WEBVTT 00:00:08.369 --> 00:00:15.009 Welcome back, my friends, to the Spray United Methodist Church podcast. 00:00:15.969 --> 00:00:26.929 This is Hoyt, and today we reach the heart of the Apostles' Creed, the section that proclaims the saving work of Jesus Christ. 00:00:27.969 --> 00:00:38.450 In Episodes one through three, we explored God the Father Almighty, Jesus Christ our Lord, and his incarnation and suffering. 00:00:40.530 --> 00:00:49.730 Today we arrive at the center of the Christian faith, his death and his resurrection. 00:00:50.770 --> 00:00:55.810 If these events are not true, Christianity has no foundation. 00:00:57.010 --> 00:01:04.129 But because they are true, we have forgiveness, hope, and eternal life. 00:01:06.049 --> 00:01:18.850 Today we focus on two great movements of the creed was crucified, dead, and buried the third day he rose from the dead. 00:01:20.769 --> 00:01:23.409 These are not merely historical statements. 00:01:24.129 --> 00:01:28.049 They are God's declaration of his love for the world. 00:01:28.930 --> 00:01:31.409 Let us walk through them together. 00:01:32.530 --> 00:01:35.570 One crucified, dead and buried. 00:01:36.370 --> 00:01:39.329 The Creed deliberately slows our pace. 00:01:39.969 --> 00:01:42.769 It does not hurry to Easter morning. 00:01:43.170 --> 00:01:47.090 It first asks us to stand at the foot of the cross. 00:01:48.129 --> 00:01:51.490 It simply says He was crucified. 00:01:52.210 --> 00:01:53.170 He died. 00:01:53.969 --> 00:01:55.409 He was buried. 00:01:56.450 --> 00:02:00.450 Those words are brief, but they carry the weight of our salvation. 00:02:01.490 --> 00:02:08.289 Crucifixion was the most shameful punishment the Roman Empire could devise. 00:02:09.169 --> 00:02:15.409 It was intended to humiliate, intimidate, and erase hope. 00:02:15.650 --> 00:02:23.409 Yet in God's hands the cross became the greatest symbol of love the world has ever known. 00:02:25.009 --> 00:02:26.849 Pause for just a moment. 00:02:28.849 --> 00:02:33.009 The hands that touched lepers were pierced. 00:02:34.129 --> 00:02:38.689 The feet that walked the road of Galilee were nailed to wood. 00:02:39.890 --> 00:02:44.930 The voice that calmed the storm cried, It is finished. 00:02:46.129 --> 00:02:48.449 This was not an accident of history. 00:02:48.689 --> 00:02:55.330 It was God's plan of redemption unfolding before the eyes of the world. 00:02:56.050 --> 00:02:58.289 Why did Jesus have to die? 00:02:59.729 --> 00:03:03.409 Because sin is not merely a list of mistakes. 00:03:04.129 --> 00:03:08.289 Sin separates us from God who created us. 00:03:08.930 --> 00:03:11.969 Justice demands that sin be dealt with. 00:03:12.689 --> 00:03:15.810 Love desired that sinners be saved. 00:03:17.330 --> 00:03:21.890 At the cross, justice and mercy met. 00:03:24.210 --> 00:03:34.530 Jesus willingly took upon himself the judgment that belonged to us so that we might receive the grace that belongs only to him. 00:03:36.770 --> 00:03:46.449 The creed reminds us that he truly died, not symbolically, not apparently, not partially. 00:03:46.930 --> 00:03:49.650 He truly entered death. 00:03:50.129 --> 00:03:53.250 His body was placed in a borrowed tomb. 00:03:53.890 --> 00:03:56.210 The stone was rolled into place. 00:03:57.650 --> 00:04:00.930 The disciples believed the story had ended. 00:04:02.210 --> 00:04:05.409 Can you imagine the silence of that Sabbath? 00:04:06.689 --> 00:04:21.490 No miracles, no sermons, no crowds, only grief, only questions, only waiting. 00:04:23.009 --> 00:04:26.530 Many of us know what that kind of waiting feels like. 00:04:27.250 --> 00:04:33.490 We pray, we hope, we wonder why God seems silent. 00:04:34.850 --> 00:04:38.769 Yet the silence of God never means the absence of God. 00:04:39.970 --> 00:04:45.569 Even while the tomb was sealed, God was accomplishing what no one else could see. 00:04:46.930 --> 00:04:52.530 Jesus entered the grave so that no believer would ever enter it alone. 