WEBVTT 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:17.233 Thank you Isaac. 00:00:17.233 --> 00:00:19.132 Good morning, Valley View. 00:00:19.132 --> 00:00:23.000 It's great to be with you today to celebrate Easter, Resurrection Sunday. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.432 What a powerful time of worship. 00:00:25.432 --> 00:00:28.800 Really dwelling on the fact that he is risen. 00:00:29.132 --> 00:00:31.800 Yeah, he's risen indeed. 00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:35.533 Well, this morning we're talking about good news. 00:00:35.533 --> 00:00:37.365 You've seen it out in the lobby. 00:00:37.365 --> 00:00:39.200 You've seen it on the screen. 00:00:39.200 --> 00:00:40.066 Good news. 00:00:40.066 --> 00:00:41.732 This Sunday is all about good news. 00:00:41.732 --> 00:00:43.865 And everybody loves to get good news. 00:00:43.865 --> 00:00:46.500 That's one of your favorite things to hear is good news. 00:00:46.500 --> 00:00:50.365 I remember when I was waiting to hear back, I had applied for college. 00:00:50.365 --> 00:00:55.432 I had applied for a specific degree program, and I didn't really know how it was going to turn out or not. 00:00:55.432 --> 00:01:00.700 And so a lot of people were praying, especially my parents, because they weren't sure either. 00:01:00.700 --> 00:01:11.599 And I kept checking the mail and checking the mail and wondering, because this was before any kind of app that might send me a notification or email or cell phone or anything, just waiting on the mail. 00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:16.700 One day I came home late from work, had been at the grocery store late at night, helping to stock the shelves. 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:18.332 11 p.m. hungry? 00:01:18.332 --> 00:01:20.400 Eat, shower and it hits me about midnight. 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:21.365 I haven't checked the mail. 00:01:22.566 --> 00:01:24.965 I run outside, look at the mail and there it is. 00:01:24.965 --> 00:01:29.165 There's that letter and it says, congratulations, you've been accepted. 00:01:29.165 --> 00:01:30.733 And that was good news. 00:01:30.733 --> 00:01:31.900 That was exciting news. 00:01:31.900 --> 00:01:34.233 In fact, in many ways, life changing news. 00:01:34.233 --> 00:01:36.465 And I had to tell somebody right away. 00:01:36.465 --> 00:01:39.533 And so I'll go inside, wake up my parents, it's midnight. 00:01:39.533 --> 00:01:40.665 They're like, what are you doing? 00:01:40.665 --> 00:01:41.632 You're crazy. 00:01:41.632 --> 00:01:43.099 I said, listen, I got some great news. 00:01:43.099 --> 00:01:44.965 I got accepted, and they said, we weren't sure. 00:01:44.965 --> 00:01:47.799 I mean, great, we knew all along we were sure that would happen. 00:01:47.799 --> 00:01:48.865 That's wonderful news. 00:01:48.865 --> 00:01:49.665 Thank you. Lord. 00:01:49.665 --> 00:01:50.766 Can we go back to sleep? 00:01:50.766 --> 00:01:53.000 Yes. Go ahead. 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:57.233 But when you get great news, when you get good news, when you get life changing news, you can't help. 00:01:57.233 --> 00:01:58.965 You got to tell someone else. 00:02:00.433 --> 00:02:05.533 And this morning we're going to see the story of three women who received very good news. 00:02:05.533 --> 00:02:11.133 In fact, we would say it's the best news ever delivered to the world at any time. 00:02:11.400 --> 00:02:13.466 We're going to be in Mark chapter 16. 00:02:13.466 --> 00:02:17.332 So if you have a Bible, turn to mark chapter 16. 00:02:17.332 --> 00:02:21.966 And if you have a church Bible, which we have some of those out in the lobby, that'll be on page 802. 00:02:21.966 --> 00:02:23.665 We'd love to give you a copy of that Bible. 00:02:23.665 --> 00:02:26.900 That's for you, to keep you can slip at any time and grab one. 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:30.800 We're going to be reading from Mark chapter 16, verses one through eight. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:42.832 This is at the end of the book of Mark, and there will see a group of women who were the first to encounter the good news of the resurrection of Jesus. 00:02:42.832 --> 00:02:48.500 And today we want to look at how they respond to that, how they encounter, how they respond. 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:50.966 And then we'll look at what that means for us today. 00:02:50.966 --> 00:02:54.699 And hopefully you have a copy of the notes where you can capture some of what we covered. 00:02:54.699 --> 00:02:59.800 But I'm going to start by just reading from Mark chapter 16, verse one through eight. 00:03:00.699 --> 00:03:10.400 When the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they may go and anoint him. 00:03:10.733 --> 00:03:22.633 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb, and they were saying to one another, who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb? 00:03:22.633 --> 00:03:26.265 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back. 00:03:26.265 --> 00:03:35.532 It was very large, and entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 00:03:35.532 --> 00:03:39.500 And he said to them, do not be alarmed. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:43.133 You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. 00:03:43.133 --> 00:03:44.466 He has risen. 00:03:44.466 --> 00:03:46.265 He is not here. 00:03:46.265 --> 00:03:49.265 See the place where they laid him. 00:03:49.966 --> 00:03:55.832 But go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. 00:03:55.832 --> 00:03:59.133 There you will see him just as he told you. 00:03:59.932 --> 00:04:07.566 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them. 00:04:08.300 --> 00:04:13.699 And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 00:04:13.699 --> 00:04:21.199 Here we have this experience of three women who were coming to the tomb to anoint Jesus's body. 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:27.865 And I think the first thing we see with them in this experience is that they were coming out of a labor of love. 00:04:27.865 --> 00:04:29.632 That's the first point in your outline. 00:04:29.632 --> 00:04:33.266 They were coming to express love to Jesus. 00:04:33.266 --> 00:04:35.300 You know, it was common custom to anoint the body. 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:43.065 They in fact, other scriptures say that they anointed his body before burial, but of course others would want to anoint him as well. 00:04:43.065 --> 00:04:45.500 We would do that even if there were flowers on the tomb. 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:50.365 On the day when you went to show your respects, you would still put your flowers down. 00:04:50.365 --> 00:04:52.132 It was your way of saying, I love you. 00:04:52.132 --> 00:04:53.266 I care about you. 00:04:53.266 --> 00:04:55.266 I'm sorry that you're gone. I miss you. 00:04:56.865 --> 00:04:58.800 And so they this shows their eagerness. 00:04:58.800 --> 00:05:00.132 They were waiting as soon as they could. 00:05:00.132 --> 00:05:02.300 The first thing right after the Sabbath. 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:07.300 It wouldn't have been appropriate to go on the Sabbath, to anoint the body that would have been kind of against their rules and their customs. 00:05:07.300 --> 00:05:10.233 First thing, we're going as soon as we can go buy stuff. 00:05:10.233 --> 00:05:12.766 As soon as it gets daylight, we're out of here. 00:05:12.766 --> 00:05:16.000 We're going to show our love to Jesus. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:23.632 You know, many people look at this encounter that we're going to read about here and study with Mary. 00:05:23.632 --> 00:05:28.565 Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, Salome. 00:05:28.565 --> 00:05:36.100 Many people have seen that this is an example of why the New Testament can be verified, why the new Testament is trustworthy. 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:46.833 Because if you were making the story up back at this time, you would not have been the first people you wouldn't have recorded, the first people to meet Jesus or to learn the story of Jesus would to be women. 00:05:48.266 --> 00:05:49.000 Back at this time. 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:49.865 I'm not saying it's right. 00:05:49.865 --> 00:05:50.565 I'm not approving. 00:05:50.565 --> 00:06:01.432 But back at this time, many times, especially in a court of law, the testimony of a woman, it would need to be confirmed by another man, a trustworthy man, someone else to come alongside them. 00:06:01.432 --> 00:06:01.733 Again. 00:06:01.733 --> 00:06:03.833 I'm not saying that's right, not approving of that. 00:06:03.833 --> 00:06:09.466 But if you were making up the story, then you wouldn't have chosen women to be the very first witnesses. 00:06:09.466 --> 00:06:11.432 You certainly wouldn't have chosen Mary Magdalene. 00:06:11.432 --> 00:06:17.399 I mean, she was known to have been possessed with seven demons, and Jesus healed her from them. 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:21.233 So you're going to pick a crazy woman as your very first person to encounter. 00:06:21.233 --> 00:06:22.766 You know, that's how we get spun. 00:06:22.766 --> 00:06:24.199 That's not what you're going to make up. 00:06:26.632 --> 00:06:28.800 And I think some of that is certainly applies. 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:39.132 I think it also shows that the New Testament, in Jesus coming into the world, breaks in a new respect for all of humanity that you don't see in history prior to this. 00:06:39.165 --> 00:06:45.733 But I think there's a more practical reason why these three women were the first to hear the news of Jesus. 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:50.300 I just think it comes down to the fact that they were the first to come. 00:06:50.632 --> 00:06:53.632 Which says a lot about them, by the way. 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:56.266 You know, where were the disciples? 