WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.959 Well, happy Easter, happy resurrection Sunday. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:04.160 He is risen. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:05.919 He is risen indeed. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:07.040 Yes, he is. 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:10.960 We're gonna be in Luke chapter 24 in our Bibles if you want to turn there. 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:15.679 And the title of the sermon today, if you're taking notes, is Our Greatest Need. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:17.839 The Resurrection of Christ. 00:00:18.320 --> 00:00:21.519 Heard of a story, maybe you heard of this one too. 00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:25.519 There were three sons who left home to go out on their own and prosper. 00:00:25.760 --> 00:00:31.519 Once they made their money, they got back together and they had fun discussing the gifts they were able to give their elderly mother. 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:34.880 The first said, I wanted to build a big house for our mother. 00:00:35.039 --> 00:00:36.799 She always wanted a big house for us. 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:40.240 The second said, I sent her a Mercedes with a driver. 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:41.840 She always wanted a nice car to enjoy. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:44.079 And the third smiled and said, I got you both beat. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:47.840 You know how mom enjoys the Bible, and you know how she can't see very well. 00:00:47.920 --> 00:00:51.840 Where I sent her a parrot that can recite the entire Bible. 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.320 It took 20 monks in a monastery 12 years to teach this bird. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:01:01.119 I had to pledge$100,000 for 10 years, a million dollars, but it was worth it. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:06.159 Mom just has to name chapter and verse, and the parrot will recite it to her. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:09.599 Well, soon thereafter, mom sent out letters to her son saying, Thank you. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:16.239 Milton, she wrote to the first son, the house you built is so huge, but I live in only one room and I have to clean the whole house. 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:18.079 It's a bit much, but thank you. 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:20.719 Marvin, the second son, she said, Thank you. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:22.079 I'm too old to travel. 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:24.640 The car's nice, but I stay at home all the time. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:29.280 And the driver of the Mercedes, he's so rude, but thank you so much. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:36.560 She says, Dearest Melvin, she wrote to her third son, you were the only son to have good sense to know what your mother likes. 00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:37.599 Thank you so much. 00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:39.840 The chicken was delicious. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:43.680 This is a true story, of course. 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:44.959 True story. 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.400 Title of the message today is Our Greatest Need. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:51.200 Let me ask a chicken, right? 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:53.200 What is our greatest need? 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:55.200 Is it the air we breathe? 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:56.799 Is it water that we drink? 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:59.760 Is it good LA food here today? 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:04.879 I think our two greatest needs are things that all humans want, the good life. 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:09.599 We want happiness here on earth, peace and joy, and then we want eternal life. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.199 We want to live forever and keep enjoying the good life now, don't we? 00:02:13.280 --> 00:02:19.039 We're trying to do everything we can to biohack these bodies so that we can live beyond 100 years old. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:21.840 We pursue everything to gain the good life, huh? 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:26.400 Success, money, power, achievements, vacations, adventures, experiences. 00:02:26.560 --> 00:02:27.840 We want to feel good. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:32.400 And we use whatever is near to escape. 00:02:32.479 --> 00:02:35.280 We'll pursue more material things because we think we need them. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:40.080 For status or luxury, we want to be healthy again to live longer and have enjoyable lives. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:44.960 We search endlessly for knowledge with the GPTs to university. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:46.800 We want the power of knowing. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:51.199 We we search out love here in LA because we want to be accepted. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:57.120 We pursue art, creating imagining, escaping into other worlds that we wish we had. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:02.159 We pursue causes and political movements hoping to make life better for others. 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:05.680 And the truth is, most of these things are not bad in and of themselves. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:11.360 The only problem begins when we expect these things to give us what they can't. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:14.319 We believe these things will make us feel good about ourselves. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:15.840 We believe there is a payout. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:30.080 We are seeking the life in the things of this earth instead of seeking the life in the one who made the earth, the one who gives life and the one who can take away life. 