:15.640 Matthew 28 tells us that. 00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:17.380 I'll read it to you. 00:37:17.440 --> 00:37:20.080 When they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, 00:37:20.420 --> 00:37:24.740 they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, 00:37:25.060 --> 00:37:30.440 tell people, his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep. 00:37:31.120 --> 00:37:32.860 And if this comes to the governor's ears, 00:37:33.140 --> 00:37:35.480 we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. 00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:39.380 The very day of his resurrection. 00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:44.240 And the Sanhedrin has already said, we'll just make something up. 00:37:44.619 --> 00:37:45.900 Just don't tell anybody. 00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:47.139 Here's some money. 00:37:47.599 --> 00:37:49.880 Just tell people that the disciples stole him. 00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:50.780 We'll deal with them later. 00:37:52.699 --> 00:37:54.880 But skeptics have abounded through the centuries. 00:37:55.340 --> 00:37:58.019 Some have continued with the lie of the Sanhedrin. 00:37:58.559 --> 00:38:01.099 They insist that Jesus' body was stolen. 00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:03.299 Let me tell you why that doesn't work. 00:38:04.460 --> 00:38:07.139 If the Jews had stolen Jesus' body, 00:38:07.659 --> 00:38:10.819 they would have immediately produced that body 00:38:10.819 --> 00:38:13.960 whenever the Christians started telling everybody in Jerusalem, 00:38:14.139 --> 00:38:16.079 Jesus rose from the dead and we saw him. 00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:20.460 But they didn't do that because they didn't have the body of Jesus. 00:38:20.460 --> 00:38:24.500 If the disciples had stolen the body, 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:29.039 it wouldn't make sense for them to have been so willing to travel the world 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:33.639 and literally be tortured and martyred for faith in a resurrected Lord 00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:34.980 that they had fabricated. 00:38:35.780 --> 00:38:37.119 It doesn't make sense. 00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:38.480 It doesn't work. 00:38:39.639 --> 00:38:42.220 We can't just say his body was stolen. 00:38:42.380 --> 00:38:44.780 We have to do better than that if we're going to deny the resurrection. 00:38:46.500 --> 00:38:49.420 Others have suggested, as we talked about a couple of weeks ago, 00:38:49.420 --> 00:38:52.300 that Jesus didn't truly die. 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.639 This would be docetism. 00:38:53.960 --> 00:38:59.340 And later on, Gnosticism would have followed along these lines a little bit as well. 00:38:59.480 --> 00:39:00.980 They say he didn't really die, 00:39:01.460 --> 00:39:03.320 that he wasn't truly man, 00:39:03.440 --> 00:39:05.420 that he just appeared to be man. 00:39:05.700 --> 00:39:06.840 Therefore, he didn't really die. 00:39:07.200 --> 00:39:08.680 His resurrection wasn't a resurrection. 00:39:08.840 --> 00:39:09.880 It was a resuscitation. 00:39:10.519 --> 00:39:11.940 But that doesn't fit either 00:39:11.940 --> 00:39:13.840 because when we come to the records, 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:16.680 we understand there was no way he couldn't have been dead. 00:39:16.820 --> 00:39:18.260 He had to have been dead. 00:39:19.420 --> 00:39:22.159 All the evidence is there in Mark's gospel and the others 00:39:22.159 --> 00:39:25.559 in historical accounts outside of the Bible. 00:39:25.720 --> 00:39:26.539 It's all there. 