Easter Reality
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 30th March 2013
Passage: Philippians 3:10-21
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 It's great to be here this morning.
00:00:01 --> 00:00:06 On Easter Sundays, we celebrate life and new life.
00:00:06 --> 00:00:12 And that's the segue into announcing that Sam and Sal are expecting a second child.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:16 So, what a great day.
00:00:18 --> 00:00:19 But wait, there's more.
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 Adam and Brenda are expecting their first child.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:30 Fantastic you guys.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:33 Good morning.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35 My name is Steve Jeffrey.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:37 I'm one of the ministry team here.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 I grew up one of three boys.
00:00:42 --> 00:00:46 My cousins, all the ones we had anything to do with, were all boys.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:51 I grew up on a farm, motorbike riding, shooting guns,
00:00:51 --> 00:00:54 explosives licensed by the age of 18.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 So, my life was surrounded like that, flanny shirts, boots.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:02 And I'm the dad of three girls.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 And so, I've been introduced to a world that I've never had any interest in
00:01:07 --> 00:01:10 or was unaware of, a Barbie world.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:16 And so, 7 kilometres in a car last August and September
00:01:16 --> 00:01:20 with Barbie playing in the TV screen behind my headrest
00:01:20 --> 00:01:24 causes one to be familiar with Barbie world.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:27 What I discovered with all the Barbie movies
00:01:27 --> 00:01:31 was that there was a good versus evil plot.
00:01:31 --> 00:01:35 And there's always a tense moment in the middle of the movie
00:01:35 --> 00:01:43 with a protagonist who looks like Barbie,
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 but is more evil than Barbie.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:51 And it appears in that tense moment that evil will win the day.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:55 But with a quick change of clothes and a reapplication of make-up
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58 and a little dose of self-confidence,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:01 Barbie's character always comes through at the end to win the day.
00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 What I find interesting, though,
00:02:06 --> 00:02:10 is in that moment, the concern which is expressed
00:02:10 --> 00:02:14 on the face of my daughter is that evil will triumph.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:17 The youngest, or the middle one, would say,
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 Turn it off, Izzy! Turn it off!
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 Yell in the back seat.
00:02:22 --> 00:02:25 And she could not cope with the fact that evil was going to win the day.
00:02:25 --> 00:02:28 Oh, there was an attempt to fast-forward that bit of the movie.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:33 What is surprising to me is that they've seen it a dozen times.
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 They know how it's going to end up.
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42 And they've seen a dozen of these movies
00:02:42 --> 00:02:46 and they always know that Barbie will win in the end.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 It's a world of pink and purple
00:02:48 --> 00:02:52 and good always triumphs with flowers
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 and colour and delightful stuff.
00:02:57 --> 00:02:59 And it surprises me
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 because a number of times I would say,
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 But you know how it's going to end.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 And yet it's something delightful as well.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 The storyline has not lost its thrill.
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13 Although I must say,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15 several months down the track,
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 it has lost its thrill.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18 I don't hear the crying out,
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 Turn it off, Izzy!
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 Turn it off!
00:03:22 --> 00:03:25 Which, of course, is my concern with Easter.
00:03:26 --> 00:03:30 It was bad news for Jesus on Good Friday,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:33 but we all know how it works out.
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 You know the end of the story.
00:03:35 --> 00:03:39 So in preparing for today,
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 it makes me feel like I'm talking about something,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 talking about a book,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:45 and you've all read the end of the book.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 And so where's the surprise in it?
00:03:48 --> 00:03:49 Where's the thrill in it?
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 Of course, the temptation is to have a mere historical
00:03:53 --> 00:03:57 or academic engagement with Easter
00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 and to miss its impact for us today.
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 And so I'd like us to recapture some of the awe.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 I'd like to see that for myself,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 to marvel at the resurrection,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:10 even though we know how it works out.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 To walk out of here with hearts filled with joy
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 and hope and purpose and expectation and love.
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 Let's be astonished at the resurrection.
