1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:05,040 Welcome, Church. I invite you to mark chapter 16. 2 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,560 I come before you today with a message of joy, message of 3 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:13,840 encouragement, a message of hope. 4 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:15,720 And. We're going to discover that 5 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:23,680 together here in these verses as we reflect on the resurrection 6 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:28,440 of Jesus Christ. An old, old preacher. 7 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,640 Numbered among the Puritans from the 1600s said the following 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,640 Christ's resurrection is the victory of the Church, the 9 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:42,320 purchase of their liberty, the cause of their justification, 10 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,920 the pledge for their own resurrection, and the 11 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,440 demonstration of the certainty of eternal life. 12 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:53,680 Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no 13 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,000 Christianity. Without the resurrection of 14 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:00,840 Jesus Christ, there is no forgiveness, there is no 15 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:05,920 freedom, there is no salvation, there is no hope and death. 16 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:11,200 There is no everlasting life. There is no empowerment in this 17 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,920 life. All in. 18 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:15,520 All. Without the resurrection of the 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:20,600 Lord Jesus Christ, there is no true or lasting purpose in this 20 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:23,520 life or in the next. It is paramount. 21 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,560 It is the event of all events. It is the climax of the gospel. 22 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,200 It was the necessary miracle that made everything that Jesus 23 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:38,320 did and said legitimate and applicable to you and I, the 24 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:40,720 resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's what we're going to 25 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,160 reflect on today. And here's my prayer as we do 26 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:47,400 that, that your faith in the resurrection would increase 27 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:51,280 while your love for the resurrected Lord would enlarge 28 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,800 as you and I now behold his heart for you and me. 29 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:57,720 That's what we're going to see here. 30 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,520 We're not going to just merely look at a supernatural 31 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,880 occurrence. We're going to see the character 32 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,960 of the one who performed it. And so I hope none of these 33 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:09,840 things sound too familiar to you. 34 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,600 I pray that God would give us actually fresh eyes to see 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:17,880 familiar truths with a new touch, new enlightenment. 36 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,400 Can you believe that we're in Mark 16? 37 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,520 I'm not sure if you know, but there's nothing past Mark 16. 38 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:29,400 So over the past months, years actually, we have now arrived to 39 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:31,720 the final chapter of our study in the Gospel of Mark. 40 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,200 Isn't that wonderful? I think we've reached close to 41 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,960 100 sermons in the Gospel of Mark. 42 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,240 God has been good to us every single week. 43 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:45,080 And you know, after we finish this, I asked you to really pray 44 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,920 to see where the Lord would lead us next as a church because I 45 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:50,000 want to. Ultimately, I'm here to serve 46 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,680 you, I'm here to help you. I'm here to do whatever I can to 47 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,040 help you fall more in love with the Lord Jesus Christ through 48 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:58,000 His Word. But we're not there yet, so 49 00:02:58,000 --> 00:02:59,200 let's not get ahead of ourselves. 50 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,520 Let's come to Mark 16. You're there with me, I'm sure. 51 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,600 And let's read there in verse one. 52 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:11,640 When the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother 53 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:16,160 of James and Salome, bought spices so that they might go and 54 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,520 anoint him. And very early on the first day 55 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,000 of the week. When the sun had risen, they 56 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,880 went to the tomb, and they were saying to one another, Who will 57 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:28,720 roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb. 58 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,440 And looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled back. 59 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,920 It was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw 60 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,520 a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe. 61 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,240 And they were alarmed. And he said to them, do not be 62 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,640 alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who 63 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:52,240 was crucified. He has risen, He is not here. 64 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:57,160 See the place where they laid him, but go tell his disciples 65 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,080 and Peter that He is going before you to Galilee. 66 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,560 There you will see Him just as he told you. 67 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,400 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and 68 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,520 astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, 69 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:16,000 for they were afraid. Lord, it's, it's our sincere 70 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,760 prayer that we would not just study about your resurrection, 71 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:22,920 that we would experience it. Help us experience the 72 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,200 resurrected Lord, only you can make that possible. 73 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:30,360 And so we pray for it to be made known in this place on this 74 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,920 Sunday. We love you with every ounce of 75 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,920 who we are. Help us love you more as we 76 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,880 reflect on your love for us in Jesus name, Amen. 77 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,680 Amen. So a couple of weeks ago, you 78 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,800 and I touched on one of these verses concerning these women 79 00:04:47,280 --> 00:04:51,400 who bought spices to go and anoint the body of the Lord 80 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,680 Jesus Christ. And we concluded that this act 81 00:04:55,680 --> 00:05:01,560 was really a reflection of their unbelief because they should 82 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:04,760 have known that on this particular day, the same Jesus 83 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:11,000 that they were going to honor fled the grave, conquered the 84 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,800 grave, overcame death. So there is no need to buy these 85 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:17,040 herbs and spices. There is no need to try to 86 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,520 anoint his lifeless body. He's alive. 87 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:24,120 The anointed one said what he said he would do, accomplish 88 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,280 what he said he would do. And so for the for the fact that 89 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:29,400 these women are going and making their way to the tomb in this 90 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:33,960 way reveals a level of unbelief. But you also can't deny, you 91 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,720 cannot object to the reality that this is an act of pure 92 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:42,000 devotion as well. Why take the time to buy spices 93 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,120 and prepare them when you and I learned a couple weeks ago that 94 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:50,120 Joseph of Arimathea and his friend Nicodemus brought 75 lbs. 95 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:52,880 Worth of herbs and applied it to him. 96 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,160 You would think nothing else is necessary after that. 97 00:05:57,200 --> 00:05:59,760 But you see these women were not satisfied. 98 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:06,840 They themselves long to lavish their love on Jesus Christ, and 99 00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:10,200 for you and I that is really a reflection of true worship. 100 00:06:10,840 --> 00:06:14,520 Listen, a worshipper doesn't just rejoice when they see that 101 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:18,240 their Lord is being honored, when they see others giving, 102 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,800 when they see others praising, when they see others serving, 103 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:25,480 when they see others blessing. A true worshipper says I must 104 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:32,200 glorify Him myself. I must contribute to the cause 105 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:33,840 of Christ. It's not enough for me to be a 106 00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:37,600 part of something or to be with others who are advancing the 107 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,480 Kingdom. What do I need to do, Oh Lord, 108 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,600 to show you that I love you. And so you have these band of 109 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,520 women who are doing just that. Yes, they saw Jesus, his body 110 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,160 anointed, but they said we must do it for ourselves. 