WEBVTT 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.280 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:11.599 We exist to awaken this generation to new life in Christ. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:16.399 Thanks for tuning in to find out more at awakeningchurch.com. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:21.760 Happy Easter Awakening Church. 00:00:22.079 --> 00:00:23.120 Welcome. 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:29.359 My name's Ryan, and I'm so thrilled that you're tuning in with us today. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:45.679 Who in the world would have imagined, think about this, at the very beginning of 2020, that we wouldn't be able to gather in person on Easter Sunday and the entire world would be in a collective quarantine. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:51.679 I mean, it's just kind of mind-blowing what's happened in the last four plus weeks. 00:00:51.840 --> 00:00:56.560 And yet, here's what I think is just so incredible. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:03.759 Even though we're not able to gather in person, we're still able to gather collectively digitally. 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:10.799 Like Easter hasn't stopped, just like Nass said, it's just changed the way we gather, but the message hasn't changed. 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:12.000 I love that. 00:01:12.640 --> 00:01:25.920 And so uh I if you're watching us on your phone in your apartment, or if you're watching, you know, uh maybe in your bed on your uh computer, or maybe you're gathering around with your family and you're watching uh on the TV. 00:01:26.079 --> 00:01:27.359 I just want to say welcome. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:33.760 We're thrilled that you're streaming maybe on our church online platform or our YouTube or Facebook platform. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:40.079 Here's what we want to do to have a sense that we're all together, even though we're not together in person. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:51.200 Would you take a picture, especially those of you that got dressed up in your Sundays best, and just hashtag awakening church2020, not awakening church, what is it? 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:53.840 Easter at awakening or awakening Easter 2020. 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:54.400 There you go. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:55.359 I got it right. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:07.680 Finally, Awakening Easter 2020, and then just tag us awakening SV, and then that way, in a virtual way, we'll kind of be all together and get to see everybody tuning in. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:09.439 It'll be awesome. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:11.840 Really looking forward to that. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:19.759 Now, on Easter, down through the centuries, uh, churches, when we gather together, we have a call and response. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:25.759 We say, He is risen, and then uh the responder says, He is risen indeed. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:32.159 And since we're not in the same room and we can't hear one another, I want to try something and hang in with me. 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:33.520 And would you try it? 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.280 Uh, here's what I want to try. 00:02:35.520 --> 00:02:42.879 I want to say he is risen, and then I would love for you to actually go to your front door, open it up, and yell, he's risen indeed. 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:48.639 And uh some of you might just find out that you have a neighbors that go to awakening church and you had no idea. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:52.879 You yell it out, and someone else is yelling out, you're like, hey, neighbor, that's awesome. 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:54.000 All right, so you're ready? 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:55.039 Will you do this with me? 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:56.159 He is risen. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:58.000 Now go yell. 00:02:58.719 --> 00:02:59.039 Okay. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:02.479 So the rest of you that didn't move, I see you, by the way. 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:05.840 Um, the rest of you that didn't move, would you do this in the chat? 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:10.240 Would you just write, he is risen indeed, and where you're streaming from? 00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:15.280 We would love just to have a moment where we just get to say hi and be together. 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:20.240 Today we're talking about hope. 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:27.039 I don't know of anything more needed in our world today than that of hope. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:33.039 Every time we turn on the news, it just is more bad news. 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:35.759 And our world is hoping for a cure. 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:37.840 Our world is hoping for relief. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:44.639 Our world is hoping, hoping that you know, a great economic depression won't uh be coming. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:49.120 Our world is hoping that this pandemic will end soon. 00:03:50.400 --> 00:04:00.400 And each one of us has been confronted by this question: Where do you find hope in a hopelessly broken world? 00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:02.800 Like, where do we find that? 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:09.680 And how do you hold on to hope when it looks like all hope is lost? 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:16.480 Well, at the very center of Easter is hope. 00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:28.560 In fact, even in the midst of a pandemic, followers of Jesus are to be the most hope-filled people on the planet because of the resurrection. 00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:35.839 Like, like we're to be carriers of hope to people who do not have any hope. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:36.399 Why? 