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 And to do that, you must begin with understanding.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27 You need to know the story and how it ends.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32 If you make less of the truth and the facts and the reality,
00:04:32 --> 00:04:36 then your wonder of it all will just be shallow.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:40 Take, for instance, the article
00:04:40 --> 00:04:41 that was printed at the Sydney Morning Herald
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 on Good Friday in 2005.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 It was written by Hugh Mackay,
00:04:46 --> 00:04:48 social commentator,
00:04:48 --> 00:04:51 and he made this comment about Easter
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52 and the resurrection of Jesus.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 He says,
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 Christians celebrate new life at Easter,
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58 but in a religious sense.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 The focus of their festival is the belief
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 that tragedy and grief,
00:05:03 --> 00:05:04 symbolised by the crucifixion,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 can give way to new life,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 symbolised by the resurrection,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 and that pain and loss are essential steps
00:05:13 --> 00:05:16 on the journey towards enlightenment.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:18 And so he says that
00:05:18 --> 00:05:21 Easter is a festival of hope,
00:05:21 --> 00:05:23 a celebration of faith in the future,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 and a reminder
00:05:24 --> 00:05:27 that despite our failures and frailties and flaws,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 personal resurrection is always a possibility for us.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 It's positive.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 And yet,
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 Mackay's point is that the resurrection is symbolic.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:44 Whether it happened or not
00:05:44 --> 00:05:46 is not the issue for him.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:48 He suggests that
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 what it's all about
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51 is symbolism,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 and that symbolism is positive
00:05:53 --> 00:05:54 and powerful in your life.
00:05:55 --> 00:05:58 It's an example and a metaphor for our life.
00:05:58 --> 00:06:01 New life and growth through suffering.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:04 To grow, we're going to need to suffer a little,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 just like pruning a rose.
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 That's the point of the resurrection.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:15 And I think Mackay's representation of Easter
00:06:15 --> 00:06:20 is probably the view of a number of people
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 when it comes to the resurrection.
00:06:22 --> 00:06:25 And while many would see his view as intelligent
00:06:25 --> 00:06:28 and conciliatory and positive and rational,
00:06:30 --> 00:06:31 it fails to grasp
00:06:31 --> 00:06:35 is that the resurrection is not merely symbolic.
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 It is not a myth
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 that is okay to believe
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43 if it works for you.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 And so as I look at the Bible,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 as we're going to do that together
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 in Philippians 2 and 3,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 and so grab your Bibles in preparation for that
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 and turn to Philippians 2 and 3,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 the passage we just read out for us.
00:06:57 --> 00:06:58 As I look at the Bible,
00:06:59 --> 00:06:59 as we do this together
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 and speak about the resurrection of Jesus,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:05 I'm not merely putting another alternative
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07 in front of you this morning.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10 The resurrection of Jesus
00:07:10 --> 00:07:12 is not a satisfying myth
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 that helps some people,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 us in this room maybe,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:19 to interpret life
00:07:19 --> 00:07:21 so that it becomes livable
00:07:21 --> 00:07:24 and even possibly more enjoyable for us.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 Easter is about real persons
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 and historical events
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 and divine intentions
00:07:30 --> 00:07:31 that really happened.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:34 The resurrection is more real
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 and more exciting
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 and more terrifying
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38 and more life-changing
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39 than any myth
00:07:39 --> 00:07:42 or any other truth claim.
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44 Now friends, this is Easter.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:47 It is the celebration
00:07:47 --> 00:07:50 of the historical resurrection
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 of Jesus from the dead.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:54 He is alive.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 He is not mere memory,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 a mere historical figure
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 like a Julius Caesar
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 or a Shakespeare
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 or an Abraham Lincoln.
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03 He is back from the dead
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05 with a new glorious body.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:06 He is alive.
00:08:06 --> 00:08:07 He is reigning
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09 as the king of the universe
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 as Philippians 2 says
00:08:11 --> 00:08:13 and he is making this offer
00:08:13 --> 00:08:14 of real life
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 and hope to us today.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19 Now I know that I'm taking
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 a lot for granted
00:08:20 --> 00:08:21 when I say that.
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 So let me put it
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 into some sort of context.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:28 We Christians believe
00:08:28 --> 00:08:30 that what the 27 books
00:08:30 --> 00:08:30 of the New Testament
00:08:30 --> 00:08:31 record about Jesus
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 are true.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 These books uniformly teach
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 or assume that Jesus
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 lived in history,
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 that he died
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 as a substitute for sinners
00:08:40 --> 00:08:42 and he rose on the third day
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 and that he ascended to heaven
00:08:43 --> 00:08:45 and rules the world
00:08:45 --> 00:08:45 as the God
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 of all the universe.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48 These 27 books
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 are riddled
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 with references
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 to the physical resurrection
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 of Jesus from the dead
00:08:53 --> 00:08:55 as we declared together
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 a little bit earlier
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 in our service
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 reading out
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 from 1 Corinthians 15.