111 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:54,760 We must show our last act a final act of our love and 112 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,360 devotion to the Christ. And so they're making their way 113 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,440 to do that. And what makes these women even 114 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:03,840 more inspiring, if we overlook their unbelief, is that they 115 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:08,960 chose to seek and serve the lore in a very distressing time, 116 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:15,480 uneasy time. Matthew adds a detail about the 117 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:17,800 scene that makes it more suspenseful. 118 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:19,840 You don't have to turn there, but let me read it to you. 119 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,840 It's a very brief verse. In Matthew 27, verse 66, it 120 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:25,760 says. So they went and made the tomb 121 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:31,040 secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard, speaking about 122 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,640 the Pharisees and the Romans. So not only was there a stone 123 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,280 covering the mouth of that tomb, there was surveillance, 124 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:44,240 aggressive, vicious soldiers. We're at the mouth of that tomb 125 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:47,280 as well. We don't know if the woman knew 126 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:51,000 this or not, but if we assume that they did know about it, 127 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:55,160 then it says something about the extent of the love for Christ 128 00:07:55,160 --> 00:07:59,240 that they are willing to even go and honor Him with the presence 129 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,200 of danger. It didn't prevent them from 130 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:05,960 their worship. Now, that might not resonate 131 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:11,600 with you and I here in the West because I'm not prophetic, but 132 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:15,960 I'm sure that not one person in this place got in their cars and 133 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,480 worried that coming to church might be met with terrorists or 134 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:22,920 the police stopping you, right? Nobody. 135 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:25,760 Probably the greatest challenge is, OK, how am I going to get 136 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:31,600 parking? But if your devotion of mine 137 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,679 ever reaches the point where it does become costly to serve 138 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:37,799 Jesus Christ, and that can happen very quickly even in this 139 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:41,919 nation, that I want you to never forget the inspiration of these 140 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:46,480 women. They did not flinch when their 141 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,440 commitment to Christ was leading them into a hostile 142 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,040 circumstance. Christ is worthy to be served, 143 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,960 even if it gets dangerous to serve Him. 144 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:59,040 He's worthy of that kind of devotion. 145 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,160 And if you think it stops there, it doesn't because it wasn't 146 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,920 just danger that they are about to face. 147 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,120 There were obstacles. What was the obstacle? 148 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,440 Look at mark 16, three, I'll remind you. 149 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,960 And they were saying to one another, who will roll away the 150 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,480 stone for us from the entrance of the tomb. 151 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,000 So obviously the stone was large enough where even in their 152 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,880 collective efforts they wouldn't be able to move it. 153 00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:25,960 And so now they're pondering and thinking, how, how are we going 154 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:29,680 to do this? And this was a roadblock, so to 155 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:31,440 speak. And it's no different for 156 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,680 servants of God today who sometimes will face obstacles in 157 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:39,200 their pursuit of wanting to honor and serve the Lord Jesus 158 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:40,880 Christ. Sometimes those challenges are 159 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:43,040 natural. Other times they are caused by 160 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:48,080 the enemies of the truth. Regardless, you know what you 161 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,400 can say about these women, even though they were aware that 162 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,720 there was a stone. Keeping them from doing what 163 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,360 they truly want to do from their heart. 164 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:01,640 It was not an excuse. It was not an excuse for them to 165 00:10:01,640 --> 00:10:04,440 not go and lavish their love upon Christ. 166 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:08,320 It's not like they discovered it when they got there. 167 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,600 Remember we're told there in verse 47. 168 00:10:10,680 --> 00:10:13,920 Look at Matthew, excuse me, Mark 15, Mary Magdalene and Mary the 169 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,200 mother of Joseph saw where he was laid. 170 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:18,440 They saw where Jesus was laid. They knew the exact. 171 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,840 Tomb and they saw a stone being rolled in front of it, so they 172 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:23,880 knew it. It's not like it was a surprise 173 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:30,160 to them, but it didn't matter because they were willing to 174 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,120 make their way to the burial site. 175 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:37,240 I believe with a level of faith that they were going to get in 176 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:39,760 there somehow, that something was going to be done. 177 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,800 And even if nothing was going to be done, they at least went for 178 00:10:43,800 --> 00:10:49,400 it and they were going to try. Now, I have a feeling that I 179 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:52,880 would know how some modern Christians would have approached 180 00:10:52,880 --> 00:10:57,640 this situation, so they have a chance to honor the Lord Jesus 181 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,760 in this way. And just imagine knowing about a 182 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,360 large stone that restricts you. Yeah. 183 00:11:03,400 --> 00:11:05,800 You know, I don't think it's worth it. 184 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,080 It's it's going to be in vain. Let's save our time, save our 185 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,720 money. We wanted to do it. 186 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,920 And Mary over there reminded us that there's a stone, so let's 187 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:17,920 just forget about it. Move on. 188 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,120 That's not what these Christians, these followers of 189 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,840 Christ were like. They had it in their hearts and 190 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:29,400 it was going to take more than danger and inconvenience to keep 191 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,800 them from serving Jesus. I hope that the same can be said 192 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:35,960 about you. I hope it takes way more than 193 00:11:35,960 --> 00:11:40,480 dangerous situations or minor, even major inconveniences to 194 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,760 keep you from giving the Lord what is His due. 195 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:49,680 Loving the Lord with all your heart and notice what happens 196 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:52,840 here, that as they are worried about what's going to happen to 197 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:55,720 the tomb, verse 4 tells us that it was solved. 198 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,040 And looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled back. 199 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,400 It was very large. Do you know what happens when 200 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:07,280 your heart is set to devoting yourself to the Lord? 201 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,360 With that level of determination, God will make a 202 00:12:10,360 --> 00:12:14,440 way for you. Do you understand that God will 203 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,520 make listen, when you put God first, the things that you're 204 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,520 worried about, they're trying to get in the way of God being 205 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,320 first. God will take care of those 206 00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:24,560 things. He promises us that. 207 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,560 And we see it by way of example here. 208 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,720 And we're going to elaborate this on this in a moment here. 209 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,600 But many people mistake in the idea of why the the stone was 210 00:12:34,600 --> 00:12:36,480 rolled away from the tomb. They think that the stone was 211 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,240 rolled away so that Jesus can get out. 212 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,680 No, Jesus didn't need to get out in that way. 213 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:45,720 Do you know why? Because he was glorified. 214 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,160 And you've read the Gospels enough to know that Jesus wasn't 215 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:52,320 hindered in his glorified state by walls or locked doors, right? 216 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,200 He didn't. Need the stone to be moved. 217 00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:57,240 He can walk right through the walls. 