1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:29,980 Thank you. 2 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:59,980 Thank you. 3 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:29,980 Thank you. 4 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,000 Amen. 5 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:14,000 teach to Jesus 6 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:37,400 A dream that you have, and cause you to stay 7 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:43,960 A pound by my heart, just somewhere but tonight 8 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:53,360 A dream that you have, and cause you to stay 9 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,860 A dream that you have, and cause you to stay 10 00:08:57,860 --> 00:09:25,620 When you bring that to the waters, I call you to come, and the day is the sorrow which I'm not holding on, for I will be waiting for your troubles to last, and you end up by the moment, your weakness is right. 11 00:09:25,620 --> 00:09:55,600 Thank you. 12 00:09:55,620 --> 00:10:07,420 I've only given your trust to concern and your goal to repart it. 13 00:10:25,620 --> 00:10:47,300 I will not alone, not because you are alone, that's all the world should endeavor to show, I'll never know, never to never forsake. 14 00:10:55,620 --> 00:11:25,600 Thank you. 15 00:11:25,620 --> 00:11:55,600 Thank you. 16 00:11:55,620 --> 00:12:25,600 Thank you. 17 00:15:25,620 --> 00:15:47,300 I'm so glad to be able to worship this Sunday morning on Resurrection Sunday, be able to 18 00:15:47,300 --> 00:15:49,740 celebrate Easter with you. 19 00:15:49,740 --> 00:15:52,420 So I'm going to go ahead and begin with a word of prayer. 20 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:57,940 Then we'll read some Scripture together and spend some time in song. 21 00:15:57,940 --> 00:16:02,240 If you'd like to follow along with our worship service this morning, 22 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:07,120 there are some bulletins on the little table as you come in. 23 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,840 And if you would like to participate with us in the Lord's Supper, 24 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:17,640 there are some communion elements there on that table as you come in as well. 25 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,900 And you're welcome to get up and get those at any time. 26 00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:26,220 So we're going to go ahead and begin with the word of prayer, and then we'll spend some time reading Scripture together. 27 00:16:26,220 --> 00:16:34,320 Father in heaven, I'm so thankful that we can gather this morning to worship. 28 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:40,540 I'm so thankful that the tomb is empty, and I'm so thankful we have good news to tell. 29 00:16:40,540 --> 00:16:51,020 I ask that you bless our time together as we open your word, as we sing together, as we gather to the table together, as we pray. 30 00:16:51,380 --> 00:16:56,740 As we study your word, may you encourage our hearts, may you strengthen our spirits, may 31 00:16:56,740 --> 00:17:03,500 you convict us of our sin, and may you show us, most of all, your glory in the goodness 32 00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:04,440 of the gospel. 33 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:07,300 Be with us and bless our service this morning. 34 00:17:07,300 --> 00:17:09,800 It's your name we pray, amen. 35 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:13,220 Let's go ahead and be standing. 36 00:17:13,220 --> 00:17:21,340 We're going to read from 1 Peter, we're going to read verses 3 through 5 together. 37 00:17:21,380 --> 00:17:33,960 Father, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, 38 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:42,300 he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ 39 00:17:42,300 --> 00:17:49,620 from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, 40 00:17:49,620 --> 00:17:59,700 kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready 41 00:17:59,700 --> 00:18:07,940 to be revealed in the last time. This is the word of the Lord. And as we come to the hope of the 42 00:18:07,940 --> 00:18:15,580 resurrection, the picture of not just a hope, but a living, or as some translations translate it, 43 00:18:15,580 --> 00:18:23,580 a lively hope. It fills our hearts with joy. So we're going to sing a couple of songs. You're 44 00:18:23,580 --> 00:18:27,200 welcome to remain standing as we sing. If you're more comfortable or need to sit down, 45 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:31,680 you're welcome to do that as well. We're going to start with Christ the Lord is Risen Today. 46 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:58,660 Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia. Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia. 47 00:18:58,660 --> 00:19:15,660 1 Raise your joys and triumphs high, alleluia; sing ye heavens, and earth's reply, alleluia. 48 00:19:23,660 --> 00:19:40,740 It's again our glorious King, Alleluia. Where, O death, is now thy sting, Alleluia. 49 00:19:40,740 --> 00:19:58,200 Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy victory, boasting grave, Alleluia! 50 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:22,960 God's redeeming work is done. Alleluia. For the fight, the battle won. Alleluia. 51 00:20:22,960 --> 00:20:39,920 Death in vain forbids him rise. Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia! 52 00:20:48,080 --> 00:21:04,960 So we now where Christ has led, Alleluia, following our exalted head, Alleluia. 53 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:13,300 Made like him, like him, we rise, Alleluia. 54 00:21:13,300 --> 00:21:22,340 The paths across the grave, the skies, Alleluia! 55 00:21:43,300 --> 00:21:52,280 I was buried beneath my shame 56 00:21:52,280 --> 00:22:01,040 Who could carry that kind of weight 57 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:05,320 It was my turn 58 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:09,660 Till I met you 59 00:22:09,660 --> 00:22:18,240 I was breathing but not alive 60 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:26,740 All my failures I tried to hide 61 00:22:26,740 --> 00:22:31,040 It was mine too 62 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:35,340 Till I met you 63 00:22:35,340 --> 00:22:40,480 You called my name 64 00:22:40,480 --> 00:22:43,880 And I ran out of that grave 65 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:48,640 Out of the darkness 66 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:52,420 Into your glorious day 67 00:22:52,420 --> 00:22:57,600 You called my name 68 00:22:57,600 --> 00:23:01,200 And I ran out of that grave 69 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:05,760 Out of the darkness 70 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:09,520 Into your glorious day 71 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:22,440 Now your mercy has saved my soul 72 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:28,860 Now your freedom is over 73 00:23:28,860 --> 00:23:30,940 That I know 74 00:23:30,940 --> 00:23:35,460 The old made new 75 00:23:35,460 --> 00:23:39,780 Jesus when I met you 76 00:23:39,780 --> 00:23:44,920 You called my name 77 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,960 And I ran out of that grave 78 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:52,900 Out of the darkness 79 00:23:52,900 --> 00:23:56,680 Into your glorious day 80 00:23:58,860 --> 00:24:13,860 You called my name, and I ran out of that grave, out of the darkness, to the all-glorious day. 81 00:24:21,700 --> 00:24:31,380 I needed rescue. My sin was heavy. The chains break at the weight of your glory. I needed 82 00:24:31,380 --> 00:24:41,740 shelter. I wasn't open. Now you call me a citizen of heaven. When I was broken, you 83 00:24:41,740 --> 00:24:50,660 were my healing. Now your love is the air that I'm breathing. I have a future. My eyes 84 00:24:50,660 --> 00:24:54,660 Because when you call my name 85 00:24:54,660 --> 00:24:58,840 I ran out of that grave 86 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:03,580 Out of the darkness 87 00:25:03,580 --> 00:25:07,400 Into your glorious day 88 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:12,560 You call my name 89 00:25:12,560 --> 00:25:16,120 I ran out of that grave 90 00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:20,740 Out of the darkness 91 00:25:20,740 --> 00:25:24,720 To your glorious day 92 00:25:46,120 --> 00:26:16,100 Thank you. 93 00:26:16,120 --> 00:26:46,100 Thank you. 94 00:26:46,120 --> 00:27:16,100 Thank you. 95 00:48:46,120 --> 00:48:55,920 As we prepare to gather to celebrate the Lord's Supper, 96 00:48:55,920 --> 00:48:58,220 we're going to be singing Man of Sorrows. 