00:06:56.266 --> 00:06:57.966 Wherever they come in to anoint the body. 00:06:57.966 --> 00:07:01.533 I think this speaks to their love for Jesus. 00:07:02.500 --> 00:07:03.365 And think about this. 00:07:03.365 --> 00:07:19.600 If you had been healed of seven demons and set free from control of the enemy, and the kind of love that you would have for Jesus, even though it seems like he let you down, he didn't say he didn't become all he said he was going to be. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:24.565 This is a mother's love, a family love, a sister's love that says, I don't care. 00:07:24.565 --> 00:07:25.865 I still love you. 00:07:25.865 --> 00:07:28.333 I'm still here honoring your life. 00:07:28.333 --> 00:07:30.466 Even if things didn't go the way they planned. 00:07:30.466 --> 00:07:32.199 Now that's how it starts, a labor of love. 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:41.432 But I think also in this, the second thing we see is that they are taking a significant step of faith here. 00:07:42.165 --> 00:07:44.932 In fact, look back at verse three. 00:07:44.932 --> 00:07:49.932 They were saying to one another as they're going there, who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? 00:07:51.233 --> 00:07:57.533 They're taking a significant step of faith by coming to assume, first of all, they don't even know if they're going to be able to go in. 00:07:57.533 --> 00:07:59.199 I don't know if it'll be open. 00:07:59.199 --> 00:08:05.333 I don't know if they'll let us in, by the way, it's guarded, likely by the very soldiers who were a part of crucifying Jesus. 00:08:05.333 --> 00:08:06.899 These are rough dudes. 00:08:06.899 --> 00:08:09.632 They don't care. 00:08:09.632 --> 00:08:11.432 We don't even know if we'll be able to get in. 00:08:11.432 --> 00:08:13.033 But we got to go. 00:08:13.033 --> 00:08:16.033 We have to be there. 00:08:16.065 --> 00:08:24.432 Not only that, but by even just showing up, they are aligning themselves with the enemy of the state. 00:08:24.432 --> 00:08:27.432 They put this guy to death for a reason. 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:30.766 And you want to say, yeah, we approve of him. We love him. 00:08:33.166 --> 00:08:45.633 I mean, imagine if we had some memorial set up downtown to the famous Revolutionary War traitor Benedict Arnold, or maybe let's think a little more personal. 00:08:45.633 --> 00:08:48.633 Maybe Rick Pitino downtown, some memorial. 00:08:48.633 --> 00:08:50.932 I think both sides can agree. 00:08:50.932 --> 00:08:53.000 I don't hate him. But you understand. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.732 Well, let's get more serious. 00:08:54.732 --> 00:09:00.700 There's a memorial downtown to Osama bin laden. 00:09:01.566 --> 00:09:05.033 And somebody is going to go lay flowers at it and pay their respects. 00:09:05.033 --> 00:09:06.732 That's a weighty thing. 00:09:06.732 --> 00:09:11.466 You're making a pretty dangerous statement by doing that. 00:09:11.466 --> 00:09:13.033 And these women are saying, I don't care. 00:09:13.033 --> 00:09:15.033 We don't care. 00:09:15.033 --> 00:09:16.633 We love Jesus. 00:09:16.633 --> 00:09:18.299 We're willing to take that risk. 00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:22.666 This is how the Romans would have seen him, an enemy of the state. 00:09:22.666 --> 00:09:24.200 And you are going to align yourself with him. 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:24.865 We don't care. 00:09:24.865 --> 00:09:26.399 The disciples, they're in hiding. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:26.633 Yeah. 00:09:26.633 --> 00:09:28.066 No, we don't want to be part of that. 00:09:28.066 --> 00:09:36.466 But these women, there's no there's no there's no wonder that Jesus is going to be the one to make sure they get the news first. 00:09:36.700 --> 00:09:38.265 They take a significant step of faith. 00:09:38.265 --> 00:09:39.000 Now here's what happens. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:40.432 They come to the tomb. 00:09:40.432 --> 00:09:42.232 They don't know if they're going to be able to get in or not. 00:09:42.232 --> 00:09:43.432 And we see here's what happens. 00:09:43.432 --> 00:09:46.299 Look back in verse four looking up. 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:48.399 They saw that the stone had been rolled back. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:50.765 It was very large. 00:09:50.765 --> 00:09:57.332 And entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 00:09:57.332 --> 00:09:59.966 And he said to them, do not be alarmed. 00:09:59.966 --> 00:10:01.100 And here's what's happened. 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:04.332 They are coming, expecting the tomb is going to be closed. 00:10:04.332 --> 00:10:05.633 Jesus is going to be in there. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:12.033 And they encounter this young man, and he's going to give them what we know is good news. 00:10:12.033 --> 00:10:15.200 But to them, it would have been unexpected news. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:17.232 This is wasn't what they were expecting. 00:10:17.232 --> 00:10:19.899 They didn't come expecting to see that Jesus wasn't there. 00:10:19.899 --> 00:10:21.232 And there's some other guy in there. 00:10:21.232 --> 00:10:22.932 And of course we know he was an angel. 00:10:22.932 --> 00:10:27.399 The other gospels say that we know Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. 00:10:27.399 --> 00:10:32.100 All four record this account of Jesus's resurrection and the news of it being spread. 00:10:32.100 --> 00:10:36.265 We have four different accounts, so you can see it from four different perspectives. 00:10:36.265 --> 00:10:37.332 They're called the Gospels. 00:10:37.332 --> 00:10:39.365 Gospel just means good news. 00:10:39.365 --> 00:10:42.365 Mark's the shortest of them. 00:10:42.633 --> 00:10:46.899 And here we have them describe this person they encounter as he seems to them, a young man. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:48.200 But we know he's an angel. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:49.966 The word angel just means messenger. 00:10:49.966 --> 00:10:54.899 Someone who's bringing a message from God, and he gives them this unexpected news. 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:56.500 And here's what he says don't be alarmed. 00:10:56.500 --> 00:11:00.832 You see Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, he is risen. 00:11:01.466 --> 00:11:04.365 He is not here. 00:11:04.365 --> 00:11:06.033 This is unexpected news. 00:11:06.033 --> 00:11:09.432 This isn't what they were planning to hear. 00:11:09.432 --> 00:11:14.265 But the question is, what are you going to do when you get this unexpected news? 00:11:14.265 --> 00:11:16.865 You're expecting things to go one way, that go another. 00:11:16.865 --> 00:11:17.732 How do you react to that? 00:11:17.732 --> 00:11:19.566 How do you respond? 00:11:19.566 --> 00:11:26.533 Well, here in particular, this angel gives them not just the news, but he also gives them a mission. 00:11:26.732 --> 00:11:30.500 I'm delivering the news, but I'm giving you something to do with it. I'm giving you a mission. 00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:32.566 Look back at verse seven. 00:11:32.566 --> 00:11:37.966 He says, go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. 00:11:37.966 --> 00:11:40.066 There you will see him just as he told you. 00:11:41.166 --> 00:11:43.732 I've given you good news, and now I'm giving you a mission. 00:11:43.732 --> 00:11:46.100 He gives him the word go. 00:11:46.100 --> 00:11:47.765 Mark is a book of action. 00:11:47.765 --> 00:11:55.466 Almost every verse in the original language starts with the word, and that's the word you use when you're telling a story and you want to keep the action going in. 00:11:55.466 --> 00:11:57.899 This happened and then this happened, and then that happened. 00:11:57.899 --> 00:11:59.865 And, and and it's a book of action. 00:11:59.865 --> 00:12:05.365 And he's going to end the book here drawing to a close with action. 00:12:05.365 --> 00:12:08.133 Go, go and tell. 00:12:08.133 --> 00:12:09.765 It's the same word gave Abraham. 00:12:09.765 --> 00:12:11.000 Go, go to a place. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:11.399 I'll show you. 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.265 It's the same word Jesus gives the disciples at the end of the book of Matthew. 00:12:14.265 --> 00:12:16.133 Go make disciples. 00:12:16.133 --> 00:12:19.133 Tell the world. 00:12:19.832 --> 00:12:22.700 And he says to them specifically, go and tell the disciples. 00:12:24.100 --> 00:12:29.799 And he says, And Peter, now why does he call out Peter individually? 00:12:29.799 --> 00:12:31.566 I think there's a couple of things that may have been going on here. 00:12:31.566 --> 00:12:34.466 First of all, Peter may not have been with the disciples. 00:12:34.466 --> 00:12:39.166 We know he tended to do his own thing, might have run off on his own, might have gone fishing. 00:12:39.166 --> 00:12:43.799 He who knows he he often was off separate from the rest of the disciples. 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:47.000 So go find the disciples who were all caught up together. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.700 Go find Peter. 00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:58.066 But I think more significantly, is the reality that Peter was the one who said, Jesus, no matter what you say, is going to happen, I will never deny you. 00:12:58.066 --> 00:12:59.265 I will never leave you. 00:12:59.265 --> 00:13:02.865 I'll be right there with you all the way to the end, even to death. 00:13:05.666 --> 00:13:09.399 And he denied him and walked away most publicly. 00:13:10.232 --> 00:13:13.466 And this is just a hint of the forgiveness he's going to offer. 00:13:13.466 --> 00:13:14.832 Go and find Peter. 00:13:14.832 --> 00:13:18.066 Let him know I'm coming back. 00:13:18.066 --> 00:13:20.633 I'm here. I want to meet with you. 00:13:20.633 --> 00:13:21.666 Let's regroup. 