Hope Worth Chasing Easter Sunday 2017
Series: The Journey Home
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 16th April 2017
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8
00:00:00 --> 00:00:05 It's the 5th of October 1974 in Guildford in England.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 Five people died, 65 were injured in two IRA bombings.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 The public was outraged and the British police were pretty desperate to get an arrest
00:00:15 --> 00:00:21 and they quickly arrested a small-time Belfast criminal by the name of Gerry Conlon.
00:00:22 --> 00:00:25 He was one of four people arrested for the bombings
00:00:25 --> 00:00:28 and they became known as the Guildford Four.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:34 The police also arrested Gerry Conlon's father, a guy named Giuseppe,
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 for conspiring in the bombings.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:43 And with all the investigations, the police actually had no evidence to prove
00:00:43 --> 00:00:51 that Gerry Conlon and especially Giuseppe Conlon were guilty of the crimes.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:55 In fact, the evidence was the exact opposite for Giuseppe.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:57 He was clearly innocent.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:02 And in spite of that, Giuseppe Conlon was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment,
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 even though the authorities knew he was innocent.
00:01:05 --> 00:01:08 His son Gerry was sentenced to life imprisonment.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:16 Gerry was released after 15 years and went on to write a book about his innocence and vindication.
00:01:16 --> 00:01:21 And Giuseppe, however, died in prison in an innocent man.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:29 It's another one of those stories of an innocent person being condemned for crimes that they didn't commit.
00:01:29 --> 00:01:34 It's a miscarriage of justice, not unlike the innocent death of Jesus,
00:01:34 --> 00:01:36 as we saw a couple of days ago on Friday.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:39 Of course, there's some significant detailed differences,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:47 but the death of Jesus would be nothing more than that if it wasn't for his resurrection.
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 That is, without Jesus' Easter day,
00:01:50 --> 00:01:56 his Good Friday would be nothing more than one of those travesty of justice stories.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 Without the resurrection of Jesus,
00:01:58 --> 00:02:04 the death of Jesus would be not much more than a one-line mention in the history books.
00:02:05 --> 00:02:07 Potentially a paragraph, but not much more.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 His resurrection is the thing that changes everything.
00:02:13 --> 00:02:17 And so on this Easter day, there are three changes that I want us to see.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:21 I want Easter to do for us as well.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:26 Firstly, for Easter day to change your mind and reshape your worldview.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:31 Secondly, if you allow that to happen, to change the way you respond to Jesus.
00:02:32 --> 00:02:37 And thirdly, if you allow that to happen, to change your future and give you hope.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:42 So firstly, change your mind, reshape your worldview.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44 Secondly, change the way you respond to Jesus.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:46 And thirdly, change your future and give you hope.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:50 So firstly, for Easter day changes our minds and reshapes our worldview.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 My hope today is the direction of Jesus will change us.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 That is, we're to walk out of here,
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 there'll be hearts that are filled with joy and hope
00:03:01 --> 00:03:02 and purpose and love.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:05 And to do that, we must, first of all,
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 allow our minds to be changed.
00:03:08 --> 00:03:11 We have to allow our minds to be challenged by truth
00:03:11 --> 00:03:14 and our worldview to be reshaped.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 Our social commentator, Hugh Mackay,
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19 he's my favourite social commentator in this country,
00:03:19 --> 00:03:23 captured how many people view the resurrection.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:28 He wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 back in 2005 on Good Friday, and he wrote this.
00:03:31 --> 00:03:31 He said,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:35 Christians celebrate new life at Easter,
00:03:36 --> 00:03:37 but in the religious sense.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42 The focus of the festival is the belief that tragedy and grief,
00:03:42 --> 00:03:45 which is symbolised by the crucifixion,
00:03:45 --> 00:03:47 can give way to life,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 which is symbolised by the resurrection,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 and that pain and loss are essential steps
00:03:53 --> 00:03:55 on the journey towards enlightenment.
00:03:56 --> 00:04:01 His point is that the resurrection of Jesus is symbolic.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:06 Whether it happened or not is almost irrelevant to him.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:09 Not unlike a church service I went to a number of years ago
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 where the minister stood up and said that.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:12 He said, you know,
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 people have all sorts of different religious experiences,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 and for some of us, it's looking at a great sunset.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 For some of us, it's looking at great artwork.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:20 And for the disciples,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:23 it was to imagine that Jesus rose from the dead.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:25 It doesn't matter what your religious experience is.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 Whatever you get out of it is the most important thing.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:33 So Easter Day is all about having a religious experience,
00:04:33 --> 00:04:34 whatever that might be for you.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 What that minister failed to understand
00:04:37 --> 00:04:40 and what Mackay failed to understand is,
00:04:40 --> 00:04:43 although his view is connecting with popular opinion,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 is that in the first century,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50 it was never viewed symbolically.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 Resurrection was never viewed symbolically.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 And that's not the essence of it
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 that we get from 1 Corinthians 15
00:04:56 --> 00:04:57 that Sam just read out to us.