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:33.439 Life is found in a relationship with Him. 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.960 How can we seek for everything in the world except for the one who made it? 00:03:37.199 --> 00:03:39.919 We wonder why these things don't satisfy. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:45.360 And all you have to do is pursue something, and once you get it, you're kind of shocked at the payouts. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:53.520 It's great for a moment, it's great for the weak, but it is amazing how fast our minds can enter right back into pursuit. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:55.199 I gotta have the next thing. 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.199 We wonder why these things don't satisfy. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:01.280 It's because we are seeking the creation instead of the creator. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.719 The creator is the only thing that can satisfy us. 00:04:04.879 --> 00:04:11.039 These things weren't created to satisfy us, they were created to point us back to the one who ultimately satisfies us. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:27.199 You know, when we see a sunset or we hear some beautiful music, we come in contact with the most amazing animal, we build something new or experience something breathtaking and adventurous, it moves us to be in awe and to say, wow, this is amazing. 00:04:27.439 --> 00:04:38.079 And it should move us, but it shouldn't move us to worship it, but it should move us to worship the one who made it and enjoy the earth that he has given to us. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:44.240 It seems to take a lifetime to figure this out, and then we step into eternity. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:49.120 You talk to the oldest people and they'll tell they'll start telling you what life is about. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:51.120 Not about those things. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:53.040 I had it mixed up. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:56.560 It's about these things, these are the most important things. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:59.680 The older generation is the treasure of our society. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:06.399 We need them to speak to us their wisdom of their life lived so that we don't make those mistakes. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:10.879 Only if we could find the good life now and then walk in it forever. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:18.720 PRB or Population Reference Bureau claims that 108 billion people have walked the earth since 8,000 BC. 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:25.360 Currently 8.2 billion people on the earth today, and that means that 100 billion people have died. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:29.199 And how many of those people do we remember? 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:33.199 Who is the one person that has seemed to sweep the earth with popularity? 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:35.439 It is the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:35.759 --> 00:05:37.759 How did he get so popular? 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:41.519 Did you know that he was only in the public eye for three years? 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:47.360 They only knew his name for three years, yet the world still knows his name. 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:50.399 Well, he did the one thing that no one can do. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:53.920 He raised himself from the dead. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:56.560 And no one has ever been able to do that. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:06:02.160 He solved the one thing people wish they had the answer to life and death. 00:06:02.399 --> 00:06:06.480 And that is what has made him so popular, and that's what we're talking about today. 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:08.160 How do we find the good life? 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:10.560 How do we live forever in that good life? 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:12.560 We're gonna answer both of those questions today. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:16.560 Luke chapter 24 in our Bibles, can we stand for the reading of God's Word? 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:23.680 We always stand for the reading of God's word here at Legacy to pay honor to him, to remember whose word we're reading, not my words. 00:06:23.839 --> 00:06:26.319 They truly belong to our God. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:30.800 This is his story, this is his book, and I'm just trying to deliver the mail today. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:32.720 And so I hope you can receive it. 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:41.360 Luke chapter 24, starting in verse 1, it says, Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.839 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:47.759 But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:07:01.839 And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothes, and when the women were terrified and they bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, Why do you seek the living among the dead? 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:04.160 He is not here, but he has risen. 00:07:04.399 --> 00:07:14.240 Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered in the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:22.800 And then when they remembered his words, and when they returned from the tomb, they responded with all these things to the eleven to the unto all the rest. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:33.040 Now Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, and the rest of the women with them were there, and they were telling these things to the apostles, but these words appeared to them as nonsense. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.959 They were not believing them. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:46.879 But Peter stood up and ran to the tomb, and stooping to look in, he saw the linen wrapping only, and when he went away by himself, he went marveling at what had happened. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:47.839 Let's pray. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:53.120 Father, we thank you for the gift of the resurrection of Jesus. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.160 And we say, Happy resurrection day to you, God. 00:07:56.639 --> 00:08:00.319 Thank you for solving the biggest problems here on earth. 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:12.879 Thank you for stepping in to humanity, stepping into history, and helping us deal with day-to-day life of hating and hurting each other, trying to love and serve each other. 00:08:13.120 --> 00:08:20.160 And thank you for dealing with the biggest issue of all death, losing our loved ones, wondering what happens on the other side. 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:32.000 We thank you, Jesus, that you not only died, but you rose again from the dead to promise us life forevermore, life in eternity with you, God, life in heaven forevermore. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:43.200 We pray that this message now, as we talk about it, as we think about it, that you would open our hearts and minds, help it to resonate, help it to minister to us, help it to resurrect our lives in a fresh way. 00:08:43.360 --> 00:08:44.799 We pray it in Jesus' name. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:45.600 Amen. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:47.120 You can be seated. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:51.279 Now it was the first day of the week, Sunday. 00:08:51.440 --> 00:08:57.279 That's why we worship on Sunday, is because it's the day that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:58.399 It was very early. 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:05.279 On Friday, we know Jesus was crucified and laid in a grave, and it was very, very early Sunday morning in our text. 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:08.879 And women who followed Jesus were up bringing spices to the tomb. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:14.799 Verse 2 tells us in Luke 24, but they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:18.480 And then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:20.399 They must have been shocked. 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:24.559 First, how did the giant stone get moved away? 00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:25.600 It was huge. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:37.120 Tombs were above ground and more like a cave carved from a stone, and a giant stone was rolled in front of the door of the tomb, and here we see that the door was open and that Jesus was gone. 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:40.080 They were also wondering who took the body. 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:41.279 No blood trail. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.519 They couldn't figure out what happened to Jesus. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:50.320 I got to live in Israel for a little while, about 20 years ago, and we went to the very tomb of Jesus. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:10:00.879 We got to go into the tomb where they think Jesus was laid, and the tomb is in this garden right outside the old city with a cistern of a rich man right next to the place called Gelgotha. 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:02.879 And so they believe this is actually the place. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:03.919 Here's some pictures. 00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:05.039 Here is the tomb. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:12.720 You see, you can see the channel that runs at the bottom at the base of the tomb, and that is where the giant rock would be rolled. 00:10:12.799 --> 00:10:15.440 And the giant rock would roll in front of this door. 00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:16.879 Next slide here. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:19.360 Who's that handsome guy? 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:20.639 Man. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:22.240 Wow. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:25.759 No, he is not here for he is risen. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:27.440 I had a hair, ladies and gentlemen. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:28.080 That's right. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:30.240 You never have to use your imagination again. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:30.879 There it is. 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:31.759 And the proof. 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:32.639 Thank you very much. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:33.120 Go ahead. 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:34.320 Next slide. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:35.759 And here's a tomb. 00:10:35.840 --> 00:10:39.200 If you walk inside the door, you can actually go in there in the gate. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:45.440 And when we were there one night, we asked the man who was overseeing the place, we want to do something that no one has ever done. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:46.879 He said, All right, come on. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:48.639 And he opened the gate for us. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:56.559 And we went in there and we laid down in the place and we read the story and we prayed and we thought about the Lord rising from the dead in this place. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.320 Is there any more pictures here? 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:00.080 Yes, there it is. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:02.240 This is the place who they believe. 00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:06.639 And Christ laid and was risen from the dead. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.320 There's my buddy Nolan taking a look at the place. 00:11:10.639 --> 00:11:23.919 Verse 4 says, It happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in the shining garments, and then as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, Why do you seek the living amongst the dead? 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:28.000 What they are racking their brains trying to figure out is what happened. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:33.360 Two men, again, in shining garments, show up, and they say, What's going on here? 