00:13:21.666 --> 00:13:24.932 Let's go back to our hometown where this all began. 00:13:24.932 --> 00:13:30.466 Let me pull everybody back together and let's move forward. 00:13:30.765 --> 00:13:32.033 So he gives them a mission. 00:13:32.033 --> 00:13:34.332 Go, go until a very simple mission. 00:13:34.332 --> 00:13:43.299 Just go until now, when you get the mission, the question is, how will they respond to the mission? 00:13:43.799 --> 00:13:46.399 When they're told, go and tell, how will they respond? 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:49.399 Look at how they respond in verse eight. 00:13:49.566 --> 00:14:02.899 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:06.000 So their initial reaction is a positive excitement. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:08.966 You see the words trembling and a stunned astonishment. 00:14:08.966 --> 00:14:13.666 The word trembling in the original language sounds a lot like trembling, like tremor. 00:14:13.666 --> 00:14:20.332 The word for astonishment was more like, the word we would use ecstatic. 00:14:20.332 --> 00:14:22.666 It sounds like ecstatic, even in the original language. 00:14:22.666 --> 00:14:25.066 So that's a positive excitement. 00:14:25.066 --> 00:14:27.232 Wait, your team hits the game winning shot. 00:14:27.232 --> 00:14:29.200 There's a shaking, a trembling, an excitement. 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.865 You're jumping around. 00:14:30.865 --> 00:14:31.799 It overwhelms you. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:33.365 That's a that's a good thing. 00:14:33.365 --> 00:14:37.865 You might even not be able to fully control yourself of the excitement. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.000 That's how it starts for them. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:41.033 Running out. 00:14:41.033 --> 00:14:44.033 Astonishment, excitement, trembling. 00:14:44.232 --> 00:14:45.832 But then it changes. 00:14:45.832 --> 00:14:51.332 It shifts from that, that initial enthusiasm. 00:14:51.332 --> 00:14:54.600 They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:58.966 Okay, this is how. 00:14:58.966 --> 00:15:05.000 In fact, most Bibles have a little footnote here that says this is actually where the book of Mark, we think ended. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:08.799 There's a few extra verses that may have been added on later. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:13.399 That's a really strange way to end the story, to end the book. 00:15:13.633 --> 00:15:18.633 It reminds me of the book of Jonah when we went through it the way it ended with this question to Jonah, how are you going to respond? 00:15:18.633 --> 00:15:21.500 Where are you going to? Do you hear? 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:24.299 They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:27.299 What does this mean for us today? 00:15:27.365 --> 00:15:28.265 We see the story. 00:15:28.265 --> 00:15:32.133 We see the story of them getting the good news, them hearing about the resurrection of Jesus. 00:15:32.133 --> 00:15:34.299 What does this mean for us today? 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:40.133 I think there are three ways we can experience the resurrection and the power of the hope we can have in Christ today. 00:15:40.133 --> 00:15:41.466 As a result of the story. 00:15:43.033 --> 00:15:48.432 And the first is simply that I think we see in their example is to walk by faith. 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:50.332 Walk by faith. 00:15:50.332 --> 00:15:51.500 That's been our theme for the year. 00:15:51.500 --> 00:15:58.166 When you came in, if you were able to see past the cinnamon rolls on the wall behind it was the theme walk by Faith. 00:15:58.166 --> 00:16:00.332 For our church this year. 00:16:00.332 --> 00:16:02.500 We want to be people who walk by faith. 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:04.365 This is what they did. 00:16:04.365 --> 00:16:07.166 They came to the tomb by faith. 00:16:07.166 --> 00:16:09.166 They didn't know what was going to happen. 00:16:09.166 --> 00:16:14.265 And by the way, when the angel gave them the news, he didn't answer every question they might have. 00:16:14.265 --> 00:16:18.466 I'm sure they had a lot more questions about how this shook out. 00:16:18.466 --> 00:16:19.700 Sometimes we're called. 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:22.200 In fact, we're all called to walk by faith. 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:24.566 There comes a point and look. 00:16:24.566 --> 00:16:31.566 By the way, I know we all have questions that need to be answered, but there comes a point where there's no more questions to be answered. 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:37.799 And there's a point where you've got to just take a step of faith and say, I'm going to follow him or not. 00:16:39.299 --> 00:16:45.399 So the first way you'll experience the resurrection power is to take that step of faith, to walk by faith, to say, I don't have it all figured out. 