00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:28.320 You can't say he didn't die. 00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:29.740 That doesn't work either. 00:39:31.019 --> 00:39:33.680 Many people today, secular humanists, 00:39:34.420 --> 00:39:39.039 would refuse to even consider the facts of the resurrection 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:46.159 because it doesn't fit so neatly in their scientific naturalism box. 00:39:47.759 --> 00:39:52.199 And intent on dismissing anything that would assert itself as supernatural 00:39:52.199 --> 00:39:57.779 and claiming to only believe anything that we can observe in the natural world through science, 00:39:57.780 --> 00:40:01.900 they would say this resurrection could not have taken place. 00:40:02.600 --> 00:40:06.320 The problem is they can't prove that the resurrection was a hoax though. 00:40:07.180 --> 00:40:13.660 They can only deny it on the basis of their presuppositions that there is no God 00:40:13.660 --> 00:40:15.480 and you can't convince me otherwise. 00:40:15.960 --> 00:40:17.460 It's the equivalent of saying, 00:40:17.460 --> 00:40:22.260 Jesus didn't raise from the dead and the reason is because I said so. 00:40:22.820 --> 00:40:23.980 It's equivalent to that. 00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:25.220 Well, that doesn't work either. 00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:32.240 There's enough evidence to take seriously the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:40:32.400 --> 00:40:34.840 And the burden of proof here is not on the Christians. 00:40:35.059 --> 00:40:37.900 The burden of proof is on the secularists. 00:40:38.260 --> 00:40:41.800 It's on the unbeliever that's intent on denying the resurrection. 00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:43.760 That's really where the burden of proof lies 00:40:43.760 --> 00:40:47.260 because there's plenty of sufficient evidence for us to take this seriously. 00:40:48.360 --> 00:40:48.580 All right. 00:40:49.180 --> 00:40:49.440 Why? 00:40:49.620 --> 00:40:50.280 Is it true? 00:40:50.860 --> 00:40:51.760 Yes, it's true. 00:40:52.500 --> 00:40:53.340 Number two. 00:40:54.680 --> 00:40:56.080 Does it actually matter? 00:40:58.080 --> 00:40:59.220 Is it relevant? 00:41:00.760 --> 00:41:05.180 What does Jesus' resurrection 2,000 years ago have to do with me? 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:06.480 Perhaps you would say, 00:41:06.580 --> 00:41:08.500 yeah, of course, I believe in the supernatural. 00:41:08.700 --> 00:41:11.300 I believe supernatural things happen. 00:41:11.300 --> 00:41:14.680 And, of course, there's probably, in fact, probably not just Jesus. 00:41:14.800 --> 00:41:16.620 There's probably been other people raised from the dead, you know. 00:41:16.900 --> 00:41:19.519 There's been lots of miracle workers through the centuries. 00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:23.460 You say, so it doesn't necessarily bother me to think that. 00:41:23.800 --> 00:41:27.720 The struggle that I have is what does it actually matter to me? 00:41:28.420 --> 00:41:30.760 What difference does it make for me? 00:41:32.420 --> 00:41:34.380 So that's what I want to deal with here quickly as I close. 00:41:34.380 --> 00:41:39.140 As to its relevance, 00:41:40.220 --> 00:41:44.420 the resurrection is what makes the gospel actually good news. 00:41:44.420 --> 00:41:55.700 That God raised Jesus from the dead confirms that the Father accepted his work that he accomplished on the cross. 00:41:56.240 --> 00:42:03.800 That he was truly satisfied by the payment that Jesus made in making an atonement for our sins. 00:42:03.800 --> 00:42:18.760 In other words, because of the resurrection, you can believe without a doubt that you have received forgiveness for your sins through faith in what Jesus Christ has accomplished for you. 00:42:18.960 --> 00:42:21.800 Without the resurrection, there is no proof for that. 00:42:22.140 --> 00:42:25.920 But because of the resurrection, you can know it for sure. 00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:29.980 1 Corinthians 15, Paul talking about the resurrection. 