James Shepherd
Series: Easter Sunday 2016
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 26th March 2016
Passage: Luke 24:1-53
00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Certainty is something that we all want.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:07 We want to be sure about the things that we put our faith or trust in.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 We want to make sure that they are right and true.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:16 But the question we always ask ourselves along the path to certainty is,
00:00:17 --> 00:00:17 how do you know?
00:00:18 --> 00:00:21 How do you know this is true?
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 How do you know that is correct?
00:00:23 --> 00:00:26 We're not going to just put our faith and trust in anything.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:29 We want to make sure that the facts are correct.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31 They will stand up to the test.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 Our word is not simply enough here.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:40 If we want to be heard ourselves and accepted ourselves for what we believe,
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 we must back it up with proof.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 We're not going to just believe anyone what they say,
00:00:45 --> 00:00:48 and so why should they always believe us what we say as well?
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 And lest we find ourselves made out to be fools for believing it isn't true,
00:00:54 --> 00:00:59 lest that we are embarrassed for how silly we were to hold to such convictions to state publicly,
00:00:59 --> 00:01:02 we want to make sure that we have certainty.
00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 We want to make sure that what we put our faith and trust in is for real and certain,
00:01:07 --> 00:01:13 so we don't become fools, so we don't end up being embarrassed.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:17 Kind of like this guy here on screen, Harold Camping.
00:01:19 --> 00:01:26 Harold, a preacher and is also head of the ministry called Family Radio in the United States.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:29 Also a self-proclaimed prophet of God,
00:01:29 --> 00:01:33 he made a prediction in 2011, 21st of May,
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35 the world was going to end,
00:01:35 --> 00:01:39 and that Jesus was going to take his followers up from the world to heaven,
00:01:39 --> 00:01:44 and for the next five months there were going to be fire and brimstone and judgment upon the world
00:01:44 --> 00:01:48 up until October 21st where the world would end.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 Now Harold convinced millions of people that he was correct.
00:01:54 --> 00:02:01 He convinced and made certain towards millions of people that Jesus was coming back on this date,
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03 May 21st, so be ready.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:08 And because he had made people so certain that what he was saying was true,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 people sold everything they had.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:15 They gave up their jobs, they sold their houses,
00:02:15 --> 00:02:16 they sold their cars,
00:02:16 --> 00:02:20 and gave all their money to Harold to advertise the end of the world was coming,
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21 so be ready.
00:02:21 --> 00:02:27 He made sure that they were certain the end was coming.
00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 I remember the day quite clearly in 2011, May 21st.
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34 I was working at Optus.
00:02:34 --> 00:02:37 I used to run an Optus store back in Castle Hill.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 I opened the store as I normally did that morning.
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43 I served a lot of customers, fixed a lot of phone problems,
00:02:43 --> 00:02:44 fixed a lot of billing issues,
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48 got yelled at as I do usually by a lot of customers
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 for how wrong I am and for how much Optus is ripping him off.
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 I showed grace and love and return of always.
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 Then I went home, put my feet up, put the TV on,
00:02:59 --> 00:03:00 and the world was still going.
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04 Jesus hadn't come back, like Harold had said.
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 He is coming back, by the way, just not on May 21.
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 He hadn't come back.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 Harold was proven wrong.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 His certainty was misplaced.
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 He was made out to be a fool.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:23 And therefore, he suffered the consequences of that.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:27 Examples such as Harold's are the reason why we ask the question,
00:03:28 --> 00:03:28 how do you know?
00:03:29 --> 00:03:30 How do you know?
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33 How can you be sure that what you believe and think is true and correct?
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 How can you be certain?
00:03:35 --> 00:03:39 We want certainty before we just jump into anything
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 and believe it and have faith in it.
00:03:43 --> 00:03:47 Christianity makes some pretty big claims,
00:03:47 --> 00:03:50 particularly about Jesus himself.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 Christianity makes some great promises
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 that God loves you, that our sins can be forgiven,
00:03:56 --> 00:03:58 that one day all things will be renewed,
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 that we won't have to suffer and have pain anymore,
00:04:01 --> 00:04:03 there'll be no more tears and no more crying,
00:04:03 --> 00:04:08 that we can have hope for not just in this life,
00:04:09 --> 00:04:12 but hope for eternal life to come, beyond death.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 All these things sound quite incredible,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:20 but there is one crucial fact that all of this hangs upon,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:24 and that is whether or not Jesus rose from the dead.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:28 That is, whether or not the tomb is empty.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32 What we claim as Christians is bold.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 And many people, I'm sure, have asked you,
00:04:35 --> 00:04:37 or you've maybe asked yourself,
00:04:37 --> 00:04:38 how do you know this?