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:50.959 Because Easter reminds us that God is bigger than the problems of our world, the cross is greater than this virus and this pandemic, death has been defeated because Jesus is alive. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:54.879 And that is really good news. 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:58.720 And that's why actually the Apostle Peter would write these words. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:07.839 He had pinned them to a people that was being persecuted, where their lives and their livelihoods were being stripped and taken away from them. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:20.319 And he writes this to them: he says, always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give you a reason for the hope that you have. 00:05:20.480 --> 00:05:27.279 Like, always be ready, always be prepared to give an answer, to give a response to everyone who asks. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:35.920 Like, like as followers of Jesus, we're to be so hope-filled that others who are going through the same thing are like scratching their head, going, like, how in the world do you have hope? 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:37.600 And he says, Be ready for it. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:40.240 Be ready for people to ask you to give a reason. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:44.000 Like, why do you have hope in the middle of this? 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:49.040 And so, this Easter, here's what I want to do. 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:56.879 As a follower of Jesus, I want to remind and refocus your heart on the hope we have in Christ. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:02.800 I want to bring the hope that is the sure anchor of our soul into clear focus. 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:15.519 And then for those of you who have yet to become a follower of Jesus, I want to tell you how you can experience true hope personally in the midst of a hopelessly broken world. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:23.920 Today, I want to tell you a resurrection story, but it's not the resurrection story you're thinking of. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:31.199 In fact, it's the resurrection story that ultimately led to Jesus' crucifixion. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:38.959 And it's here that we discover that when all hope is lost, there's an altogether new hope to be found. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:45.199 But before we do that, we need to talk about this idea, this word hope. 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:52.319 You see, when we talk about hope in our day, uh it's often synonymous with wishing, isn't it? 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:55.040 We use the word hope this way. 00:06:55.600 --> 00:06:59.199 It's a wish, it's a longing, it's it's a desire. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:08.959 Um, we say, you know, I hope we find a cure, I hope my marriage makes it, I hope I get a job, I hope I win the lottery. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:17.600 And what we mean by that is I wish these things will happen, but I'm not really sure if they will happen. 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:19.920 And so we say things like this. 00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:25.360 I just don't want to get my hopes up, right? 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:26.800 I just gotta be careful. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:35.040 I don't want to get my hopes up, and yet Easter, think about this, Easter beckons us to get our hopes up. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:36.240 Why? 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:38.399 Because hope isn't wishing. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.360 And hope isn't even optimism. 00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:47.439 It's not just seeing the glass half full or the silver lining in things. 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:50.560 Hope is much sturdier than that. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:58.319 You see, hope, hope is the confident expectation that a better tomorrow awaits. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:04.800 That there's this confidence, and you're expecting it, that a better tomorrow awaits. 00:08:04.959 --> 00:08:10.160 Hope is what a mother in the middle of childbirth holds on to. 00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:27.120 In the midst of excruciating pain, she holds on to the hope and the reality that through this pain is gonna come a moment where she gets to hold her baby and all that pain will be eclipsed by joy in that moment. 00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:28.480 That's hope. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:39.840 And isn't it amazing what one can endure when one can go through when they're confident that a better tomorrow awaits them? 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.639 And so, where do we find that confidence? 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:46.080 How do we discover that confidence that a better tomorrow awaits? 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:50.639 Well, hope is fundamentally built on a promise. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:55.919 It's the picture that best suits it is the picture of one getting engaged. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:09:06.960 And in the engagement promise uh process, you make a commitment in the present about a future life you're gonna build together. 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:19.840 And it's so serious, and you're committing that promise is so sure that you're gonna signify it with a really expensive ring saying, we're gonna build a life together. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:25.519 And here's what's interesting that hope doesn't even die in the midst of COVID. 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:35.360 In fact, I know there's many um uh engaged people in our church who've had to adjust and change their wedding day and their plans. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:41.759 And but they haven't had to adjust, and they didn't say, Well, we're not getting married. 