97 00:48:58,220 --> 00:49:03,940 If you'd like to participate with us and didn't get a chance to grab the communion elements, 98 00:49:03,940 --> 00:49:05,860 they are there on that little table. 99 00:49:05,860 --> 00:49:08,680 You're welcome to grab those at any point in time. 100 00:49:16,120 --> 00:49:28,920 Man of sorrow's limb of God, by his own betrayed 101 00:49:28,920 --> 00:49:41,920 The sin of man and wrath of God has been on Jesus' lay 102 00:49:44,920 --> 00:50:10,920 Silent as he stood accused, beaten mocked and scorned, bowing to the Father's will, he took a crown of thorns. 103 00:50:13,920 --> 00:50:26,840 Oh, that rugged cross, my salvation, where your love poured out over me! 104 00:50:26,840 --> 00:50:39,760 Now my soul cries out, "Hallelujah!" Praise and honor unto me. 105 00:50:43,760 --> 00:50:56,140 Send of heaven, God's own Son, to purchase and redeem, 106 00:50:56,140 --> 00:51:08,520 and reconcile the very ones who nailed Him to that tree. 107 00:51:08,520 --> 00:51:20,320 Oh, that rugged cross, my salvation, where your love poured out over me. 108 00:51:20,320 --> 00:51:34,320 Now my soul cries out, hallelujah, praise and honor unto thee. 109 00:51:36,320 --> 00:51:49,900 Now my debt is paid, it is paid in full by the precious blood that my Jesus spilled. 110 00:51:49,900 --> 00:52:02,740 Now the curse of sin has no hold on me. The sun sets free, oh, it's free indeed. 111 00:52:02,740 --> 00:52:15,480 Oh, that rugged cross, my salvation, where your love poured out over me. 112 00:52:15,480 --> 00:52:28,760 Now my soul cries out, Hallelujah, praise and honor unto Thee. 113 00:52:28,760 --> 00:52:43,900 See, the stone is rolled away, behold the empty tomb. 114 00:52:45,180 --> 00:52:57,180 Hallelujah, God be praised, He's risen from the grave. 115 00:52:57,180 --> 00:53:09,180 Oh, that rugged cross, my salvation, where your love poured out over me. 116 00:53:09,180 --> 00:53:29,880 Now my soul cries out, Hallelujah, Praise and Honor are to Thee, Praise and Honor are to Thee. 117 00:53:39,180 --> 00:53:50,560 Good morning. 118 00:53:50,560 --> 00:53:51,800 Good morning, Mary. 119 00:53:51,800 --> 00:53:55,440 Put that down there. 120 00:53:55,440 --> 00:54:00,400 Well, we sang a song that had darkness in it. 121 00:54:00,400 --> 00:54:06,600 And darkness can be very scary to each and every one of us. 122 00:54:06,660 --> 00:54:10,380 We've probably somewhat been afraid of the dark somewhere in our lives 123 00:54:10,380 --> 00:54:15,880 that we can look back and say, uh-oh, yeah, maybe not now, but some point. 124 00:54:15,880 --> 00:54:19,580 But what about total darkness? 125 00:54:19,580 --> 00:54:22,820 You want to think about that. 126 00:54:22,820 --> 00:54:26,360 All the lights in the church building, gone. 127 00:54:26,360 --> 00:54:27,840 Out. 128 00:54:27,840 --> 00:54:31,280 All the lights in Winchester, out. 129 00:54:31,280 --> 00:54:34,840 The sun quit shining. 130 00:54:36,660 --> 00:54:38,740 Total darkness, we would be there. 131 00:54:38,740 --> 00:54:43,340 So just think real quick, what would you do? 132 00:54:43,340 --> 00:54:46,120 What would you think? 133 00:54:46,120 --> 00:54:52,240 Matthew 27, 45 tells us that on the day that Jesus was crucified, 134 00:54:52,240 --> 00:54:56,800 from the sixth hour to the ninth, that's from 9 a.m. to noon, 135 00:54:56,800 --> 00:55:00,680 total darkness came all over the land. 136 00:55:01,920 --> 00:55:15,840 And even the Roman soldiers who had seen war, death, plenty of it, were resting on that mountain, watching over the crosses outside of Jerusalem when all this was happening. 137 00:55:15,840 --> 00:55:18,120 They had worked all night. 138 00:55:18,120 --> 00:55:20,540 They had taken this man called Jesus. 139 00:55:20,540 --> 00:55:29,740 They had beat him, among other things, and did vile and vicious things to him, and then nailed him to a cross. 140 00:55:30,280 --> 00:55:33,320 And then the total darkness for at least for three hours. 141 00:55:33,320 --> 00:55:43,560 Matthew 27, 54 reads, when the centurion and those with him who were guarding the guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, 142 00:55:43,560 --> 00:55:51,080 they were terrified and exclaimed, quote again, surely he was the Son of God. 143 00:55:51,360 --> 00:56:03,720 Even a hardened military man who had seen almost everything in his endeavors for the emperor believed that this had to be the Son of God. 144 00:56:03,720 --> 00:56:08,360 Now, the Bible itself associates sin with darkness. 145 00:56:08,360 --> 00:56:12,780 God sent his son to die on that cross in Calvary. 146 00:56:12,780 --> 00:56:21,320 Why? So that we, us, all mankind from that time forward could be redeemed of our sins. 147 00:56:22,000 --> 00:56:24,100 God doesn't want any of us to live in darkness. 148 00:56:24,100 --> 00:56:26,280 He wants us all to be in the light. 149 00:56:26,280 --> 00:56:34,300 The Bible says that Jesus is the light of the entire world from that point until he returns. 150 00:56:34,300 --> 00:56:39,860 That is in him, in Jesus, there is no darkness. 151 00:56:39,860 --> 00:56:41,440 It's all light. 152 00:56:41,440 --> 00:56:46,580 Before Jesus went to Calvary, though, he instituted what we call the Lord's Supper. 153 00:56:47,220 --> 00:56:54,680 And as we take part of the bed and the cup here this morning, we're reminded of the love that Jesus has shown us. 154 00:56:54,680 --> 00:57:09,080 What else would drive a man or anybody to suffer and die, knowingly, knowing what was coming, and willingly go and suffer and die? 155 00:57:09,080 --> 00:57:14,780 For us, there's no excuse, as I see it, for living in the darkness. 156 00:57:15,280 --> 00:57:21,060 There's always light. The light is in the person of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 157 00:57:21,060 --> 00:57:25,540 On the third day, Jesus came out of that dark tomb. 158 00:57:25,540 --> 00:57:32,040 His light has shone upon every one of us in the entire world ever since. 159 00:57:32,040 --> 00:57:41,020 So this morning, we need to take advantage of that light as we commune with our Lord and Savior this morning. 160 00:57:41,020 --> 00:57:41,880 Let us pray. 161 00:57:42,980 --> 00:57:48,940 Heavenly Father, we thank you again for all the many blessings that you have bestowed upon us. 162 00:57:48,940 --> 00:57:54,580 We are so unworthy that sometimes we think in our minds that how can this be? 163 00:57:54,580 --> 00:58:07,740 How can this man have died in our place and for all mankind, for all eternity, until he receives us again in his holy kingdom? 164 00:58:07,740 --> 00:58:11,040 But Father, that's exactly what has happened. 165 00:58:11,780 --> 00:58:25,840 And as he instituted the remembrance of that event, when we take this loaf, this little piece of cracker, that Father, that represents his body. 166 00:58:25,840 --> 00:58:36,860 And Father, as we drink this little bit of juice, it is a representation of the blood that he shed for mankind for all eternity. 167 00:58:37,720 --> 00:58:41,960 Father, may we not waste this opportunity. 168 00:58:41,960 --> 00:58:49,140 May we always look to you and always ask first, but we're human. 169 00:58:49,140 --> 00:58:56,280 And we will try every time to try to figure out our way out of our problems, 170 00:58:56,280 --> 00:59:00,780 knowing in the long run that we have to turn it to you. 171 00:59:00,780 --> 00:59:03,600 We may not like your answer. 