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 How can you be sure this is true?
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43 How do you know it's not actually made up?
00:04:44 --> 00:04:45 And if it is true,
00:04:45 --> 00:04:48 how can I know that God will actually love me?
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 How can I know that it actually matters at all
00:04:51 --> 00:04:54 that Jesus rose from the dead?
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57 The how do you know question is a really important one,
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 because if it isn't true,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 if Jesus did not rise from the dead,
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 then what we are doing here is pointless.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 You come to the church tonight,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 it's just pointless.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:09 As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15,
00:05:10 --> 00:05:11 for if the dead are not raised,
00:05:11 --> 00:05:13 not even Christ has been raised.
00:05:13 --> 00:05:15 And if Christ has not been raised,
00:05:15 --> 00:05:17 your faith is futile,
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 and you are still in your sins.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:23 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
00:05:23 --> 00:05:27 If in Christ we have hope in this life only,
00:05:28 --> 00:05:31 we are of all people most to be pitied.
00:05:32 --> 00:05:35 If Christ has not been raised,
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38 then when we die, that's it.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:40 There is no more hope.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:42 That's the end.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:47 So, can we be certain that what we hear
00:05:47 --> 00:05:51 from the gospel, from Christianity, is true?
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 That there is hope beyond death?
00:05:53 --> 00:05:56 Can we be certain that Jesus rose from the dead,
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 and that profoundly impacts us now?
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 That God does love you?
00:06:01 --> 00:06:04 That there is forgiveness for our sins?
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05 That there is hope beyond death?
00:06:05 --> 00:06:09 I think we can be.
00:06:10 --> 00:06:14 And this is why we are thankful for the biblical witness,
00:06:15 --> 00:06:18 particularly for Luke's gospel account here.
00:06:18 --> 00:06:21 Because Luke had set out to make certain
00:06:21 --> 00:06:22 the things that we have been taught,
00:06:23 --> 00:06:24 things like Christianity,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:27 things like what Jesus had done and accomplished.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:29 In chapter 1, verse 4,
00:06:29 --> 00:06:32 he says very clearly why he has written his gospel.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 It says that you may have certainty
00:06:35 --> 00:06:38 concerning the things you have been taught.
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41 This is the whole purpose of Luke's gospel,
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44 to give us certainty that what Jesus has done,
00:06:44 --> 00:06:45 what he has come to do,
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46 what he has accomplished,
00:06:47 --> 00:06:47 happened.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:49 It's historical, and you can believe it,
00:06:49 --> 00:06:50 and therefore know,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:52 and have no doubt in your mind,
00:06:52 --> 00:06:54 that he rose from the dead,
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 that your sins are paid for,
00:06:56 --> 00:06:57 that he loves you,
00:06:57 --> 00:06:59 and wants you to be in relationship with him,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:01 that there is hope beyond this life,
00:07:01 --> 00:07:02 beyond death,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 hope for eternity.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09 And the way Luke helps us to be certain,
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 particularly in this chapter here,
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 in chapter 24,
00:07:13 --> 00:07:15 is by telling us the story,
00:07:15 --> 00:07:17 the beautiful story,
00:07:17 --> 00:07:21 of how the disciples came to have certainty
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 that Jesus was alive,
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25 that he'd rose from the dead.
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27 He tells us this story,
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29 and invites us,
00:07:29 --> 00:07:30 as his reader,
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32 to journey with the disciples,
00:07:33 --> 00:07:35 on their path of discovery,
00:07:35 --> 00:07:38 as they begin to uncover the evidence themselves,
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40 that Jesus has risen,
00:07:40 --> 00:07:44 so we will also begin to uncover the evidence as well.
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46 It's an unfolding drama,
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 and we take our place inside that drama,
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51 as Luke tells the story.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 So the first piece of evidence that Luke brings up,
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55 is the empty tomb.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 In the opening scene,
00:07:58 --> 00:07:59 we have a bunch of women,
00:07:59 --> 00:08:00 who upon arriving at the tomb,
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03 discovered the tomb itself,
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04 was empty.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:05 And that would have been,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:06 pretty shocking.
00:08:07 --> 00:08:07 These are the women,
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09 who loved and followed Jesus.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11 They came to anoint his body,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 with spices and perfumes.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 They thought he was dead.
00:08:15 --> 00:08:16 They expected a dead body,
00:08:16 --> 00:08:17 when they rocked up,
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 there was no body.