00:42:30.380 --> 00:42:35.059 If Christ had not been raised, then our preaching is vain and your faith is vain. 00:42:35.220 --> 00:42:41.180 And if he had not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:44.440 And those who have died believe in Christ. 00:42:44.579 --> 00:42:47.159 They have truly died in eternity. 00:42:48.659 --> 00:42:50.480 There's no life for them left. 00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:54.260 If Jesus didn't raise, we have no hope. 00:42:54.260 --> 00:42:56.840 And then he follows that up and he says, 00:42:57.400 --> 00:43:00.960 if in Christ we have hope in this life only, 00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:05.220 we are of all men to be pitied the most. 00:43:05.860 --> 00:43:07.220 Now, why would he say that? 00:43:07.660 --> 00:43:09.960 What is this hope in this life only? 00:43:10.180 --> 00:43:13.740 Because that's the distinction between Christians and every other religion. 00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:17.400 Most religions believe in an afterlife, 00:43:17.860 --> 00:43:21.980 but they have no hope of it because they're on this relentless search, 00:43:21.980 --> 00:43:27.260 this relentless pursuit of works that will merit them the best level of heaven 00:43:27.260 --> 00:43:29.900 that their religion may propose. 00:43:31.260 --> 00:43:37.000 If it's not a heaven, if maybe it's a reincarnation type process or religion, 00:43:37.119 --> 00:43:38.380 then it's still the same thing. 00:43:38.500 --> 00:43:40.420 There's no real hope for their future. 00:43:40.679 --> 00:43:43.519 They just have to work as hard as they can and hope for the best. 00:43:43.519 --> 00:43:47.579 And if Jesus has not raised from the dead, 00:43:48.000 --> 00:43:50.559 then Christianity is exactly like that. 00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:52.880 There's no real hope that we have. 00:43:53.019 --> 00:43:56.259 The only hope we would have is whatever we might experience in this life, 00:43:56.360 --> 00:43:58.039 a coping mechanism perhaps. 00:43:58.280 --> 00:44:00.039 But Jesus has risen from the dead, 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:03.219 which means that we have a sure hope 00:44:03.219 --> 00:44:06.259 that because he has raised from the dead, 00:44:06.260 --> 00:44:12.100 we too will be raised from the dead in his power. 00:44:12.880 --> 00:44:15.340 Let me just read to you just real quickly and I turn to it 00:44:15.340 --> 00:44:17.020 and just be patient with me. 00:44:17.060 --> 00:44:17.940 I want to get through it. 00:44:18.380 --> 00:44:21.440 In 2 Corinthians chapter 4, in connection with this, 00:44:21.980 --> 00:44:24.120 in verse 13, listen to what Paul says. 00:44:24.580 --> 00:44:28.960 We have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 00:44:29.680 --> 00:44:31.240 quote, I believed and so I spoke. 00:44:31.680 --> 00:44:34.080 And then he says, we also believe and so we also speak. 00:44:34.079 --> 00:44:36.179 He's referring to their faith in the gospel 00:44:36.179 --> 00:44:39.119 that he has experienced with those who have believed in Corinth. 00:44:39.500 --> 00:44:45.539 Verse 14, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus 00:44:45.539 --> 00:44:50.460 will raise us also with Jesus 00:44:50.460 --> 00:44:54.360 and bring us with you into his presence. 00:44:54.559 --> 00:44:56.319 As to its relevance, 00:44:56.719 --> 00:44:59.880 the resurrection actually makes the gospel the gospel. 