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 These accounts
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 of what happened
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 in the life of Jesus
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 are totally different
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 than myth
00:09:07 --> 00:09:09 like Greek
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 or Roman mythology
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 which is shrouded
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 in a distant past
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 that does not connect
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 with real history.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 The New Testament books
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 are talking
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 about real history.
00:09:22 --> 00:09:22 Pilate,
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 Roman governor,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:24 Herod,
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 the king from Galilee,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:27 Caiaphas,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 the high priest.
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 They are not
00:09:29 --> 00:09:31 mythical figures.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 These people are known
00:09:33 --> 00:09:34 from history
00:09:34 --> 00:09:37 outside of the New Testament.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:39 The accounts
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 of the New Testament
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 were all written
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 while eyewitnesses
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 were still alive.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 We said that
00:09:45 --> 00:09:45 a little bit early
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 in our service.
00:09:47 --> 00:09:47 Paul's letters
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 were written
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 15 to 30 years
00:09:49 --> 00:09:50 after the death
00:09:50 --> 00:09:50 of Jesus.
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 As we just read,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 he mentions the fact
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 that 500 people
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59 had seen the risen Jesus
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 at one time
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 and that most of them
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 were still alive
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04 as he pens the history.
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 Most of the books,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 maybe all of them
00:10:07 --> 00:10:07 were written
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 before 70 AD,
00:10:08 --> 00:10:09 40 years
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11 after the death
00:10:11 --> 00:10:11 of Jesus.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 This is not mythology.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 This is history.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 It is remembered history.
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 It is eyewitness history.
00:10:19 --> 00:10:23 And add to this
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 that the enemies
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 of Christianity
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 would have loved
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 nothing better
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 than to wheel
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 a dead body
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31 in a wheelbarrow
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 into Jerusalem
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 to prove
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 that it was
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 all a hoax.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 And they couldn't.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 The Romans
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 themselves
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 stationed their own
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 soldiers
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 at the entrance
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42 of the tomb
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44 and it was empty.
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 There was no dead body.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 And the thought
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 that the scared
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 disciples
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 who abandoned
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 Jesus
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 at his crucifixion
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 for fear of their lives,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:55 that they would
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 suddenly come together
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 and agree amongst
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 themselves
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 to create a hoax,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 that they would
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 steal the body
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 and then that they
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 would die for that
00:11:03 --> 00:11:03 hoax
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05 is ludicrous.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 These disciples
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 of Jesus
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 were not wacko.
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 They were witnesses.
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 And what we have
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 in the New Testament
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 is not mythology.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 But Jesus
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19 as eyewitnesses
00:11:19 --> 00:11:19 remembered him.
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 And the point
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 of all this
00:11:24 --> 00:11:26 is simply to say
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 that when we
00:11:28 --> 00:11:28 Christians say
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 Jesus is risen
00:11:29 --> 00:11:30 from the dead,
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 we're not speaking
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 mythically.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 We're not speaking
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 blindly.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 We're not speaking
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 symbolically.
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 We're not speaking
00:11:39 --> 00:11:40 spiritually
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 or just emotionally.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 We're speaking
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 historically.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:46 Now, of course,
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 the aim of all
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 this history
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 is that we might
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 be astounded
00:11:50 --> 00:11:52 at the majesty
00:11:52 --> 00:11:54 of Jesus Christ
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 this Easter.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 The point is
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 that we might
00:11:59 --> 00:11:59 marvel
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 and stand
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 in awe
00:12:01 --> 00:12:03 and be amazed
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 and get
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 the impact
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 of Easter
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 Sunday
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 in 2013.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12 Some of this
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 majesty
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 and impact
00:12:13 --> 00:12:13 was there
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 for us
00:12:14 --> 00:12:14 in Philippians
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 3
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 verses 20
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 to 21.