172 00:59:03,600 --> 00:59:05,680 Many times we won't. 173 00:59:06,480 --> 00:59:14,460 But, Father, your answer is what saves us, the answer to the mankind itself when you sent your 174 00:59:14,460 --> 00:59:20,380 son, our Savior, to that cross to die in our place. Guide us here this morning as we take these 175 00:59:20,380 --> 00:59:28,500 emblems. May it nourish our souls that, Father, this week as we get into the world again, that 176 00:59:28,500 --> 00:59:36,460 the world will not overtake us, that if it tries, we can lean on you. And, Father, lean on you, 177 00:59:36,480 --> 00:59:43,480 is what we must do. Guide us in this. It is in Jesus' holy and precious name that we ask and we 178 00:59:43,480 --> 00:59:53,480 give thanks. Amen. Now, out of 1 Corinthians, we've all heard about, heard this one. It says, 179 00:59:53,480 --> 01:00:00,120 for we, for I receive, this is Jesus' own words, for I received the Lord from the Lord what I also 180 01:00:00,120 --> 01:00:07,160 pass to you. The Lord on the night he was betrayed took bread and when he had given thanks he broke 181 01:00:07,160 --> 01:00:14,700 it. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me. The loaf please. 182 01:00:14,700 --> 01:00:25,660 And in the same way after supper he took the cup saying this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 183 01:00:25,660 --> 01:00:34,360 do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me for whenever you do you eat this bread and 184 01:00:34,360 --> 01:00:42,500 drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes back to claim us all let's partake 185 01:00:42,500 --> 01:00:52,300 father we do indeed thank you for this strength that you've given us the simple means by which 186 01:00:52,300 --> 01:01:00,620 we can accept it and father it was a horrible day that your son our savior died the way he did 187 01:01:00,620 --> 01:01:08,560 but if he hadn't we would have no hope but father we live in hope we know that your blessings are 188 01:01:08,560 --> 01:01:18,060 all around us your creation is everywhere guide us this week protect us and be with us when we 189 01:01:18,060 --> 01:01:26,620 fall into any problems that may come to us. May we look to you. May these simple emblems remind us 190 01:01:26,620 --> 01:01:33,460 that there is one greater than anything that we can come up against. Guide us and do it with us 191 01:01:33,460 --> 01:01:39,380 and be with us. These things we again ask in Jesus' holy and precious name. Amen. 192 01:01:48,060 --> 01:02:00,620 All right, as we get ready to dive into the Word of God, 193 01:02:00,620 --> 01:02:05,880 we will hopefully have the Scripture on the screen for you 194 01:02:05,880 --> 01:02:09,160 as we're moving through the resurrection account, 195 01:02:09,160 --> 01:02:11,880 specifically the accounts of these women as a journey 196 01:02:11,880 --> 01:02:15,880 and arrive at the tomb of Jesus. 197 01:02:16,160 --> 01:02:18,480 You can also follow along in the bulletin. 198 01:02:18,480 --> 01:02:21,360 There's a handout that has our big points 199 01:02:21,360 --> 01:02:22,940 and then all of the Scripture with it. 200 01:02:22,940 --> 01:02:24,120 Let's go ahead and pray. 201 01:02:24,120 --> 01:02:27,780 Father in heaven, I thank you so much 202 01:02:27,780 --> 01:02:30,140 that we have good news. 203 01:02:30,140 --> 01:02:36,580 So this morning, as we look to 204 01:02:36,580 --> 01:02:39,220 that first Resurrection Sunday, 205 01:02:39,220 --> 01:02:44,540 may you encourage our hearts, 206 01:02:45,120 --> 01:02:53,800 May you strengthen us. May you help us to see that there is hope, that there is redemption, 207 01:02:53,800 --> 01:03:01,040 that so many of the places we look end up empty, but you are the one who truly gives life. 208 01:03:01,040 --> 01:03:05,160 So be with us this morning. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 209 01:03:05,160 --> 01:03:11,820 There are times, it seems, where time just sort of stands still. 210 01:03:11,820 --> 01:03:20,780 And for me, that place that's cemented into my mind is like 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade English class. 211 01:03:20,780 --> 01:03:22,040 It was like you're just sitting. 212 01:03:22,040 --> 01:03:26,400 And it was as if time had just ceased to exist. 213 01:03:26,400 --> 01:03:35,040 But then there's moments we find where it seems like we look back and everything has happened all at once. 214 01:03:35,040 --> 01:03:38,900 It happens almost every year on our kids' birthdays. 215 01:03:38,900 --> 01:03:48,140 We look back and we have those memories pop up on our phone of, take a look at this picture from 11 years ago or 9 years ago or 6 years ago. 216 01:03:48,140 --> 01:03:56,040 And we look back and we think about how much growth has occurred and how many events have happened and the joys and the struggles. 217 01:03:56,040 --> 01:04:00,660 And it just seems as if everything has happened all at once. 218 01:04:00,660 --> 01:04:06,060 And so time is a funny thing because sometimes it just feels like it completely stopped. 219 01:04:06,720 --> 01:04:11,520 And then there are other times where it feels like it's going 90 miles an hour 220 01:04:11,520 --> 01:04:13,640 with no break and no rest, 221 01:04:13,640 --> 01:04:17,360 and we're uncertain of how we're going to keep up. 222 01:04:17,360 --> 01:04:21,300 This morning we're going to come to a place 223 01:04:21,300 --> 01:04:28,480 and to a moment where time has gone from standing seemingly completely still 224 01:04:28,480 --> 01:04:33,500 to a place where everything happens all at once. 225 01:04:33,500 --> 01:04:35,880 And I want you to understand as we come to this, 226 01:04:35,920 --> 01:04:40,940 It wasn't standing still because of boredom or moving fast. 227 01:04:40,940 --> 01:04:43,500 Because they're looking back in nostalgia. 228 01:04:43,500 --> 01:04:48,600 The time that stopped was because of brokenness. 229 01:04:48,600 --> 01:04:59,780 And what is followed in the confusion and the joy and the uncertainty and the chaos is because there is hope. 230 01:04:59,780 --> 01:05:03,860 So we're going to be primarily a little back and forth between the Gospels. 231 01:05:03,920 --> 01:05:06,200 But we're going to begin this morning in Mark's account. 232 01:05:06,200 --> 01:05:11,280 And if you read Mark's account, specifically of the crucifixion of Jesus, 233 01:05:11,280 --> 01:05:20,420 it's almost as if he is giving you a walking map of the moments where Jesus goes through those sufferings 234 01:05:20,420 --> 01:05:28,000 and those trials from the arrest to the high priest to the Sanhedrin to Pilate and to Herod and Pilate 235 01:05:28,000 --> 01:05:31,140 to up the hill to Calvary. 236 01:05:32,040 --> 01:05:37,060 It's as if he's sort of giving us a way of the cross. 237 01:05:37,060 --> 01:05:42,640 But Mark is not, in his account of the crucifixion, not just showing us where it happened. 238 01:05:42,640 --> 01:05:44,720 He's showing us a bigger picture. 239 01:05:44,720 --> 01:05:52,220 And woven throughout all of these places and these events are Old Testament prophecies, 240 01:05:52,220 --> 01:05:59,020 Old Testament pictures, Old Testament themes and allusions and echoes 241 01:05:59,020 --> 01:06:05,960 and things that show us that this is not just another man being killed by the Romans, 242 01:06:05,960 --> 01:06:11,360 but this was, in fact, God's plan and God's work. 243 01:06:11,360 --> 01:06:18,260 And what's interesting, because as carefully and intentionally crafted 244 01:06:18,260 --> 01:06:22,240 as Mark's account of the crucifixion of Jesus 245 01:06:22,240 --> 01:06:26,380 to the prophecies, to the pictures, to the themes 246 01:06:26,380 --> 01:06:29,540 that point us back to all of Scripture 247 01:06:29,540 --> 01:06:34,400 that's not his picture of the resurrection account. 248 01:06:34,400 --> 01:06:39,460 It's almost as if everything has happened at once 249 01:06:39,460 --> 01:06:41,700 and nobody's sure what's happening 250 01:06:41,700 --> 01:06:43,540 and what to do about it. 251 01:06:43,540 --> 01:06:46,540 It's almost as if we have gone 252 01:06:46,540 --> 01:06:49,520 from a very intentional, very clear path 253 01:06:49,520 --> 01:06:53,020 to an explosion of chaos 254 01:06:53,020 --> 01:06:56,120 that ultimately leads to joy. 255 01:06:56,380 --> 01:07:07,580 And it can be hard for us, especially those of us who have been Christians for a lot of years and have been to a lot of Sundays and who have been to a lot of Easter Sundays, to see the surprise of Easter Sunday. 256 01:07:07,580 --> 01:07:12,680 And it's easy for us to become mundane. 