00:08:19 --> 00:08:20 The tombstone was rolled away,
00:08:20 --> 00:08:22 and this left them perplexed,
00:08:22 --> 00:08:23 and shocked.
00:08:23 --> 00:08:25 And before they could even deal,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 with their shock,
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27 and their confusion,
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 two,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:29 we're told,
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 two dazzling men appeared.
00:08:32 --> 00:08:33 Men who looked like lightning,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35 presumably angels.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:37 And they said to the women,
00:08:37 --> 00:08:39 why do you seek the living,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 among the dead?
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44 It's a bit of a weird question to ask,
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 I think.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47 Because the women were clearly there,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 to seek the dead,
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 among the dead.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 They expected a body,
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53 that was not alive.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54 They had come to anoint,
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56 a body of perfume and spice,
00:08:56 --> 00:08:57 because the body was to decay.
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 They did not expect,
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 Jesus to be alive.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 And the reason why the angel,
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 says that question,
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 why you seek the living,
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 among the dead,
00:09:05 --> 00:09:06 is just to highlight,
00:09:06 --> 00:09:07 that contrast.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:11 They did not expect,
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13 a risen Lord Jesus.
00:09:14 --> 00:09:15 They expected,
00:09:15 --> 00:09:16 Jesus to remain,
00:09:17 --> 00:09:17 in the tomb.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:20 They had lost all hope,
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 and all certainty,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24 that Jesus was God.
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26 But the angels themselves,
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 they said something different,
00:09:28 --> 00:09:29 about him.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:30 They said this,
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31 he is not here,
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 he is risen.
00:09:33 --> 00:09:33 Listen,
00:09:35 --> 00:09:35 this,
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 is immensely,
00:09:37 --> 00:09:37 exciting,
00:09:38 --> 00:09:38 and shocking,
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 all at the same time.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 They've been trying,
00:09:41 --> 00:09:41 to deal with the fact,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:43 they lost their Lord,
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44 and their Messiah,
00:09:45 --> 00:09:46 who was crucified,
00:09:46 --> 00:09:46 on the cross.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 And now,
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 they've been told,
00:09:48 --> 00:09:48 that he's risen,
00:09:49 --> 00:09:49 from the dead.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 This has been confirmed,
00:09:51 --> 00:09:51 by angels.
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53 The tomb is emptying.
00:09:54 --> 00:09:54 Who knows,
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 what to think of all of this,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:56 all of a sudden.
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 And it's not until,
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 the angels point back,
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 to what Jesus,
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 had taught,
00:10:01 --> 00:10:02 about his death,
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 and resurrection,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:03 the women,
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 begin to remember,
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 what Jesus had said.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 They say to the women,
00:10:09 --> 00:10:10 remember how he told you,
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12 while he was with you,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 in Galilee?
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 The son of man,
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14 must be delivered,
00:10:14 --> 00:10:16 over to the hands of sinners,
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 be crucified,
00:10:17 --> 00:10:18 and on the third day,
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19 be raised again.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:21 Then,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:22 they remembered,
00:10:23 --> 00:10:24 his words.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 It's not until,
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 they are reminded,
00:10:26 --> 00:10:28 of Jesus' own words,
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29 do they begin,
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 to understand.
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 So they rush back,
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 to the disciples.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 They tell them,
00:10:34 --> 00:10:34 the good news.
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 They tell them,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:36 that the tomb was empty,
00:10:36 --> 00:10:37 that angels confirmed,
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 to them,
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 that Jesus was not there,
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 that he had risen.
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 But the disciples,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 they didn't believe.
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 They considered it,
00:10:46 --> 00:10:46 nonsense.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 As if they were,
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 grasping for straws.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 Again,
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 showing,
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 there was no,
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 expectation,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:55 that Jesus,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56 was going to rise.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 There was no plan,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 to try and make it up.
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01 They were so downcast,
00:11:01 --> 00:11:02 they were so filled,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:03 of sorrow,
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 that he had died.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 There was no expectation,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 of any hope,
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 that he might,
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 rise again.
00:11:10 --> 00:11:10 However,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 Peter,
00:11:11 --> 00:11:13 Jesus' most beloved disciple,
00:11:13 --> 00:11:14 did not dismiss,
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 the women's report,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 straight away.
00:11:16 --> 00:11:16 He checked it out,
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 for himself.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:19 He went to the tomb.
00:11:20 --> 00:11:20 He saw,
00:11:20 --> 00:11:21 that it was empty.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:21 He saw,
00:11:21 --> 00:11:23 Jesus' burial close.
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 And he's left,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:24 wondering,
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 what is going on?