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 So if you
00:12:18 --> 00:12:18 want to go
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 there,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 Philippians 3,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 Adam read out
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 to us.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 Have you got
00:12:22 --> 00:12:22 a page
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 there on
00:12:23 --> 00:12:23 your Bible,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:24 Adam?
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 Sorry?
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 1140.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 Page 1140
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 in the pew
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31 Bibles
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 if it's there
00:12:32 --> 00:12:32 in front of you.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 Philippians 3
00:12:34 --> 00:12:34 verses 20
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 to 21.
00:12:35 --> 00:12:35 But our
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 citizenship
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 is in heaven
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 and we
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 eagerly
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 await a
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 saviour
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 from there,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:39 the Lord
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 Jesus Christ
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 who by the
00:12:41 --> 00:12:41 power that
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 enables him
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 to bring
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 everything
00:12:43 --> 00:12:43 under his
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 control
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 will transform
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 our lowly
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 bodies
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 so that
00:12:47 --> 00:12:47 they will
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 be like
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 his
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 glorious
00:12:49 --> 00:12:49 body.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 What an
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 astounding
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 couple of
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 verses.
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55 Now something
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 is assumed
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 there in
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 verse 20
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 and 21.
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 What is
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 assumed is
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 that Jesus
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 was raised
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 from the dead
00:13:04 --> 00:13:04 and that he
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 is now
00:13:05 --> 00:13:05 alive
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 and is
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 now very
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 powerful
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 to put it
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 mindly.
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 The reason
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 Paul assumes
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 it here
00:13:11 --> 00:13:12 in chapter
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 3
00:13:12 --> 00:13:13 is because
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 it's what
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 he said
00:13:14 --> 00:13:14 in chapter
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 2.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 It's what
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 was read
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 out to us
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 as well.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 And so let
00:13:18 --> 00:13:20 me go back
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 to chapter
00:13:20 --> 00:13:20 2 and make
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 it explicit
00:13:21 --> 00:13:21 and clear
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 for us.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 And let me
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 say by way
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 of introduction
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 you will
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 never read
00:13:25 --> 00:13:26 anything
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 anywhere
00:13:27 --> 00:13:27 in any
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 literature
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 more sweeping
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 and important
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 and true
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 than these
00:13:31 --> 00:13:31 verses
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 in chapter
00:13:32 --> 00:13:32 2 of
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 Philippians.
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 Let's
00:13:33 --> 00:13:33 start at
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 verse 6
00:13:34 --> 00:13:35 referring to
00:13:35 --> 00:13:35 Jesus
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 who
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 being in
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 very nature
00:13:37 --> 00:13:37 God
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 did not
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 consider
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 equality
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 with God
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 something to
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 be grasped
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 but made
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 himself
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 nothing.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 Taking the
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 very nature
00:13:44 --> 00:13:44 of servant
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 being made
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 in human
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 likeness
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 and being
00:13:47 --> 00:13:47 found in
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 appearance as a
00:13:48 --> 00:13:48 man he
00:13:48 --> 00:13:49 humbled himself
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 and became
00:13:50 --> 00:13:50 obedient to
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 death
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 even death
00:13:52 --> 00:13:52 on a cross.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 And therefore
00:13:54 --> 00:13:54 God exalted
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 him to the
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 highest place
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 and gave him
00:13:56 --> 00:13:56 the name
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 that is above
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 every day
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 that at the
00:13:59 --> 00:13:59 name of
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 Jesus
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 every knee
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 should bow
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 in heaven
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 and on
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 earth
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 and under
00:14:05 --> 00:14:05 the earth
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 and every
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 tongue confess
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 that Jesus
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 Christ is
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 Lord to
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 the glory
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 of God
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 the Father.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 There is
00:14:13 --> 00:14:16 Easter impact.