257 01:07:13,680 --> 01:07:20,140 And so in the Gospels, not just in Mark, but in Matthew and in Luke and John, 258 01:07:20,140 --> 01:07:25,420 you come from this place where it seems as if every detail is written, 259 01:07:25,420 --> 01:07:32,260 every prophecy is fulfilled, and time has stopped in grief at the cross, 260 01:07:32,260 --> 01:07:38,160 and Saturday is silent, and then on Sunday it all happens at once. 261 01:07:38,160 --> 01:07:41,080 And so this morning what I want us to do is join a group of women 262 01:07:41,080 --> 01:07:47,160 who are on their way to the tomb of Jesus and during the journey that follows as they go you're 263 01:07:47,160 --> 01:07:50,640 going to see there's going to be some who split off from the group there's going to be some who 264 01:07:50,640 --> 01:07:55,580 come into the group James and John are going to race to the tomb but in the midst of this what I 265 01:07:55,580 --> 01:08:02,560 want us to do is see three questions that are asked either about the tomb of Jesus or from 266 01:08:02,560 --> 01:08:10,720 the tomb of Jesus and I want to begin this morning in the gospel of Mark and so Mark records it 267 01:08:10,720 --> 01:08:20,500 this way in mark chapter 16 he will say this when the Sabbath was passed Mary magdalene Mary the 268 01:08:20,500 --> 01:08:27,260 mother of James and salome brought bought spices so that they might go and anoint him and very early 269 01:08:27,260 --> 01:08:31,760 on the first day of the week when the sun has risen they went to the tomb and they were saying 270 01:08:31,760 --> 01:08:40,000 to one another, who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb. 271 01:08:40,000 --> 01:08:46,480 Now these women have seen over the past several days the worst of the worst. 272 01:08:46,480 --> 01:08:52,820 And almost in contrast to the fleeing of the disciples is the faithfulness of the women 273 01:08:52,820 --> 01:08:57,200 who have followed Jesus all the way to the foot of the cross. 274 01:08:57,840 --> 01:09:04,560 And in fact, the two Marys mentioned here have followed the event so closely 275 01:09:04,560 --> 01:09:09,220 that when Jesus' body is taken from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea, 276 01:09:09,220 --> 01:09:13,580 they have followed that body, and they're sitting across the way 277 01:09:13,580 --> 01:09:15,940 watching him being placed into the tomb. 278 01:09:15,940 --> 01:09:21,380 These women know where they're going, and even in the midst of their hurt and heartbreak, 279 01:09:21,380 --> 01:09:25,520 they are on a mission to finish the burial preparations 280 01:09:25,520 --> 01:09:28,680 that were unable to have been completed on Friday. 281 01:09:28,680 --> 01:09:32,140 And many commentators point out 282 01:09:32,140 --> 01:09:34,660 that just from a logistical standpoint, 283 01:09:34,660 --> 01:09:38,500 it's already too late to finish those preparations 284 01:09:38,500 --> 01:09:41,940 because it's been several days. 285 01:09:41,940 --> 01:09:46,720 But I want you to hear their question this morning. 286 01:09:46,720 --> 01:09:49,780 Who will roll away the stone? 287 01:09:49,780 --> 01:09:52,280 Now this is a good question 288 01:09:52,280 --> 01:09:54,700 because graves in this time 289 01:09:54,700 --> 01:09:57,300 were particularly sealed with stones 290 01:09:57,300 --> 01:09:59,700 and it's likely in this case 291 01:09:59,700 --> 01:10:01,780 it would have been a circular stone 292 01:10:01,780 --> 01:10:03,280 like we frequently see pictured 293 01:10:03,280 --> 01:10:05,020 and there would have been a groove 294 01:10:05,020 --> 01:10:07,320 either cut in the rock or bricked up 295 01:10:07,320 --> 01:10:09,820 and it would have been on sort of a downhill slope 296 01:10:09,820 --> 01:10:13,220 and so when the body is placed inside the tomb 297 01:10:13,220 --> 01:10:15,780 this stone is then sort of rolled down 298 01:10:15,780 --> 01:10:18,140 and sort of fits into an area 299 01:10:18,140 --> 01:10:19,780 directly in front of the tomb 300 01:10:19,780 --> 01:10:24,920 And these stones, we have, I think, four or five examples from this time period. 301 01:10:24,920 --> 01:10:30,880 Could be anywhere from about a ton to 2,000 pounds, up to two tons, 4,000 pounds. 302 01:10:30,880 --> 01:10:34,220 And to put the stone in place is not a big deal, right? 303 01:10:34,220 --> 01:10:41,600 You just kind of got to get it rolling a little bit, and it goes downhill into the channel, sets in place. 304 01:10:42,360 --> 01:10:47,440 But to get it out of the way requires not just one person sort of pushing it, 305 01:10:47,440 --> 01:10:55,800 but would often require several strong people to make this stone be able to move. 306 01:10:55,800 --> 01:11:01,500 Do you hear sort of the uncertainty and fear in their voice? 307 01:11:01,500 --> 01:11:05,920 We're not strong enough to get to Jesus. 308 01:11:05,920 --> 01:11:11,440 There is something standing between us and the Savior that we are coming. 309 01:11:12,360 --> 01:11:19,060 to serve. And obstacles in coming to Jesus are not a new thing for the Gospels. There's a guy 310 01:11:19,060 --> 01:11:23,260 who comes through the roof. There's a lady who sneaks through the crowd. There's a man screaming 311 01:11:23,260 --> 01:11:30,140 on the side of the road, Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. There's been obstacles of shame, 312 01:11:30,140 --> 01:11:36,400 obstacles of separation, obstacles from outsiders, but this time is different 313 01:11:37,400 --> 01:11:40,120 Because this is an insurmountable obstacle. 314 01:11:40,120 --> 01:11:43,020 Because Jesus has been crucified. 315 01:11:43,020 --> 01:11:51,940 The Savior who before has dealt with all of those other things is crucified and buried. 316 01:11:51,940 --> 01:11:59,560 And it's in the face of this stone we encounter with these women something that is wonderful. 317 01:11:59,560 --> 01:12:02,140 In Matthew's account, he gives us this background. 318 01:12:02,140 --> 01:12:05,320 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn on the first day of the week, 319 01:12:05,660 --> 01:12:10,340 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 320 01:12:10,340 --> 01:12:14,920 And behold, there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven 321 01:12:14,920 --> 01:12:18,080 and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 322 01:12:18,080 --> 01:12:22,820 So it seems like the other accounts we have read, 323 01:12:22,820 --> 01:12:27,680 although I don't know how I would feel to be called the other Mary, right? 324 01:12:27,680 --> 01:12:30,140 You've got the famous Mary and it's like, hey, you're the other Mary. 325 01:12:30,140 --> 01:12:32,280 It's like, hey, well, that's the good Brandon. 326 01:12:32,280 --> 01:12:33,600 Here's the other Brandon. 327 01:12:33,600 --> 01:12:35,440 That's what happens. 328 01:12:36,640 --> 01:12:39,500 And this is one of the wondrous miracles of Easter. 329 01:12:39,500 --> 01:12:41,960 And there has been this earthquake, 330 01:12:41,960 --> 01:12:45,160 and likely these women, as they were either preparing to leave, 331 01:12:45,160 --> 01:12:49,480 or as they were walking up to the Mount of Olives, to the garden, 332 01:12:49,480 --> 01:12:52,040 to where Jesus' tomb would have been, 333 01:12:52,040 --> 01:12:54,500 would have felt this earthquake. 334 01:12:54,500 --> 01:12:56,660 And they are going to be wondering about it, 335 01:12:56,660 --> 01:12:58,400 and they're going to be asking questions. 336 01:12:58,400 --> 01:13:00,440 And here's what I love. 337 01:13:00,440 --> 01:13:01,700 They don't know it yet, 338 01:13:01,900 --> 01:13:09,380 But their inability to move the stone has already been taken care of before they even ask the question. 339 01:13:09,380 --> 01:13:11,620 It's already been accomplished. 340 01:13:11,620 --> 01:13:17,160 You know, what they need and what they're asking about who will move the stone, it's already done. 341 01:13:17,160 --> 01:13:22,100 Even as they wonder how they're going to accomplish it, it's already done. 342 01:13:22,100 --> 01:13:28,320 And it's this beautiful, tiny picture of the gospel wrapped up in a big, heavy stone. 343 01:13:28,780 --> 01:13:32,620 What you need has already been accomplished by the power of God. 344 01:13:32,620 --> 01:13:35,120 And here's what I love about these women, right? 345 01:13:35,120 --> 01:13:37,080 They don't know this has happened. 346 01:13:37,080 --> 01:13:39,820 They don't know if they can roll away the stone. 