218 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,280 Lazarus on the other hand, in John 11, when Jesus was ready to 219 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,720 raise him from the dead, said take away the stone. 220 00:13:05,560 --> 00:13:07,960 Why? So that Lazarus could wiggle his 221 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:11,880 way out. Because the Lazarus resurrection 222 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,080 was not a glorified resurrection. 223 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,240 That was Jesus resurrection. That's why his resurrection was 224 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:22,040 so unique. A transformation took place and 225 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:24,120 it's a prototype of what our resurrection is going to look 226 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,360 like. So that the the stone in Jesus 227 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,280 case being rolled away was not so that Christ could come out is 228 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:34,440 so that his disciples could go in and see with their own eyes 229 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,200 that he did in fact keep his promise that on the third day he 230 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:40,320 would rise. And so don't you find it 231 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,200 wonderful? That these women. 232 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:45,720 Who are trying to brainstorm how they're going to remove this 233 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,760 stone in their attempt to love the Lord and honor the Lord 234 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:52,320 discover that it was solved before they even arrived. 235 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,000 Many of the things that you and I are worried about and 236 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:59,440 wondering how it's going to happen, God already has taken 237 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:01,360 care of. You know why? 238 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,480 Because your God and mine has lived our tomorrow's. 239 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:07,200 I know that's hard to wrap your mind around, but he's already 240 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:11,040 lived your tomorrow's. He's not bound by time he sees 241 00:14:11,040 --> 00:14:13,480 it all. He's at your birthday and your 242 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,200 funeral at the same time. Think about that might get a 243 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:20,600 headache. So he's already there and so 244 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,080 they're figuring out how's it going to happen and he already 245 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:25,760 dealt with it. It's no different for you and I 246 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:29,360 in our own lives. So they arrive and they realize 247 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:32,480 that the stone was rolled away. Now we touched on verse one and 248 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:34,120 verse 3 and 4, but we skipped over verse 2. 249 00:14:34,120 --> 00:14:37,680 Let's look at it quickly and very early on the first day of 250 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:42,560 the week when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb very 251 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,560 early. I wonder if they even slept. 252 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,560 So you have to remember that the Sabbath, which is on a Saturday, 253 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:51,840 took place and they couldn't come and visit Jesus then 254 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:53,880 because they couldn't come in contact with a dead body on the 255 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,960 Sabbath. And so they waited until that 256 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,960 Saturday was complete. And very early on the first day 257 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,360 of the week, which is Sunday, they went to the tomb. 258 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:06,960 Now here's what's interesting here. 259 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:08,920 They went to the tomb on the first day of the week to do 260 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:10,680 what? In essence, to worship. 261 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:14,800 And what's amazing here is that the timing of the worship sets a 262 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,280 precedent for Christ's followers for all ages. 263 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,040 In what way you and I to gather on the first day of the week, do 264 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:25,480 we not? That's why we're here today. 265 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:28,920 But we don't do it for the same reason these women did. 266 00:15:29,880 --> 00:15:31,640 Why? Because these women came on 267 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:35,960 Sunday to pay tribute to the lifeless body of Jesus Christ. 268 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:39,200 You and I come here every Sunday to remember His resurrection and 269 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,840 proclaim that He's alive. That's the difference. 270 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,280 That's why you and I gather on Sundays, if you didn't know. 271 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,080 To commemorate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 272 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:53,760 And we see scriptural proof, We see actually a pattern of how 273 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,480 this was established from the earliest days of the church. 274 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:59,280 I want you to see a progression of thought here in your Bibles. 275 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,280 You're going to have to flip to a few places though. 276 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,760 So look at Acts 20, verse seven. You're going to have some 277 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,720 people, I'm sure at some point ask you why do you worship on 278 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,960 Sunday as a Christian with the church? 279 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,720 Because you have some people who think you're not saved unless 280 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,680 you do it on the Sabbath, the Jewish Sabbath. 281 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,720 And it's good to just know why we do what we do as Christians 282 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,720 anyway, even if nobody asks you why you do it. 283 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:27,680 Look at Acts 20, verse 7. Luke writes on the first day of 284 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,280 the week when we were gathered together to break bread. 285 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:35,080 Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and 286 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:37,160 he prolonged his speech until midnight. 287 00:16:37,640 --> 00:16:39,960 Read this very carefully. We're told that they met on the 288 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,560 first day of the week. Well, if you've ever read the 289 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,480 book of Acts, you notice that they met more than one day a 290 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,040 week, did they not? Plenty of days, actually. 291 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,520 Early on, they met every day. But here we're told that they 292 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,600 met on the first day of the week and not just meeting on the 293 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,760 first day. They broke bread. 294 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,400 They were recognizing one of the ordinances of the church 295 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:02,440 communion, the Lord's Supper. So they're doing that on a 296 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:05,560 particular day. Luke highlights that. 297 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:07,640 Then as you read through your New Testament, you discover 298 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,480 something in First Corinthians 16. 299 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:12,040 Look at it with me in verse. Two, I'll wait for you. 300 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:16,520 First Corinthians 16 verse two. Look what Paul says to these 301 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:28,079 believers. He says on the first day of 302 00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:33,800 every week, each of you used to put something aside and store it 303 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,480 up as he may prosper so that there will be no collecting when 304 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,200 I come. So he's talking about a 305 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,680 fundraising effort for the church in Jerusalem, and he's 306 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:47,440 telling them, listen, before now and then I'm asking you as the 307 00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:51,760 Corinthians that every first day of every week when you gather 308 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,360 that you put together based on what you're able to provide so 309 00:17:55,360 --> 00:17:58,200 that a collection can be made. For this church in in need. 310 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,600 So we went from Acts 20 that says on the first day of the 311 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:05,760 week and then now Paul says on the first day of every week. 312 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,600 A tradition is being established here, a standard is being 313 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:13,160 raised. Then now the church seems it's 314 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:16,160 common knowledge to be met meeting at least once a week on 315 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:19,840 Sunday to worship, to collect, to serve. 316 00:18:21,360 --> 00:18:24,280 And over the years now you come to the very last book of the 317 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,400 Bible and you read something interesting in Revelation 318 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:29,840 chapter one. Look at verse 10 of Revelation 319 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:39,340 chapter 1. John writes and testifies, I was 320 00:18:39,340 --> 00:18:44,500 in the spirit on what day? On the Lord's Day. 321 00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:48,760 And I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet. 322 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:53,520 So as the years went on, the church no longer just recognized 323 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:56,400 the essential meeting time of the first day of the week. 324 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,720 It now became known as the Lord's Day. 325 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:01,720 And what's interesting is when you look at extra biblical 326 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:06,720 sources like early church writings, the Lord's Day is 327 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:09,280 recognized as Sunday, unmistakable. 