00:14:16 --> 00:14:20 Christ was
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 and is
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 equal with
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 God
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 he is
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 God
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 he became
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 human being
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 he obediently
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 suffered and
00:14:25 --> 00:14:25 died
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 and that
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 means that
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 it was a
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 planned death
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 it was not
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 an accident
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 of history
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 it was a
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 planned death
00:14:32 --> 00:14:33 and the point
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 of the plan
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 was that the
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 Lord Jesus
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 Christ be a
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 substitute for
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 all sinners
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 who would
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 trust in him
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 that was
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 God's loving
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 plan for the
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 salvation of
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 sinners like
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 us
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 and then it
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 says
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 therefore God
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 exalted him
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 to the highest
00:14:50 --> 00:14:50 place
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 in other words
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 because of his
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 obedient and
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 successful life
00:14:54 --> 00:14:54 and death
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 God raised him
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 from the dead
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and gave him
00:14:57 --> 00:14:59 great glory
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 as the Lord
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 of the universe
00:15:02 --> 00:15:06 that is the
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 astounding
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 assumption behind
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 Philippians 3
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 20 to 21
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 but our
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 citizenship is in
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 heaven
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 and we
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 eagerly await a
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 saviour from
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 there the
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 Lord Jesus
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 Christ
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 who by the
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 power that
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 enables him to
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 bring everything
00:15:21 --> 00:15:21 under his
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 control will
00:15:22 --> 00:15:24 transform our
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 lowly bodies
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 so that they
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 will be like
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 his glorious
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 body
00:15:27 --> 00:15:30 when you put
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 Philippians 2
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 and Philippians 3
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 together
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 we see that
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 because of the
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 death and
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 resurrection of
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 the Lord Jesus
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 he has
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 astonishing
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 power to
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 subject all
00:15:42 --> 00:15:44 things to
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 himself
00:15:45 --> 00:15:47 this
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 is
00:15:49 --> 00:15:49 resurrection
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 impact
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 that is
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 relevant for
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 us right now
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 that is
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 he rose
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 victorious from
00:15:57 --> 00:15:57 the grave
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 never to die
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 again
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 and he
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 rules
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 over all
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 time and
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 space
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06 you see it
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 there again
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 in verse 21
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 by the power
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 that enables him
00:16:09 --> 00:16:09 to bring
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 everything
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 under his
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 control
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 in one sense
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 Jesus has the
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 right to rule
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 the universe
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 because he is
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 God
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 not just because
00:16:17 --> 00:16:17 he died and
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 rose again
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 he did not
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 have to die
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 and rise
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 in order to
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 be who he
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 is
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 and what he
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 is from all
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 eternity
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 is God
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 and this gives
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 him the right
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 to exercise
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 authority over
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 all things
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32 but in another
00:16:32 --> 00:16:32 sense God
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 decreed that
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 the one
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 who would
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 rule in
00:16:35 --> 00:16:35 power
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 would be a
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 saviour who
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 suffered with
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 us and for
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 us in this
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 world
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 the Lord and
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 judge and
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 saviour over
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 all the universe
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 was tested
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 and found
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50 perfect through
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 human suffering
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 and now he
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 is doubly
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 suited for his
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 role as
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Lord of the
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 universe
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 he is God
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 by God
00:16:59 --> 00:17:00 with all the
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 natural rights
00:17:01 --> 00:17:01 to go with
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 that and he
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 is saviour
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 with purchased
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 rights
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07 and so he
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 can put his
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 foot on
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 Satan's neck
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 and not just
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 because of the
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 raw divine
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 power he has
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 but also because
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 he exposed
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 himself to
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 Satan's
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 temptations
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 and to
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 Satan's
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 biggest weapon
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 death
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 and he broke
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 it on Easter
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 Sunday
00:17:24 --> 00:17:27 he is doubly
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 suited to rule
00:17:28 --> 00:17:28 the universe
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 he has
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 creator rights
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 and saviour
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 rights
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 and the
00:17:33 --> 00:17:33 impact of
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 Easter Sunday
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 morning is
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 that there
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 is no higher
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 authority
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 there is no
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 place or
00:17:40 --> 00:17:40 sphere or
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 realm or
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 dimension of
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 existence anywhere
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 in the universe
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 that is not