00:04:57 --> 00:04:59 I'll pick it up in verse 3.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01 What I received, I passed on to you,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 is of first importance,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:03 that Christ died for our sins,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:05 according to the Scriptures,
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 that He was buried,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 that He was raised on the third day,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:10 according to the Scriptures,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 that He appeared to Cephas, that's Peter,
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 then to the 12, they're the disciples.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:17 After that, He appeared to more than 500
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 of the brothers and sisters at the same time,
00:05:19 --> 00:05:22 most of whom are still living,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:24 though some have fallen asleep.
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25 That's some are dead.
00:05:25 --> 00:05:27 And then He appeared to James,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:29 then to all the apostles,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:30 and last of all,
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 He appeared to me also as one abnormally born.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:38 You see, Mackay failed to grasp
00:05:38 --> 00:05:41 the resurrection was never viewed symbolically
00:05:41 --> 00:05:41 in the first century.
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44 This is the challenge to our minds.
00:05:44 --> 00:05:47 Jesus came back to life after His execution.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:49 And the fact that Jesus was executed,
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 the fact that He was crucified,
00:05:51 --> 00:05:52 is not unusual.
00:05:54 --> 00:05:55 Around Jesus' time,
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 and around His place as well,
00:05:58 --> 00:06:00 there were dozens of these little movements
00:06:00 --> 00:06:03 where the leader would declare themselves
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04 to be the Messiah of the world,
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 the Saviour of the world,
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07 and as Jesus Himself did.
00:06:07 --> 00:06:09 And in almost every case,
00:06:09 --> 00:06:12 the leader of those groups was killed.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13 They were executed for this little thing,
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16 that little gathering that they had formed.
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19 And immediately upon the execution of the leader,
00:06:20 --> 00:06:21 the movement collapsed.
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 Everyone went home.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:25 That was it.
00:06:26 --> 00:06:27 When the leader's dead,
00:06:27 --> 00:06:30 except the one that was led by Jesus.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:33 Only one movement didn't collapse
00:06:33 --> 00:06:34 after the death of the leader.
00:06:34 --> 00:06:35 In fact, it exploded.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:36 Within 200 years,
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 it was the dominant religion in the Roman Empire
00:06:39 --> 00:06:43 and is today the largest and most widespread
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45 culturally and geographically
00:06:45 --> 00:06:47 of all the religious faiths.
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 So what made the difference there?
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53 The Bible says,
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 the Christian churches maintained for 20 centuries,
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 that after Jesus was killed,
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 He came back to life
00:07:02 --> 00:07:04 and appeared to His followers.
00:07:04 --> 00:07:08 And that is what changed everything.
00:07:09 --> 00:07:09 Changed everything.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 The Bible says,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:15 that is why Jesus' followers didn't go home,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:18 and that's the reason why Christianity exploded.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:22 But this is Chatswood in,
00:07:22 --> 00:07:23 you know,
00:07:23 --> 00:07:24 2017.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26 And we are one of the major centers
00:07:26 --> 00:07:28 in a secular city of Sydney,
00:07:28 --> 00:07:30 and most people around us don't believe that.
00:07:31 --> 00:07:32 And I get it.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33 I understand that.
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35 This is a challenge to our minds
00:07:35 --> 00:07:37 and our worldview after all.
00:07:38 --> 00:07:41 But it was for the first disciples too.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:42 You see,
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 the assumption that we make 20 centuries later
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 is that these early people
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48 who said that they saw Jesus
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 were just gullible fools.
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 They just don't understand life
00:07:51 --> 00:07:53 like we understand life nowadays.
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 But as you read the account of Mark's,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:58 or Mark's account of Jesus' resurrection,
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 as Sam just did at the beginning of the service,
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 for us,
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 you notice that Jesus tells His disciples
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 quite clearly in Mark's Gospel
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 that He's going to die
00:08:10 --> 00:08:11 and He's going to come back.
00:08:11 --> 00:08:12 He does it in chapter 8.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 He does it again in chapter 10.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:15 And the weird thing is
00:08:15 --> 00:08:17 that on the third day,
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 when Jesus said He was going to come back,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 it seems that no one's expecting it.
00:08:24 --> 00:08:25 His first disciples weren't expecting it.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 The blokes aren't around.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 The women had bought the spices
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 for the dead body.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 That's what they were going to do
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 when they were on the way to the tomb.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:35 They, you know,
00:08:36 --> 00:08:36 Easter Saturday,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:37 you know,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:38 it's not a public holiday.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:39 And so they're wheeling their trolleys
00:08:39 --> 00:08:40 through Woolies
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 and they come to the spice section
00:08:41 --> 00:08:41 and go,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 well,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:42 they're going to need,
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 we're going to need them tomorrow.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 They purchased the spices.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:50 You see,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 they were expecting
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 to anoint His body for burial.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 And the disciples on the third day
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 were sitting there
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 eating their Weet-Bix
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 and they thought,
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 they didn't think,
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 it's the third day, guys.