328 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,240 The early Christians would refer to the Lord's Day as the first 329 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:15,280 day of the week. For what purpose? 330 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:16,680 Because that's when Christ raised. 331 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:17,880 That's when he rose from the dead. 332 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:20,720 Now, can I give you a word of caution, please? 333 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:26,560 It would be incorrect and it would be untrue to say that 334 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:31,480 Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. It's not. 335 00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:34,600 It's not the Christian Sabbath. People have this understanding 336 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:37,520 that once Jesus came and inaugurated the new covenant, 337 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,200 the Sabbath. Under the Mosaic law, which was 338 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,960 honored on the 7th day, Saturday was transferred now to Sunday. 339 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:46,080 So we as Christians, our Sabbath is on Sunday. 340 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,400 That's not true. That's not how the Bible 341 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,880 actually describes the Sabbath. The Sabbath wasn't changed in 342 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:56,040 terms of the timing. It was fulfilled in the New 343 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:58,280 Covenant. And what are you talking about? 344 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,800 I'm telling you that the Sabbath, according to the New 345 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:04,800 Testament, was realized in the person of Jesus Christ. 346 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:06,880 Let me take some time to explain that. 347 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:10,440 Out of the 10 commandments, 9 are repeated in the New 348 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:12,760 Testament. Guess which one is left out? 349 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:17,600 Keep the Sabbath. Why is that the case? 350 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:19,240 Because when you read, you don't have to turn there. 351 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,560 But when you read Hebrews chapter 4, you learn that the 352 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:25,880 Spirit is instructing that Jesus Christ is ultimately our 353 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,320 Sabbath, saying how does that work? 354 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:31,840 Well, the Sabbath in the Old Testament. 355 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,680 Represents rest. It was a time of the week where 356 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:38,440 you as a faithful follower, worshiper of God, would rest 357 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,040 from your works and you would take the time to meditate. 358 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,120 And it was an act of faith and recognizing that God is your 359 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:47,680 ultimate provider and sustainer. Now we come to the New 360 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,000 Testament. We realize that the Sabbath as 361 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:54,600 instrumental and as practical. As it was was a shadow, the 362 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:58,920 substance was realized in Jesus. The connection. 363 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,040 In the same way the Sabbath represented rest. 364 00:21:02,560 --> 00:21:05,960 Now when we come into Jesus, we rest. 365 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:09,760 In what way do we rest? Well, in the Old Testament you 366 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:13,920 rested from your works. In the New Testament you rest. 367 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:18,360 In Jesus's works. In the Old Testament you would 368 00:21:18,360 --> 00:21:22,080 rest one. Day a week as an act of trust. 369 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:28,920 In the New Testament, you rest every single day, trusting in 370 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:31,120 the finished work of Jesus Christ. 371 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,640 So our Sabbath is in a person now. 372 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:37,560 That's what we believe as Christians. 373 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,520 So when people come up to me and say you don't honor the Sabbath, 374 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:44,760 I say, actually I do. His name is Jesus and scratch 375 00:21:44,760 --> 00:21:47,840 your heads, huh? He's my rest. 376 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:50,440 That's what he. He's the fulfillment of, He's 377 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:52,720 the fulfillment of many things, including that day. 378 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:57,600 So then what's Sunday all about? Well, the Bible commands us as 379 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:01,040 Christians to regularly gather so that we can edify one 380 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:05,360 another, receive the Word of God, equip, encourage, reprove, 381 00:22:05,360 --> 00:22:07,160 rebuke, teach, all that takes place. 382 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,880 It's commanded that we do so consistently. 383 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,920 And through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the leading of 384 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:18,520 the apostles, Sunday became that standard day where we do that. 385 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,120 And that's why you read things like in Colossians 2 and Romans 386 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:26,440 14, where Paul is dealing with issues in the church, especially 387 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:30,000 with Jews who converted to Christianity who made such a big 388 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:32,520 deal about the Sabbath. And he goes, listen, if you want 389 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,240 to recognize a holy day, you're free to do that. 390 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:36,520 It's a matter of personal convenience. 391 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,400 If you want to even honor Saturday as as a Sabbath day, 392 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,560 you can do that. But don't make a binding on 393 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:44,080 other Christians. Don't judge those who don't 394 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:47,520 recognize the Sabbath, and those who don't recognize the Sabbath 395 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:52,520 don't judge those who do. It's a matter of conscience. 396 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,560 It's not a matter of law, even under the law of Christ. 397 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:58,800 So we come on the first day of the week. 398 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:01,480 We come on the Lord's Day because that is the pattern that 399 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:04,320 we see in the New Testament. We are commanded to meet here, 400 00:23:04,320 --> 00:23:06,440 but this is not Sunday. Is not. 401 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:10,640 Christian Sabbath. Jesus is our Sabbath, and that's 402 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:12,440 Hebrews chapter 4. Just in case you don't believe 403 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:14,640 me, you have to read another time though. 404 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,560 And so we see here that there is something being established 405 00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:24,600 unknowing to these woman. But notice what happens in verse 406 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:31,000 5, Mark 16. And entering the tomb, they saw 407 00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,160 a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe, 408 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:41,920 and they were alarmed. So they walk into this tomb and 409 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:45,520 as I said earlier, it wasn't open so that Christ could leave. 410 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:50,800 It was so that they could go in. And when they came in, they saw 411 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,120 a young man. Now, other Gospel accounts tells 412 00:23:53,120 --> 00:23:57,000 us that this was an Angel. I find it interesting that an 413 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:01,640 Angel is described as with human appearance, and that's a regular 414 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:02,640 thing. That's a consistent thing 415 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,600 throughout the Bible. When you look at Hebrews 13, 416 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,160 we're told to be hospitable because you might even be 417 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,600 entertaining angels unaware. So another Christian 418 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:11,640 misconception. I'm sorry. 419 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:15,280 To tell you this. Angels don't have giant wings. 420 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:20,720 I know you saw it on cartoons. I know, I know you saw it. 421 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:24,600 Maybe children's Bible stories. But they don't have wings that 422 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,760 they have human appearance. Are there other heavenly 423 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:31,040 creatures in heaven that do have such characteristics? 424 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:33,080 Yes. But more than anything else, 425 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,600 when it comes to angels, they have very similar traits as you 426 00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:40,200 and I as humans. Now we talked about many weeks 427 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:44,320 ago why Mark chose the language of young men to describe this 428 00:24:44,320 --> 00:24:46,760 Angel, right? You have to go back to the last 429 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:49,560 sermon in Mark 14, I believe to this rediscover that. 430 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,160 So we won't we won't delve into that here. 431 00:24:52,840 --> 00:24:55,320 The point that I want to make is though they saw this young man 432 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,560 sitting at the right side of the slab where Jesus body was laid. 433 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:02,920 He was not alone. He wasn't alone. 