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:46.500 I don't know all the answers. 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:48.899 Life hasn't gone the way I thought it would. 00:16:48.899 --> 00:17:00.566 I've still got some questions about what you have for me, but we got to take that step of faith and walk by faith and follow him and trust that he is good and accept this good news. 00:17:01.700 --> 00:17:11.000 The second thing I think we see here with them as they walk by faith, but also in the midst of the confusion, this would have been a very confusing time. 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:17.766 Everybody had their hopes set on Jesus being the Messiah, the one who would set everything right politically. 00:17:17.766 --> 00:17:20.766 And he's been killed. 00:17:21.232 --> 00:17:29.465 Look, in the midst of the confusion in their life, in our life, what they did was a powerful example to us move toward Jesus. 00:17:31.232 --> 00:17:36.700 When you're confused about what to do, about where to go in life, move toward Jesus. 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:39.766 Move towards the things that will help you grow closer to him. 00:17:39.766 --> 00:17:42.165 Move toward the people who are also pursuing him. 00:17:42.165 --> 00:17:49.200 And by the way, conversely, move away from those things and people who are pulling you the opposite direction. 00:17:50.432 --> 00:17:58.365 I don't mean cut them out of your life completely, though sometimes you may need to, but what I'm talking about are the people who are having the greatest influence over you. 00:17:59.865 --> 00:18:18.465 You know, it's really interesting how the people who tend to be intentional to read their Bible daily, to pray regularly, to be involved in community, and a small group of some type where you're connected with other people who are pursuing Christ, who can be there with you in the hard times, who can be there with you in the good times. 00:18:18.465 --> 00:18:29.732 To celebrate people who regularly prioritize church attendance, who who make it a high priority in their life, people who are engaged in serving, giving. 00:18:30.732 --> 00:18:36.400 It's really interesting how those people seem to be growing more in their relationship with Christ than others. 00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:39.232 And I look, I know I've heard it many times. You don't. 00:18:39.232 --> 00:18:41.633 You don't have to go to church to be a Christian. 00:18:41.633 --> 00:18:42.200 That's true. 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:42.665 You don't. 00:18:42.665 --> 00:18:48.333 I know you also don't have to go to the gym to be in shape, but who tends to be in shape? 00:18:50.566 --> 00:19:00.099 There's a correlation there between the people who tend to go to the gym and if you want to experience the fullness of what Christ has for you. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.865 Get around other people. 00:19:02.865 --> 00:19:04.232 Move towards Jesus. 00:19:04.232 --> 00:19:07.099 Move towards people who are also pursuing him. 00:19:07.099 --> 00:19:14.799 Let their life and passion and excitement for Christ bleed into your life, because you're going to need that at times. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.766 You can't wait until you hit the tragedy to find that it'll be too late. 00:19:18.766 --> 00:19:21.766 They won't be there. 00:19:21.932 --> 00:19:23.865 Be growing in your relationship with others. 00:19:23.865 --> 00:19:24.766 Move towards Jesus. 00:19:24.766 --> 00:19:27.032 Move towards the things that help you grow closer to him. 00:19:27.032 --> 00:19:31.432 Move towards the people that help you grow closer to him. 00:19:31.432 --> 00:19:39.900 And then lastly, I think what we see in them is that they step beyond their fear toward faith. 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:43.865 They didn't stay stuck in their fear. 00:19:43.865 --> 00:19:47.200 Of course, that's how the book of Mark may have ended. 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:51.465 They're right at verse eight, but we know it didn't in that way. 00:19:51.465 --> 00:19:56.965 We read the other gospel accounts, by the way, the fact that we have the Bible, we know it didn't in that way. 00:19:56.965 --> 00:19:58.266 They didn't just keep it to themselves. 00:19:58.266 --> 00:19:59.833 Word spread. 00:19:59.833 --> 00:20:05.400 We know that they got past their fear to go and share others. 00:20:05.400 --> 00:20:09.133 They they didn't just keep the good news to themselves. 00:20:09.266 --> 00:20:11.133 They went to make sure the world knew they. 00:20:11.133 --> 00:20:15.200 In fact, other versions say they ran to the disciples to tell them. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:20.232 Maybe there was that momentary bit of fear that said, this is too much for us. 00:20:20.232 --> 00:20:21.566 I don't know that we can go there. 