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 Maybe we should just wander on down
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 and have a look.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 See if He's there or not.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 Didn't even think of it.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:13 And what's more,
00:09:13 --> 00:09:14 the women who did go,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:16 you know,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 all the blokes
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 are eating their Weet-Bix,
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 were wondering,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 who's going to open the tomb for us
00:09:21 --> 00:09:21 when we get there
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22 so we can oint His dead body?
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 They prepared for everything
00:09:25 --> 00:09:26 except who's going to
00:09:26 --> 00:09:27 roll the stone away.
00:09:31 --> 00:09:32 And their first thought
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 upon seeing
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 that the stone had been rolled away,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:36 their first thought
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39 was that someone's taken His body.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:42 their very first thought
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 was that someone has come in
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 and stolen His body.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 Fair assumption back in those days
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48 because grave robbing
00:09:48 --> 00:09:49 was a pretty common practice.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 The point is,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 the resurrection took them by surprise.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 It was just as impossible
00:09:57 --> 00:09:57 for them to believe
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 in the first century
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 as what it is for us now.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 And so if you have doubts
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 about the resurrection,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 so did they.
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 They're the ones who walked
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06 with Jesus for three years,
00:10:06 --> 00:10:07 so did they.
00:10:08 --> 00:10:08 But,
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 they let the evidence
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13 challenge their worldview.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 And so in challenging
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 our minds
00:10:17 --> 00:10:17 and our thinking
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 and our worldview,
00:10:19 --> 00:10:21 it's so important for us
00:10:21 --> 00:10:22 20 centuries later
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 not to be intellectually lazy.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 If you want to jettison
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 the resurrection,
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 you have to come up
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 with an alternative
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 explanation
00:10:29 --> 00:10:32 as to how this one little movement
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34 exploded like it did.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37 That's not an easy explanation.
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 That's not an easy thing
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41 to come up with historically.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 Why it exploded
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45 when every other movement didn't.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:48 Easter is the celebration,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 the physical resurrection
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 of Jesus from the dead.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:50 He's alive.
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 You see,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 Christians believe
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 that the 27 books
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 of the New Testament,
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 what they record about Jesus
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 is true.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 And these books
00:10:58 --> 00:11:00 uniformly teach
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 and assume
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 at other points
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 that Jesus lived in history,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 that He died
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 as a substitute
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 for the sins of the world
00:11:06 --> 00:11:08 and that He rose again
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 on the third day
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 that He ascended to heaven
00:11:10 --> 00:11:12 and He rules the world
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 as the God
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 of all the universe.
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 And these 27 books
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 are riddled
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 with references
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 to the physical resurrection
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 of Jesus
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 from the dead
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 such as the 1 Corinthians 15
00:11:23 --> 00:11:23 passage
00:11:23 --> 00:11:25 that was read out.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 These accounts
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 of what happened
00:11:28 --> 00:11:29 in the life of Jesus
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 are totally different
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 than the way
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 that myth
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 was written
00:11:35 --> 00:11:37 in the first century
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 like Greek
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 or Roman mythology
00:11:39 --> 00:11:41 which is shrouded
00:11:41 --> 00:11:42 in distant past
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 that doesn't connect
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 with real history.
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 And the New Testament books
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 are talking about
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 real history.
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 Pilate,
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 Roman governor,
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 Herod the king
00:11:51 --> 00:11:51 of Galilee,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:53 Caiaphas,
00:11:53 --> 00:11:54 the high priest,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 these are not
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 mythical figures.
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 These people
00:11:58 --> 00:11:59 are known
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 from history
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 outside of the Bible.
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05 And both Roman scholars
00:12:05 --> 00:12:07 and historians
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 and Jewish scholars
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 and historians
00:12:10 --> 00:12:12 who don't believe
00:12:12 --> 00:12:12 in Jesus
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 and want to see
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 Jesus dead
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 both record
00:12:15 --> 00:12:17 something happened
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 with Jesus' body.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 The accounts
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 of the New Testament,
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 the 27 books
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 are all written
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 while our witnesses
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 were still alive
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 Paul's letters
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 were written
00:12:28 --> 00:12:30 15 to 30 years
00:12:30 --> 00:12:30 after the death
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 of Jesus
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 and as we just read
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 he mentions the fact
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 that 500 people
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 had seen Jesus
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 risen at one time
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 and most of them
00:12:38 --> 00:12:38 were still alive
00:12:38 --> 00:12:40 when he put pen to paper.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 Most of the books
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 maybe all of them
00:12:42 --> 00:12:42 written
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45 were before AD 70
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 40 years
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46 after the death
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 of Jesus.