434 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:04,800 Can I tell you who else was with him? 435 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:14,880 Go to John in chapter 20, John chapter 20, beginning in verse 436 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:19,320 11. Now, if you're willing to go 437 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,760 from Scripture to Scripture with me at this point, it's going to 438 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:23,680 be rewarding. I'll tell you that in advance. 439 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:25,960 So let's start in John 20. Look at verse 11. 440 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:28,720 I want you to see that this Angel was not by himself. 441 00:25:29,520 --> 00:25:32,760 John 2011. But Mary stood weeping outside 442 00:25:32,760 --> 00:25:36,840 the tomb, and as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb. 443 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:43,400 And she saw 2 angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus 444 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:46,600 had lain. One at the head and one at the 445 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:49,280 feet. Contradiction. 446 00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:51,320 No, The Bible does this over and over again. 447 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,720 It could be that the reason why Mark highlights one of them is 448 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:57,000 because he was a spokesperson. He was the one that was 449 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,480 communicating to these ladies while the other one silently was 450 00:25:59,480 --> 00:26:01,720 there. So we see that there are 451 00:26:01,720 --> 00:26:06,760 actually. 2 angels at the scene. And I what I want to draw to 452 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:10,720 your attention is where they were sitting. 453 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,960 What are we told by John? There was one who was sitting at 454 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:17,640 the head. There is one sitting at the. 455 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:23,800 Feet. Now, John, I believe, is 456 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:28,800 describing this in detail by the Spirit ultimately, because he 457 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:31,840 hopes that you and I will be familiar enough with the Old 458 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:38,040 Testament to realize that he is making a very striking parallel. 459 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,600 You're saying, have I ever seen anything where there are these 460 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:47,040 heavenly creatures positioned in a similar way? 461 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:52,400 Well, if this nothing's happening, come to Exodus 25 462 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,680 with me. We're going to make some 463 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:59,240 connections here, OK? God told the nation of Israel 464 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:01,560 when they came out of Egypt, going into the promised land, I 465 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:03,120 want you to build me a House of worship. 466 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,520 And he puts all these furnishings in place with all 467 00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:08,720 these elaborate instructions of how to construct them. 468 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:12,160 The most prominent 1 was this thing called the Ark of the 469 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,400 Covenant. Do you remember it? 470 00:27:13,960 --> 00:27:15,960 It looks like a chest piece, right? 471 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,720 It's, it's not too large, but we're given every measurement 472 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,960 the, the layering of the material and even the 473 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:23,960 inscriptions and the designs of it. 474 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,400 What's the purpose of this ark? You're going to find out in a 475 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:28,720 moment. But it really symbolized God's 476 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:32,960 throne on earth. And it would be tucked behind in 477 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:36,160 the deepest part of that Tabernacle, later the temple. 478 00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:39,240 And it was where he would manifest his glory. 479 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:42,920 And it was really God's attempt to convince the people, yes, 480 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:45,720 though I inhabit heaven, I long to dwell with you. 481 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:50,040 And so I want you to make me this chess piece to symbolize 482 00:27:50,040 --> 00:27:51,920 it. You can't come into contact it 483 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:55,320 freely, but I want you to at least know that my presence is 484 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:56,400 here. And there's going to be a few 485 00:27:56,400 --> 00:27:58,800 things that I'm going to give you in terms of instruction how 486 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:02,360 to interact with my presence. And I want you to look at one 487 00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:07,360 particular set of instructions concerning the ark in Exodus 25, 488 00:28:07,360 --> 00:28:12,760 beginning in verse 17, we read You shall make a mercy seat of 489 00:28:12,760 --> 00:28:14,680 pure gold. Pause. 490 00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,560 He's talking about the Ark of the Covenant, the mercy seat. 491 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:19,640 Let me just tell you so you don't get lost here. 492 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:22,120 The mercy seat. Is the lid. 493 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:24,520 It's the lid. That's going to go on top of 494 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,880 this chest. So we're told here. 495 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:31,000 You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold. 2 cubits and a half 496 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:34,320 shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its breath. 497 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:37,240 You shall make 2 cherubim of gold. 498 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:42,960 Cherubim are heavenly creatures. You can make this claim that 499 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:48,640 they're in a category of angelic beings, and you shall make 2 500 00:28:48,640 --> 00:28:50,920 cherubim of gold of hammered work. 501 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:54,680 Shall you make them on the 2 ends of the Mercy? 502 00:28:54,680 --> 00:28:58,240 Seat. Make one cherub on the one end 503 00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:02,200 and one cherub on the other end of one piece with the mercy 504 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:03,920 seat. Shall you make the cherubim on 505 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:08,360 its 2 ends? The cherubim shall spread out 506 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:11,800 their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, 507 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:15,080 their faces one to another toward the mercy seat shall the 508 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:18,680 faces of the cherubim be. And you shall put the mercy seat 509 00:29:18,680 --> 00:29:22,520 on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony 510 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:27,120 that I shall give you. So you have these two cherubim, 511 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:31,360 unique heavenly creatures, and they're to be infused on the 512 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:32,360 lid. And the way they would be 513 00:29:32,360 --> 00:29:35,160 positioned is like this. They'd be facing one another and 514 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,160 their wings would be covering like this, and they would be 515 00:29:37,160 --> 00:29:40,240 facing each other, but they would be looking down at the 516 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:43,000 mercy seat. Now, here's my question. 517 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:44,520 When I read this, I have many questions. 518 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,000 My main run was why call the lid? 519 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:53,400 Why don't you just call it lid? Why call the lid the mercy seat? 520 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,400 I'll tell you why, but you have to go to Leviticus. 521 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:02,760 Leviticus, Yes, Leviticus. And these are the instructions 522 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:07,120 that God gives to the priest on one particular day out of the 523 00:30:07,120 --> 00:30:10,160 year called the Day of Atonement, where this would be 524 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,120 the ordinance observed to forgive and cover the sins of 525 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,240 the nation. And I want you to look at one 526 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,200 particular set of instructions of what they were to do as they 527 00:30:18,200 --> 00:30:21,920 interacted with the Ark of the Covenant, which was in the Most 528 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:23,600 Holy Place. They can only enter into that 529 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:26,000 place once a year. And notice what we're told in 530 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:32,960 Leviticus 16, verse 14. Leviticus 16, verse 14 about the 531 00:30:32,960 --> 00:30:35,920 high priest. He is told, and he shall take 532 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:39,360 some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger 533 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:43,880 on the front of the mercy seat on the east side. 534 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:47,600 And in front of the Mercy seat, he shall sprinkle some of the 535 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:53,360 blood with his fingers 7 times. Do you now know why it was 536 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:56,800 called the Mercy Seat? Because it represented the place 537 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:59,720 where God's mercy and atonement for sin were symbolically 538 00:30:59,720 --> 00:31:02,880 administered, especially on the Day of Atonement. 539 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:05,520 Remember what we read in Exodus that yeah, we talked about the 540 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:08,280 lid, but we're also told what's to go inside the Ark. 541 00:31:09,000 --> 00:31:11,760 One of the main instruments that are supposed to be in the Ark 542 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:15,720 was the testimony, the law. The 10 commandments were 543 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:17,880 supposed to be placed in the Ark of the covenant. 