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:49.440 No, that hope of a life together is sure, even though they're having to make adjust adjustments. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:10:00.159 And so, hope being the fundamentally built on a promise, then, is only as strong as the one who is making the promise. 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:08.159 See, it depends on the character of the one making the promise or the promise maker. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:12.080 And this is where we run into the problem of hope. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:17.600 Where we run into it and it begins to disappoint. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:25.600 See, hope disappoints us when the person or thing our expectations are centered on let us down. 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:33.919 Hope disappoints us when the person who made the promise fails to keep that promise. 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:38.639 And then our expectations are broken and let us down. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:43.120 And this is what the world has experienced over the last month, isn't it? 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:51.440 The things we put our confidence in to ensure a better tomorrow have collapsed all around us. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:11:01.840 You see, where you put your hope or what you place your hope in is of principal importance. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:10.480 And so, and so, where do you find hope that can withstand the ever turbulent world we're living in? 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:16.399 How can you be confident that a better tomorrow awaits? 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:28.799 This is what brings us to Jesus, the hope of Easter and the resurrection that led to Jesus' crucifixion. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:32.240 We pick it up in John chapter 11, verse 1. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:46.320 If you got your Bibles, if you would open it up, and in fact, uh, in your if you're watching on church online, you can uh there's a little tab Bible there, and you can search for John chapter 11 and just follow along there, or it's in the notes section as well, right there. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:47.759 We'd love for you to follow along. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.399 We pick it up, John chapter 11, verse 1. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:54.320 It begins this way It says, Now a man named Lazarus was sick. 00:11:54.559 --> 00:11:58.320 He was from Bethany, the village of Mary, and her sister Martha. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:03.679 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, Lord, the one you love is sick. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:06.720 These were close friends of Jesus. 00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:09.039 They were ministry partners. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:18.240 In fact, when Jesus and his disciples were in the Judean area, their home would often be home base for them and they would operate out of. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:24.559 It goes on, it says, when Jesus heard this, he said, the sickness will not end in death. 00:12:24.799 --> 00:12:30.399 No, it is for God's glory, so that God's Son may be glorified through it. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:33.759 This sickness, it won't end in death. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:39.919 And death, yeah, death is the ultimate hope killer, isn't it? 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:45.279 This is why hope has been so shaky in this pandemic. 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:56.159 When someone's sick, there's still hope that there could be a better tomorrow, but when someone dies, hope is gone. 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:03.919 Death is final, death is undefeated. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:09.840 Death seems to win out every time. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.600 And goes on. 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:16.159 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:28.799 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, and what we'd expect to see the next line to be is he dropped everything and he went immediately. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.559 But that's not what it says. 00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:37.679 It says, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:43.360 And then he said to his disciples, let us go back to the Judea. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:47.440 And to put that in context, those two days, the people had to travel to Jesus. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:48.960 That was at least a day. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:51.840 And then Jesus and his disciples would have to travel back. 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:57.519 And so we're talking about those two days were more like four to maybe even six total days. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:14:06.559 And he says, those two days, the delay, he didn't respond immediately. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:11.919 And I think this is why some have lost hope in God. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:16.399 Because you prayed for a miracle. 00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:25.200 You prayed for the healing and for your health, or you prayed for your marriage and that relationship. 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:35.600 You prayed, you prayed for that job, and instead of a miracle, it was the deafening silence of God. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:42.320 And it was the delay, it was the two days where you said, God, where are you? 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.759 What's going on? 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:46.960 And you were just sitting there. 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:49.519 And the text goes on. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:52.559 And it says, After two days, he says, Let's go back. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:56.720 And and Jesus' disciples, by the way, didn't even want to go back. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:15:02.639 They Jesus in that area had become public enemy number one of the religious leaders. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:05.840 In fact, the last time he was there, they tried to stone him. 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:13.519 And so his disciples respond this way, but Rabbi, a short while ago, the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you're going back? 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:20.240 And so Jesus, he had to explain, okay, here's why I need to go back, here's what's going on. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:21.360 And notice what he says. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:29.360 It's so powerful and gives us a new understanding and reality about uh life and death. 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:35.039 He says, Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:39.600 But I'm going there to wake him up. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:41.759 It's interesting. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:43.600 Don't miss this. 00:15:44.799 --> 00:15:50.080 What's interesting is just how casually Jesus speaks about death. 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:55.679 He talks about death as falling asleep. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:59.679 He doesn't talk about death as it being final. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:07.120 He talks about it as falling asleep and that he's going to go and just wake him up. 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:15.039 He spoke about it so casually that his followers, the disciples, didn't even understand that he was speaking about death. 00:16:15.120 --> 00:16:18.879 That's why his disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps, he'll get better. 00:16:19.039 --> 00:16:22.000 In fact, if he's sick, sleep's the best thing for him. 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:26.879 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:36.480 So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I'm glad I was not there, so that you may believe. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:38.080 But let us go to him. 00:16:38.559 --> 00:16:42.799 You see, for Jesus, death was not the end of the story. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:48.720 Death didn't have the final say, it was just asleep. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:50.080 Death. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:54.799 You know, even though it was not a hope killer. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:59.600 See, people who are asleep wake up. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:13.279 And this became how the early followers of Jesus referred to death, because in the presence of Jesus, death is not final, it's merely being asleep. 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:19.839 And so on Jesus' arrival, they found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:34.079 And this note is important because there was this superstition that was going around on the time, this myth that the body would hover, or the soul rather, would hover around the body for three days in case it might be able to come back to life. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:36.160 But after three days, it would depart. 00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:40.559 And even among the most superstitious, all hope was gone in this moment. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.920 It had been four days. 00:17:42.160 --> 00:17:46.640 And so when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:48.640 But Mary stayed at home. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:54.079 Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:58.640 But I know that even now, God will give you what you ask. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:02.720 I love Martha's approach to Jesus. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:09.759 She comes just filled with grief and heartache and pain and brings herself as she is. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:18.400 God, if you had been here, like if you had shown up, we would be having a celebration and not a funeral. 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:24.640 And I think it's important to remind you that you can bring all of you, the real you to God. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:26.880 And just go, God, this is where I'm at. 00:18:27.039 --> 00:18:28.160 This is what I'm struggling with. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:29.599 This is the real stuff. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:32.160 God, that delay, I don't understand. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:36.559 And if you had been here, and then I love the next line. 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.920 So powerful. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:46.160 Because as she brought all of her pain and grief to Jesus, she also coupled that with a declaration of faith. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:47.519 Well, remember what she said. 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:53.759 But I know that even now, God will give you whatever you ask. 00:18:54.799 --> 00:19:03.839 Martha understood that the presence of Jesus meant that what looks like impossible is no longer impossible. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:06.880 That like Jesus changes everything. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:18.720 And so, even though all hope is lost, even though death is final, it's even now, in that moment, God will give you whatever you ask. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:21.440 Even now, in this dark hour. 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:26.240 And so Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. 00:19:26.480 --> 00:19:33.039 And then Martha responds as she's going back to things that she had been taught as a child growing up. 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:38.960 She said, I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:43.599 Now, when Jesus is responding here, I want us to know this. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:47.680 He wasn't being trite, he wasn't being glib. 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:50.720 He was reminding Martha. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:59.519 He was reorienting Martha to a deep and wonderful truth when she was completely disoriented by grief. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:04.880 And he's leaning in and reminding her that now is not all there is. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:12.079 That we are created for eternity, and that death ultimately does not get the final say. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:15.519 And I gotta imagine there's a group of mourners all around them, right? 00:20:15.920 --> 00:20:26.880 And I gotta imagine as Jesus is pastoring Martha in this moment, the mourners would have nodded their head, and they may have given an amen rabbi in that moment. 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:39.039 But then Jesus says something that's so staggering, is still staggering to this day, and it would have stunned the audience there that was listening in. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:41.759 Listen to what Jesus says next. 00:20:42.079 --> 00:20:47.839 He says, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:21:00.160 In the midst of your pain, in the midst of the grief, in the midst of this, what I want to let you know is I don't just provide resurrection. 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.240 I am resurrection. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:09.279 I don't just have the ability to bring life, I am the very source of life. 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:14.079 Like resurrection showed up here, life showed up here. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:17.839 I am resurrection in the body. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:21.440 And people would have gone, like, whoa, and he wasn't finished. 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:25.839 He said, The one who believes in me will live. 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:30.160 The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:35.119 And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:41.839 The one who believes or place their trust in me never need be afraid of death. 00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:46.240 Because with me, death never has the final say. 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:55.200 Like when you put your trust in me, you will experience life now and forevermore. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:01.279 I have the final say because I am life and Resurrection. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:03.200 And I think it's important. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:08.880 Jesus didn't just tell people to follow his teachings. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:15.680 He called people to believe in him and who he was. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:20.400 And this is why he asked this question to Martha. 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:24.559 Do you believe this? 00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:30.480 And that's the question we're confronted with today. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:35.599 That's the question that Easter calls us to ask. 00:22:36.079 --> 00:22:40.000 Do you believe this, follower of Jesus? 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:45.599 Do you believe that Jesus isn't just an addition to your life? 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:58.240 Jesus isn't just somehow to make your life better, but Jesus, Jesus is ultimately the source of life. 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:00.000 Do you believe this? 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:08.160 Do you believe that that now is not all there is, that there's more to this life than just here, that you are created for eternity? 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:11.680 Do you believe this? 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:23.920 See, Jesus was not just a good man, a great teacher, or even a miracle maker. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:32.799 His promises or his claims didn't leave that up to question. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:36.960 You see, Jesus made staggering promises. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:49.680 Promises that are so staggering and so shocking that unless he rose again from the grave, you cannot take Jesus seriously. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:57.359 I am resurrection, I am life, and if you believe in me, you too will have life. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:00.720 See, he didn't leave it up to us. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:12.559 If Jesus, though, indeed did rise from the dead, you can be confident that his promises are true and trustworthy. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:18.079 Well, eventually Martha, or rather, Mary, made her way out to Jesus. 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:21.759 And she had the same response that Martha did. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:29.839 Jesus, if you'd just been here, if you'd just shown up, my brother would still be alive. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:43.839 And Jesus looking around and seeing the grief and the pain and seeing the heartache of the mourners around and the sisters that he he loved and cared for. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:46.720 He was overwhelmed with emotion. 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:55.839 And the next verse, it's known as the shortest verse in the Bible, but it is so powerful and gives us an understanding of God. 00:24:57.279 --> 00:25:01.279 It simply says, Jesus wept. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:11.920 See, you have a God that meets you right where you're at. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:25.920 In the person of Jesus, you have a God who's present with you in your pain, who hurts with you, who weeps with you. 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:34.160 He doesn't say, I'm the resurrection and the life, and so you know what? 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:35.759 It's gonna be okay. 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.039 Don't be sad. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:49.759 I mean, when Jesus engages in this moment, he knew moments later he was gonna raise Lazarus from the dead, and the joy, the mourning was gonna be turned into joy and rejoicing. 