347 01:13:39,820 --> 01:13:41,640 They don't know if they'll be able to. 348 01:13:41,640 --> 01:13:42,260 But here's the thing. 349 01:13:42,260 --> 01:13:44,140 They go to Jesus anyway. 350 01:13:44,140 --> 01:13:47,180 They just go. 351 01:13:47,180 --> 01:13:51,880 Now at this point, when they get there and see the empty tomb, 352 01:13:51,880 --> 01:13:54,100 Mary Magdalene just dashes off. 353 01:13:54,100 --> 01:13:56,200 She's running to get help. 354 01:13:56,200 --> 01:13:57,720 We see this in John's account. 355 01:13:58,220 --> 01:14:01,460 And it seems that Peter and John maybe were separate from the rest of the disciples. 356 01:14:01,460 --> 01:14:05,200 And so she runs and she gets Peter and she gets John. 357 01:14:05,200 --> 01:14:10,880 And while she's doing that, look what happens to the other women. 358 01:14:10,880 --> 01:14:17,580 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb taking spices that they had prepared. 359 01:14:17,580 --> 01:14:24,540 And when they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, they went in and they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 360 01:14:24,680 --> 01:14:30,860 And while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel, 361 01:14:30,860 --> 01:14:34,300 and they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground. 362 01:14:34,300 --> 01:14:37,960 And the men said, Why do you seek the living among the dead? 363 01:14:37,960 --> 01:14:40,480 He is not here. He is risen. 364 01:14:40,480 --> 01:14:44,420 Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee. 365 01:14:44,420 --> 01:14:47,520 And here's the question asked of these women. 366 01:14:47,520 --> 01:14:49,340 They've asked, Who will move the stone? 367 01:14:49,340 --> 01:14:52,400 And now they are asked this question. 368 01:14:52,920 --> 01:14:55,600 Why do you seek the living among the dead? 369 01:14:55,600 --> 01:15:00,080 Now, I don't know about you, but probably most of us like to be able to say, I told you so. 370 01:15:00,080 --> 01:15:01,500 And not just say it. 371 01:15:01,500 --> 01:15:03,280 Maybe you're like, I don't say I told you so. 372 01:15:03,280 --> 01:15:04,760 Well, you probably think it, right? 373 01:15:04,760 --> 01:15:08,580 All of us like to be right and enjoy being right. 374 01:15:08,580 --> 01:15:14,520 And so here is the angel doing a little bit of I told you so. 375 01:15:14,520 --> 01:15:16,780 Why do you seek the living among the dead? 376 01:15:16,780 --> 01:15:23,620 There are three main predictions in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 377 01:15:23,620 --> 01:15:27,080 about the death and the resurrection of Jesus. 378 01:15:27,080 --> 01:15:34,200 And just so that we don't think that they're sort of convoluted or hard to understand, 379 01:15:34,200 --> 01:15:41,880 I want you to hear some of these predictions that have been taught to the disciples about Jesus. 380 01:15:42,260 --> 01:15:55,940 In Mark it says, he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and after three days rise again. 381 01:15:55,940 --> 01:16:05,580 And in Matthew 17, as they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men. 382 01:16:05,580 --> 01:16:10,160 They will kill him and he will be raised on the third day. 383 01:16:10,440 --> 01:16:17,120 and in Matthew 20 as Jesus was going to Jerusalem he took the 12 disciples aside and on the way he 384 01:16:17,120 --> 01:16:22,500 said to them see we are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief 385 01:16:22,500 --> 01:16:28,140 priests and the scribes and they will condemn him to death deliver him to the Gentiles to be 386 01:16:28,140 --> 01:16:34,080 mocked and flogged and crucified and he will rise on the third day and what the angel is saying 387 01:16:34,080 --> 01:16:38,520 Remember what Jesus has said and understand you're looking in the wrong place. 388 01:16:38,520 --> 01:16:43,480 Now, in all those accounts of Jesus saying this, 389 01:16:43,480 --> 01:16:47,160 we're also told along with him, the disciples didn't understand. 390 01:16:47,160 --> 01:16:51,260 It didn't click. Maybe it was an idea too big for them. 391 01:16:51,260 --> 01:16:56,620 Maybe it was one of those things that we only see in hindsight and remember. 392 01:16:56,620 --> 01:17:01,540 But the angel is reminding them of what Jesus said, 393 01:17:01,540 --> 01:17:03,320 that you're looking in the wrong place. 394 01:17:04,080 --> 01:17:08,380 That the grave isn't the right place for the bread of life and for the light of the world 395 01:17:08,380 --> 01:17:13,180 and for the good shepherd and the one who has said, I am the resurrection and the life. 396 01:17:13,180 --> 01:17:19,280 It's not the place for the one who can cast out demons, heal the sick, 397 01:17:19,280 --> 01:17:23,560 make the blind see the lame walk, calm the storm, and raise the dead. 398 01:17:23,560 --> 01:17:27,440 And here they are in their sorrow, which we understand, 399 01:17:27,440 --> 01:17:33,260 and their emptiness and their loss, and they're looking for the body of Jesus. 400 01:17:34,080 --> 01:17:42,560 to be able to say goodbye but here's the reality he is alive and hear the words of the angel saying 401 01:17:42,560 --> 01:17:50,500 you are looking in the wrong place now everything is happening so very fast right now 402 01:17:50,500 --> 01:17:57,860 Mary magdalene has run back to Peter and John Peter and John have raced to the tomb uh it's no 403 01:17:57,860 --> 01:18:02,840 mistake i don't think that John writes he was a little faster and beat Peter to the tomb 404 01:18:02,840 --> 01:18:09,480 but Mary has missed the angels she's missed Peter and John they've already gone back 405 01:18:09,480 --> 01:18:17,680 and now Mary magdalene stands by herself at the tomb of Jesus let's pick it up in John's account 406 01:18:17,680 --> 01:18:23,740 i'm sorry this is so small we meant to break it up into different slides Mary stood weeping 407 01:18:23,740 --> 01:18:31,980 outside the tomb she's all by herself with all of her loss and all of her hurt and all of her 408 01:18:31,980 --> 01:18:38,240 motion. And she stooped to look into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white sitting where the 409 01:18:38,240 --> 01:18:43,640 body of Jesus laid, one at the head and one at the feet. And they said to her, woman, why are you 410 01:18:43,640 --> 01:18:50,600 weeping? And she said to them, they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where I have laid 411 01:18:50,600 --> 01:18:55,940 him. I'm pretty sure at this moment she doesn't realize these are angels. All right, the tears in 412 01:18:55,940 --> 01:19:01,820 her eyes, the sorrow in her heart. I don't know that she even raises her head enough to look at 413 01:19:01,820 --> 01:19:10,760 them clearly and all she wants to know is where have they taken Jesus and then I love this point 414 01:19:10,760 --> 01:19:16,920 having said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing now she doesn't know it's Jesus 415 01:19:16,920 --> 01:19:25,660 and Jesus said to her woman why are you weeping who are you seeking supposing him to be the 416 01:19:25,660 --> 01:19:32,260 gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I 417 01:19:32,260 --> 01:19:41,760 will take him away. And Jesus said to her, Mary. And she turned and said to him in Aramaic, 418 01:19:41,760 --> 01:19:48,180 Rabbani, which means teacher. And Jesus says, Do not cling to me, for I have not ascended to the 419 01:19:48,180 --> 01:19:53,580 Father, but go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God 420 01:19:53,580 --> 01:19:55,840 and your God. And Mary Magdalene 421 01:19:55,840 --> 01:19:57,820 went and announced these things to the disciples. 