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 under the
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 absolute
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 authority
00:17:47 --> 00:17:50 of Jesus
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 Christ
00:17:50 --> 00:17:52 and when the
00:17:52 --> 00:17:54 world in which
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 we live
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 doesn't look
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 like it's under
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 the authority
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 of Jesus
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59 it would be
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 wiser for us
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 to marvel at
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 the mystery
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 of his ways
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 than to
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 question the
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 scope of
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 his power
00:18:05 --> 00:18:09 Christ's power
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 pervades the
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 universe from
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 the largest to
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 the smallest
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 elements of
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 reality
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 no galaxy
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 no atom
00:18:15 --> 00:18:15 no demon
00:18:15 --> 00:18:17 would stay
00:18:17 --> 00:18:17 in being
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 without the
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 authority of
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 the Lord
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 Jesus
00:18:19 --> 00:18:22 so be
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 astonished at
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 his power
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 to subject
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 all things
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 to himself
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 Easter Sunday
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 is no mere
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 symbolism of
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 how to endure
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 hard things
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 in life
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 it means that
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 Jesus rules
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 the universe
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 as the name
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 that is above
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 every name
00:18:36 --> 00:18:40 and he does
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 it
00:18:40 --> 00:18:42 out of love
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 for us
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 notice that
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 there are two
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 astounding
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 implications for
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 us in this
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 power of the
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 resurrected Lord
00:18:50 --> 00:18:50 Jesus
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 they are
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 staggering
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 and they are
00:18:52 --> 00:18:52 filled with
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 hope and joy
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 and life
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 for us
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 verse 20
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 our citizenship
00:18:56 --> 00:18:58 is in
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 heaven
00:18:59 --> 00:19:02 citizenship
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 means you
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 belong
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 citizenship
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 means you
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 are protected
00:19:07 --> 00:19:10 we take it
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 for granted
00:19:10 --> 00:19:12 but become a
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 refugee
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 and be a
00:19:15 --> 00:19:15 person of
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 no fixed
00:19:16 --> 00:19:16 abode
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 with no one
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 in the United
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 Nations
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 speak it
00:19:19 --> 00:19:19 on your
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 behalf
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 and see
00:19:22 --> 00:19:22 how secure
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 you feel
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 and our
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 citizenship
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 is in
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 heaven
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 the power
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 of the
00:19:29 --> 00:19:29 Lord Jesus
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 guarantees
00:19:30 --> 00:19:32 our citizenship
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 of heaven
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33 and if you're a
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 believer in the
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 Lord Jesus
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 you don't have to
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 wait for the
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 second coming
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 of the Lord
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 Jesus to know
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 where your
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 home is
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 when you trust
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 in Christ
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 your name is
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 sealed on the
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 citizen roles
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 of heaven
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 because your
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 king is
00:19:46 --> 00:19:46 there
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 where he
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 is
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 there you
00:19:49 --> 00:19:49 have the
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 privilege to
00:19:50 --> 00:19:50 be
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 and so
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 you will be
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 with him
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 forever
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 and your
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 amazement
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 and your
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 wonder
00:19:56 --> 00:19:56 and your
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 awe
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 will never
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 cease
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 it will only
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 increase
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 with him
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 forever
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 and ever
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 which leads
00:20:04 --> 00:20:04 to the second
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 implication
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 Jesus
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 will use
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 his power
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 to transform
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 your body
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 into a
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 resurrected
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 body like
00:20:11 --> 00:20:11 his
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 Philippians
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 3 21
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the Lord
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 Jesus Christ
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 who by the
00:20:15 --> 00:20:15 power that
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 enables him
00:20:16 --> 00:20:16 to bring
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 everything
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 under his
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 control
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 will transform
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 your lowly
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 bodies
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 so that they
00:20:22 --> 00:20:22 will be like
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 his glorious
00:20:23 --> 00:20:23 body
00:20:23 --> 00:20:25 all that
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 power that
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 Jesus has
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 will be used
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 to take
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 our dead
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 bodies
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 and raise
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 them from
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 the dead
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 no longer
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 to be sick
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 and disabled
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 or frail
00:20:36 --> 00:20:36 or mentally
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 ill or addicted
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 or weary
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 or tempting
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 or tempted
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 but
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 rather
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 it will
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 be like
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 his
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 glorious
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 body
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 this is
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 not
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 a mere
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 symbolic
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 hope
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 if you
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 belong to
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 Jesus
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 Christ
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 by trusting
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 in him
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 he will
00:20:50 --> 00:20:50 give you
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 a new
00:20:51 --> 00:20:51 body
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 fit for
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 eternal
00:20:52 --> 00:20:52 life
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 with him
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 not a
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 ghost
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 not a
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 spirit
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 you'll