00:11:26 --> 00:11:28 What is happening?
00:11:30 --> 00:11:32 There is great reason,
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 to believe here,
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 that something,
00:11:34 --> 00:11:34 incredible,
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36 has happened.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Jesus,
00:11:37 --> 00:11:38 at the very least,
00:11:38 --> 00:11:39 is no longer dead.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:41 The tomb is empty,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:43 and angels have confirmed this.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:44 But now,
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 we have the same question,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 as disciples do.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 What is going on?
00:11:49 --> 00:11:49 What is happening?
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51 Why is this happening?
00:11:51 --> 00:11:54 These disciples,
00:11:54 --> 00:11:55 who were so,
00:11:55 --> 00:11:57 filled with sorrow,
00:11:57 --> 00:11:58 and doubt,
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 now,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 there's a glimmer of hope.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 They now have a glimmer,
00:12:03 --> 00:12:04 of hope.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 But there's still,
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 some uncertainty.
00:12:07 --> 00:12:07 They haven't seen,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 Jesus yet.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 But this is the beginning.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 This is the beginning,
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 of the story,
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 of how the disciples,
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 begin to see,
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 that Jesus is,
00:12:17 --> 00:12:17 alive.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 And the second piece,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:19 of evidence,
00:12:19 --> 00:12:20 that we have,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:20 from Luke's gospel,
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22 here in chapter 24,
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 is the revelation,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 of the word.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:26 Now,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 Luke transports us,
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 from the tomb site,
00:12:28 --> 00:12:29 to another event,
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 that took place,
00:12:30 --> 00:12:31 later in that day.
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32 We are told,
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 that there are two men,
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 on their way to a village,
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 who are discussing,
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 with each other,
00:12:37 --> 00:12:38 everything that had happened,
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 from the death,
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 to the,
00:12:40 --> 00:12:41 to what had happened,
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 that morning.
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 We know this,
00:12:43 --> 00:12:44 because they say,
00:12:44 --> 00:12:45 they talk about,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 the women's report,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:47 to a particular stranger.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:48 They talk about,
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 these things,
00:12:49 --> 00:12:50 that had happened,
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 and they're not sure,
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 what's going on.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:54 And then,
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 we're told by Luke,
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 there's a third character.
00:12:58 --> 00:12:59 While they were walking,
00:12:59 --> 00:12:59 and talking,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 Jesus himself,
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 decided to walk,
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 alongside them.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 This is the first appearance,
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 of the Lord,
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 Jesus risen.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 This is the one,
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 who has conquered death,
00:13:10 --> 00:13:11 who was shown,
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 that he is king,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 and has accomplished,
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 his work on the cross.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 Therefore,
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 there is hope,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:17 for eternal life,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 hope,
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 for forgiveness of sins,
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 hope,
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 for the disciples.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 And Luke just says,
00:13:24 --> 00:13:24 that he just,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:25 turned up,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 and walked alongside them,
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 as if it was nothing.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:30 But the thing was,
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31 it was,
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 a non-event.
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 Because we're told,
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 in verse 16,
00:13:35 --> 00:13:36 these disciples,
00:13:36 --> 00:13:36 were kept,
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 from recognising Jesus.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 So you must remember,
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 Luke is presenting,
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 the narrative here,
00:13:43 --> 00:13:43 in a way,
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 they are experiencing it,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:45 not the way,
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 that we might,
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48 expect to experience it.
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 And so the whole idea,
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 is we're going to experience it,
00:13:52 --> 00:13:53 with the disciples.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 But right here,
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 Luke's also informing us,
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 about what really is going on.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:00 This is no stranger.
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 This is Jesus.
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 And he is risen.
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 And so we,
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 as the reader,
00:14:07 --> 00:14:09 are in this privileged position,
00:14:09 --> 00:14:11 to know what exactly,
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 is going on,
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 so that we can see,
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 the irony,
00:14:16 --> 00:14:17 and the disciples' despondency,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 as they are so,
00:14:19 --> 00:14:21 saddened,
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 by what they think,
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 has happened.
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 They say,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:24 to the stranger,
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 in verse 21,
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 after explaining,
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 what's been happening,
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 we had hope,
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 that he was the one,
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 who was going to,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 redeem Israel.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 For them,
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 the crucifixion of Jesus,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 was the end.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:36 Any claim,
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 that he was God,
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 was now false.
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 Any claim,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 that he was going to come,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 and save his people,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 was now false.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 Because a dead king,
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 can't do anything.