422 01:19:57,820 --> 01:19:59,520 I have seen the Lord. 423 01:19:59,520 --> 01:20:02,080 And that he had said these things 424 01:20:02,080 --> 01:20:02,760 to her. 425 01:20:02,760 --> 01:20:04,900 And in that moment 426 01:20:04,900 --> 01:20:07,920 when Mary hears 427 01:20:07,920 --> 01:20:08,720 her name 428 01:20:08,720 --> 01:20:11,580 in Jesus' voice, she 429 01:20:11,580 --> 01:20:13,420 launches herself 430 01:20:13,420 --> 01:20:15,660 at him. And when Jesus 431 01:20:15,660 --> 01:20:17,600 says, do not cling to me for I have not 432 01:20:17,600 --> 01:20:19,800 ascended to my Father, but go to my brothers 433 01:20:19,800 --> 01:20:21,480 and say to them 434 01:20:21,480 --> 01:20:24,800 there's been a lot of confusion 435 01:20:24,800 --> 01:20:26,700 and it's sometimes a verse that seems like 436 01:20:26,700 --> 01:20:28,680 it's hard to breathe but in essence 437 01:20:28,680 --> 01:20:31,140 Jesus is saying 438 01:20:31,140 --> 01:20:32,260 Mary 439 01:20:32,260 --> 01:20:34,240 you've got to let go 440 01:20:34,240 --> 01:20:36,440 we still have stuff to do 441 01:20:36,440 --> 01:20:38,840 and you can imagine this because you've seen that 442 01:20:38,840 --> 01:20:40,800 moment where you have hugged somebody 443 01:20:40,800 --> 01:20:42,840 so hard you didn't want to 444 01:20:42,840 --> 01:20:44,540 let go or somebody has 445 01:20:44,540 --> 01:20:46,240 hugged you so hard you're going 446 01:20:46,240 --> 01:20:48,680 I can't breathe and in her 447 01:20:48,680 --> 01:20:50,680 overwhelming emotion she 448 01:20:50,680 --> 01:20:58,400 launches herself at Jesus, and Jesus has to say, Mary, there's still things that need to be done. 449 01:20:58,400 --> 01:21:06,740 Let's look at this question here that is asked twice in these verses. Why? Now, I've always heard 450 01:21:06,740 --> 01:21:11,920 that there are no dumb questions, or I had one teacher who would say, well, the only dumb question 451 01:21:11,920 --> 01:21:18,900 is the question you wouldn't, you shouldn't, you don't ask. Now, it seems like if you're standing 452 01:21:18,900 --> 01:21:20,360 at the grave of a friend 453 01:21:20,360 --> 01:21:22,940 and tears are running 454 01:21:22,940 --> 01:21:24,900 down your face and you are 455 01:21:24,900 --> 01:21:26,800 in abject sorrow to 456 01:21:26,800 --> 01:21:28,760 ask that person, why 457 01:21:28,760 --> 01:21:30,860 are you weeping? It seems like there's 458 01:21:30,860 --> 01:21:32,720 an obvious answer to that question. 459 01:21:32,720 --> 01:21:34,900 And I'm weeping because everything's broken. 460 01:21:34,900 --> 01:21:36,380 Everything has fallen apart. 461 01:21:36,380 --> 01:21:38,000 Everything is sorrow. 462 01:21:38,000 --> 01:21:43,180 Remember Mary's 463 01:21:43,180 --> 01:21:44,960 history in Luke chapter 8. 464 01:21:44,960 --> 01:21:47,080 It lists a group of women 465 01:21:47,080 --> 01:21:48,800 who have followed Jesus 466 01:21:48,800 --> 01:21:51,300 and have supported his ministry. 467 01:21:51,300 --> 01:21:52,940 And it says Mary called Magdalene 468 01:21:52,940 --> 01:21:56,540 from whom seven demons had gone out. 469 01:21:56,540 --> 01:22:00,260 Mary's been a follower of Jesus for a long time. 470 01:22:00,260 --> 01:22:03,100 He has transformed her life. 471 01:22:03,100 --> 01:22:05,060 One commentator says that the seven demons, 472 01:22:05,060 --> 01:22:07,240 she had a demon for every day of the week. 473 01:22:07,240 --> 01:22:11,160 This is a woman who is in very dark spiritual darkness, 474 01:22:11,160 --> 01:22:13,080 very deep brokenness, 475 01:22:13,080 --> 01:22:17,700 and Jesus comes in his light and transforms her life. 476 01:22:17,820 --> 01:22:19,700 she then follows him. 477 01:22:19,700 --> 01:22:21,800 And what we find in Luke chapter 8 478 01:22:21,800 --> 01:22:23,020 is not just following him, 479 01:22:23,020 --> 01:22:27,100 but supporting and working in the ministry of Jesus 480 01:22:27,100 --> 01:22:31,700 before Jesus even heads to Jerusalem. 481 01:22:31,700 --> 01:22:37,020 And this woman comes to Jesus, 482 01:22:37,020 --> 01:22:38,300 the only one who is saved, 483 01:22:38,300 --> 01:22:39,360 or her only hope. 484 01:22:39,360 --> 01:22:41,860 And it seems obvious that she's weeping 485 01:22:41,860 --> 01:22:44,860 because everything is broken. 486 01:22:44,860 --> 01:22:47,640 The light has gone out. 487 01:22:47,700 --> 01:22:50,640 And this question, why are you weeping, I don't think is a harsh question. 488 01:22:50,640 --> 01:22:55,800 But it's a question designed to pause for a moment and go, why am I weeping? 489 01:22:55,800 --> 01:23:02,780 But her tears are too much, and it is until she hears the voice of her Savior that it finally clicks. 490 01:23:02,780 --> 01:23:06,840 And I don't think that Mary probably stops crying. 491 01:23:06,840 --> 01:23:10,000 I think her tears are probably very different now. 492 01:23:10,000 --> 01:23:13,000 Look at how God transforms. 493 01:23:14,560 --> 01:23:20,800 The woman who had seven demons becomes a supporter and ministry worker with Jesus. 494 01:23:20,800 --> 01:23:26,480 And now she is the first to proclaim the good news to Jesus' disciples. 495 01:23:26,480 --> 01:23:28,880 Everybody else came and said, the tomb is empty. 496 01:23:28,880 --> 01:23:33,060 Mary shows up and goes, I have seen the risen Lord. 497 01:23:33,060 --> 01:23:38,900 And Jesus, in this moment, redeems her tears and turns them into something good. 498 01:23:38,900 --> 01:23:43,560 So having seen these three questions, I just want to give you three statements. 499 01:23:44,360 --> 01:23:48,700 For us, from these three questions, the first is this. 500 01:23:48,700 --> 01:23:50,920 Number one is this. 501 01:23:50,920 --> 01:23:52,240 Go to Jesus anyway. 502 01:23:52,240 --> 01:23:57,380 In your fear, in your pride, and in your hopelessness, or in your sorrow, 503 01:23:57,380 --> 01:24:01,580 I want you to go to Jesus anywhere, anyway. 504 01:24:01,580 --> 01:24:03,900 Look to the birth of Jesus. 505 01:24:03,900 --> 01:24:07,180 A young couple with no money, announced by angels, 506 01:24:07,180 --> 01:24:10,600 proclaimed to the shepherds, celebrated by wise men, 507 01:24:10,920 --> 01:24:14,860 Dedicated in the temple by a very old priest and a very old widow. 508 01:24:14,860 --> 01:24:20,420 Young, rich, poor, righteous, unrighteous throughout his ministry. 509 01:24:20,420 --> 01:24:23,600 Jesus is for everyone. 510 01:24:23,600 --> 01:24:32,380 And you have this moment where so many times excuses fill our thoughts and our ideas. 511 01:24:32,380 --> 01:24:38,600 And I want you to hear from these women on their way to go to Jesus anyway. 512 01:24:40,600 --> 01:24:43,140 In Acts chapter 17, it says this. 513 01:24:43,140 --> 01:24:46,020 In the times of ignorance, God overlooked, 514 01:24:46,020 --> 01:24:48,940 but now He commands all people everywhere to repent 515 01:24:48,940 --> 01:24:50,880 because He has fixed a day 516 01:24:50,880 --> 01:24:53,340 on which He will judge the world in righteousness 517 01:24:53,340 --> 01:24:55,560 by a man whom He has appointed. 518 01:24:55,560 --> 01:24:59,000 And of this, He has given assurance to all 519 01:24:59,000 --> 01:25:01,480 by raising Him from the dead. 520 01:25:01,480 --> 01:25:05,000 The stone has been rolled away. 521 01:25:05,000 --> 01:25:08,420 And whether it's your grief or your sin 522 01:25:08,420 --> 01:25:10,040 or your shame or your fear, 523 01:25:10,600 --> 01:25:14,100 go to Jesus, 524 01:25:14,100 --> 01:25:16,600 the one who rolls away the stone 525 01:25:16,600 --> 01:25:18,480 before you even get there. 526 01:25:18,480 --> 01:25:23,020 Secondly, stop looking in the wrong place. 527 01:25:23,020 --> 01:25:25,180 So easy for us to do this. 528 01:25:25,180 --> 01:25:27,700 So most of you know we have a new puppy. 529 01:25:27,700 --> 01:25:30,140 He's 12 or 13 weeks old. 530 01:25:30,140 --> 01:25:31,860 I don't know if you can probably correct me. 531 01:25:31,860 --> 01:25:33,560 And Friday night I was sitting 532 01:25:33,560 --> 01:25:34,900 getting some work done in the living room. 533 01:25:34,900 --> 01:25:36,100 Everybody else was heading to bed. 534 01:25:36,100 --> 01:25:38,520 And so I put the baby gate up in the living room, 535 01:25:38,520 --> 01:25:39,660 in between the living room, 536 01:25:39,980 --> 01:25:42,540 entrance and the hallway that runs down our hall. 537 01:25:42,540 --> 01:25:45,440 And so the first time I put it up, he just looks at me. 538 01:25:45,440 --> 01:25:50,640 And he's not a big dog, just launches himself over the gate like a rocket. 539 01:25:50,640 --> 01:25:53,000 And I was like, okay, we can play this game. 540 01:25:53,000 --> 01:25:54,460 Let's put the gate higher. 541 01:25:54,460 --> 01:25:56,200 So I put the gate higher. 542 01:25:56,200 --> 01:25:59,020 Next thing I know, he just looks at me and wiggles underneath it. 543 01:25:59,020 --> 01:26:02,020 And I'm just like, are we serious right now? 544 01:26:02,020 --> 01:26:06,000 So I sit there and I get the gate where it's high enough, 545 01:26:06,080 --> 01:26:10,080 He can't go over, but low enough that he can't wiggle under this gate. 546 01:26:10,080 --> 01:26:12,400 And do you know what he does for the next 10 minutes? 