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<v SPEAKER_00>In the gospel today, Jesus appears to the disciples, and their first reaction is not peace, it is fear.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They think he's a ghost.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Which, if we're honest, makes sense because they know what they saw.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They saw him die.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They saw the cross.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They saw the finality of it all.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now he's standing in front of them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So what does Jesus do?

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<v SPEAKER_00>He doesn't give a speech, he doesn't say, just have faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where were you guys?

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<v SPEAKER_00>What happened to you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why did you abandon me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, he says, look at my hands and feet.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then this, which is very disarming, he says, Do you have anything to eat?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he eats in front of them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, because he wants them to understand something very clearly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is not an idea.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is not a feeling.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is not a spiritual metaphor.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is real, flesh and bones standing right in front of you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Wrap that around your minds.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then he says and does something even more important.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, not just their hearts, their minds.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because God is not asking you to believe something irrational, he's asking you to see clearly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now, if we go to the first reading, the crowd sees the miracle, the man walking, and they're amazed.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Peter immediately corrects them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why are you all looking at us?

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<v SPEAKER_00>In other words, don't stop at the surface.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't get stuck in the excitement.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't just say, wow, that was impressive.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Is that a magic trick?

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<v SPEAKER_00>No, look deeper.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is about Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Peter points them to Jesus.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because he says something bold.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He says, You killed him, but God raised him up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's not meant to shame, it's meant to reveal because he's immediately, it's immediately followed with, I know you acted out of ignorance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then this line is everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God sent him to bless you by turning you from your sins.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the key.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The resurrection is not just proof that Jesus is powerful, it is proof that God is for you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>All of this was for you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That he is actively trying to turn your life toward freedom.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's where everything comes together.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The gospel shows us a Jesus who is real.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The first reading shows us a God who is merciful.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And together they give us this truth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You're not being asked to pretend, you're being invited to change, to transform.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But let's be honest, that's where people hesitate.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We like inspiration.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We like nice stories.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We like the idea of Easter.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But conversion, change, well, that takes work.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's harder.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And yet Peter uses a beautiful phrase.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He says, times of refreshment.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's what repentance brings, not restriction, not loss, refreshment, relief, breathing again, freedom.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because sin will exhaust you, carrying the same habits, the same sins, the same patterns, the same weight, it will drain you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You will feel like you have chains on your feet.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And God is saying you don't have to live like that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So here's the question for all of us today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where in your life do you need clarity?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where have you been treating faith like a feeling instead of something real?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where have you been settling for surface level type of Christianity?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Where is God asking you?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Don't just believe, but change your direction.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because Jesus stands in the middle of your life today and says the same thing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I desire for you to have peace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And he doesn't say it as a greeting, he says it as a gift.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But then he says, Look, look at your life honestly, look at what is real, look what I've done for you, and don't be afraid of what needs to change.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because the resurrection is not here to impress you, it's here to transform you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's the message that we've been talking about all this week.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because Easter is about good news.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You don't have to do this alone.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The same Jesus who stood in that room stands with you today, not as a ghost, not as a distant memory, but alive, present, real.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And if you let him open your mind, if you let him open up your heart, you'll begin to see what the disciples finally saw.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is true.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's absolutely 100% true.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it can change everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's what Easter's about.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not just something to celebrate, but something to live starting today.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.