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 Any claim,
00:14:46 --> 00:14:47 that he was going to,
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 save the world,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 was now false.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 Because a dead God,
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 can't do anything.
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 The irony,
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 is astounding here,
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 for us,
00:15:00 --> 00:15:00 as the reader.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03 Because we can see,
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 Jesus is alive.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07 And in his resurrection,
00:15:08 --> 00:15:08 he has achieved,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 exactly what,
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 God had planned,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 for him to achieve,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 on the cross.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 Jesus didn't,
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 disarm the powers,
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 of this world,
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 by destroying,
00:15:17 --> 00:15:19 the enemy's weaponry.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20 He didn't come in,
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 as a conquering general,
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 with an army,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 and kicked out,
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 the Romans.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 In a physical,
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 kind of sense.
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 You see,
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 Jesus disarms,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 the powers,
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 of this world,
00:15:31 --> 00:15:33 by dying on the cross,
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 and then rising,
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 into new life again.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:37 He showed that,
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 he has power,
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 over death,
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 our worst,
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 and final enemy.
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43 And through his death,
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 we can have life.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 And then that death,
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 was vindicated,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50 proven powerful,
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 by Jesus' own resurrection.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:53 And so,
00:15:53 --> 00:15:55 Jesus pushes back here,
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 and rebukes,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:57 these two disciples,
00:15:57 --> 00:15:58 and says to them,
00:15:58 --> 00:16:00 how foolish you are,
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 and how slow to believe,
00:16:02 --> 00:16:04 all the prophets have spoken.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 Did not the Messiah,
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 have to suffer these things,
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and then enter,
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 his glory?
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 And beginning with Moses,
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 and all the prophets,
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 he explained to them,
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 what was said,
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 in all the scriptures,
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 concerning himself.
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 Notice how Jesus said,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 he calls them foolish.
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 They believed only,
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 what made logical sense,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 according to the world.
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 That dead people,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 don't rise from the dead.
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 That someone who claims,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 to be God and dies,
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35 probably isn't God.
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 That a dead God,
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38 can't really do much,
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 in this world.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:42 But Jesus spends time,
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42 with these two,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45 unpacking the entire scriptures,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:45 to show,
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 that what might seem foolish,
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 is actually the true wisdom,
00:16:50 --> 00:16:50 of God.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 That although,
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53 in the world's eyes,
00:16:53 --> 00:16:53 death,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 can't accomplish,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 anything,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 the scripture testifies,
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 that the death,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 of Jesus Christ,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 and along with resurrection,
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 accomplishes,
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 all along,
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08 what God had planned,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 throughout,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 the scriptures,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 throughout,
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 what the Bible,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 has taught us.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 The whole point,
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 of the biblical witness,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 was to point us,
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 towards Jesus,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 his death,
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 and resurrection,
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 as the means,
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 of how God,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:22 would save,
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 his people,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 in the end.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 Here,
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 we see the work,
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 of God,
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 in Christ,
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 being vindicated,
00:17:32 --> 00:17:35 by his eternal word.
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 what has happened,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:36 what has happened,
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38 is of no surprise,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38 to God,
00:17:39 --> 00:17:39 or to Jesus,
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 but always part,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 of the plan,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 from the very beginning.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 It's beginning,
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 to dawn,
00:17:48 --> 00:17:49 on these two,
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 disciples,
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 what's been happening,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53 and they urged,
00:17:53 --> 00:17:53 the stranger,
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 to come back,
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 to their house,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 to have dinner,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 with them.
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 And this is what takes place,
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 it's very astounding.
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 Verse 30,
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03 when he was at the table,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 with them,
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 he took bread,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 gave thanks,
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 broke it,
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 and began to give it to them.
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 Then their eyes were opened,
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 and they recognized him,
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 and he disappeared,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 from their sight.
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 He took bread,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 gave thanks,
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 and broke it,
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 and began to give it to them.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:25 What does that sound like,
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 to you?
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 It's just something,
00:18:28 --> 00:18:28 we just did.
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 Communion.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 Or in other words,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 here,
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 the Passover meal.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 The Passover meal,
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 was celebrated each year,
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 by the Jewish people,
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 in remembrance,
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 of how God,
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 saved us,
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 from being enslaved,
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 to the Egyptians.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 Jesus then celebrated,
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 with his disciples,
00:18:47 --> 00:18:48 just before his death,
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 in order to redefine it,
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 to show that he was now,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 going to save his people,
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 through his sacrifice,
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 on the cross,
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 as his body,
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 was being broken,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 and his blood,
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 being poured out.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 That we might be saved,
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 from our sins,
00:19:04 --> 00:19:04 just,
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 as that,
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Israel had been saved,
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 all those years,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 ago.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 And so when Jesus,
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 breaks the bread,
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 and gives it to them,
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 they finally see,
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 this is Jesus.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 This is the one,
00:19:23 --> 00:19:25 who broke his body for me.