547 01:26:12,400 --> 01:26:20,000 He sits there like a kangaroo, alternately jumping over, trying to jump over the gate or go under the gate. 548 01:26:20,000 --> 01:26:22,100 And here I am sitting in the other side of the room. 549 01:26:22,100 --> 01:26:24,180 There's a full food bowl. 550 01:26:24,180 --> 01:26:25,260 There's a water dish. 551 01:26:25,260 --> 01:26:26,540 I've got treats. 552 01:26:26,540 --> 01:26:29,020 His favorite toys are laid out next to me. 553 01:26:29,020 --> 01:26:31,500 There's a blanket for him to snuggle up on. 554 01:26:31,680 --> 01:26:36,340 And he's over at the stupid gate trying to jump over it with all his might. 555 01:26:36,340 --> 01:26:42,420 How many of us in our life are doing the exact same thing? 556 01:26:42,420 --> 01:26:47,300 We're looking in the absolute wrong place for what we need. 557 01:26:47,300 --> 01:26:53,180 Just as the angel said, why are you looking for the living among the dead? 558 01:26:53,180 --> 01:27:01,280 Why are we looking for life in the midst of those things that bring nothing but frustration and disappointment? 559 01:27:01,680 --> 01:27:03,080 and death. 560 01:27:03,080 --> 01:27:06,840 And how many of us are seeking peace 561 01:27:06,840 --> 01:27:08,120 and freedom from fear 562 01:27:08,120 --> 01:27:10,400 and the weight of the guilt on our shoulders 563 01:27:10,400 --> 01:27:12,360 from sin and from shame 564 01:27:12,360 --> 01:27:14,980 and we're just distracting ourselves 565 01:27:14,980 --> 01:27:16,200 and making excuses. 566 01:27:16,200 --> 01:27:17,920 Why are we seeking life 567 01:27:17,920 --> 01:27:20,260 in the place of death? 568 01:27:20,260 --> 01:27:23,320 In the midst of our thirsty souls, 569 01:27:23,320 --> 01:27:26,000 why are we going to anyone other than the one 570 01:27:26,000 --> 01:27:27,720 who gives us living water? 571 01:27:27,720 --> 01:27:29,660 In the midst of struggle 572 01:27:29,660 --> 01:27:31,800 and confrontation and discouragement. 573 01:27:31,800 --> 01:27:34,540 Why are we going to anyone other than the one 574 01:27:34,540 --> 01:27:37,220 who has the words of eternal life? 575 01:27:37,220 --> 01:27:40,620 And in the face of darkness and death, 576 01:27:40,620 --> 01:27:43,600 why are we going to anyone other 577 01:27:43,600 --> 01:27:47,840 than the one who has the resurrection and the life? 578 01:27:47,840 --> 01:27:50,380 We've got to stop looking in the wrong place. 579 01:27:50,380 --> 01:27:53,360 Then comes this promise that Jesus is the one 580 01:27:53,360 --> 01:27:54,720 who redeems for tears. 581 01:27:56,680 --> 01:28:02,840 Like Mary, from the sorrow to the joy of proclaiming the good news. 582 01:28:02,840 --> 01:28:07,800 It shouldn't probably be a surprise, but it is in John the 16th chapter. 583 01:28:07,800 --> 01:28:11,220 Jesus, as he prepares his disciples at the Last Supper, says, 584 01:28:11,220 --> 01:28:17,060 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. 585 01:28:17,060 --> 01:28:22,680 You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. 586 01:28:23,680 --> 01:28:32,140 Jesus speaking of the resurrection for the disciples, for Mary, not just for them, but for us. 587 01:28:32,140 --> 01:28:38,280 You see, Jesus can take your brokenness, your sin, and your sorrow, and He can turn it into joy. 588 01:28:38,280 --> 01:28:43,240 And here's the great news is that Jesus is not just covering it up. 589 01:28:43,240 --> 01:28:48,620 He literally takes the brokenness of your life. 590 01:28:48,620 --> 01:28:51,780 In Isaiah 53, it says this, 591 01:28:51,880 --> 01:28:54,720 All we like sheep have gone astray 592 01:28:54,720 --> 01:28:56,960 and we have turned everyone to his own way 593 01:28:56,960 --> 01:29:00,120 and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 594 01:29:00,120 --> 01:29:02,140 God does not just come in 595 01:29:02,140 --> 01:29:05,580 and the picture here is not just a coat of paint 596 01:29:05,580 --> 01:29:07,140 to make it look new. 597 01:29:07,140 --> 01:29:09,240 It's not just a freshening up 598 01:29:09,240 --> 01:29:12,020 but all of your brokenness and your heartbreak 599 01:29:12,020 --> 01:29:14,760 and your sin and your shame is taken 600 01:29:14,760 --> 01:29:18,460 and Jesus on the cross bears it all. 601 01:29:18,460 --> 01:29:21,860 But he doesn't just take your brokenness. 602 01:29:21,880 --> 01:29:26,000 2 Corinthians says this 603 01:29:26,000 --> 01:29:27,520 for our sake it made him 604 01:29:27,520 --> 01:29:29,720 to be sin who knew no sin 605 01:29:29,720 --> 01:29:31,960 so that in him we might become 606 01:29:31,960 --> 01:29:33,360 the righteousness of God 607 01:29:33,360 --> 01:29:36,020 it's not just that the brokenness 608 01:29:36,020 --> 01:29:37,540 is taken away but it is then 609 01:29:37,540 --> 01:29:38,880 filled with the righteousness 610 01:29:38,880 --> 01:29:40,360 of Jesus 611 01:29:40,360 --> 01:29:43,340 and on the cross 612 01:29:43,340 --> 01:29:46,000 God looks at Jesus 613 01:29:46,000 --> 01:29:48,140 and sees 614 01:29:48,140 --> 01:29:48,980 your sin 615 01:29:48,980 --> 01:29:51,260 and now 616 01:29:51,260 --> 01:29:54,940 as a Christian, the Father looks at you 617 01:29:54,940 --> 01:29:57,600 and sees Jesus. 618 01:29:57,600 --> 01:30:01,620 In the words of D.A. Carson, 619 01:30:01,620 --> 01:30:04,180 none of us are suffering from anything 620 01:30:04,180 --> 01:30:06,340 a good resurrection can't fix. 621 01:30:06,340 --> 01:30:09,200 I want you to know that there is one 622 01:30:09,200 --> 01:30:10,600 who redeems your tears. 623 01:30:10,600 --> 01:30:13,840 I want you to run to Jesus anyway. 624 01:30:13,840 --> 01:30:16,980 And I want you to stop looking 625 01:30:16,980 --> 01:30:19,660 for hope in the wrong places. 626 01:30:19,660 --> 01:30:20,620 Let's pray. 627 01:30:21,580 --> 01:30:23,760 Father, thank you so much 628 01:30:23,760 --> 01:30:26,340 for Jesus and for grace. 629 01:30:26,340 --> 01:30:28,700 Thank you for the promise of hope 630 01:30:28,700 --> 01:30:30,020 and the promise of a resurrection. 631 01:30:30,020 --> 01:30:32,060 Thank you for the reality 632 01:30:32,060 --> 01:30:34,060 of the resurrection of Jesus 633 01:30:34,060 --> 01:30:36,560 who goes before us. 634 01:30:36,560 --> 01:30:41,620 Thank you that we can have peace with you 635 01:30:41,620 --> 01:30:42,880 and forgiveness. 636 01:30:42,880 --> 01:30:45,100 It's in your son's name we pray. 637 01:30:45,100 --> 01:30:45,500 Amen. 638 01:30:45,500 --> 01:30:48,280 We're going to stand and sing 639 01:30:48,280 --> 01:30:50,780 about how God turns graves 640 01:30:50,780 --> 01:30:51,540 into gardens. 641 01:30:51,540 --> 01:31:04,560 I searched the world 642 01:31:04,560 --> 01:31:10,320 It couldn't fill me 643 01:31:10,320 --> 01:31:14,980 Mans empty praise 644 01:31:14,980 --> 01:31:17,280 And treasures that fade 645 01:31:17,280 --> 01:31:20,060 Are never enough 646 01:31:20,060 --> 01:31:25,360 Then you came along 647 01:31:25,360 --> 01:31:30,680 And put me back together 648 01:31:30,680 --> 01:31:35,300 And every desire 649 01:31:35,300 --> 01:31:37,600 Is now satisfied 650 01:31:37,600 --> 01:31:40,660 Here in your love 651 01:31:40,660 --> 01:31:46,000 Oh, there's nothing 652 01:31:46,000 --> 01:31:49,300 Better than you 653 01:31:49,300 --> 01:31:51,420 There's nothing 654 01:31:51,420 --> 01:31:54,420 Better than you 655 01:31:54,420 --> 01:31:56,340 There's nothing 656 01:31:56,340 --> 01:32:01,260 Nothing is better than you 657 01:32:01,260 --> 01:32:11,420 I'm not afraid 658 01:32:11,420 --> 01:32:17,580 To show you my weakness 659 01:32:17,580 --> 01:32:21,520 My failures and flaws 660 01:32:21,520 --> 01:32:24,060 Lord, you've seen them all 661 01:32:24,060 --> 01:32:26,780 And you still call me friend 662 01:32:26,780 --> 01:32:31,940 Because the God of the mountain 663 01:32:31,940 --> 01:32:37,220 Who is the God of the valley 664 01:32:37,220 --> 01:32:42,300 There's not a place 665 01:32:42,300 --> 01:32:44,720 Your mercy and grace 666 01:32:44,720 --> 01:32:47,420 Won't find me again 667 01:32:47,420 --> 01:32:52,780 Oh, there's nothing 668 01:32:52,780 --> 01:32:56,420 Better than you 669 01:32:56,420 --> 01:32:58,040 There's nothing 670 01:32:58,040 --> 01:33:01,320 Better than you 671 01:33:01,320 --> 01:33:03,160 Oh, there's nothing 672 01:33:03,160 --> 01:33:08,080 Nothing is better than you 673 01:33:08,080 --> 01:33:13,320 Oh, there's nothing 674 01:33:13,320 --> 01:33:16,840 Better than you 675 01:33:16,840 --> 01:33:18,600 There's nothing 676 01:33:18,600 --> 01:33:21,860 Better than you 677 01:33:21,860 --> 01:33:24,000 Lord, there's nothing 678 01:33:24,000 --> 01:33:28,640 Nothing is better than you 679 01:33:33,160 --> 01:33:43,160 You turn mourning to dancing, You give beauty for ashes, 680 01:33:43,160 --> 01:33:53,160 You turn shame into glory, You're the only one who can. 681 01:33:53,160 --> 01:34:02,160 You turn graves into gardens, You turn bones into armies, 682 01:34:02,160 --> 01:34:13,120 You turn seasons to highways You're the only one who can 683 01:34:13,120 --> 01:34:26,600 Oh, there's nothing better than you There's nothing better than you, Lord 684 01:34:26,600 --> 01:34:38,600 For there's nothing, nothing is better than you 685 01:34:38,600 --> 01:34:41,600 For there's nothing, better than you 686 01:34:41,600 --> 01:34:46,600 There's nothing, better than you 687 01:34:46,600 --> 01:34:48,600 Lord, there's nothing. 