544 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:21,360 So look at this imagery. You have the law in the Ark 545 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,680 Question, did the Israelites faithfully observe the law or do 546 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:27,360 they continually break it? Break it all the time? 547 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,760 So you have the law in the ark, then you have the mercy seat on 548 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:32,880 top of it. And then once a year, the priest 549 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:36,200 would take the sacrifice and sprinkle the animal's blood on 550 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:43,160 the lid, blood covering our breaking of the law. 551 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:49,040 This is what it's symbolizing. So now you have this background 552 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:50,880 because you're faithfully reading your Old Testament right 553 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:53,160 now. You come to the New Testament 554 00:31:53,160 --> 00:31:55,880 library and you're reading the Gospel of Mark, and you come to 555 00:31:55,880 --> 00:32:01,040 where Jesus died, where he was placed in a tomb, where he was 556 00:32:01,040 --> 00:32:03,640 raised. But you learned that at the 557 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,560 burial site, the place that was carved out where he would lay 558 00:32:07,560 --> 00:32:11,760 his body, there's an Angel one at the head. 559 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,640 One at his feet. Why? 560 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:19,520 To make this connection, this imagery that Jesus Christ is the 561 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:23,040 new and greater mercy seat. That's why. 562 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:28,040 And you and I now in the new covenant, don't have to wait 563 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:32,320 once a year and hope that the high priest will be faithful and 564 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:37,160 careful to observe the complex and elaborate protocol to ensure 565 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:41,840 that we can endure another year. What Christ has done once and 566 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:45,440 for all is sufficient for all sinners of all time. 567 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:48,920 He is the new. And the greater mercy seat. 568 00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:52,640 You see it right here. That's why I say it over and 569 00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:53,800 over again. I'll never stop saying it. 570 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:56,760 You can't do anything about it then, unless you want to know 571 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:59,680 the depths of the New Testament. You have to have a grasp on the 572 00:32:59,680 --> 00:33:01,400 old. You have to. 573 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,600 And so they see these two angels in John and Mark. 574 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:13,120 It's only one young man, and they have a message for these 575 00:33:13,120 --> 00:33:18,320 women, verse 6 of Mark 16. And he said to them, do not be 576 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:20,920 alarmed, you seek Jesus of Nazareth. 577 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:23,480 So they're confirming you came to the right tomb. 578 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:26,720 Do not be alarmed, you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was 579 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:28,280 crucified. He has risen. 580 00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,880 He is not here. See the place where they laid 581 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,880 him, but go tell his disciples and Peter that He is going 582 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:37,720 before you to Galilee. There you will see him just as 583 00:33:37,720 --> 00:33:40,920 He told you. Don't you love that? 584 00:33:40,920 --> 00:33:46,640 The first message of. These witnesses now yes we got 585 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,120 the imagery that you have two angels that make a connection to 586 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,520 the mercy seat, but the scriptures also tell us that 587 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:55,120 according to the law, you need 2 witnesses to establish a matter, 588 00:33:55,120 --> 00:33:56,560 right? Deuteronomy 19. 589 00:33:56,560 --> 00:33:59,360 So you have two angelic beings who are there to testify the 590 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:02,080 resurrection happened. Because as much as the 591 00:34:02,080 --> 00:34:05,160 resurrection is found in every single gospel account, do you 592 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:08,960 know that we don't have the actual play by play of how the 593 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,000 resurrection happened? It's concealed to us. 594 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:14,960 We don't have that. But we have witnesses, angelic 595 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,440 beings who said he's risen Jesus of Nazareth. 596 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:21,560 Yeah, he's not here. And the first message of these 597 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:23,080 witnesses of the resurrection, you know what it. 598 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:29,840 Is do not be alarmed. Now, in context, we know that 599 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:31,960 they said this because they were bewildered. 600 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:34,440 They were just caught off guard. They can't believe what's taking 601 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:35,920 place. Here are these heavenly beings. 602 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:38,239 Jesus is not here. This tomb is vacant. 603 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:41,000 So we understand why they said do not be alarmed. 604 00:34:41,360 --> 00:34:44,760 However, what they said to these women echoes throughout the 605 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:48,360 years, throughout the ages for all people of all time when they 606 00:34:48,360 --> 00:34:50,840 understand the resurrection. The resurrection doesn't just 607 00:34:50,840 --> 00:34:53,520 conquer death. The resurrection conquers our 608 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:58,600 fears, every fear. If you really understand the 609 00:34:58,600 --> 00:35:00,840 implications of what Christ has done by raising from the grave, 610 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:03,080 then we understand that we have no reason to be afraid. 611 00:35:03,240 --> 00:35:06,360 I have no reason to be afraid of judgement, eternal judgement. 612 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:08,360 Why? Because the resurrection is the 613 00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:11,880 seal that I am no longer condemned. 614 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:16,280 The resurrection makes me fearless in the face of death. 615 00:35:16,640 --> 00:35:18,480 Why? Because He's the prototype of my 616 00:35:18,480 --> 00:35:22,960 resurrection and the way that He transitioned into glory, so will 617 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:28,560 I also enter into His presence in the same way, I have no 618 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:30,440 reason to fear anything in this life. 619 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:32,360 Why? Because the resurrected Lord not 620 00:35:32,360 --> 00:35:35,440 only conquered death, not only ascended on a high, not only is 621 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:38,840 going to scoop me out of here at one time, but He walks with me 622 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:42,480 day by day by day. He's not just my Savior, He's my 623 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:44,840 shepherd. Living shepherd. 624 00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:49,000 Not a theoretical 1, not a crutch to lean on, not a real 625 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:51,960 living being that relates to me, speaks to me, guides me 626 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,400 providentially, sometimes supernaturally. 627 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,720 Because He's alive, do not be alarmed, not just in this 628 00:35:58,720 --> 00:36:01,640 moment, for the rest of your days, you have no reason to be 629 00:36:01,640 --> 00:36:03,880 fearful. If he's alive and you belong to 630 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:07,840 him, do not be alarmed. But that's not the only message 631 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:10,800 that these first witnesses of the resurrection had to share. 632 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:13,640 Verse 70. I've referred to this verse many 633 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:17,000 times from this pulpit, but I never grow tired of explaining 634 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:18,720 it. I hope you never grow weary of 635 00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:21,200 hearing it. They tell them, don't be 636 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,320 alarmed, but I have a mission for you now. 637 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:26,080 And speaking on behalf of the resurrected one, look at verse 638 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:29,480 seven. He says go tell his disciples 639 00:36:29,480 --> 00:36:32,120 and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. 640 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:36,040 Forgive me if you heard this before. 641 00:36:36,240 --> 00:36:38,600 Again, I don't grow tired of hearing it and knowing it. 642 00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:43,640 We believe as we studied Mark that Peter was the main 643 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:45,840 contributor to the data of Mark's account. 644 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,160 And it's funny because only in this Gospel account are we told 645 00:36:49,160 --> 00:36:53,360 that Peter's name was explicitly said, highlighted and 646 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:56,360 underscored at this point of his life. 647 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,640 Go tell the disciples. Not just the disciples. 648 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:04,120 Go tell the disciples and Peter. Why? 649 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:09,840 Because if the ladies went back to the fearful disciples and 650 00:37:09,840 --> 00:37:14,320 they said the Lord said to the disciples to go meet him in 651 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:16,640 Galilee, you know what Peter would have said to himself? 652 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:19,960 That's definitely not. Me, I'm not one of the 653 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:25,400 disciples. I committed that sin. 654 00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:29,400 I heard my own with my own ears. This Jesus saying, if anybody 655 00:37:29,400 --> 00:37:31,640 denies you before men, I'll deny you before my Father and his 656 00:37:31,640 --> 00:37:33,360 angels. I did that not once, three 657 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:35,640 times. And now these ladies come in and 658 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:39,120 say the Lord is alive. He told me to tell you, the 659 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:41,360 disciples, to go meet him in Galilee. 