WEBVTT 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:10.480 I want you to think for just a second about words that cause you anxiety. 00:00:10.800 --> 00:00:13.199 That's a great way to start off, isn't it? 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:19.039 Words that cause you a sense of gloom or doom. 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:29.920 And then while you're thinking of those words, I'd like to interject a couple, if you'll just let me enter your mind for a minute, and suggest to you maybe that a couple of those words might be words like lost. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:35.280 Another word might be a word alone. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:42.880 I think those words are some of the most dreadful words that we could ever think about. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:45.600 Lost alone. 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:51.439 Then kind of let's switch over and let's think about some of the more positive thoughts. 00:00:51.920 --> 00:00:55.679 What are some words that bring positive thinking in your mind? 00:00:56.159 --> 00:00:58.399 Maybe words like saved. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:00.640 Maybe another word like united. 00:01:00.719 --> 00:01:11.200 And I know you have several words like that, but lost alone, some of the darkest words we could think of, and saved united are some of the best words we could think about. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:20.719 We'll see some of that this morning as well in our study together as we turn our thoughts to the book of Matthew together this morning. 00:01:20.799 --> 00:01:30.799 So while you're getting uh situated there and turning in in your Bible if you're able to the book of Matthew, uh just say to you good morning. 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.159 And so good to be here with one another this morning. 00:01:34.400 --> 00:01:56.799 As you may be aware, I think probably most are that last Friday through today is the weekend that the Christian religious world at least pauses to uh celebrate and consider Jesus' death and resurrection, as we uh mentioned as well, as Brother uh Keith mentioned as well at the at the Lord's table this morning. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:03.280 It uh it does introduce a good opportunity to address that topic uh without difficulty. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:14.879 Uh and and I think maybe today that is a good thing for us to think about, since that is where people's minds uh most often are on this weekend. 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:26.479 And if you are here for that reason this morning, there are many who make it a habit to attend services during that, the Easter weekend is called. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:32.879 Uh and if you're here for that reason this morning, I just say to you that you are commended for being here. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:42.719 And if you haven't already, I would go ahead and say, even in addition to that, that you should consider making such a remembrance a weekly occurrence in your life. 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:51.039 Because there is nothing, ladies and gentlemen, like the resurrection of Jesus Christ in connection to the death of Jesus. 00:02:51.280 --> 00:03:00.719 There is no greater doctrine, there is no greater teaching in all the world and in all of Scripture than what we find surrounding that event. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:04.240 In fact, our time is defined by that event, isn't it? 00:03:04.879 --> 00:03:16.400 We went from a period of BC to a period of AD, and it is centered on the death of Jesus and on the days of his resurrection, the day of his resurrection. 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:25.039 Nothing is as life-changing before or after becoming a Christian. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:33.599 Nothing gives greater confidence in our future after becoming a Christian than worshiping with God's family, God's way. 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:56.479 So we love the fact that we're all together this way, and we love the fact, if you're a guest with us today, that you are part of the assembly today with God's people, as we celebrate the very thing that we celebrate every first day of the week, and that is his death, and then the confirmation of what that death meant, which we call the resurrection. 00:03:57.039 --> 00:04:06.639 I want to think about some of these things with you from the book of Matthew this morning, and then this evening we'll be talking about uh and we'll be looking at an introduction from the book of Romans. 00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:09.599 I invite you everyone back for that as well. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:13.439 Uh if you are thinking, well, uh I don't usually go on Sunday night. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:16.879 I just want to remind you that you're gonna miss half of Romans. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:23.120 That'd be an atrocity because Romans is one of the best books you'll ever study in your whole life. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:25.120 It is a fantastic book. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:30.000 It's not necessarily better than the other books, but there are a lot of things in there. 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:41.600 Uh and it's and it's pretty concise in 15 chapters, you're not gonna want to miss it, especially if you're a Christian and you want to know more deeply what God has for you uh as a Christian. 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:52.160 Uh and also it'll go very well with our classes from teenage level all the way uh up here to the adult class level uh in the in the book of Galatians. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.800 And so those books will very nicely fit together. 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:56.079 I think you'll enjoy that. 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:58.720 Hope you can be here for that at five o'clock tonight. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:02.959 Maybe you uh are one who suffers with feelings of anxiety. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:04.480 I want you to think about that for a second. 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:06.639 We all do from time to time, don't we? 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:12.879 Uh even though we try not to, and and passages come to our mind, do not be anxious. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:14.800 And we're like, I'm trying not to be anxious. 00:05:14.879 --> 00:05:16.000 I'm trying. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:20.000 Uh but yet anxiety is hard for us to deal with at times. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:23.839 And and it could be that it's because of major events in life. 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:29.279 That's what we see today in our in our thoughts together, our study together. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:36.240 I I think about when I think about times of anxiety, I think about sometimes a looming career change in people's lives. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:40.079 Maybe they don't want to make a change, maybe it's a retirement change, right? 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:41.920 Uh from working to retirement. 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:44.560 A lot of people don't care to go through that. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:50.079 But sometimes their their job just ends and they have to finally look for another job somewhere. 00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:57.199 And that can cause those kinds of things, are life-changing events that cause anxiety, or at least can. 00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:05.360 One of the most anxiety-driven times in my personal life was when my mother and father died. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:06.480 That was hard to cope with. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:14.720 That's hard to deal with because you realize as far as the family, you know, the family you were raised in, you're alone, right? 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:18.720 I mean, you may have a sibling or two or three or whatever, in Sam's case, ten. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:26.319 But uh, but you know, the there, they're really, I mean, you may have your siblings there, and that's one thing, but it is different, isn't it? 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:31.120 When your parents are no longer kind of the core of that family, right? 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:32.800 Like you were used to. 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:44.079 There's a lot of things that you could probably think of that have caused you great consternation, anxiety, sometimes even despair, if we allow it to consume us, right? 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:50.160 Even downward despair in our life, where it just can't seem to function again. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:07:06.639 I think that this is the way that the apostles were feeling and the thoughts they were having to fight against, when the Son of God, that they believe the man they knew to be, they knew to be the Son of God, was killed when he was murdered. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:08.560 The death of Jesus. 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:32.000 I want you to put yourself in their shoes the best you can for a moment, the best that we're able to do, and think that for three years you have come to have this great revelation given to you that this man, Jesus of Nazareth, is actually the one who was fulfilling every prophecy that you've grown up learning out of the old covenant. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:44.639 And in addition to that, that he's there with you, has selected you, and you are following in his steps, learning day after day from the Son of God Himself. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:47.600 Can you imagine that for just a second? 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:51.120 Now think about what happened to Jesus after that. 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:53.920 Does that cause you some anxiety? 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:57.040 What is happening? 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.720 How could this be happening? 00:08:02.720 --> 00:08:12.560 Jesus, the one who God sent to be king over Israel, they would each be in his inner circle. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:14.160 That's what they had planned. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:18.560 The New Testament makes that understandable to us. 00:08:19.839 --> 00:08:26.160 They would reign with him on the throne there in Jerusalem. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:37.679 And the nation would finally throw off this harness and these these shackles that Rome had placed on your nation of Israel. 00:08:37.919 --> 00:08:47.360 Finally, out from under the rule of someone else overseeing you, making all the rules for your personal life as well as your national life. 00:08:47.519 --> 00:08:53.279 They were willing to do whatever they could do to bring all of this to pass. 00:08:54.159 --> 00:09:00.480 Peter confessed to Jesus one time in Luke chapter 18, verse 28, we have left everything and followed you. 00:09:00.559 --> 00:09:01.840 And that was the absolute truth. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.399 Jesus didn't say, Well, not everything. 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:10.320 They actually had left everything that was important to them, and they followed after him. 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:12.000 They gave it all up. 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:17.600 Their possessions, their homes, their businesses. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:20.720 For a time, even their families. 00:09:21.440 --> 00:09:25.360 But now nothing seems to make sense if you put yourself in their shoes. 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:30.080 At the crucifixion site, it all seemed to come crashing down, didn't it? 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:39.759 I would have been absolutely stunned had I been living then and been one of those disciples following after Jesus Christ. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:42.879 That would have been a stunning event. 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:51.360 That he would allow himself to die, that he would allow himself to go through the things that he went through. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:10:02.320 Most of all, I don't see Jesus in that situation in all of his greatness that the Old Testament promised. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:08.799 The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the King of the world. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:13.120 In the crucifixion, I see defeat. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:19.600 It would have been absolutely unsettling. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:39.360 The arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, as they all fled flee for fear, leaving Jesus to face the bloodthirsty accusers all alone, from a distance, because he was going through all of this alone. 00:10:40.159 --> 00:11:10.320 Maybe it is that you hear, or maybe at a distance you see, perhaps, the mock trials that are taking place, the Jewish officials, the Pilate, the blasphemous and physical abuse of the robe, the crown of thorns, the blood that went with that, the brutal scourging of Jesus that took place. 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:19.039 Jesus' arduous trek through the city of Jerusalem to the site of his execution. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:28.240 And you might have heard the sounds of those hammers as they came down on the heads of those spikes that were driven through his body into the wood. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:35.519 You might have seen from a distance the cross being lifted up and dropped into place. 00:11:52.799 --> 00:12:03.120 No doubt they became aware of the words that we read this morning at the table, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:06.559 As he quotes from Psalm chapter 22. 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:15.039 Finally, you see it is finished as he drops his head and he slumps down into death. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:31.279 I ask you again, if you're one of his disciples putting out of your mind what you know right now, because we live on the other side of the cross, but if you were living on the pre-cross period, don't you think you would have felt lost and alone? 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:37.919 They knew of the physical evidence of death. 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:55.039 As the soldiers thrust the spear upward into the heart of Jesus, and blood and water come forth, that mixture, something that medical science still today calls death. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:58.320 Absolute death. 00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.879 No more life in that body. 00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:08.000 Was it really a defeat, though, or a prediction of something better? 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:16.879 You know, the quickness and the unfolding of these events that would have left a person feeling fearful, lost. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:21.120 But you know what else it left these disciples that left them forgetful? 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:34.799 And the reason I say that is because we are we are told that they were told several times and in a variety of ways that Jesus planned this to happen. 00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:48.000 It is in Matthew chapter 16, verse 21, that Jesus begins to show, the text says, his disciples that they must go to Jerusalem and suffer. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:54.480 If you're a person that underlined words, I'm going to mention to you some words you should have underlined in your biblical text, okay? 00:13:54.639 --> 00:14:10.879 One is that word suffer, that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, underline it, and on the third day be erased, underline it, suffer, killed, but raised. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:13.120 And what did they hear out of that? 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.960 Pretty much nothing. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:20.000 They didn't want to hear about the looming predictions. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:24.240 Over Matthew chapter 17, verse 22 of your text. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:27.360 Matthew 17, just maybe even the same opening there. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:40.000 Chapter 17, verse 22, Jesus said to them that he was about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they would kill him, and he would be raised on the third day. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:44.399 Is that a hope-filled statement of assurance? 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:47.600 He would be raised on the third day. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.519 Not to them. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:55.200 The text actually tells us they were greatly distressed. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:56.559 Why? 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:02.320 Because, like us, most often, all they know how to do is emphasize the negatives in their life. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:05.279 When they hear this, that's where their mind centers. 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:09.120 That he is saying to us, he will be killed. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:13.200 What about the resurrection part of that? 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:17.519 Same book, chapter 20 of Matthew, verse 17. 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:19.600 Chapter 20, verse 17. 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:25.440 The last week before the predictions that he has made, the prophecies that he has spoken, will take place. 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:28.960 He's in the last seven days of his life at this point, the last week. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.519 Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. 00:15:31.759 --> 00:15:36.399 Well, he has to go to Jerusalem if he's going to carry out the plan that was set forth, right? 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:39.440 Because that is where the execution will take place. 00:15:39.679 --> 00:15:43.840 So he goes to Jerusalem and he took the twelve disciples aside. 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:51.919 Now it becomes something more thoughtful that he's actually wanting them to really consider what it is he's saying to them. 00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:08.480 Verse 18, see, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered, underline it, over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn, underline it. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:22.960 They will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, one, flogged, two, and crucified, three, and he will be raised on the third day. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:27.200 You can't get more plain in your statement than that, can you? 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:29.360 I mean, that is black and white. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:32.559 There's no ambiguity whatsoever in that statement. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:36.399 And he even has them in a close circle with him. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:43.360 Quiet time to talk about these things as they're on the way, walking to Jerusalem. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:49.919 Why are they struggling? 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.399 What are they thinking about at this time? 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:04.880 Sorry, examination of the text will tell us they were still thinking about what we started talking about at the beginning of the lesson. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:19.680 How great it's going to be when Jesus is the king over Jerusalem and over Israel, and this nation's going to rise, and this nation's going to throw off the bonds of the Romans, and we're going to be there right along with him doing it. 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.519 It's going to be great. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:26.480 They were actually arguing about who was going to be greatest in that coming kingdom. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.119 Who was going to get to have the most attention? 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:33.440 Who was going to get to be the one? 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:40.400 Such statements from Jesus must have circulated, though. 00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:52.079 I'm actually assuming, and I think I'm probably right in this, that it wasn't just these times that we've looked at that Jesus talked about this at some point in his work among people in general. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:57.920 And the reason I say that is because of what we read about the Pharisees. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:18:02.240 They come to believe in Jesus is the Christ, at least some of them. 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:16.240 And one of them, by the name of Joseph of Arimathea, he definitely believes, and he's the one who wants to take care of Jesus' body in the burial process after his death. 00:18:16.480 --> 00:18:18.000 Matthew chapter 27. 00:18:18.160 --> 00:18:19.039 Look with me there. 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.799 Matthew chapter 27. 00:18:21.039 --> 00:18:25.759 And sorry, and we'll notice verse 59 of that text. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:37.920 Matthew 27, beginning in verse 59, Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid Jesus' body in his new tomb, rolled a great stone in front of the entrance, and went away. 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:45.279 And you can cross-reference that and see there's more detail to that story that shows him to be a believer in Jesus as the Son of God. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:19:04.480 But now looking down to verse 62 of this text, verse 62, the next day, that is, after the day of preparation, now just to put a sense of this into our mind, that would have been the Sabbath day, Saturday, and in the calendar of events, it would have been yesterday. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:21.279 And so the chief priests and the Pharisees gather before Pilate and said, Sir, we remember how this imposter, some versions say deceiver, said, While he was still alive, after three days I will rise. 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:32.799 Verse 64, therefore, order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people he has risen from the dead. 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.000 And the last deception will be worse than the first. 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:39.279 And Pilate said to them, You have a guard of soldiers. 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:41.119 Go, make secure as you can. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:47.359 So they went and they made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting a guard. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:53.759 Ladies and gentlemen, I say to you, if that was the end of the story, we would be worthless in our faith. 00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:56.720 There would be nothing for us to hang on to. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:00.319 But you say to yourself, But just didn't Jesus die for our sins? 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.039 Prove it. 00:20:01.200 --> 00:20:08.079 I'd like for you to prove to me that Jesus died for our sins without the resurrection. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:14.319 Saying something and doing something are two different things. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:15.599 We all know that. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.960 There'd be no need for us to be here today. 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:24.000 I'll tell you, I would not be a believer if that's where the story stopped. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.480 I am a believer. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.920 I get to remember that every first day of the week. 00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.480 Because I remember that's the day Jesus walked out of the tomb. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:45.440 He gave his life for my sins, but he proves what he did by his resurrection. 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:48.240 And there's no denial of that. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.920 In fact, the Bible even talks about it. 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:53.519 Look with me over at chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:56.960 1 Corinthians 15, I want us to notice verse 17. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:04.240 Paul is along these same lines, this same line of thinking as what we've just brought up or brought to our attention out of this text. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:08.160 1 Corinthians chapter 15, beginning in verse 17. 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:21.680 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you're still in your sins, then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 00:21:21.839 --> 00:21:26.079 That would be a hopeless hope. 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:32.160 For even our loved ones, if that's where the story stopped. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:45.359 But I want you to notice he says in verse 20, but in fact, do you know, brothers and sisters, that a fact is not a hypothesis, it is not a possible conclusion, it is not a theory, it is not a hope. 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.599 It's a reality. 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:53.039 In fact, it is based in information with real occurrences that can be verified. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:22:10.319 That's what Paul is talking about here within this text when he says, in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead and become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:12.480 I want us to keep thinking in this term. 00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:14.640 Look in chapter 28 of Matthew. 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:20.960 Matthew chapter 28, now, going back to your text in Matthew, and look in verse 1 there of that text. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.960 Matthew 28, verse 1. 00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:32.240 Now the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:36.559 I know you probably get stuck there and you go, Mary Magdalene, we know who that is, who's the other Mary? 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:42.960 Other sections of text that are parallel to this would tell us that was the Mary, the mother of Jesus. 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:49.359 So Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, went to see the tomb. 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:57.839 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:03.759 He appeared, and his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.279 Look at verse 4. 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:09.680 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:25.920 But the angel said to the women who did not faint and become like dead men, like the guards did, said to the women, Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 00:23:26.400 --> 00:23:29.759 He is not here, for he has risen. 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:33.920 As he said, Come and see where he lay. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:39.359 Then go quickly and tell the disciples that he is risen from the dead. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:46.880 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:51.599 And behold, Jesus met them and said, Greetings. 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:56.079 And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him. 00:23:56.240 --> 00:24:00.880 And Jesus repeats the message that the angel tells him, and that is, go tell the disciples. 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:12.240 Verse 11, while they were going, behold, after the fainting, fearful soldiers recovered, some of the guards went into the city and they told the chief priests all that had taken place. 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:18.240 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, underline this. 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:21.119 Notice this every time you read it. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:32.960 They gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers, and they said, Tell the people, his disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:43.359 And if this comes to the governor Pilate's ears, then we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. 00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:50.799 So they took the money and they did as they were directed, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:58.880 Have you ever considered the point that the first witnesses of the resurrected Christ were not just the two Marys that are spoken of there? 00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:01.519 But it's also non-believers. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:07.200 Truth has nothing at all to fear. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:22.160 These non-believers, the guards, maybe the ones who spit on him earlier, maybe the ones who slapped him or beat him or mocked him that Friday before. 00:25:23.839 --> 00:25:28.160 And yet, what is their final decision to Jesus' resurrection? 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:32.480 They take the bribe and they tell lies. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:38.319 And I have to say to you, brothers and sisters, that absolutely amazes me in this story as well, doesn't it, you? 00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:45.119 Who in their right mind would be able to say, I'll take the money and lie about what I saw? 