688 01:34:48,600 --> 01:34:53,440 Nothing is better than you. 689 01:34:53,440 --> 01:35:01,080 You turn graves into gardens. 690 01:35:01,080 --> 01:35:06,360 You turn swaths into armies. 691 01:35:06,360 --> 01:35:11,360 You turn seas into highways. 692 01:35:11,360 --> 01:35:26,940 grace. You're the only one who can. You're the only one who can. You're the only one who can. 693 01:35:26,940 --> 01:35:36,380 We are so thankful that you are here with us this morning. Next Sunday is our second 694 01:35:36,380 --> 01:35:44,540 Children's Church of this month. And so that is happening next Sunday. Normally we have Wednesday 695 01:35:44,540 --> 01:35:52,680 night Bible study on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. This week, however, we are doing our doing like a VBS 696 01:35:52,680 --> 01:35:59,440 kind of informational slash planning slash let's prepare so that we're not rushing around at the 697 01:35:59,440 --> 01:36:05,060 last minute type of meeting. So that's Wednesday night at 6 p.m. We're also going to be having 698 01:36:05,060 --> 01:36:11,160 dinner to go along with that. So if you want to come and just eat with us, you are more than 699 01:36:11,160 --> 01:36:16,320 welcome to do that. If you want to come and help with VBS preparation, learn a little bit more 700 01:36:16,320 --> 01:36:20,900 about that, you can. If you want to come and just ignore all the VBS stuff, we're still going to 701 01:36:20,900 --> 01:36:25,440 talk about it, but you're welcome to come and join and eat with us anyway. So that's Wednesday 702 01:36:25,440 --> 01:36:33,540 at 6 p.m. We're going to go ahead and pray. I'm going to read a Scripture from the book of 703 01:36:33,540 --> 01:36:38,460 Hebrews, and we'll sing the doxology. Father in heaven, I thank you for Jesus, and I thank you for 704 01:36:38,460 --> 01:36:45,440 grace, and I thank you for the hope that you give us. Help us to live in light of the good news of 705 01:36:45,440 --> 01:36:53,420 the gospel that Jesus has died, been buried, and has risen to be alive today. Just help us as we 706 01:36:53,420 --> 01:36:59,740 walk with you. It's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Now may the good shepherd, may the God of peace, 707 01:36:59,740 --> 01:37:01,560 who brought again from the dead 708 01:37:01,560 --> 01:37:03,920 our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd 709 01:37:03,920 --> 01:37:05,840 of the sheep by the blood of the eternal 710 01:37:05,840 --> 01:37:07,720 covenant, equip you with 711 01:37:07,720 --> 01:37:09,820 everything good that you may do 712 01:37:09,820 --> 01:37:11,680 his will, working in us that 713 01:37:11,680 --> 01:37:13,660 which is pleasing in his sight, through 714 01:37:13,660 --> 01:37:15,720 Jesus Christ, to him be glory 715 01:37:15,720 --> 01:37:18,060 forever and ever. Amen. 716 01:37:29,740 --> 01:37:32,420 Blessings flow 717 01:37:32,420 --> 01:37:37,460 Praise him all creatures here below 718 01:37:37,460 --> 01:37:43,320 Praise him above ye heavenly hosts 719 01:37:43,320 --> 01:37:48,980 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost 720 01:37:59,740 --> 01:38:29,720 Thank you. 721 01:38:29,740 --> 01:38:30,900 It needs to be done. 722 01:38:30,900 --> 01:38:32,120 Right now? 723 01:38:32,120 --> 01:38:32,800 Yeah. 724 01:38:32,800 --> 01:38:34,140 Let's check out. 725 01:38:34,140 --> 01:38:35,320 This is. 726 01:38:35,320 --> 01:38:37,100 Oh, I'm going to do that. 727 01:38:37,100 --> 01:38:38,060 One of them. 728 01:38:38,060 --> 01:38:39,460 Hey, I'm going to do it. 729 01:38:39,460 --> 01:38:41,920 You're not called out. 730 01:38:41,920 --> 01:38:44,940 Hey, you can see you guys. 731 01:38:44,940 --> 01:38:45,520 He's awesome. 732 01:38:45,520 --> 01:38:47,520 Awesome. 733 01:38:47,520 --> 01:38:48,420 All right. 734 01:38:48,420 --> 01:38:49,300 I'm going to do it. 735 01:38:49,300 --> 01:38:50,720 I'm going to do it. 736 01:38:50,720 --> 01:38:51,340 Can you do that? 737 01:38:51,340 --> 01:38:52,960 No, I'm going to do it. 738 01:38:52,960 --> 01:38:53,800 No, I'm going to do it. 739 01:38:53,800 --> 01:38:54,440 No, I'm going to do it. 740 01:38:59,720 --> 01:39:13,720 is 741 01:39:29,720 --> 01:39:33,960 She's going to be here, everybody can hold it, and it's going to be there. 742 01:39:33,960 --> 01:39:38,720 The whole thing doesn't go online, it's just, so, yeah, yeah. 743 01:39:38,720 --> 01:39:40,220 Oh, thank you for being here. 744 01:39:40,220 --> 01:39:41,220 What? 745 01:39:41,220 --> 01:39:42,220 What? 746 01:39:42,220 --> 01:39:45,220 I had to have more. 747 01:39:45,220 --> 01:39:49,220 No, I had to have more. 748 01:39:49,220 --> 01:39:53,220 No, I had to put it in the house as well. 749 01:39:53,220 --> 01:39:55,220 Is that the box from a fridge? 750 01:39:55,220 --> 01:39:56,220 Yeah. 751 01:39:56,220 --> 01:39:57,220 Okay. 752 01:39:57,220 --> 01:39:59,840 I like to keep my head. 753 01:39:59,840 --> 01:40:03,980 I don't know what it might be with you. 754 01:40:03,980 --> 01:40:09,760 Yeah, I'm just going to take that one, I'm just going to take that one. 755 01:40:09,760 --> 01:40:15,800 Pam, take that box with you. 756 01:40:15,800 --> 01:40:17,180 Take that one with you. 757 01:40:17,180 --> 01:40:18,380 I need a box with you. 758 01:40:18,380 --> 01:40:21,460 Because they are going to be happening here. 759 01:40:21,460 --> 01:40:22,180 Do you know what? 760 01:40:22,180 --> 01:40:22,900 No. 761 01:40:25,480 --> 01:40:39,480 uh 762 01:40:55,480 --> 01:41:00,020 Yeah, I think it's a nice time. 763 01:41:00,020 --> 01:41:00,260 Yeah, I think it's a nice time. 764 01:41:00,260 --> 01:41:00,960 Yeah, I think it's a nice time. 765 01:41:21,380 --> 01:41:24,140 Oh, what about this time? 766 01:41:24,140 --> 01:41:26,520 What about this time? 767 01:41:26,520 --> 01:41:30,520 Which is what he wrote. 768 01:41:30,520 --> 01:41:36,520 He wrote, oh, he had cheese. 769 01:41:36,520 --> 01:41:38,520 So he had cheese. 770 01:41:38,520 --> 01:41:40,520 And we're going to go to their house. 771 01:41:40,520 --> 01:41:42,520 But he has some of these. 772 01:41:42,520 --> 01:41:44,520 And we're going to have a different memory. 773 01:41:44,520 --> 01:41:46,520 So that's what we're going to do. 774 01:41:46,520 --> 01:41:47,520 You see that? 775 01:41:47,520 --> 01:41:48,520 And cheese. 776 01:41:48,520 --> 01:41:49,520 And cheese. 777 01:41:49,520 --> 01:41:52,880 And now it's like, everybody, like all our kids, all our kids. 778 01:41:52,880 --> 01:42:05,180 Yeah, there's a lot of cheese-related. 779 01:42:05,180 --> 01:42:11,320 And I took a lot of them, and they're like a kid who's great. 780 01:42:11,320 --> 01:42:16,940 They were there going to their great-goers and their daughters. 781 01:42:17,780 --> 01:42:22,780 - Hey, you want out? - Yes. 782 01:42:47,780 --> 01:42:49,720 Without a grunt, I know that sounds great. 783 01:42:49,720 --> 01:42:53,020 I'll have to probably say that. 784 01:42:53,020 --> 01:42:57,100 It's a thing that I've never understood. 785 01:42:57,100 --> 01:42:58,160 You're the last. 786 01:43:17,780 --> 01:43:47,760 Thank you. 787 01:43:47,780 --> 01:44:17,760 Thank you. 788 01:44:17,780 --> 01:44:47,760 Thank you.