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 be
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 recognized
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 by your
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 mates
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 and you
00:20:57 --> 00:20:57 will
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 eat
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 and drink
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 with
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 Jesus
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 in the
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 kingdom
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 of God
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 just like
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 he did
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 with his
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 mates
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 when he
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 was here
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 after he
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 rose
00:21:04 --> 00:21:06 be
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 astounded
00:21:07 --> 00:21:07 therefore
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 that Jesus
00:21:08 --> 00:21:08 will use
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 his
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 infinite
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 authority
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 and power
00:21:11 --> 00:21:13 to raise
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 you for
00:21:13 --> 00:21:13 the dead
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 to give
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 you a
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 body like
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 his
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 that will
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 never wear
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 out
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 and to
00:21:18 --> 00:21:18 live
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 forever
00:21:19 --> 00:21:23 the aim
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 of all
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 this
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 is that
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 we might
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 be
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 astounded
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 at the
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 majesty
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 of Jesus
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 Christ
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 this
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 Easter
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 rather than
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 a mere
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 intellectual
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 awareness
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 of history
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 I want us
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 to marvel
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 at the
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 truth
00:21:36 --> 00:21:36 and the
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 hope
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 and the
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 joy
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 of
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 Easter
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 I don't
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 want
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 it to be
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 a mere
00:21:41 --> 00:21:41 take it
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 or leave
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 it
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 symbolism
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 where you
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 respond
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 after this
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 service
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 thanks for
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 a stimulating
00:21:48 --> 00:21:48 service
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 now off
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 to the
00:21:49 --> 00:21:49 Easter
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 egg
00:21:50 --> 00:21:50 hunt
00:21:50 --> 00:21:52 this is
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 life
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 transforming
00:21:53 --> 00:21:56 this is
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 not just
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 a mere
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 gathering
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 of historical
00:21:58 --> 00:21:58 facts
00:21:58 --> 00:22:00 this is
00:22:00 --> 00:22:00 a marvelling
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 at those
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 facts
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 and the
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 difference
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 is this
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 suppose
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 you hear
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 that last
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 year in
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 Chatswood
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 10
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 children
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 were hit
00:22:08 --> 00:22:08 by
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 cars
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 while
00:22:09 --> 00:22:09 playing
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 it's
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 there
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 on the
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 news
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 you read
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 in the
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 paper
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 and you
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 wince
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 and you
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 think
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 what a
00:22:15 --> 00:22:15 tragedy
00:22:15 --> 00:22:17 that must
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 have been
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 really hard
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 for those
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 parents
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 and then
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 you read
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 the next
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 article
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 you look
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 at the
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 next bit
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 of news
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 and then
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 suddenly
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 the front
00:22:27 --> 00:22:27 door bursts
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 open and
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 your 10
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 year old
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 daughter comes
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 screaming into
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 the house
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 with the
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 news that
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 it was
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 your 9
00:22:31 --> 00:22:31 year old
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 son
00:22:32 --> 00:22:32 has just
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 been hit
00:22:33 --> 00:22:33 by a car
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 playing in
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 the front
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 yard
00:22:34 --> 00:22:37 and now
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 the news
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 is different
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 news
00:22:39 --> 00:22:42 the first
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 piece of
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 news was
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 true
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 you didn't
00:22:44 --> 00:22:44 doubt it
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 good evidence
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 for it
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 but now
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 there was
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 a piece
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 of news
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 that goes
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 to the
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 core
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 of your
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 being
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 it shakes
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 you
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 everything
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 in you
00:22:53 --> 00:22:54 comes alive
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 to this
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 reality
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 that it's
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 your son
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58 it touches
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 your existence
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 it will
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 change
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 everything
00:23:01 --> 00:23:01 in your
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 life
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 it will
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 break
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 your heart
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 it will
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 shatter
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 things
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 in you
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 more deeply
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 than you
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 have ever
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 touched
00:23:07 --> 00:23:07 before
00:23:07 --> 00:23:12 and so
00:23:12 --> 00:23:12 here again
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 the news
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 of Easter
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 Jesus died
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 in your
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 place
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 for your
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 sin
00:23:18 --> 00:23:18 against
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 God
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 Jesus
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 is risen
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 from the
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 dead
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 Jesus
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 will never
00:23:22 --> 00:23:22 die
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 again
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 Jesus
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 has been
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 appointed
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 as ruler
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 of the