00:12:47 --> 00:12:48 This is not mythology.
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 This is history.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52 This is eyewitness history.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 And add to this
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 all the enemies
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 of Jesus
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 the Jews
00:12:56 --> 00:12:56 and the Romans
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 all they had to do
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 to squash
00:12:59 --> 00:13:00 the whole thing
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02 was to get
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 the body of Jesus
00:13:03 --> 00:13:05 stick it in a wheelbarrow
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 and take it in the middle
00:13:06 --> 00:13:06 of Jerusalem
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 and dump it
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 and say there you go
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 there's your God.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:10 That's all they had to do
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 and they couldn't do it.
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 And they put
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 their own soldiers
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 at station
00:13:16 --> 00:13:18 in front of the tomb.
00:13:18 --> 00:13:22 and the thought
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 that these scared
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 little disciples
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 who abandoned Jesus
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 at his crucifixion
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 for fear of their lives
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 that they would suddenly
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31 the day after
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 get together
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34 let's come up with a plan
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 let's come up with a story
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 and then somehow
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 we're going to get in
00:13:39 --> 00:13:40 we're going to steal his body
00:13:40 --> 00:13:43 get rid of it somehow
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 so it'll never be found again
00:13:44 --> 00:13:47 that they would come up
00:13:47 --> 00:13:48 with that sort of a hoax
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50 and then give their lives
00:13:50 --> 00:13:52 for that sort of a hoax
00:13:52 --> 00:13:57 that's idiotic
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 it's crazy.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 The point of all this
00:14:01 --> 00:14:01 is simply to say
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 that when Christians
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 speak about Jesus
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 as risen from the dead
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05 we're not speaking
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07 mythologically
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 it's not mythology
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10 we're not speaking blindly
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 we're not speaking symbolically
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 we're not even speaking
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 merely spiritually
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16 we're not even speaking
00:14:16 --> 00:14:16 emotionally
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18 we're speaking historically
00:14:18 --> 00:14:21 and that
00:14:21 --> 00:14:23 challenges your world view
00:14:23 --> 00:14:27 but if you're allowed
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 to challenge your world view
00:14:28 --> 00:14:31 then it will change
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 the way you see Jesus
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 Philippians 3 20, 21
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 if you've got one of the church Bibles
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 in front of you
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 then it's on page 1140
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42 I'm going to kind of spend
00:14:42 --> 00:14:42 most of my time there
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 so if you've got one of those
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 page 1140
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 let me read it
00:14:45 --> 00:14:47 but our citizenship is in heaven
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 and we eagerly await
00:14:48 --> 00:14:48 a savor from there
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 the Lord Jesus Christ
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 by the power that enabled him
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 to bring everything
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 under his control
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 will transform our lowly bodies
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 so that they will be
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 like his glorious body
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 now when
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 when Paul writes that
00:15:00 --> 00:15:02 he's making an assumption
00:15:02 --> 00:15:05 in these verses
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 and what is assumed
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 is that Jesus was raised
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 from the dead
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 and that Jesus is
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 extremely powerful
00:15:12 --> 00:15:14 that's the assumption
00:15:14 --> 00:15:16 and the reason he
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 assumes it
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 in Philippians 3
00:15:18 --> 00:15:20 is because he clearly
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 states it
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 in Philippians 2
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 one page over
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 so turn over to
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 you know 1139
00:15:25 --> 00:15:26 if you've got the church Bible
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28 but Philippians chapter 2
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 and let me tell you
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31 that you will never read
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 anything anywhere
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 in any literature
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 more sweeping
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 more important
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 and true than this
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 verse 6 chapter 2
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 this is talking about Jesus
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 it says
00:15:40 --> 00:15:42 who being in very nature God
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 did not consider equality with God
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 something to be grasped
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 but made himself nothing
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 taking the very nature of a servant
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 being made in human likeness
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 and being found
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 in appearance as a man
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 he humbled himself
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 and became obedient to death
00:15:54 --> 00:15:56 even death
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 on a cross
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 therefore
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 God exalted him
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 to the highest place
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and gave him the name
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 that is above every name
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 that at the name of Jesus
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 every knee should bow
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 in heaven
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 and on earth
00:16:07 --> 00:16:09 and under the earth
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 and every tongue
00:16:10 --> 00:16:12 confess that Jesus Christ
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 is Lord
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 to the glory of God the Father
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 that is
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Jesus was
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 and is equal
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 with God
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 he is God
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 he became a human being
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 he obediently suffered
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 he died
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 and that means
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 that the death
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 that he died
00:16:25 --> 00:16:26 was not some sort of
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 freak accident
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 it was not just a mistake
00:16:28 --> 00:16:30 it was a plan
00:16:30 --> 00:16:31 of history
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 for him to die
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 and the point of that plan
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 was that Christ
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 would be a substitute
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37 for the sins
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 of humanity
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 that he would be
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 a substitute
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 for everyone
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 who puts their trust
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 in him
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 and this was
00:16:44 --> 00:16:46 God's loving plan
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 for the salvation
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 of sinners
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 like you and me
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and then it says
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 therefore God exalted him