00:20:21.566 --> 00:20:26.865 We're supposed to go and say, some dude in shiny clothes told us that Jesus is alive. 00:20:26.865 --> 00:20:27.932 How's that going to play? 00:20:29.833 --> 00:20:32.833 Well, they believe us. 00:20:33.299 --> 00:20:38.566 They went past their fear and they moved towards faith. 00:20:38.566 --> 00:20:41.266 This week I got a call. 00:20:41.266 --> 00:20:44.965 We got a call into the church on Wednesday. 00:20:44.965 --> 00:20:50.000 Gary got one of our longtime faithful members here. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.333 We got a call that he had fallen. 00:20:51.333 --> 00:20:54.232 He had been sick, very sick for over a year. 00:20:54.232 --> 00:20:59.000 A year ago we thought probably he would make it much longer. 00:20:59.566 --> 00:21:01.232 We got a call. He's fallen. 00:21:01.232 --> 00:21:02.566 E.M.S. is on the way. 00:21:02.566 --> 00:21:06.099 We're not sure that he's going to make it. 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:08.000 And they just live a few minutes from here. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:17.000 So I immediately went over to their home and by the time I got there, there was already a sheet laid over his body. 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.532 EMS had stopped working on him. 00:21:19.532 --> 00:21:23.599 They were just kind of standing, waiting for the next step, waiting for the coroner. 00:21:24.799 --> 00:21:27.099 But they're next to him on the ground. 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:30.532 And I asked Barbara if I could share this. 00:21:30.532 --> 00:21:33.532 There was Barbara's sitting next to him. 00:21:33.633 --> 00:21:45.532 Shannon, their daughter, also Shannon's daughter with them, and they were just comforting one another, holding his hand. 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.799 And of course, here I am coming on the scene. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:51.900 I just stay back, just kind of feel things out. 00:21:51.900 --> 00:21:57.766 I'm there to be a comfort at the right time, but not to just barge into things as people are grieving. 00:21:59.266 --> 00:22:03.766 But after a few minutes it became pretty clear there was a different tone happening. 00:22:03.766 --> 00:22:06.432 Yes, there was crying. 00:22:06.432 --> 00:22:09.365 But Barbara, actually, she she wasn't crying. 00:22:09.365 --> 00:22:13.432 In fact, she was talking to the EMS workers. 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:25.032 So I came in a little closer, came up next to her, and she was saying, listen, the reason why I'm not derailed right now is because I know where he is, she said. 00:22:25.032 --> 00:22:26.766 I know actually he's in a much better place. 00:22:26.766 --> 00:22:32.000 Yeah, we're sad for us, but I can be full of joy for him. 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:34.700 And then immediately she started to go, what about you? 00:22:34.700 --> 00:22:36.432 To each of the EMS workers. 00:22:36.432 --> 00:22:36.865 What about you? 00:22:36.865 --> 00:22:38.865 Do you know Jesus to the First Lady? 00:22:38.865 --> 00:22:39.900 Yes I do, yes. 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:41.165 Do you know where you'll go? 00:22:41.165 --> 00:22:43.665 Yes, I do, I know I'm going to heaven. 00:22:43.665 --> 00:22:44.365 Well, how about you? 00:22:44.365 --> 00:22:45.665 Do you believe in Jesus Christ? 00:22:45.665 --> 00:22:48.000 On to the next one. We got her covered. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.165 Do you believe in Jesus Christ? 00:22:49.165 --> 00:22:51.200 Yes I do, I know him, I love him. 00:22:51.200 --> 00:22:52.266 Okay, good. Great. 00:22:52.266 --> 00:22:53.932 Now, how about you, young man? 00:22:53.932 --> 00:22:57.799 So, guy sitting off to the side, kind of trying to figure out how to get out of here. 00:22:57.799 --> 00:23:00.032 You can see it on his face a little bit. 00:23:00.032 --> 00:23:01.532 How can I just slip away? 00:23:01.532 --> 00:23:06.766 And he said, he said, you know, if I die today, I don't really know what would happen. 00:23:06.766 --> 00:23:09.766 I'd probably be surprised wherever I ended up. 00:23:09.766 --> 00:23:10.165 And she. 00:23:10.165 --> 00:23:11.232 That's all she needed here. 00:23:11.232 --> 00:23:12.665 Listen, you don't have to be surprised. 00:23:12.665 --> 00:23:13.799 She started to preach to him. 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:15.032 You don't have to worry. 00:23:15.032 --> 00:23:16.032 You don't have to wonder. 00:23:16.032 --> 00:23:16.865 You don't have to know. 00:23:16.865 --> 00:23:18.833 You can know for sure if you know Jesus. 00:23:18.833 --> 00:23:23.333 She tells him, all you got to do is believe in him and you can be rescued for your sin. 00:23:23.333 --> 00:23:25.299 You can be sure you'll go to heaven. 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:28.200 You can walk with him in eternity. 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:30.133 Isn't that something you want? 00:23:30.133 --> 00:23:30.833 And you can just see? 00:23:30.833 --> 00:23:34.232 He was like, In fact, he said, listen, I'll be very honest. 