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 This is the one,
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 who went to the cross,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:28 died,
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 that I might,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 be free from my sin,
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 and now he's risen,
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 that I can have life.
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 And as soon as,
00:19:37 --> 00:19:37 their eyes are opened,
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 he's gone,
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 disappears.
00:19:41 --> 00:19:44 But finally,
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 they see.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 And finally,
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 they have brought up to us,
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 the reader,
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 who we've known all along,
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 who is Jesus.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 Now they see as well,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 that Jesus' death,
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 and resurrection,
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 is not some,
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 event that's out of place.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 It is the culmination,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 of what God has always planned,
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 in his word.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 It can be testified,
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 and grounded,
00:20:05 --> 00:20:07 in the word of God.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 And it's been expressed now,
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11 in the visible word as well,
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 the communion meal,
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 the Passover meal,
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 which we celebrate,
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 just earlier on.
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 Christ has completed,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 the work of salvation,
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 through his death,
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 and resurrection.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:24 And the word of God,
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 vindicates it.
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 And he himself,
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 is the one,
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 to explain it.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 But there are still questions.
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 Is this,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 truly a resurrection?
00:20:35 --> 00:20:37 Or is Jesus a ghost,
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 or an apparition,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 a spirit?
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 I mean,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 he can just disappear like that.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 He can conceal himself.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 There are a lot of things,
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 that we don't understand right now,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:48 about this resurrection.
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 Which is why,
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 Luke continues on,
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 in his story,
00:20:53 --> 00:20:54 unfolding the narrative,
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 of the disciples,
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 discovering the resurrection.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 The third piece of evidence,
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 we have here,
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 is Jesus himself,
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 in the flesh.
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 The two men,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 had gone back,
00:21:04 --> 00:21:05 to the disciples,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 to explain what had happened,
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 along the road.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 And before they could,
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 even finish speaking,
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 to the disciples,
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 bam,
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 there is Jesus,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 in the middle of the room,
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 with them,
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 saying,
00:21:15 --> 00:21:15 peace,
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 be with you.
00:21:17 --> 00:21:18 Not like,
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 on the road to Emmaus,
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 he comes suddenly,
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 and he stuttle,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:22 everyone,
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 and everyone,
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 and everyone can see,
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 who it is.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 It is Jesus.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 He is risen.
00:21:28 --> 00:21:29 Jesus,
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 in all his glory,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 and splendor,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 who has come,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 to bring peace,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 on earth,
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 appears before the disciples,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 to confirm,
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 that he is alive,
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 that what he did,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:38 on the cross,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40 was effective for us,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 that his resurrection,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 now,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 confirms,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 that power,
00:21:44 --> 00:21:44 and that work.
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 But the disciples,
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 they're afraid.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 They're not really sure,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 to think here.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 Jesus points,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 to his body,
00:21:52 --> 00:21:53 look at my hands,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 and look at my feet,
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 pointing out the fact,
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 that he probably had,
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 nails driven through,
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 both.
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 And the scars,
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 were to remain.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 But they still,
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 are not sure.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 They still,
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 are excited.
00:22:06 --> 00:22:06 They're like,
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 wow,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 he's back,
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 he's alive,
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 but we're just not sure,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 about the nature of this.
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 And so they get Jesus,
00:22:12 --> 00:22:14 or Jesus asks actually,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 for a broiled fish,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 to eat.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 And he's showing,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 that as he eats the fish,
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 he is human,
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 he is embodied,
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 that he can eat,
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 and digest food.
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 He's not some ghost,
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 he's not some spirit apparition,
00:22:27 --> 00:22:28 he is human.
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 He is fully God,
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 and fully man.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 But again,
00:22:35 --> 00:22:37 like the previous examples,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 it's not until Jesus,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 actually opens,
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 the disciples' minds,
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 to the scriptures,
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 concerning himself,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 concerning the resurrection,
00:22:45 --> 00:22:47 do they actually,
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 understand what's going on.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 It says,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 it says in verse 44,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:54 this is what I told you,
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56 while I was still alive with you.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 Everything must be fulfilled,
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00 that is written about me,
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01 in the law of Moses,
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 the prophets and the Psalms.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 Then he opened their minds,
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 so they could understand,
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 the scriptures.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 They had everything now,
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 that they needed to know.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 They had the end to him.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 The revelation,
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 the revelation,
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 of God's word.