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 to the highest place
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 in other words
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 because of his obedient
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56 life
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58 his successful life
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00 and his successful death
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 God raised him
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 from the dead
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 and gave him
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 great glory
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 as the Lord
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 of the universe
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 that's the assumption
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 that's lying behind
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 Philippians 3
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 when he says
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 but our citizenship
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 is in heaven
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 and we eagerly await
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 a save from there
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 the Lord Jesus Christ
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 who by the power
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 that enables him
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 to bring everything
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 under his control
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20 will transform
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 our lowly bodies
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 so that they'll be
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 like his glorious body
00:17:23 --> 00:17:27 so when you put
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 Philippians 2
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 and 3 together
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 we see that
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 because of the death
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 and resurrection
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33 of the Lord Jesus
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 he has astonishing power
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 to subject
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 all things
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 to himself
00:17:39 --> 00:17:42 he is in control
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44 that is the impact
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 of Jesus' resurrection
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 that is relevant
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 for us now
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 Jesus rules
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 all things
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 we see it in verse 21
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 by the power
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 that enables him
00:17:52 --> 00:17:52 to bring everything
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 under his control
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 in one sense
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 Jesus has the right
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 to rule the universe
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 as the creator
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 of the universe
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 because he's God
00:17:59 --> 00:18:02 you know
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 he didn't have to die
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 and rise again
00:18:04 --> 00:18:04 in order
00:18:04 --> 00:18:06 to be who he is
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 what he is
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 from all of eternity
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 is God
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 and this gives him
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 the right to exercise
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 his authority
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 over all things
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 but in another sense
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 God decreed
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 that the one
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 who would rule
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 in power
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 would be the one
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 who redeemed
00:18:21 --> 00:18:24 he would be the one
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 who suffered for us
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 the one who died
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 for us
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 the one who
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 gave himself
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 for us
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 so it's not just
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 in power
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 but rules
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 in love
00:18:33 --> 00:18:35 the Lord
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 and Judge
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 and Saviour
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 over all the universe
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 was tested
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 and found perfect
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 through human suffering
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 and so now
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 he is doubly suited
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 to be Lord
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 of the universe
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 he is the God
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 with natural rights
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 and he is the God
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 and Saviour
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 with purchased rights
00:18:50 --> 00:18:53 and the impact
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 of Easter Sunday
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 is that there is
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 no higher authority
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 there is no higher authority
00:18:59 --> 00:19:01 there is no place
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 or sphere
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 or reality
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 or dimension
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06 of existence
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08 anywhere in the universe
00:19:08 --> 00:19:10 that is not
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 under the absolute
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 authority
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 of the Lord Jesus
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 and when the world
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 doesn't look to us
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 as if it's under
00:19:18 --> 00:19:18 the authority
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 of a merciful Lord Jesus
00:19:20 --> 00:19:22 it would be wiser
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 for us to marvel
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 at the mystery
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 of his ways
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27 than to question
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 the scope
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 of his power
00:19:28 --> 00:19:33 Christ's power
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 pervades the universe
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 from the largest
00:19:35 --> 00:19:37 to the smallest
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 elements of reality
00:19:38 --> 00:19:38 no galaxy
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 no Adam
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41 would stay in being
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 without the authority
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 of Jesus
00:19:42 --> 00:19:45 that's
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 big implication
00:19:46 --> 00:19:48 of how we see Jesus
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50 be astonished
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 at his power
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 to subject all things
00:19:52 --> 00:19:52 to himself
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 Easter Sunday
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 is no mere symbolism
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 of how
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 to endure hard things
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 in life
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 Easter Sunday
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 means that Jesus
00:19:59 --> 00:20:01 rules the universe
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 as the name
00:20:02 --> 00:20:02 that is above
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04 every other name
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 and he calls
00:20:05 --> 00:20:05 all people
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 to surrender
00:20:06 --> 00:20:08 to his loving
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 authority
00:20:08 --> 00:20:11 to hand over
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 control of your lives
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 and put into his hands
00:20:13 --> 00:20:16 and so if we allow
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 the Easter Day events
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 of the resurrection
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 of Jesus
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 to firstly change
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 our mind
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 and reshape
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 our worldview
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 secondly
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 to change the way
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 we respond to Jesus
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 and see who he is
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 then thirdly
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 it will change
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 the whole course