00:45:00.500 --> 00:45:02.860 It's actually what brings the hope of it. 00:45:02.860 --> 00:45:06.539 The surety of it, that when we trust Christ 00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:08.360 because of what he has done, 00:45:08.579 --> 00:45:09.960 because of his resurrection, 00:45:10.260 --> 00:45:13.519 we don't look to the future just hoping for the best. 00:45:13.700 --> 00:45:16.559 We look to the future knowing for sure 00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:19.880 that Jesus will raise us in the same way 00:45:19.880 --> 00:45:22.240 the Father has raised him. 00:45:22.460 --> 00:45:23.660 That's our hope. 00:45:24.400 --> 00:45:25.500 That's our hope. 00:45:25.940 --> 00:45:26.920 Is it relevant? 00:45:27.539 --> 00:45:28.980 Of course it's relevant. 00:45:28.980 --> 00:45:31.480 If you care anything about eternity, 00:45:31.480 --> 00:45:32.800 it's relevant. 00:45:34.659 --> 00:45:38.880 It proves that Jesus has power over our greatest enemy, 00:45:39.119 --> 00:45:41.240 the one enemy none of us can defeat, 00:45:41.400 --> 00:45:43.199 that every one of us will face, 00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:44.519 the enemy of death. 00:45:45.420 --> 00:45:48.719 And because he has power over life and death, 00:45:48.920 --> 00:45:51.460 he has the power and authority 00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:54.740 to give eternal life to whoever repents 00:45:54.740 --> 00:45:56.440 and believes in his name. 00:45:56.440 --> 00:46:01.380 You don't have to doubt his ability to give you life 00:46:01.380 --> 00:46:05.179 because he's proven himself to be the God of life. 00:46:05.900 --> 00:46:07.960 And he proved it in his resurrection. 00:46:09.559 --> 00:46:10.700 John 11, 00:46:11.700 --> 00:46:15.760 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:46:16.820 --> 00:46:18.980 Whoever believes in me, though he die, 00:46:19.079 --> 00:46:20.079 yet shall he live. 00:46:20.440 --> 00:46:22.700 And everyone who lives and believes in me 00:46:22.700 --> 00:46:25.240 shall never die, Jesus said. 00:46:25.239 --> 00:46:28.159 Now, how can we trust that Jesus was being honest there? 00:46:28.459 --> 00:46:29.859 Because a little while later, 00:46:30.019 --> 00:46:32.259 he popped up out of the grave. 00:46:33.819 --> 00:46:34.759 It's relevant. 00:46:36.099 --> 00:46:37.119 Romans 6, 00:46:37.519 --> 00:46:38.819 we know that Christ, 00:46:39.299 --> 00:46:40.619 being raised from the dead, 00:46:40.659 --> 00:46:41.559 will never die again. 00:46:42.659 --> 00:46:44.599 Death no longer has dominion over him. 00:46:45.639 --> 00:46:47.000 For the death he died, 00:46:47.079 --> 00:46:48.739 he died to sin once for all, 00:46:48.919 --> 00:46:50.139 but the life he lives, 00:46:50.199 --> 00:46:51.019 he lives to God. 00:46:51.019 --> 00:46:53.280 So you also, believer, 00:46:53.759 --> 00:46:55.960 must consider yourself dead to sin 00:46:55.960 --> 00:47:00.219 and alive to God in Christ Jesus. 00:47:01.179 --> 00:47:02.980 1 Corinthians 15, 00:47:03.880 --> 00:47:05.500 hold death, where is your victory? 00:47:06.679 --> 00:47:08.340 Death, where is your sting? 00:47:09.320 --> 00:47:10.739 The sting of death is sin. 00:47:11.380 --> 00:47:12.980 The power of sin is the law, 00:47:12.980 --> 00:47:15.079 but thanks be to God 00:47:15.079 --> 00:47:16.699 who gives us victory 00:47:16.699 --> 00:47:19.599 through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:47:19.820 --> 00:47:21.019 Of course it's relevant. 00:47:23.440 --> 00:47:26.039 It's relevant because it validates 00:47:26.039 --> 00:47:28.719 everything that Jesus did and said. 00:47:30.079 --> 00:47:31.579 It gives us confidence 00:47:31.579 --> 00:47:32.639 that what we have 00:47:32.639 --> 00:47:34.199 is truly the inerrant, 00:47:34.360 --> 00:47:35.579 inspired, authoritative, 00:47:35.740 --> 00:47:36.840 infallible word of God 00:47:36.840 --> 00:47:38.880 because Jesus believed it was 00:47:38.880 --> 00:47:40.240 and taught that it was. 00:47:40.239 --> 00:47:43.979 the resurrection gives us that hope. 00:47:46.579 --> 00:47:48.059 It gives us confidence 00:47:48.059 --> 00:47:50.539 in our future glory 00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:53.979 because the one who rose from the dead 00:47:53.979 --> 00:47:55.119 promised that glory. 