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 Jesus' death and resurrection,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 as the means of saving them,
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 from their sin,
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 and how the word of God,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 vindicates that.
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 And now they had Jesus himself,
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 in the flesh,
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 before them,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:28 fully God,
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 and fully man,
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 resurrected.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 Luke's aim,
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 to make us certain,
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 is complete.
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 There can be,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:37 no question.
00:23:37 --> 00:23:39 Having taken our place,
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 in the disciples' journey,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 understanding,
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 we can see,
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 as they see now,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:47 that Jesus is alive,
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 and he reigns,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 and this is certain.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 Some of you,
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 might want to be wondering still,
00:23:53 --> 00:23:55 but how do you know?
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 How can you be sure,
00:23:56 --> 00:23:58 that Luke's not making this up?
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 How can you be sure,
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 how can you know for certain,
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 that someone has not,
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03 edited the documents,
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 along the way,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 in the path of history?
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 How do you know,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 still,
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 even if it is true,
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 that God,
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 loves me?
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 That's a very good question.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:16 We don't want to be like,
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 the Harold Campions of the world,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 to put our faith,
00:24:20 --> 00:24:20 in something,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:21 that in the end,
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 just proves us wrong.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:25 To believe something,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 and to be made a fool,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 because,
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 it was wrong.
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 Now there's a long answer,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 to that question,
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32 but for the sake of time,
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 I'll just say a few things.
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 Most historians,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 will tell you,
00:24:35 --> 00:24:37 the Bible,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 particularly the New Testament,
00:24:39 --> 00:24:39 is the most,
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 it was the best preserved document,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:42 we have,
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 in antiquity.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:46 We have so many manuscripts,
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 and I can't stress that,
00:24:47 --> 00:24:49 we have so many manuscripts,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 of the Gospels,
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 and of the New Testament letters,
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 that date so closely,
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 to their autographs,
00:24:54 --> 00:24:56 that's just overwhelming,
00:24:56 --> 00:24:57 the data is overwhelming,
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 for us,
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 in regards to,
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 how much,
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 of the sources,
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 that are there.
00:25:03 --> 00:25:03 One,
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 non-Christian,
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 historian says this,
00:25:07 --> 00:25:08 about the Gospel story,
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10 about the Easter story.
00:25:10 --> 00:25:12 If the defeated,
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 and depressed group,
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 of disciples,
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 overnight,
00:25:15 --> 00:25:15 could change,
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 into a victorious,
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 movement of faith,
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 based only on,
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 auto-suggestion,
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 or self-deception,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 without a fundamental,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 faith experience,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 then this would be,
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27 a much greater miracle,
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29 than the resurrection itself.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 In a purely,
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32 logical analysis,
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 the resurrection of Jesus,
00:25:33 --> 00:25:34 is the lesser,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 of two evils.
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 For all those,
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 who seek,
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 a rational explanation,
00:25:40 --> 00:25:40 of the worldwide,
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 consequences,
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 of that Easter faith.
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 Another guy,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 non-Christian historian,
00:25:46 --> 00:25:46 as well,
00:25:47 --> 00:25:47 says this,
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 I do not regard,
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 the deliberate fraud,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 as a worthwhile,
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 explanation.
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 Many of the people,
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 in these lists,
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 of witnesses,
00:25:57 --> 00:25:57 were to spend,
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 the rest of their lives,
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 proclaiming,
00:26:00 --> 00:26:00 that they had seen,
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 the risen Lord.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:04 And several of them,
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 would die for their cause.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 That Jesus' followers,
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 and later Paul,
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 had resurrection experiences,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:11 is,
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 in my judgment,
00:26:13 --> 00:26:14 a fact.
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 What the reality was,
00:26:18 --> 00:26:19 that gave rise,
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 to the experiences,
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 I do not know.
00:26:21 --> 00:26:24 Isn't that incredible?
00:26:25 --> 00:26:25 That we can have,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:26 before us,
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 a non-Christian historian,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:28 say,
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 what we have here,
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 in the gospels,
00:26:30 --> 00:26:31 is true.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:32 So true,
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 that I do believe,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:34 that they witness,
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 or experience,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:36 a resurrection,
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 of some sort.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:39 I just don't know,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 exactly what that looked like.
00:26:42 --> 00:26:43 The historicity,
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 of the gospel message,
00:26:45 --> 00:26:46 the Easter story,
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48 is valid.
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 Luke's account here,
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52 is valid.
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 The question though,
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 is do you accept it?