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:48.960 I mean, that's not just some everyday occurrence that you've just seen. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:26:03.839 You have been so struck by that occurrence as a seasoned and hardened soldier in the Roman army, your legs grow weak, your mind grows faint, everything goes dark, and you fall down like a dead person. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:09.119 That just seems crazy to me. 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:13.200 These men were willing to forsake the truth for money. 00:26:13.359 --> 00:26:16.240 Now that is an important point for us to understand. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:23.200 Do you know how easy it is for you and me still today to forsake the truth for something else we would rather have? 00:26:26.559 --> 00:26:29.839 Some people still forsake the truth for money. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:37.279 They still make livings that aren't proper for a society and gain money from that. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:42.160 They're forsaking truth for money. 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:49.920 Some people are working today that don't have to be working, but they would rather have the money than they would to hear truth. 00:26:50.960 --> 00:27:05.119 There are still many people in our day who will gladly forsake truth for what is a lie, for something that actually doesn't exist forever in one's life. 00:27:06.079 --> 00:27:29.039 Some will sacrifice truth for friendships, some will sacrifice truth for family, some will sacrifice truth for pride or prestige, or because they want to spend their time some other way than serving and worshiping the God who gave his life for them each week. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:38.799 Still today, those who exchange convincing truth for anything else do so to their own hurt. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:41.440 Now, that is an important point for us to consider. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:47.200 It's not just that I want people to spend their time worshiping God. 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:57.119 The truth of the matter is God wants them to spend their time doing something that actually will have an eternal consequence for them in a positive way. 00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:02.000 I want you to think about this. 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:05.599 Here for this morning, we're reading through this text. 00:28:06.079 --> 00:28:22.480 We don't know the names of these guards, but we know that they were living men and they had jobs to do, and that what they did in that job was fail because they couldn't defeat the body of Jesus walking through the stone tomb. 00:28:23.359 --> 00:28:27.359 You might just remember stone wasn't removed and Jesus came out. 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:32.559 Jesus came out, and then the angels moved the stone. 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:48.720 Here we are 2,000 years later, we read about these men, how that all took place for them, and then how they respond to it. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:53.519 Where they're willing to lie about it in order to take some money. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:57.839 And I'll just ask you this morning, where is that money? 00:28:59.119 --> 00:29:00.799 As a matter of fact, where's the family? 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:03.839 Maybe they were family men and they're like, hey, you gotta make a living. 00:29:04.880 --> 00:29:05.759 Take this home. 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:10.319 We have meat tonight instead of this porridge stuff or whatever. 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.319 Where's it all at? 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:22.880 They were they were willing to lie against the truth and deceive in order to get that money, but you know, not one coin can be found. 00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:36.720 It is wise for us, my friends, to consider the long-term effects on our of the decisions that we're making on our eternal destiny. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:46.960 They would have been smarter thinking about what is happening here and what kind of consequence comes from this. 00:29:48.880 --> 00:29:50.400 Do I need to listen? 00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:58.960 Do I need to consider what has just taken place more deeply than to grab hold of this flashy stuff? 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:12.559 I'll just say to you that if something isn't right that we are contemplating, we need to consider where will it lead me? 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:17.200 They would have been right to consider, is it right for me to lie about this? 00:30:17.680 --> 00:30:19.119 Just for money? 00:30:19.440 --> 00:30:20.480 Is it really right? 00:30:20.640 --> 00:30:22.240 Is that a right thing? 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:28.319 Even the pagans understood lying was not a right thing to do. 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:32.000 Where will I end up? 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:36.319 Our preservation, ladies and gentlemen, is not built upon things that decay. 00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:38.240 It's not built upon things that rust. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:41.920 It's not built upon things that stay here when we leave from here. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.519 This world, I mean. 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:52.480 But in a willingness to change our direction based upon the truth and the convictions that it brings. 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:57.680 Nothing compares with good integrity and spiritual virtue. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:31:11.119 In Matthew chapter 6, verse 19, Jesus offers something better when he tells us the treasures you have here, those things will only be at best temporarily used. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:16.880 But I'm offering you something that it makes eternity a difference for you. 00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:26.960 What about the reaction of the majority of the religious leaders to the news that they had received from these guards? 