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 of our lives
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 and give us hope
00:20:29 --> 00:20:31 notice that there
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 are two incredible
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 implications for us
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 of the power
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 of the resurrected
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 Lord Jesus
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 they are staggering
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 and they are filled
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 with hope
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 and joy
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 and life
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 verse 20
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 our citizenship
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 is in heaven
00:20:41 --> 00:20:43 you see the power
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 of the Lord Jesus
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 guarantees
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 our citizenship
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 of heaven
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 if you're a believer
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 of the Lord Jesus
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 you do not have to wait
00:20:50 --> 00:20:52 for him to come back again
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 to know where your home is
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 you see when you trust
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 in Jesus
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 your name is sealed
00:20:56 --> 00:20:58 on the citizen roles
00:20:58 --> 00:20:58 of heaven
00:20:58 --> 00:21:00 because your king
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 is there
00:21:01 --> 00:21:08 your name is plastered
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 all through heaven
00:21:09 --> 00:21:12 more than Donald Trump's
00:21:12 --> 00:21:12 got his names
00:21:12 --> 00:21:14 plastered on stuff
00:21:14 --> 00:21:18 where he is
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 there you have
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 the privilege to be
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 and so you will be
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 with him forever
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 and your amazement
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 will never cease
00:21:24 --> 00:21:27 it will only increase
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 forever and ever
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 which leads to the
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 second implication
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 Jesus will use
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 his power
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 to transform
00:21:33 --> 00:21:35 your body
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 into a resurrected
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 body alive
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 like his
00:21:37 --> 00:21:39 Philippians 3 21
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 have a look at it with me
00:21:39 --> 00:21:41 the Lord Jesus Christ
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 who by the power
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 that enables him
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 to bring everything
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 under his control
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 will transform
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 our lowly bodies
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 so that they will be
00:21:47 --> 00:21:49 like his glorious body
00:21:49 --> 00:21:51 all the power
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 that Jesus has
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 will be used
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 to take our
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 dead bodies
00:21:55 --> 00:21:57 and raise them
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 from the dead
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 and fit them out
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 for eternity
00:21:59 --> 00:22:01 in his presence
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 the resurrection
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 is the answer
00:22:03 --> 00:22:05 to the deepest longing
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 that we have
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 in our hearts
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 and that is
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 to live forever
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 last night
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 I was sitting
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 on the bed
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 of one of my girls
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 my youngest girl
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 reading Bible story
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 about resurrection
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 of Jesus
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 talked about
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 Good Friday
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 death of Jesus
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 and she said
00:22:20 --> 00:22:20 Daddy
00:22:20 --> 00:22:22 I don't want to die
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 she said
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 I want to live
00:22:24 --> 00:22:26 for a thousand years
00:22:26 --> 00:22:29 and I'm not sure
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 the world could cope
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 with that actually
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 let alone
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 her superannuation plan
00:22:33 --> 00:22:36 and I said
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 trusting in Jesus
00:22:37 --> 00:22:38 you don't ever
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 have to die
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 see that's
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 even as a
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 even as a
00:22:41 --> 00:22:41 as a
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 how old was she
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 five
00:22:43 --> 00:22:45 even as
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 even as a
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 five year old
00:22:48 --> 00:22:48 the longing
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 is to live
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 forever
00:22:50 --> 00:22:50 I don't ever
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 want to die
00:22:51 --> 00:22:54 she's happy
00:22:54 --> 00:22:54 for me too
00:22:54 --> 00:22:55 she said
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 when you die
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 I want your car
00:22:56 --> 00:22:59 and that is
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 why the
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 beauty industry
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 booms
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 that's why
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 baby boomers
00:23:04 --> 00:23:04 still wear jeans
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 because you still
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 want to be a
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 teenager
00:23:06 --> 00:23:08 that's
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 you know
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 want to be
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 back in the days
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 when we're young
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 and we're vibrant
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 and we're healthy
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 because those
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 were the days
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 before crippling
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 emotional pain
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 and burden
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 of responsibility
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 and frailty
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 we want to live
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 and we want to
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 live forever
00:23:20 --> 00:23:23 one of the reasons
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 why it's so hard
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 for us to suffer
00:23:25 --> 00:23:27 is that we think
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 that this physical
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 world is it
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 and when you
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 lose it
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 you lose the best
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 and the most
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 precious thing
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 and the resurrection
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 means this is not it
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38 there's so much more
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40 there is so much
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 more to come
00:23:40 --> 00:23:40 the resurrection
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 means that God
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 is going to
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 perfectly remake
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 this world
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 you see right now
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 a headache
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 just totally
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 messes with my day
00:23:47 --> 00:23:49 but with a resurrected
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 body not even
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 holes in the hands
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 or holes in the feet
00:23:52 --> 00:23:52 or holes in the side
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 like Jesus
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 messed with the quality
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 of his day
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 resurrection changes
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 everything