00:04:53.810 --> 00:04:56.129 He has walked that valley. 00:04:57.170 --> 00:04:59.250 He knows the way home. 00:05:00.209 --> 00:05:02.050 This is not tragedy. 00:05:02.530 --> 00:05:05.089 It is triumph in disguise. 00:05:07.329 --> 00:05:07.649 two. 00:05:12.370 --> 00:05:15.889 Then the creed moves from silence to victory. 00:05:16.370 --> 00:05:19.329 The third day he rose from the dead. 00:05:20.129 --> 00:05:23.810 Christianity rises or falls on these words. 00:05:24.449 --> 00:05:28.209 If Jesus remained in the grave, then death won. 00:05:29.730 --> 00:05:33.250 If he remained in the grave, our faith would be empty. 00:05:33.889 --> 00:05:38.209 But the tomb was empty because Christ was alive. 00:05:38.930 --> 00:05:49.649 The resurrection is God's declaration that sin has been defeated, death has been conquered, and Christ's sacrifice has been accepted. 00:05:51.009 --> 00:05:55.250 Because He lives, hope is stronger than despair. 00:05:56.050 --> 00:05:58.769 Grace is stronger than guilt. 00:05:59.889 --> 00:06:02.370 Life is stronger than death. 00:06:02.930 --> 00:06:05.089 Think about what that means. 00:06:06.370 --> 00:06:10.850 Every Christian funeral is different because of Easter. 00:06:11.490 --> 00:06:17.089 We grieve because love grieves, but we do not grieve without hope. 00:06:17.569 --> 00:06:20.930 The cemetery is no longer the end of the story. 00:06:21.490 --> 00:06:23.970 Death no longer has the final word. 00:06:25.250 --> 00:06:26.850 Jesus does. 00:06:28.290 --> 00:06:31.810 The resurrection also changed how we live today. 00:06:32.610 --> 00:06:35.810 We can forgive because we have been forgiven. 00:06:36.850 --> 00:06:41.730 We can endure suffering because suffering is never the end. 00:06:43.569 --> 00:06:53.970 We can face tomorrow with confidence because our Savior is alive today, not simply remembered, but reigning. 00:06:56.209 --> 00:06:57.889 Why this matters? 00:06:58.769 --> 00:07:05.170 The Creed is not only telling us what happened to Jesus, it is telling us what God has done for us. 00:07:05.649 --> 00:07:09.009 Because he died, your sins can be forgiven. 00:07:09.329 --> 00:07:14.530 Because he was buried, your whole life does not have to define your future. 00:07:15.970 --> 00:07:19.569 Because he rose, your future is secure in him. 00:07:21.649 --> 00:07:36.449 Every celebration of holy communion, every Easter sunrise, every baptism, every Christian funeral quietly proclaims the same truth. 00:07:36.930 --> 00:07:42.129 Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 00:07:43.569 --> 00:07:46.290 The worst thing is never the last thing. 00:07:46.610 --> 00:07:52.769 God always has the final word, and his word is life. 00:07:54.689 --> 00:07:56.209 Let us pray. 00:07:57.170 --> 00:08:01.810 Lord Jesus, thank you for loving us enough to go to the cross. 00:08:02.290 --> 00:08:09.170 Thank you for entering death so that death would never have the final word over those who trust in you. 00:08:10.209 --> 00:08:14.290 Thank you for the empty tomb that fills our hearts with hope. 00:08:15.170 --> 00:08:31.810 Help us not only to believe in the resurrection, but to live each day as resurrection people with courage, compassion, steadfast faith, and unwavering hope. 00:08:32.289 --> 00:08:34.449 In your holy name we pray. 00:08:34.769 --> 00:08:35.409 Amen. 00:08:37.569 --> 00:08:39.809 Thank you for joining me today. 00:08:40.049 --> 00:08:53.569 If you do not have a church home, we would love to have you worship with us at Spray United Methodist Church, located at 803 Morgan Road in Eden, North Carolina. 00:08:54.209 --> 00:08:57.649 We are a loving church where we love God and love people. 00:08:58.609 --> 00:08:59.569 All people. 00:09:01.409 --> 00:09:07.889 Until next time, may the grace of God rise before you and keep you safe. 00:09:08.609 --> 00:09:09.889 Goodbye.