660 00:37:41,360 --> 00:37:42,840 What do you think Peter would have felt? 661 00:37:43,840 --> 00:37:52,160 Have fun guys, not me. Jesus, knowing just how overcome 662 00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:56,000 he was by his own failure, telling these angels, 663 00:37:56,000 --> 00:37:59,040 dispatching them and making sure that they were crystal clear. 664 00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:06,680 Highlight Peter's name. Make this invitation personal to 665 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:09,920 Peter. Make sure that Peter doesn't 666 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:14,040 miss the opportunity for me to be restored to him. 667 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:18,440 So you know what? One of the first messages in 668 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:22,520 connection to the resurrection is not just you have no reason 669 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:29,840 to fear, but grace. Grace the resurrected Lord is 670 00:38:29,840 --> 00:38:33,800 ready to forgive, ready, eager, longing. 671 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:38,880 Even today, His Zealand wanting to forgive sinners, His fallen 672 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:40,880 servants, hasn't diminished one bit. 673 00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:44,400 In fact, one of the main reasons why he hasn't come back yet is 674 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:47,920 so that all would reach repentance according to second 675 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:52,040 Peter. Make sure you tell the disciples 676 00:38:52,040 --> 00:38:54,920 and Peter, you know what's so interesting? 677 00:38:55,640 --> 00:38:59,520 God's grace in Christ is not just seen and how he deals and 678 00:38:59,520 --> 00:39:02,160 treats Peter. It's with all the disciples 679 00:39:02,680 --> 00:39:05,880 because the instruction in verse 7 is go and tell the disciples 680 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:08,120 and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. 681 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,640 There he you will see him just as he told you. 682 00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:18,080 So this is not the first time the command to go to Galilee 683 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:19,640 after the resurrection was given. 684 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:20,960 Can I show you where else it was given? 685 00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:23,360 Go to Mark 14 and look at verse 28. 686 00:39:23,360 --> 00:39:26,240 This is on the night that he was going to be betrayed. 687 00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:29,720 And he gives these instructions in Mark 14. 688 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:35,200 Let's read it from verse 26, actually. 689 00:39:36,240 --> 00:39:38,720 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of 690 00:39:38,720 --> 00:39:41,720 Olives, and Jesus said to them, You will all fall away. 691 00:39:41,720 --> 00:39:44,440 For it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will 692 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:48,320 be scattered. But after I am raised up, I will 693 00:39:48,320 --> 00:39:55,640 go before you to Galilee. Now you would think that for. 694 00:39:55,720 --> 00:39:58,880 Jesus to say I already set up a meeting place for you and I 695 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:02,280 after I defeat death, that that would that would be the thing 696 00:40:02,280 --> 00:40:04,560 that catches your attention more than anything else, right? 697 00:40:05,080 --> 00:40:08,240 But after I'm raised, I will go before you to Galilee. 698 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:10,600 Now, for him to say I will go before you to Galilee means I'm 699 00:40:10,600 --> 00:40:12,000 expecting to meet you in Galilee. 700 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:14,240 I'll be there ahead of you. But I'm expecting you to be 701 00:40:14,240 --> 00:40:17,040 there, right? So look, if I'm there, I'm 702 00:40:17,040 --> 00:40:19,640 saying, whoa, whoa, I need to know more about this. 703 00:40:19,640 --> 00:40:20,120 Wait. You're going to. 704 00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:23,720 Raise and you're going to meet us somewhere after you defeat 705 00:40:23,720 --> 00:40:25,480 death. I have a lot of questions. 706 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:27,360 Here's how Peter answers in verse 29. 707 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:29,520 Peter said to them, Even though they all fall away, I will. 708 00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:34,720 Not. With all with all that Jesus 709 00:40:34,720 --> 00:40:36,520 said he's he's caught up himself. 710 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:41,040 He missed it and not just him. We read later on in the same 711 00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:43,200 place in verse 31 and they all said the same. 712 00:40:44,240 --> 00:40:46,360 The only thing that they were concerned about was we're going 713 00:40:46,360 --> 00:40:50,840 to be loyal to you. You totally missed how you're 714 00:40:50,840 --> 00:40:54,840 supposed to meet him. If somebody tells you, hey, at a 715 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:56,560 certain time in a certain place, we're going to meet you're. 716 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:58,240 Going to want to know more details so that you can meet. 717 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:03,320 No right over the heads. And what do you see? 718 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:06,600 Jesus does conquer the grave. He sends angels to remind the 719 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:09,000 disciples what they forgot to grasp to begin with. 720 00:41:09,640 --> 00:41:12,680 Go to Galilee. I already told you this. 721 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:16,600 Meet me there. So what do you see here? 722 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:18,920 I'm telling you, see the patience of Jesus Christ. 723 00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:22,360 That's what you see here. This is Christ here reflecting 724 00:41:22,360 --> 00:41:26,840 his long-suffering. Listen, He is incredibly loyal. 725 00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:30,560 How many times have you heard something from the Word? 726 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:33,040 God trying to reveal something about himself? 727 00:41:33,120 --> 00:41:36,040 God trying to instruct you about something that would please him 728 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:40,840 and honor him and. And what does the Lord do when 729 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,200 we fail to hear him? The perfect Savior, the perfect 730 00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:45,920 King, what does he do? He's willing to revisit it and 731 00:41:45,920 --> 00:41:52,560 instruct us again, patiently, gently, lovingly. 732 00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:58,760 I told you to go to Galilee. And so they were going to hear 733 00:41:58,760 --> 00:42:02,440 it again. And if you're not convinced, I 734 00:42:02,440 --> 00:42:07,040 hope Matthew's additional notes will win your trust. 735 00:42:08,840 --> 00:42:11,200 So the ladies hear this right. We read it early in the 736 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:13,640 beginning of the service in verse 8 of Mark 16. 737 00:42:13,640 --> 00:42:16,240 They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and 738 00:42:16,240 --> 00:42:18,880 astonishment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, 739 00:42:18,880 --> 00:42:21,360 for they were afraid. But something happens when some 740 00:42:21,360 --> 00:42:24,720 of these women make their way to the disciples that make this 741 00:42:24,720 --> 00:42:28,600 event even more spectacular. So here's our final text in 742 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:33,080 Matthew 28, and look what happens here in verse 8. 743 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:42,760 It might be our final text, Matthew 28, verse 8. 744 00:42:46,920 --> 00:42:50,200 So they departed quickly from the tune with fear and great 745 00:42:50,200 --> 00:42:53,000 joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 746 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:58,280 Very similar to Mark, right? And behold, Jesus met them and 747 00:42:58,280 --> 00:43:04,280 said greetings, and they came up and took hold of his feet and 748 00:43:04,280 --> 00:43:07,240 worshipped him. And Jesus said to them, do not 749 00:43:07,240 --> 00:43:11,400 be afraid, Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and 750 00:43:11,400 --> 00:43:14,320 there they will see me. So I want to end with three 751 00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:19,520 thoughts from this final scene of Mark's depiction of the 752 00:43:19,520 --> 00:43:22,560 resurrection. With Matthew's help, some of 753 00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:24,080 these ladies, they make their way back. 754 00:43:24,080 --> 00:43:29,200 As they're running, Jesus appears, and the way he appears 755 00:43:29,520 --> 00:43:33,240 grips me because he appears. And what does he say? 756 00:43:33,440 --> 00:43:36,040 Greetings. You know what greetings is. 757 00:43:36,720 --> 00:43:39,520 It's the normal way you would say hi to somebody at this time. 758 00:43:40,240 --> 00:43:41,440 Translation. Hello. 759 00:43:44,040 --> 00:43:48,720 That's how he did it. I'm thinking you just defeated 760 00:43:48,720 --> 00:43:52,440 death. The last time that these 761 00:43:52,440 --> 00:43:56,880 followers of yours saw you, you were hanging on a cross, 762 00:43:57,360 --> 00:44:03,600 bleeding, bruised according to Isaiah, unrecognizable, and one 763 00:44:03,600 --> 00:44:06,320 of your first resurrection appearances. 764 00:44:06,480 --> 00:44:08,000 The way you choose to do it is say hi. 765 00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:12,600 I'm not trying to be facetious here. 766 00:44:12,600 --> 00:44:15,040 This is what it's saying. Greetings according to the ESV. 767 00:44:17,480 --> 00:44:20,600 But it's intentional. Why is it intentional? 768 00:44:20,600 --> 00:44:23,040 Because we've seen how Christ reveals himself to others in his 769 00:44:23,040 --> 00:44:26,520 resurrected form, right? Remember Saul of Tarsus ready to 770 00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:28,920 go to Damascus to arrest some Christians? 771 00:44:28,920 --> 00:44:31,000 How did Jesus reveal to him on the road to Damascus? 772 00:44:31,200 --> 00:44:36,160 Not greetings. He showed up, and he was shining 773 00:44:36,160 --> 00:44:40,080 brighter than the sun in such majesty and glory that Saul of 774 00:44:40,080 --> 00:44:41,960 Tarsus couldn't even stay on his feet. 775 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:46,600 He crumbled to the ground. Why didn't he do that here? 776 00:44:47,960 --> 00:44:51,240 It's a different audience, different group of people, 777 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:54,440 different heart posture, their heart posture. 778 00:44:54,440 --> 00:44:58,480 At this point, they're fearful, they're bewildered, they're 779 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:00,760 astonished, They're trying to make sense of this as they're 780 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:02,720 running and trying to. Obey these instructions. 