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 there is hope
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 for the wheelchair
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 bound
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 of the person
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 with crippling
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 emotional pain
00:24:03 --> 00:24:05 no religion
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 in the world
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 except biblical
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 Christianity
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 promises us
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 new minds
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 new and perfect
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 minds
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 new and perfect
00:24:14 --> 00:24:14 hearts
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 and new and
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 perfect bodies
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 forever
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 only in the gospel
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 of the Lord Jesus
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 do people find
00:24:20 --> 00:24:22 such a magnificent
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 hope
00:24:22 --> 00:24:25 and so when people
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 in an attempt
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 to try and
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30 be helpful
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 and maybe win
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 people over
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 and when they
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 turn the resurrection
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 of Jesus
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 into a metaphor
00:24:36 --> 00:24:36 a symbol
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 for new life
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 and growth
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 through suffering
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 you rip the guts
00:24:41 --> 00:24:43 at Easter
00:24:43 --> 00:24:47 you rip the guts
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 out of all
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 the hope
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 of Easter
00:24:48 --> 00:24:50 can you imagine
00:24:50 --> 00:24:50 the first
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 you know
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 like the apostle
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 Paul
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 first priest
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 of the resurrection
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 going the poor
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 and the slaves
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 and the outcasts
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 of society
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 in the first century
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 and saying
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 let me tell you
00:25:00 --> 00:25:00 about the resurrection
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 of Jesus
00:25:01 --> 00:25:01 you know
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 it didn't actually
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 happen
00:25:02 --> 00:25:02 but it's a great
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 symbol
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 of how good
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 triumphs
00:25:05 --> 00:25:05 over evil
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 so go and
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 be nice
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 to one another
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 and can you
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 imagine the crippled
00:25:09 --> 00:25:09 there
00:25:09 --> 00:25:11 and the poverty
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 stricken
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 the tormented
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 and the outcast
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 that's just
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 what I needed
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 to hear
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 that's just
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 you know
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 that is what
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 I need
00:25:20 --> 00:25:20 day by day
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 in my crippling
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 pain
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 and my loneliness
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 and my starvation
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 a symbol
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 of something
00:25:25 --> 00:25:30 the resurrection
00:25:30 --> 00:25:30 is a nice
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 symbol
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 has no power
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 to change
00:25:33 --> 00:25:33 anything
00:25:33 --> 00:25:35 doesn't offer
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 any hope
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 at all
00:25:36 --> 00:25:39 but the actual
00:25:39 --> 00:25:40 historical
00:25:40 --> 00:25:42 physical resurrection
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 of Jesus
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 changes everything
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 if you know
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 that this
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 is not
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 the openly
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 tangible
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 concrete life
00:25:50 --> 00:25:53 and in fact
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 the next one
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 is going to be
00:25:54 --> 00:25:54 better
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 who cares
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 what people
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 do to you
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58 the resurrection
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 makes you
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 free from this
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 life enough
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 to be brave
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 and courageous
00:26:02 --> 00:26:02 and joyful
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04 and sacrificial
00:26:04 --> 00:26:04 and patient
00:26:04 --> 00:26:08 resurrection
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 means you can
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 face the worst
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 things in this
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 life with joy
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 and with hope
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 there's a great
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14 clip circulating
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 around at the
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 moment about the
00:26:16 --> 00:26:16 bombings which
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 happened in Egypt
00:26:17 --> 00:26:18 you know the
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 security guard
00:26:19 --> 00:26:19 who turned the
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 bomber away
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 and the security
00:26:21 --> 00:26:21 guard at the
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 church in Egypt
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 got blown up
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 his wife
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 is being
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 interviewed
00:26:26 --> 00:26:28 and she's
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 distraught
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 but she talks
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 about hope
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 and she talks
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 about the
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 resurrection
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 hope of her
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 husband
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 and she talks
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 about forgiveness
00:26:35 --> 00:26:38 for those
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 who perpetrated
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 such an evil
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 against her
00:26:40 --> 00:26:40 husband
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42 and against
00:26:42 --> 00:26:42 all those
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 people who
00:26:43 --> 00:26:43 were killed
00:26:43 --> 00:26:46 and the
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 face on the
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 Muslim
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 interviewer
00:26:49 --> 00:26:51 he says
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 we have
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 persecuted
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 these Christians
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 in this country
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 for centuries
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 and they're
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 made of
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 steel
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 they're made
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 of steel
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 to offer
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 forgiveness
00:27:01 --> 00:27:04 to someone
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 who did
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 that
00:27:04 --> 00:27:06 you see
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 that's what
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 the resurrection
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 does for you
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 gives you
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 hope beyond
00:27:10 --> 00:27:12 the resurrection
00:27:12 --> 00:27:12 means you can
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 give yourself