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 Do you accept,
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 what Luke labored,
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 to make certain?
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 Do you believe,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 that Jesus,
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 rose from the dead,
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 and that profoundly,
00:27:06 --> 00:27:06 impacts you?
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 What will you do?
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 How will you respond?
00:27:10 --> 00:27:14 The disciples,
00:27:14 --> 00:27:14 themselves,
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 respond,
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 by worshipping,
00:27:17 --> 00:27:17 God.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 As we told in,
00:27:18 --> 00:27:20 verses 52 and 53,
00:27:21 --> 00:27:21 they knew,
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 finally,
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 who Jesus was,
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 that he had risen,
00:27:25 --> 00:27:25 from the dead,
00:27:25 --> 00:27:27 and the only proper response,
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 was to worship,
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 him.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 But let's look,
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 how they worshipped.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Verse 52,
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 says this,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 Then they worshipped him,
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 and returned to Jerusalem,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:38 with great joy.
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 And they stayed,
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 continually,
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 at the temple,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 praising God.
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 Their worship,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 was not,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 out of duty,
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 or out of fear.
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 They were worshipping God,
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 with joy.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 So much joy,
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 they could not contain it.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 They continued,
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 to worship,
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 in the temple,
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 because Jesus,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 was king,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 and saviour,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 and he was risen.
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 They now had hope.
00:28:07 --> 00:28:07 They had hope,
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 for their future,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 as followers,
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 of Jesus,
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 who was alive,
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12 which meant,
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 they could live,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 well now,
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 in the present,
00:28:15 --> 00:28:15 with joy,
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 and with hope.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 And here's why.
00:28:20 --> 00:28:20 The resurrection,
00:28:21 --> 00:28:22 gives us certainty,
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 that Jesus' death,
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 paid for our sin,
00:28:26 --> 00:28:27 showing that God,
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 does love you,
00:28:28 --> 00:28:29 and wants you,
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 in relationship,
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 with him.
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 The resurrection,
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 gives us certainty,
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 that death,
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 is not the end,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 that death,
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 has been swallowed up,
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 in victory,
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 through the resurrection.
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 And so we can look forward,
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 to eternal life.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44 We have hope,
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 beyond this world,
00:28:45 --> 00:28:46 we're not consumed,
00:28:46 --> 00:28:47 by this world,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:47 or overcome,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 by this world,
00:28:48 --> 00:28:49 by the pain,
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 and the suffering,
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 we experience here.
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 We can look forward,
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 to when God,
00:28:53 --> 00:28:53 is going to make,
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 all things new,
00:28:55 --> 00:28:57 where there's no more tears,
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 and no more pain.
00:28:58 --> 00:29:02 And such a wonderful promise,
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 in the resurrection,
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 bids,
00:29:04 --> 00:29:06 only one response,
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 and that,
00:29:08 --> 00:29:09 is worship.
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 We can have hope,
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 in this life.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 We can have hope,
00:29:14 --> 00:29:14 now,
00:29:14 --> 00:29:15 for eternity.
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 And it's based,
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 in the risen,
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 Lord Jesus.
00:29:19 --> 00:29:22 It's a hope,
00:29:22 --> 00:29:23 that anchors us,
00:29:24 --> 00:29:24 in this life,
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 through the ups,
00:29:26 --> 00:29:26 and downs.
00:29:27 --> 00:29:27 A hope,
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 that enables us,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 to live well,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 in the midst,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 of pain,
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 and suffering.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 A hope,
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 that we get to look forward,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 to one day,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 seeing God,
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 face to face,
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 and to be with him,
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 for eternity.
00:29:44 --> 00:29:45 Because of this hope,
00:29:45 --> 00:29:45 we can say,
00:29:45 --> 00:29:46 with Paul,
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 in Romans 8,
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 for I am convinced,
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 that neither death,
00:29:49 --> 00:29:50 nor life,
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 neither angels,
00:29:51 --> 00:29:52 nor demons,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 neither the present,
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 nor the future,
00:29:54 --> 00:29:54 nor any power,
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 neither height,
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56 nor depth,
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 nor anything else,
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 in all creation,
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 will be able,
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 to separate us,
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 from the love of God,
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 that is in Christ Jesus,
00:30:04 --> 00:30:04 our Lord.
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 Who is alive,
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 who loves you,
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 who has made,
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 a way for you,
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 to be saved.
00:30:13 --> 00:30:15 So how will you,
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 respond?
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 Will you join,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 in on the worship,
00:30:18 --> 00:30:20 of your Lord,
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 and Savior.
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 Amen.