781 00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:05,320 And so when the Lord reveals Himself, you know how He does 782 00:45:05,320 --> 00:45:12,640 it. Delicately, informally, gently. 783 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:16,720 Greetings. And it was enough to bring them 784 00:45:16,720 --> 00:45:20,720 to their faces, not like Saul of Tarsus, but to grab his feet and 785 00:45:20,720 --> 00:45:25,000 to worship him. And again, we don't just see the 786 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:28,800 patience of Jesus with Peter or with the 10 other disciples. 787 00:45:28,880 --> 00:45:30,520 We see it with these women. Why? 788 00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:32,360 Because they were told by the angels. 789 00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:36,960 Do not be alarmed. Fear is not God's will for us. 790 00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:40,160 But we read that they ran back and they were still fearful. 791 00:45:40,160 --> 00:45:43,000 And then Jesus appears and he personally says what we read it. 792 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:44,360 This is the second point in verse 10. 793 00:45:44,360 --> 00:45:46,720 Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. 794 00:45:48,240 --> 00:45:51,240 So they didn't learn from the first time, but he instructs 795 00:45:51,240 --> 00:45:56,800 them again. He guides them patiently, he 796 00:45:56,800 --> 00:45:58,240 revisits something that they missed. 797 00:45:59,080 --> 00:46:02,240 Just like the 10. Do not be afraid. 798 00:46:04,640 --> 00:46:07,840 And lastly. He repeats the charge that He 799 00:46:07,840 --> 00:46:11,280 gave through the angels, but notice that when He personally 800 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:13,120 addresses His disciples, how He does it? 801 00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:15,880 Look at verse 10. Do not be afraid. 802 00:46:16,280 --> 00:46:23,600 Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see 803 00:46:23,600 --> 00:46:29,320 me. Not my servants, not my 804 00:46:29,320 --> 00:46:38,560 apostles, not my slaves. Now my disciples, go tell my 805 00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:43,520 brothers. Now this is not the first time 806 00:46:43,520 --> 00:46:46,000 Jesus addressed his disciples as his brothers. 807 00:46:48,840 --> 00:46:52,440 There was a time where Jesus was teaching and a messenger came in 808 00:46:52,440 --> 00:46:57,400 where he was and said, Jesus, your mother and your brothers 809 00:46:57,560 --> 00:47:00,920 have come to meet with you. And Jesus looked at him and 810 00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:02,280 said, who are my mother and my brothers? 811 00:47:02,280 --> 00:47:06,720 And it says there in Matthew 1249, and stretching out his 812 00:47:06,720 --> 00:47:10,320 hand toward his disciples, he said, here are my mother and 813 00:47:10,320 --> 00:47:15,160 what my brothers. And then he goes on to explain 814 00:47:15,160 --> 00:47:18,880 that it is those who do the will of God who are my mother and my 815 00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:21,400 brothers. But hold on. 816 00:47:21,720 --> 00:47:25,200 When Jesus resurrects and he tells these sisters, go and tell 817 00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:29,280 my brothers. Was their spiritual state 818 00:47:29,280 --> 00:47:32,640 strong? Would you say that they are 819 00:47:32,640 --> 00:47:36,280 completely honoring the will of God? 820 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:40,240 And yet he still calls them my brothers. 821 00:47:42,480 --> 00:47:45,280 Why? Because he's loyal. 822 00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:50,120 Why? Because the resurrection seals 823 00:47:50,120 --> 00:47:56,200 our adoption in him, that's why. Go tell my brothers. 824 00:47:56,280 --> 00:47:59,160 At the weakest point in their faith, He still calls them my 825 00:47:59,160 --> 00:48:04,320 brothers. He still provides this term of 826 00:48:04,320 --> 00:48:08,120 endearment and of one of the deepest bonds of relationship 827 00:48:08,120 --> 00:48:11,320 that you can experience. That's the heart of the 828 00:48:11,320 --> 00:48:16,840 resurrected Christ. And so amazing because in 829 00:48:16,840 --> 00:48:21,600 Hebrews chapter 2, and this is where we will end, we're told 830 00:48:21,840 --> 00:48:24,600 something about Christ. I assure you, this is the last 831 00:48:24,600 --> 00:48:30,400 place in chapter 2. Look what he says here by the 832 00:48:30,400 --> 00:48:45,190 Spirit about Jesus, my brothers, How can it be verse 11 of 833 00:48:45,190 --> 00:48:49,510 Hebrews 2 for he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified? 834 00:48:49,510 --> 00:48:52,230 Pause. Who's that who are being 835 00:48:52,230 --> 00:48:54,310 sanctified? I hope you are if you're in 836 00:48:54,310 --> 00:48:56,070 Christ. So we're talking about he who 837 00:48:56,070 --> 00:48:58,750 sanctifies. That's Christ and those who are 838 00:48:58,750 --> 00:49:01,790 being sanctified. What happens? 839 00:49:01,830 --> 00:49:06,920 All have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to 840 00:49:06,920 --> 00:49:13,720 call them brothers. Jesus is not ashamed. 841 00:49:13,960 --> 00:49:19,440 To call you his brother. You know what's convicting about 842 00:49:19,440 --> 00:49:22,240 this verse as much as it's comforting who are the ones who 843 00:49:22,240 --> 00:49:27,280 tend to be ashamed to be associated with Jesus Us. 844 00:49:29,640 --> 00:49:31,920 But he's not ashamed. Why should? 845 00:49:31,920 --> 00:49:35,800 We we should never be ashamed. Christ is never ashamed of you. 846 00:49:35,800 --> 00:49:39,440 What do we have to be ashamed about concerning our Jesus? 847 00:49:39,640 --> 00:49:42,640 Like what is it about the gospel and serving the Lord and 848 00:49:42,640 --> 00:49:46,600 representing him that makes us hesitant and recoil and 849 00:49:46,800 --> 00:49:51,320 reconsider what we say or why He's perfect. 850 00:49:53,120 --> 00:49:55,000 I understand how he can be ashamed of me. 851 00:49:55,640 --> 00:49:59,880 I get it, I understand it. But why would I? 852 00:49:59,880 --> 00:50:03,120 Ever for a moment even entertain the idea. 853 00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:09,680 He's perfect. He died for me, He's faithful. 854 00:50:12,120 --> 00:50:13,800 Why should I gain from his reward? 855 00:50:14,280 --> 00:50:19,560 I cannot give an answer. And so this is what we have to 856 00:50:19,560 --> 00:50:21,760 understand here, that the love of Christ. 857 00:50:21,760 --> 00:50:24,440 Is stronger than you can ever imagine. 858 00:50:26,120 --> 00:50:29,160 Don't you doubt that? We're looking at the resurrected 859 00:50:29,160 --> 00:50:31,560 Lord. This is Christ today. 860 00:50:32,360 --> 00:50:35,480 This is Christ now. This is how Christ looks at you. 861 00:50:35,720 --> 00:50:40,200 Yes, you, even you stumbling Christian, inconsistent follower 862 00:50:40,200 --> 00:50:43,600 of Christ. Man, if you're truly born of the 863 00:50:43,600 --> 00:50:46,240 Spirit, that's going to strengthen your holiness, not 864 00:50:46,240 --> 00:50:49,160 weaken it. That's going to encourage you to 865 00:50:49,160 --> 00:50:50,160 love it more. Does it not? 866 00:50:50,160 --> 00:50:52,560 Does it not melt you? Does it make your knees weak? 867 00:50:55,240 --> 00:50:57,680 Only the unregenerate can hear what I'm saying at the end of 868 00:50:57,680 --> 00:51:00,080 this message and say, yeah, I can sin. 869 00:51:00,600 --> 00:51:04,840 No, you need to get saved. But the one truly belongs. 870 00:51:04,840 --> 00:51:05,920 Them though, they know their weaknesses. 871 00:51:05,920 --> 00:51:07,680 No, they know what they're supposed to be doing. 872 00:51:07,680 --> 00:51:12,600 But oh, they they fail. I want you to hear this loud and 873 00:51:12,600 --> 00:51:14,840 clear. Go tell my brothers. 874 00:51:16,600 --> 00:51:17,920 I want you to hear this loud and clear. 875 00:51:17,920 --> 00:51:23,880 He's not ashamed of us. Oh, let that strengthen your 876 00:51:23,880 --> 00:51:26,680 faith, that on that final day when you give your final breath, 877 00:51:26,680 --> 00:51:30,800 if you belong to him, if you truly belong to Him, you have no 878 00:51:30,800 --> 00:51:32,280 reason to fear to give that final. 879 00:51:32,280 --> 00:51:36,560 Breath, you have no reason to cower. 880 00:51:38,520 --> 00:51:41,320 I'm going to the one who is not ashamed of me. 881 00:51:41,400 --> 00:51:44,720 I'm going to stand before the one who will defend me though. 882 00:51:44,720 --> 00:51:49,000 Satan and all his hordes. Have things against you, things 883 00:51:49,000 --> 00:51:50,920 that you even forgot about, things that you didn't even know 884 00:51:50,920 --> 00:51:53,400 were wrong. He's not ashamed of you. 885 00:51:55,080 --> 00:51:56,080 Why? Because he died. 886 00:51:56,080 --> 00:52:00,080 And not only did he die, he resurrected the Father. 887 00:52:00,080 --> 00:52:02,280 Amen. His sacrifice on your behalf. 888 00:52:02,280 --> 00:52:04,120 That's what the resurrection is all about. 889 00:52:04,480 --> 00:52:08,400 And that's why we come every week to celebrate as a church. 890 00:52:08,400 --> 00:52:13,040 But every day we rest in Jesus being our Sabbath. 891 00:52:13,520 --> 00:52:14,120 Let's. Pray. 892 00:52:25,760 --> 00:52:30,880 I want to take this time and give this time to you to reflect 893 00:52:31,400 --> 00:52:33,920 whenever it was that minister to your heart. 894 00:52:34,400 --> 00:52:38,560 But I want you to also talk to the Lord and thank Him and 895 00:52:38,560 --> 00:52:41,080 glorify Him in your own way before we collectively read 896 00:52:41,080 --> 00:52:43,440 words off the screen. I want you in your own way to 897 00:52:43,440 --> 00:52:46,280 take this time on this Lord's Day to say thank you. 898 00:52:46,880 --> 00:52:50,080 Thank you that You love me enough to die and to resurrect. 899 00:52:52,320 --> 00:52:56,080 Is it true, Lord, that you see me with such love? 900 00:52:56,840 --> 00:52:58,600 I believe it because it's in your word. 901 00:52:58,840 --> 00:53:03,960 I'll just marinate in that truth for a moment, and I'll join you 902 00:53:03,960 --> 00:53:05,920 before we sing. And the praise team can even 903 00:53:05,920 --> 00:53:08,760 come now to prepare us to sing. But I'll give you some time. 904 00:54:13,330 --> 00:54:39,120 Yes. Lord, we ask that You receive 905 00:54:39,120 --> 00:54:48,360 glory from our lips today. Thank You that Your yoke is easy 906 00:54:48,360 --> 00:54:54,120 and Your burden is light. Thank You that we can rest in 907 00:54:54,120 --> 00:55:03,460 You every day. We pray that the strength of 908 00:55:03,460 --> 00:55:07,100 Your love would not just have been heard and learned, 909 00:55:07,420 --> 00:55:10,880 experienced, and that the experience of Your love would 910 00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:17,200 break shackles and liberate us and help us to come into the 911 00:55:17,200 --> 00:55:23,360 fullness of the Christian life. Lord, only by Your Spirit can 912 00:55:23,360 --> 00:55:26,560 you make these truths real and experiential to us. 913 00:55:26,760 --> 00:55:31,360 We commit that into Your hands. Your word went forth, but we 914 00:55:31,360 --> 00:55:35,680 pray that it would be applied and it would change us. 915 00:55:36,360 --> 00:55:41,280 Receive the sacrifice of praise. Thank you for loving us. 916 00:55:41,960 --> 00:55:46,720 Thank you for being so patient. Thank you for willing to teach 917 00:55:46,720 --> 00:55:50,520 us over and over. Thank you that you call us each 918 00:55:50,560 --> 00:55:57,560 by name. Help us never forget in Jesus 919 00:55:57,560 --> 00:56:00,720 name, Amen. Let's stand church, and let's 920 00:56:00,720 --> 00:56:02,360 exalt the resurrected Christ.