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 to serving God
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 in this world
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 that he loves
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 and that he is
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 redeeming and
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 remaking through
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 the Lord Jesus
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 so if you allow
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 the resurrection
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 of Jesus
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 the Easter day
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 event to change
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 your world view
00:27:24 --> 00:27:27 and change the
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 way you see
00:27:28 --> 00:27:28 Jesus
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 then in turn
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 it will allow
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 you to embrace
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 the hope
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 of Easter
00:27:31 --> 00:27:33 now I don't
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 want you to
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 leave here
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 for this to be
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 a mere take it
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 or leave it
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 symbolism
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 where you respond
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 well thanks Steve
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 stimulating sermon
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 let's get off
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 to the Easter egg
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 hunt
00:27:42 --> 00:27:46 this is news
00:27:46 --> 00:27:49 it's meant to
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 rally you to your
00:27:50 --> 00:27:50 core
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 the difference is
00:27:51 --> 00:27:52 this suppose you
00:27:52 --> 00:27:52 hear that last
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 year ten kids
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 you read it
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 in the
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 North Shore
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 Times
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 ten kids in
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 Chatswood
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 were hit by
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 cars while
00:27:59 --> 00:27:59 they were
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 playing
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 and you
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 read that
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 news and
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 you're
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 whinge and
00:28:02 --> 00:28:02 you say
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 what a
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 tragedy
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 it must
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 be awful
00:28:04 --> 00:28:04 for those
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 parents
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 then you
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 turn over
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 the next
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 news item
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 on the
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 page
00:28:07 --> 00:28:10 then suddenly
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 as you're
00:28:11 --> 00:28:11 reading the
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 next page
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 your front
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 door bursts
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 open and
00:28:14 --> 00:28:16 your 12
00:28:16 --> 00:28:16 year old
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 daughter comes
00:28:17 --> 00:28:17 screaming into
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 the house
00:28:18 --> 00:28:18 with the
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 news that
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 your 9
00:28:19 --> 00:28:19 year old
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 son has
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 just been
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 hit by
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 a car
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 in the
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 front
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 yard
00:28:22 --> 00:28:25 now that
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 piece of
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 news is
00:28:26 --> 00:28:26 different
00:28:26 --> 00:28:29 the first
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 piece of
00:28:29 --> 00:28:29 news was
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 true
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 you didn't
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 doubt it
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 there was a
00:28:32 --> 00:28:32 good evidence
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 for it
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 but now
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 there's a
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 piece of
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 news that
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 goes to
00:28:36 --> 00:28:36 the core
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 of your
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 being
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 it shakes
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 you
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 it changes
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 everything
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 for you
00:28:41 --> 00:28:43 everything in
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 you comes
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 alive to
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 this reality
00:28:44 --> 00:28:44 that it's
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 your son
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 touches
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 your existence
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 it will
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 change
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 everything
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 in your
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 life
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 it will
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 break
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 your heart
00:28:50 --> 00:28:50 it will
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 shatter
00:28:51 --> 00:28:51 things
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 in you
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 more deeply
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 than has
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 ever been
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 touched
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 before
00:28:55 --> 00:28:58 that's
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 the impact
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 of the
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 resurrection
00:28:59 --> 00:29:02 here again
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 the impact
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 Jesus died
00:29:03 --> 00:29:03 in your
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 place for
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 your sins
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 against
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 God
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 he
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 Jesus
00:29:07 --> 00:29:07 is risen
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 from the
00:29:08 --> 00:29:08 dead
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 Jesus
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 will never
00:29:10 --> 00:29:10 die again
00:29:10 --> 00:29:12 he has been
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 appointed as
00:29:12 --> 00:29:12 the ruler
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 of the
00:29:13 --> 00:29:13 universe
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 and all
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 who put
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 their trust
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 in him
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 will be
00:29:15 --> 00:29:15 raised
00:29:15 --> 00:29:16 with him
00:29:16 --> 00:29:16 and live
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 forever
00:29:17 --> 00:29:17 with him
00:29:17 --> 00:29:19 I long
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 for you
00:29:20 --> 00:29:20 to hear
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 that news
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 today
00:29:22 --> 00:29:24 not just
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 to hear
00:29:24 --> 00:29:25 it as
00:29:25 --> 00:29:25 merely
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 provable
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 reports
00:29:26 --> 00:29:27 of some
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 religious
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28 claims
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 but as
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 the cry
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 of your
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 child
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 bursting
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 through
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 the door
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 this has
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 to do
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 with you
00:29:35 --> 00:29:36 Easter
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 is your
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 death
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 it is
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 your life
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 it is
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 your hope
00:29:41 --> 00:29:41 father