00:23:34.232 --> 00:23:36.165 I didn't grow up around religion. 00:23:36.165 --> 00:23:37.665 My parents didn't raise me that way. 00:23:37.665 --> 00:23:39.665 I don't, I don't know. 00:23:39.665 --> 00:23:40.633 And he wasn't defensive. 00:23:40.633 --> 00:23:43.599 I was I was really blown away by the way he responded. 00:23:44.833 --> 00:23:48.833 He said, but I tell you this, I was invited to go to church this weekend and I planned to go. 00:23:48.833 --> 00:23:52.165 And of course, Barbara was like, what kind of church is it? Right? 00:23:52.165 --> 00:23:53.633 You tell me. Let's talk about it. 00:23:53.633 --> 00:23:56.400 He's like, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:23:58.732 Okay. 00:23:58.732 --> 00:23:59.500 And here's what she did. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:01.200 She said, you know what? 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:03.400 I'm just going to pray for you. 00:24:03.400 --> 00:24:10.365 And she got up, stood up away from Gary, walked over to him, put her hand on him, and just started to pray over him. 00:24:10.365 --> 00:24:12.266 God, would you rescue this young man? 00:24:12.266 --> 00:24:15.032 Would you help him to meet you and know you? 00:24:15.032 --> 00:24:16.266 Would you meet him where he is? 00:24:16.266 --> 00:24:21.566 Would you reveal yourself to him and just prayed over him and prayed over him and prayed over him? 00:24:23.766 --> 00:24:28.700 And of course, I was still kneeling over near Gary and Mike Hampshire next to me. 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:33.266 Shannon's husband and he and I were just both speechless. 00:24:33.266 --> 00:24:37.965 In fact, at some point we finally kind of mumbled to each other. 00:24:37.965 --> 00:24:42.799 I hope I have that kind of strength in a moment like that. 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:45.799 I don't know that I would. 00:24:46.732 --> 00:24:48.932 I think that is uncommon. 00:24:48.932 --> 00:24:51.165 I think we all would say that. 00:24:51.165 --> 00:24:52.200 And Barbara acknowledged. 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:54.465 Look, I know everybody grieves differently. 00:24:54.465 --> 00:24:55.665 I know I'll have my moments. 00:24:55.665 --> 00:24:56.532 I'm sure it's coming. 00:24:56.532 --> 00:24:57.566 I'm sure waves are coming. 00:24:57.566 --> 00:24:59.833 All right. 00:24:59.833 --> 00:25:07.232 But in that moment, she moved past the fear toward faith. 00:25:07.232 --> 00:25:10.232 And that's an extreme example. 00:25:10.633 --> 00:25:21.066 But, man, I know God has people in our lives who need us to press past and present, past the fear toward faith and make sure they know him. 00:25:21.066 --> 00:25:23.133 There may be someone in your life who needs that. 00:25:23.133 --> 00:25:24.266 You may need that. 00:25:24.266 --> 00:25:27.532 Today may be the day where you say, you know what? 00:25:27.532 --> 00:25:29.500 I've never accepted Christ into my life. 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:31.665 I've never chosen to follow him. 00:25:31.665 --> 00:25:34.665 Don't let another day go by. 00:25:34.665 --> 00:25:44.165 Let this be the day where you say, yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, I know him, I love him, and I will choose to follow him. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:47.865 I'm going to pray to close off the sermon. 00:25:47.865 --> 00:25:50.333 I'll have one other thing to mention. 00:25:50.333 --> 00:25:56.865 But if after the service you want to talk with anyone about what it means to follow Jesus, I'd love to talk with you. 00:25:56.865 --> 00:26:00.532 We have a number of other pastors here and elders who would love to talk with you as well. 00:26:00.532 --> 00:26:02.833 I'll be probably mostly around the front. 00:26:02.833 --> 00:26:04.465 I'd love to talk with you. 00:26:04.465 --> 00:26:08.732 And of course keep the family in your prayers in the coming days. 00:26:08.732 --> 00:26:14.566 They have the funeral this week and a lot on their plates, and I know many of you have experienced that and can relate to that. 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:21.165 God, thank you that we could come this morning to celebrate the resurrection. 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:25.000 Thank you that you died on the cross for our sins. 00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:27.099 But you didn't stay dead. 00:26:27.099 --> 00:26:29.066 You rose again. 00:26:29.066 --> 00:26:32.000 Help us to walk in the newness of life we have in you. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:41.665 Help us to walk in the celebration, to walk by faith, to move past fear toward faith, to tell the world the good news. 00:26:42.532 --> 00:26:46.432 The life changing news that you are alive. 00:26:46.432 --> 00:26:48.732 Jesus, we love you. 00:26:48.732 --> 00:26:50.266 That's in your name we pray. 00:26:50.266 --> 00:26:50.766 Amen.