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.720 This is crazy. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:40.000 When they saw these two men in shiny garments, they were afraid. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:43.120 They see these spiritual beings, and so what do they do immediately? 00:11:43.200 --> 00:11:48.639 They bow themselves down to the ground, and these angels say to them, Why do you seek the living amongst the dead? 00:11:48.879 --> 00:11:50.639 Is Jesus still here? 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:51.360 Do you think so? 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:52.080 No, no. 00:11:52.240 --> 00:11:56.320 As they thought to themselves, they said, Oh my gosh, he might be alive. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:01.679 Verse 6, he is not here, but he is risen. 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:10.240 Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered in the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:12.720 And they remembered his words. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.399 Two things here. 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:18.320 Number one, the angels tell the ladies Jesus is risen and he's alive. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:21.360 Number two, then they say, Don't you remember? 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:26.799 That he would be crucified and then rise on the third day. 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:32.559 Jesus predicted his own death, burial, and resurrection. 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:36.720 Because he knew his life was planned before he was born. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:41.919 The babe in the manger was born to die on the cross. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:43.200 It was mapped. 00:12:43.360 --> 00:12:44.080 How do we know? 00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:46.960 Matthew chapter 1, verse 21. 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.159 When Jesus was born, it says this she will bear a son. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.840 Mary will bear a son. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:56.639 You will call his name Jesus, which means the Lord is salvation. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:58.320 You will call his name Jesus. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:03.120 You're going to name him that, for he will save his people from their sins. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:05.360 He's not even born yet. 00:13:05.440 --> 00:13:09.360 You're going to call him Jesus, because he's going to save his people from their sins. 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:10.960 The baby will do this. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:19.200 And they named him Jesus, again with a specific name, the name meaning the Lord is salvation. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:21.679 He's going to bring salvation to his people. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:25.120 You see, Jesus came to the earth with a mission to serve and to save people. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:35.440 Jesus said himself in Mark 10, 45, for even the Son of Man came not to be served, no, but to serve, and he came to give himself a ransom for many. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.519 He came to pay for the sins of his people. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:45.440 Verse 9 says, Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and all the rest. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:52.559 And it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, the disciples. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:58.399 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, they did not believe the ladies. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:00.320 This is great. 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:09.759 Jesus entrusted the ladies and the testimony from the angels as the proof to tell the disciples he had risen from the dead. 00:14:14.159 --> 00:14:17.919 And the women knew before Jesus' disciples knew. 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:19.039 Isn't that hilarious? 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:21.519 And that's how it is most of the time, ladies, right? 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:26.080 The women know up front, all the information the guys are finding out later. 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:29.840 Verse 11 says the disciples did not believe the ladies. 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:31.840 And that gives me hope. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.799 That gives us hope because yes, even Jesus' own disciples didn't believe at first. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:47.039 Though he had told them over and over and over again that he would die and rise again, they had a hard time believing. 00:14:47.759 --> 00:14:50.240 And that's okay if you have a hard time believing. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.919 For even his disciples did. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:54.000 You have to remember, they were devastated. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:15:02.240 Their friend, their leader, their savior, their king, their messiah had just been arrested a couple nights ago in the upper room. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:04.000 They had the last supper together. 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:06.000 Then they go into the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:06.720 He starts praying. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:08.879 He gets kissed by Judas and arrested. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.399 He's taken off away from them. 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:17.919 Peter pulls out his sword, chops off an ear of one of the guys, and Jesus heals the guy's ear and then still goes off to jail. 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:22.559 And then they end up crucifying him that morning, and they see all of this happen. 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:25.679 They were absolutely crushed and broken. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:33.360 He was beaten and bloodied and crucified and killed right in front of their eyes, though they thought they were going to conquer with him. 00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:39.279 They thought he was the political leader going to take over the Romans and he was going to set this whole thing straight in their land. 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.919 And he just got crucified. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:43.759 Their general was gone. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.600 And they all ran and hid. 00:15:45.759 --> 00:15:46.799 They were scared to death. 00:15:46.960 --> 00:15:48.960 They thought the same thing was going to happen to them. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:52.480 Their fearless leader was gone, and they were alone and they were in doubt. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:57.039 They didn't just believe, and that's some of our stories today. 00:15:57.440 --> 00:16:03.440 You didn't just believe at first, but the Lord drew you to Himself through a series of events. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:08.159 Through that situation, through that friend, through that family member, through that thing. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:16.639 The Lord has been drawing, He's been tapping on your heart, He's been showing up in your life, He's been speaking to you in dreams, He's been speaking to you in the quietness of your heart. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:20.399 Some of you are coming close to the Lord Jesus for the first time in a while. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:22.399 And today you are here, and we're happy you're here. 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.440 We're blessed to have you. 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.600 Some of you are coming to believe maybe for the first time, and we celebrate with you. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.120 You pick the perfect day. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:32.639 It's the day that Jesus' disciples believed too. 00:16:34.159 --> 00:16:43.600 Matthew 11, 28, Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and heavy laden with burdens, and I will give you rest. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:47.519 I believe God has brought you here today to find rest. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:53.120 Before the service closes, I'm going to pray for you today that you will find rest for your soul. 00:16:53.440 --> 00:17:02.559 So after the angels tell the women Jesus has risen from the dead, they go and tell the disciples, and just as we saw, none of them believe the women except Peter. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:05.599 Verse 12, the burly fishermen. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:08.400 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb, stooping down. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:14.319 He saw the linen cloths lying by themselves, and he departed, marveling to himself what had happened. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:17.680 The Gospel of John tells us it this way. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:23.359 It's kind of funny, because again, Peter, it's told here in Luke this way, but John has to add a couple things in there. 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:24.799 The Bible has humor in it. 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:31.680 It says in John chapter 20, verse 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple were going to the tomb. 00:17:31.920 --> 00:17:38.319 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.240 John. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:51.680 It's John's gospel, and he had to put that little note in there just to let everybody know for thousands of years that he beat Peter to the tomb. 00:17:52.640 --> 00:18:01.839 Like Peter and John had probably like done the 50-yard dash right over by the Sea of Galilee a couple times, and Peter like smoked him, but John's like, not this time. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.799 And John makes sure he writes it down. 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.799 Is this a race, John? 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:10.480 I can't wait to ask John in heaven about this text. 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:15.039 Notice the author writes that they found the linen claws lying in the tomb. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.319 Yeah, so what? 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:22.960 Some think that Jesus' body was stolen, but how did they explain the most famous person and body on the earth gone missing? 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:35.759 Notice grave robbers do not unravel burial clothes before taking bodies, and they found his linen clothes, burial bandages, wrapped and laying there, nice and neat. 00:18:36.319 --> 00:18:39.119 Evidence he had risen from the dead. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:43.599 Remember, their best friend, their leader, their king was put to death at 33 years old. 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:47.200 Jesus was only 33 years old. 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:52.240 He came on the public scene, he was just working as a quiet carpenter in his dad's shop. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:19:00.720 And he comes on the scene at 30 years old, starts his ministry, and he does ministry for three years in the public eye, and then he's crucified. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.960 Pretty wild, huh? 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:10.000 And now Peter and John standing there staring at the grave in awe, he was gone, just as he said he would. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:13.920 He rose from the dead, just like he said he would. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:18.559 And Peter and John were beside themselves. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:24.880 They probably started jumping up and down and shouting and praising God, the Lord is alive. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:28.160 He's alive just like he said he would. 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:31.279 Joy, tears, laughter. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:33.519 The general's back. 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.680 The return of the king. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:39.599 He's gonna make all things right just like he said he would. 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:42.799 This was all foretold. 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:43.440 It was planned. 00:19:43.599 --> 00:19:45.279 And this is Resurrection Sunday. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.440 This is what we celebrate today. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:52.319 Many times when we think of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus, we don't understand the implications of it. 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:54.240 Yes, okay, Jesus rose from the dead. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.000 It's a miracle for sure. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.759 But what does that have to do with us today in 2026? 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.400 And what's so important about a guy rising from the dead? 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:10.079 Let me give you three reasons why the resurrection of Jesus is the greatest event in all of history and how it affects you personally today. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:14.079 Point number one, the resurrection is the proof. 00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:19.279 The resurrection proves that everything Jesus said and did was actually true. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:28.240 Charles Adam Spurgeon says the resurrection is a fact better attested than any event recorded in any history, whether ancient or modern. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.680 The great writer C.S. 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:35.599 Lewis says Jesus has forced open a door that has been locked since the death of the first man. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:38.880 He has met, fought, and beaten the king of death. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:42.000 Everything is different because he has done so. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.920 In his resurrection, Christ proved what he came to do was true. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.880 How so? 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:52.319 Well, the people in Jesus' time wanted proof to verify what he was saying and doing was true. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:20:53.920 Jesus was saying wild things. 00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:56.000 He was saying things like, I'm the Son of God. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:58.240 He was saying things, I can forgive your sin. 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:00.799 He was saying things like I'm going to die and rise from the dead. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:03.119 They yelled blasphemy so many times. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.039 They picked up stones to try to kill him. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:06.079 They wanted him dead. 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:07.519 He was saying wild things. 00:21:07.680 --> 00:21:09.920 You can't say those things. 00:21:10.079 --> 00:21:14.000 And they wanted proof too that what he was saying is true. 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:22.240 In John chapter 2, verse 18, it says, So the Jews said to him, What sign do you show us for doing these things? 00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.759 Give us a sign. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:25.599 How do we know it's true? 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:31.200 And Jesus said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:37.039 And the Jews said, It has taken forty-six years to build the temple, and you will raise it in three days? 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:41.039 But he was speaking about the temple of his own body. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:51.039 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remember that he has said this, and they believe the scripture and the word that Jesus has spoken. 00:21:51.279 --> 00:21:55.680 The resurrection is the center proof of Christianity. 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.039 Without this proof, Christianity is not true. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.920 Would be dead and everything he said would be bogus. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:06.720 C.S. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:11.839 Lewis said he is either a liar and a lunatic or he's telling the truth. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:14.160 He gives you no other option. 00:22:14.640 --> 00:22:24.000 If you're a skeptic or an atheist and you want to disprove something in Christianity, something to research, disprove the resurrection. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:28.400 If you destroy the resurrection, Christianity is not true. 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:29.599 It's a lie. 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:33.359 But if he really did raise from the dead, then guess what? 00:22:33.599 --> 00:22:37.119 Everything he said and did was true. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:39.440 The implications are great. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:42.799 What if he actually rose from the dead? 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:47.359 Not one religious guru has ever raised himself from the dead. 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:51.759 Not one person in all of history has ever raised himself from the dead. 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:54.480 He's doing the one thing humans cannot do. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:58.079 And if he did it, he might just know something about it. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:00.960 And he might be telling the truth. 00:23:02.720 --> 00:23:12.240 That means he really is the Son of God, the Messiah, virgin born, the only way to God, the bread of life, the good shepherd, the prince of peace, the savior of the world. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:22.880 Larry King once said that if he could choose one person to interview in the course of all of human history, he wants to interview Jesus Christ. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:30.319 King said that he would like to ask Jesus this one question if he was indeed virgin born. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:34.880 He added, the answer to that question would define history for me. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:37.839 Larry, it's true. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:42.319 Point number two, the resurrection brings eternal life. 00:23:43.519 --> 00:23:44.799 It brings eternal life. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:47.039 Humans have a huge problem on the earth. 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:49.440 No one has been able to fix this death thing. 00:23:49.599 --> 00:23:53.279 It's the most awkward, unnatural thing for humans to experience. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:58.480 Do a lot of funerals, just did a graveside of a 43-year-old, same age as me. 00:23:58.559 --> 00:24:00.160 I lived in their house for a couple years. 00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.680 She has four little kids. 00:24:01.839 --> 00:24:03.599 We did the graveside. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:06.799 And I'm standing there again, and it's like I've done so many of these things. 00:24:06.960 --> 00:24:09.839 Why is it still affecting me so deeply? 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:18.000 Why does that why hasn't evolution brought us far enough to stop us from being affected by death? 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:20.720 We don't evolve beyond death. 00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:25.680 It keeps showing up, and no one can escape its effects. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:30.160 It's the most awkward, unnatural thing for a human to experience. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:35.680 When someone close to you dies, it shakes everything, changes everything. 00:24:37.519 --> 00:24:42.160 Gaucho Marx, he said, I intend to live forever or die trying. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.680 The resurrection of Christ is the good news. 00:24:45.920 --> 00:24:48.880 The bad news is what Christ had to go through to bring us the resurrection. 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.400 We just celebrated Good Friday. 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:55.440 You know, the only reason Good Friday is good is because of the bad day that Jesus had for us. 00:24:55.599 --> 00:25:00.960 Jesus took the full punishment of our sin on the cross so that we could go free before God. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:03.599 Sin can't go unpunished before holy God. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:08.480 God is good, He's righteous, He's a judge, and He will not let people get away with wickedness and sin. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:10.799 The Hitlers of the world will face their judgment. 00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:12.319 No doubt no one gets away. 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:16.400 Sin has separated us from God and it brings punishment upon us. 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:24.559 The good news is that Christ on the cross was taking the punishment for us so that we could go free. 00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:26.960 He goes to prison, we go free. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:28.400 How can that be? 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:35.119 In all four Gospels were told the story of Jesus being arrested and brought before Pilate to be condemned. 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:39.359 Pilate concludes that the Lord Jesus is innocent and has done nothing wrong. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:51.440 And so to get out of condemning Jesus, Pilate attempts to do this custom at Passover to release a prisoner of choice, and he lets the people decide between a well-known criminal, Barabbas. 00:25:51.759 --> 00:25:55.759 The well-known criminal, Barabbas, and the innocent son of God. 00:25:56.079 --> 00:25:58.559 Jesus, the innocent son of God. 00:25:58.640 --> 00:26:11.119 And when the moment comes to decide, crucify the sinner Barabbas, or crucify the innocent Jesus, the people chant louder, crucify Jesus, crucify Jesus, the blasphemer. 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:14.880 And this is our story, isn't it? 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:16.880 We were the ones guilty. 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:18.880 We were the ones who sinned before God. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.400 We were the ones sentenced to death. 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:27.599 We were, and we were the ones, and the Lord Jesus, the innocent one, the Son of God, the Messiah, is the one who was chosen to die in my place. 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:30.240 He was treated as if he'd committed all of my sins. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:33.680 He was paying the penalty for my sin on the cross so I can go free. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.200 How can this be? 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:38.160 There's a great song written by Josiah Queen. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:40.400 It's called I Am Barabbas. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:44.160 Says this, I am Barabbas, you took upon my cross. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:47.759 I was that prisoner till you bought my bond with blood. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:51.759 I can't run away from what my accusers say, because I am Barabbas. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.200 Oh, I am Barabbas. 00:26:53.359 --> 00:26:55.200 I am Barabbas, your friend. 00:26:57.039 --> 00:27:00.160 I think Barabbas was just as shocked as we are. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:08.319 The moment that Pilate says, okay, the people have decided to crucify Jesus. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:11.119 Let Barabbas go free. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:15.039 I think Barabbas sat back and said, What? 00:27:16.160 --> 00:27:17.599 How can this be? 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:27.279 I think Barabbas again was just as shocked as we are. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:29.119 We should not be going free on that day. 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:36.319