00:47:56.259 --> 00:47:58.639 It gives us confidence in tribulation 00:47:58.639 --> 00:48:00.799 because in Jesus, 00:48:01.679 --> 00:48:03.799 Jude says we are more than conquerors. 00:48:05.739 --> 00:48:08.739 So yes, the resurrection changes everything. 00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:12.279 And it can change everything for you 00:48:12.279 --> 00:48:15.519 if you will believe. 00:48:16.679 --> 00:48:18.479 And so we have to leave ourselves 00:48:18.479 --> 00:48:19.799 with just two questions. 00:48:21.299 --> 00:48:22.799 The first question is, 00:48:23.059 --> 00:48:24.239 will you believe? 00:48:26.039 --> 00:48:28.079 Not will you come to an agreement 00:48:28.079 --> 00:48:30.000 that as we lay out scientifically 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:31.639 the facts of the case, 00:48:31.959 --> 00:48:32.539 that okay, 00:48:33.139 --> 00:48:34.599 I can affirm those things. 00:48:34.739 --> 00:48:35.759 We're not talking about 00:48:35.759 --> 00:48:36.879 just intellectually saying, 00:48:36.979 --> 00:48:37.479 yeah, all right, 00:48:37.699 --> 00:48:38.919 we can check off that box. 00:48:38.920 --> 00:48:40.180 No, 00:48:40.680 --> 00:48:42.159 I mean a real faith 00:48:42.159 --> 00:48:44.519 that trusts that not only 00:48:44.519 --> 00:48:45.519 these things are true, 00:48:45.519 --> 00:48:47.220 but receives these things 00:48:47.220 --> 00:48:48.039 by faith 00:48:48.039 --> 00:48:49.300 for your only hope 00:48:49.300 --> 00:48:50.099 in life and death. 00:48:51.200 --> 00:48:52.340 That's the kind of faith 00:48:52.340 --> 00:48:53.220 we're talking about. 00:48:53.440 --> 00:48:54.740 A faith that only comes 00:48:54.740 --> 00:48:55.440 through an encounter 00:48:55.440 --> 00:48:56.400 with the risen Lord 00:48:56.400 --> 00:48:57.519 through the working 00:48:57.519 --> 00:48:58.400 of the Holy Spirit 00:48:58.400 --> 00:49:00.280 as you hear the word 00:49:00.280 --> 00:49:01.019 of God preached. 00:49:02.260 --> 00:49:03.579 That's the first question. 00:49:04.059 --> 00:49:04.800 Will you believe? 00:49:04.800 --> 00:49:06.560 The second question 00:49:06.560 --> 00:49:09.280 is will you go and tell? 00:49:10.280 --> 00:49:11.100 Will you go and tell? 00:49:12.840 --> 00:49:13.980 Just tell somebody. 00:49:15.100 --> 00:49:16.180 Start with your kids. 00:49:18.039 --> 00:49:19.120 If they didn't get enough 00:49:19.120 --> 00:49:19.780 of it this morning, 00:49:20.019 --> 00:49:20.980 give them a little bit more 00:49:20.980 --> 00:49:21.840 of it this afternoon. 00:49:24.680 --> 00:49:25.820 Call your parents today. 00:49:25.920 --> 00:49:26.920 Say, you wouldn't believe 00:49:26.920 --> 00:49:27.539 what I learned 00:49:27.539 --> 00:49:29.200 in Mark 16 today. 00:49:29.940 --> 00:49:30.660 What do you think 00:49:30.660 --> 00:49:31.320 about the resurrection? 00:49:31.560 --> 00:49:32.180 Do you think Jesus 00:49:32.180 --> 00:49:33.160 really rose from the dead? 00:49:33.159 --> 00:49:35.299 If you're a fee about it, 00:49:35.460 --> 00:49:36.179 can you give me 00:49:36.179 --> 00:49:36.759 an explanation 00:49:36.759 --> 00:49:37.940 of why you would deny it? 00:49:39.339 --> 00:49:39.839 Will you let me 00:49:39.839 --> 00:49:40.639 give you an explanation 00:49:40.639 --> 00:49:41.239 of why I think 00:49:41.239 --> 00:49:42.500 that it's probably true 00:49:42.500 --> 00:49:43.099 and it matters? 00:49:44.980 --> 00:49:45.699 Maybe somebody 00:49:45.699 --> 00:49:46.319 will hear you. 00:49:47.599 --> 00:49:48.679 Maybe they'll believe too.