00:31:27.200 --> 00:31:32.559 Here, take this money, tell the people his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:45.279 Now, I'm not a lawyer, but I but and I'm not an investigator anymore, but I can tell you this that that person who believes this is not a very good listener at all. 00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:48.960 They have not thought through the process. 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:58.000 In fact, it makes me wonder about these highly educated men who are doing the very thing they'd gone to Pilate and said, we're afraid of this happening. 00:31:58.319 --> 00:32:01.119 Now they're promoting that it happened. 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:08.319 By the way, this story would it's only going to work on lazy listeners, like I said. 00:32:08.480 --> 00:32:09.519 I mean, think about this. 00:32:09.680 --> 00:32:18.480 How could they have known the disciples stole the body if they are sleeping so much that they don't even wake up to know that the body's been stolen? 00:32:19.359 --> 00:32:24.160 How do you identify who stole the body if you're sleeping? 00:32:26.880 --> 00:32:41.680 What we learn is this, and it's more important in all of this, just like then, in the face of evidence and truth, some people are still just going to do what they have always done and deny something that is difficult to deal with. 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:58.880 Hardened hearts, denial, rejection, never stopping to consider once again what are the implications of what we're doing. 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:01.839 Where will this lead? 00:33:03.039 --> 00:33:05.519 Us, the religious leaders. 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:10.880 And where are we leading people who will follow us? 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:19.279 Both the soldiers and the leaders in this meeting knew the truth. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:27.519 All of those people who were assembled there together talking over what how it was they were going to handle this dilemma. 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:31.039 All of them knew the truth. 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:34.000 And that truth was undeniable, as I said. 00:33:34.079 --> 00:33:37.440 It wasn't a hypothesis, it wasn't speculation. 00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:40.960 They knew what took place. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:53.839 But they just couldn't let it change their lives because they were just too short-sighted to think it through. 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:57.839 There are a lot of people today short-sighted. 00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:12.079 No matter how undeniable and convincing truth may be, for some, the only ones who will really be receptive are going to be those who have an honest heart about the facts that is good before God. 00:34:12.800 --> 00:34:16.000 I want to be who God wants me to be. 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:18.880 An honest and good heart is referred to in Scripture. 00:34:19.039 --> 00:34:20.320 An honest and good heart. 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:27.840 It's not going to seek to ignore evidences or the implications of those evidences. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:31.840 Sometimes those are more concerning than the evidences themselves, right? 00:34:33.760 --> 00:34:39.840 This kind of soul can't just go away and say, eh, whatever. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:42.880 It's got to dig. 00:34:43.199 --> 00:34:44.719 It's got to know more. 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:48.159 It won't be happy until it knows more. 00:34:48.480 --> 00:34:55.039 And starting with these women to whom Jesus first appeared, the apostles fearlessly stand before the people. 00:34:55.599 --> 00:35:01.039 Unlike the time when they were in the garden and they were all afraid and they all left. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:08.159 Now the resurrection with the death of Jesus has changed them completely. 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:11.360 They are no longer those men anymore. 00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:13.519 No, now they're willing to stand. 00:35:13.599 --> 00:35:15.360 And what do they do when they stand? 00:35:15.599 --> 00:35:25.440 About 40 or 50 days, I guess it was, after the things that we've just read take place, Peter and the other disciples deliver the statements that we read in Acts chapter 2. 00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:27.039 Maybe you're familiar with that text. 00:35:27.199 --> 00:35:29.519 If you are, I encourage you to go over there anyway. 00:35:29.679 --> 00:35:33.039 Read it with some thought about the things that we've just read, okay? 00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:40.960 Acts chapter 2, verse 22, where Peter says there toward the end of his sermon, Men of Israel, hear these words. 00:35:41.199 --> 00:35:48.320 Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wondrous signs. 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.599 Oh man. 00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:55.440 Resurrection, you can't get more mighty and wondrous than that. 00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:59.199 Someone raising themselves from the dead. 00:36:02.159 --> 00:36:06.559 God did these through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. 00:36:06.639 --> 00:36:07.599 Look at verse 23. 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:17.360 This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and you killed by the hands of lawless men. 00:36:17.599 --> 00:36:18.800 Verse 24. 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:25.760 But God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 00:36:25.840 --> 00:36:26.800 You know why that is? 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:28.239 Because he's God. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:34.320 And you can't kill God when God wants to live. 00:36:35.199 --> 00:36:39.199 He did what he did for us, brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen. 