00:23:25 --> 00:23:25 universe
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 and all
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 who trust
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 in him
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 will be
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 raised
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 like him
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 and live
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 forever
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 with him
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 my friends
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 I long
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 for you
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 here today
00:23:35 --> 00:23:35 not just
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 to hear
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 that truth
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 as merely
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 provable
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 reports
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 of some
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 religious
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 claim
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 but as
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 the cry
00:23:43 --> 00:23:43 of your
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 child
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 bursting
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 through
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 the door
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 it has
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 to do
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 with you
00:23:47 --> 00:23:50 this is
00:23:50 --> 00:23:50 your death
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 and your
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 life
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 and your
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 hope
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 the
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 resurrection
00:23:54 --> 00:23:56 changes
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 everything
00:23:57 --> 00:23:59 it did
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 for the
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 bigoted
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 hate
00:24:01 --> 00:24:01 filled
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 proud
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 Paul
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 who
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 approved
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 of the
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 murder
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 and the
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 imprisonment
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 of
00:24:05 --> 00:24:05 Christians
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 and then
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 he met
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 the
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 all
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 powerful
00:24:08 --> 00:24:08 risen
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 Jesus
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 and
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 everything
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 changed
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 for him
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 this is
00:24:13 --> 00:24:13 how he
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 puts it
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 in
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 Philippians
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 3
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 from
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 verse
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 10
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 but for
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 whatever
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 was to
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 my
00:24:18 --> 00:24:18 profit
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 I
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 now
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 consider
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 loss
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 for the
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 sake
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 of
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 Christ
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 what
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 is
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 more
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 I
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 consider
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 everything
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 a
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 loss
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 compared
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 to the
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 surpassing
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 greatness
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 of knowing
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 Jesus
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 Christ
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 my
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 Lord
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 for whose
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 sake
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 I
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 have
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 lost
00:24:32 --> 00:24:32 all
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 things
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 I
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 consider
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 them
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 rubbish
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 that I
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 might gain
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 Christ
00:24:38 --> 00:24:41 and be found
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 in him
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 that is
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 through faith
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 in Christ
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 the righteousness
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 that comes
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 from God
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 and is
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 by faith
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 this is how
00:24:49 --> 00:24:49 he sums up
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 his life
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 I want to
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 know
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 Christ
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 and the
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 power
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 of his
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 resurrection
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 and the
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 fellowship
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 of sharing
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58 in his
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 sufferings
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 becoming
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 like
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 him
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 in his
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 death
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 and so
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 somehow
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 to attain
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 to the
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 resurrection
00:25:03 --> 00:25:05 of the
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 dead
00:25:05 --> 00:25:07 everything
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 changes
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 because
00:25:08 --> 00:25:08 of the
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 resurrection
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 it is the
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 core of
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 his being
00:25:12 --> 00:25:12 in which
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 he views
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 his life
00:25:13 --> 00:25:16 what about
00:25:16 --> 00:25:16 you
00:25:16 --> 00:25:19 is your
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19 citizenship
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 in heaven
00:25:20 --> 00:25:24 have
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 have you
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 laid down
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 the arms
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 of unbelief
00:25:26 --> 00:25:26 and rebellion
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 against
00:25:27 --> 00:25:27 Christ
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 have you
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 received
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 the
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 blood
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 bought
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 amnesty
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 that we
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 celebrate
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 at Easter
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 have you
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 bowed the
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 knee of
00:25:36 --> 00:25:36 submission
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 and loyalty
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 to the
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 king of
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 the universe
00:25:39 --> 00:25:42 my friends
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 do it
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 today
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 let your
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 response
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 be a
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48 life of
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 faith
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 and love
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 and joy
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 and worship
00:25:52 --> 00:25:54 and join
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 today the
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 citizens of
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 heaven
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 who eagerly
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 await a
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 saviour from
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 there the
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 Lord Jesus
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 Christ
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 who by the
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 power that
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 enables him
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 to bring
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 everything
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 under his
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 control
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 will transform
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 our lowly
00:26:05 --> 00:26:05 bodies
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 so that
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 we'll be
00:26:06 --> 00:26:08 like his
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 glorious
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 body
00:26:08 --> 00:26:10 Amen