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:42.400 Verse 32, this Jesus, God raised up. 00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:47.840 And of all that, we are all witnesses. 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:54.880 I want you to consider the fact that there were thousands of people there hearing this on that day of Pentecost. 00:36:55.039 --> 00:37:04.159 None of them, none of them, whether it's this document or secular documents, would record for us that somebody in the crowd was saying, you know what? 00:37:04.239 --> 00:37:05.280 That's all a lie. 00:37:05.440 --> 00:37:06.800 It's been disproven. 00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:09.039 The guards told us. 00:37:10.559 --> 00:37:13.599 There is no denial of the facts at this point. 00:37:14.719 --> 00:37:16.239 None of this came true. 00:37:16.480 --> 00:37:21.760 Instead, verse 37 says, Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart. 00:37:21.840 --> 00:37:25.360 And they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, What shall we do? 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:32.639 And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus. 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:34.960 Notice the word Christ. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:38.159 We read that like it's his second name. 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:39.519 It actually isn't. 00:37:39.840 --> 00:37:42.000 Jesus wasn't named Jesus Christ. 00:37:42.159 --> 00:37:44.000 That's not his second name. 00:37:45.039 --> 00:37:49.840 That is a name that identifies him or who he is. 00:37:51.199 --> 00:37:55.199 But it's not connected to his earthly name of Jesus. 00:37:56.719 --> 00:37:59.280 It means one who is anointed. 00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:03.199 Jesus the anointed. 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:08.400 Think of it that way for a second, because that is an identification of kingship. 00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:10.639 Kings were anointed. 00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:13.519 It's an identification of a kingdom. 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:18.719 There's no sense of having a king if you don't have something he's ruling over called a kingdom. 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:23.360 So read that sentence again. 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:28.480 Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus, king. 00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:37.119 For the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 00:38:37.440 --> 00:38:39.840 The resurrection proves the deity of Jesus. 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:49.360 The resurrection proves we can't believe and confidently act on the implications of his death until we understand that resurrection. 00:38:51.039 --> 00:38:54.400 Just as Peter is teaching here in Acts chapter 2. 00:38:54.559 --> 00:39:03.280 And it proves Jesus has power over life and death, the resurrection and a judgment that is yet to come. 00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:09.119 Acts chapter 17, as we begin to close out together this morning. 00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:10.320 Acts chapter 17. 00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:18.400 I want you to notice there, verse 30, as Paul now is preaching, he says here that God commands all people everywhere to repent. 00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:20.480 Verse 31 tells why. 00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:22.639 Why should we do that, Paul? 00:39:22.960 --> 00:39:27.920 Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world. 00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:32.639 That includes you, me, and every other created human being. 00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:38.880 And he'll do so in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. 00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:47.760 And of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. 00:39:50.800 --> 00:39:55.280 Now, when they heard the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. 00:39:55.360 --> 00:39:57.840 I'd like to ask you, why do people mock at that? 00:39:58.079 --> 00:40:01.679 Why do people choose to not believe in that? 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:07.039 Is it because victory over death seems too good to be true? 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:15.119 It's so contrary to our world of death and destruction and decay. 00:40:16.719 --> 00:40:20.800 Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to suffer with that our entire existence? 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:23.760 It's too good to be true. 00:40:26.800 --> 00:40:33.920 But some joined him in and believe. 00:40:41.840 --> 00:40:48.079 I mean, everything culminates with the death and the resurrection of Jesus and a judgment to come. 00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:50.079 Those three great points. 00:40:52.800 --> 00:41:01.360 And all of that is meant to cause us to stop, to think, and to make a choice. 00:41:01.920 --> 00:41:02.880 All of that. 00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:07.360 Just like it was here in the story that we've read about in this account. 00:41:07.519 --> 00:41:11.360 Are you as the soldier who knew the as one of the soldiers who knew the truth? 00:41:11.679 --> 00:41:18.719 But they were just more interested in the temporary satisfaction of other stuff that they could get for the here and now right away? 00:41:19.920 --> 00:41:23.119 A fixation on the gold or the silver? 00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:35.599 Are you as the Jewish authorities unwilling to accept what you know because you just don't want to change the way you're going? 00:41:36.639 --> 00:41:40.480 I like these things more than those things. 00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:41.760 It's choice. 00:41:43.519 --> 00:41:58.400 Are you as those who deny the truth because a miracle would force you to admit there is a God over life and death, over this world, and there is a judgment to come that terrifies me? 00:41:59.199 --> 00:42:00.880