00:25:49.839 --> 00:26:00.000 And yet he engages in the moment of exactly right where we are and where they were, and he hurt and he weeped with them. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:07.839 And so it says, Jesus once more, deeply moved, came to the tomb. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:11.200 It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:13.519 He says, Take away the stone. 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:20.000 There was a little bit of argument because Lazarus' been dead a while and is gonna smell, but eventually they did what Jesus said. 00:26:20.160 --> 00:26:24.640 And then Jesus called in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:32.799 The dead man came out, his hands and his feet wrapped with strips of linen and cloth around his face. 00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:39.440 In the middle of a funeral, hope sprang to life because resurrection life showed up. 00:26:40.160 --> 00:26:52.079 And you gotta imagine Judea, just a mile or so, or Bethlehem, just mile or so outside of Jerusalem, in the heart of the religious center, words spread fast. 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:55.599 What had Jesus had done? 00:26:55.839 --> 00:27:05.440 Now it wasn't just what Jesus had done, but it was what Jesus had said, the claims and the promises he made. 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:21.839 You see, from that point forward, the religious leaders set out to kill Jesus because he had made claims that only God could make. 00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:32.400 This is why it went on long to say that uh the after the from that day on, the religious leaders plotted to take his life. 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:38.640 And this was the resurrection that led to Jesus' crucifixion. 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:58.240 And about a week later, the religious leaders saw an opportunity, they seized it, and on Friday, the miracle maker was nailed to a cross, and resurrection was put in a grave. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:28:05.039 And it looked like death had won the final victory over life. 00:28:05.839 --> 00:28:09.039 All hope was lost. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:22.480 Well, it was Sunday morning, and a few women got up early to go to the tomb to finish preparing Jesus' body for burial. 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.119 Why? 00:28:23.279 --> 00:28:31.599 Because a couple of guys did it and they were confident they did a terrible job and they needed to come back and make sure it was done right. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:42.079 One of those women, women, there you go, was Mary Magdalene, Lazarus' sister. 00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:55.759 Now it's important to note that it's that the gospel records that women were the first to see and testify to the resurrection of Jesus. 00:28:56.079 --> 00:29:05.200 You see, in the ancient day, a woman's word was not deemed valid or credible or even amissible in the court of law. 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:16.720 And so when we look at the early accounts of this, um this did not help the believability of the resurrection of Jesus. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:28.240 In fact, one of the things, if they were to make this a more credible account, is they would have just switched it up and said, No, no, no, it wasn't women who first saw the resurrection, it was men, and they would have written it in there. 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:43.440 And you know why they say in the gospel accounts that women were the first to see Jesus raised from the life back from the dead, because that's exactly what happened. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:46.000 And so Mary and others showed up. 00:29:46.319 --> 00:29:50.480 The tomb was empty, and then an angel showed up. 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:59.519 An angel appeared to them and he said, He is risen, he is not here, he he is risen just as he said. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:03.440 Now there better be some whooping and hollering just as I said that. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:52.880 You see, at the resurrection, hope then moved from a promise then to a person. 00:30:53.599 --> 00:30:56.960 Because Jesus fulfilled the ultimate promise. 00:30:57.599 --> 00:31:07.440 You see, this Easter, the reason you can have hope is hope's not wishing or just optimism. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:10.400 Hope has a name. 00:31:11.279 --> 00:31:16.720 Hope is Jesus, the resurrected savior of the world. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:23.200 Hope has a name because Jesus defeated the grave. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:30.720 The problem, the problem with hope has always been that death has gotten the final say. 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:35.039 Death no longer gets the final say. 00:31:35.440 --> 00:31:36.559 Jesus dead. 00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:38.400 Jesus defeated death. 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:40.960 And that's why we can talk about it to this day. 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:44.799 Death's not final, it's just being asleep. 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:47.359 When you're asleep, you wake back up. 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:50.880 Jesus gets the final say. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:54.640 The uncertainty of our world does not have the final say. 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:59.440 The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:05.839 So, where do you find hope in a hopelessly broken world? 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:10.720 You find hope in the name of Jesus. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:14.960 Jesus is the hope of the world. 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:25.440 This is not a trite answer, but I want to remind you of a deep and wonderful truth. 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:31.279 See, Jesus declared, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:35.119 And then he backed it up. 00:32:36.480 --> 00:32:47.839 At Easter, we celebrate God is bigger, the cross is greater, death is defeated, and Jesus is alive. 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:59.599 So hope has a name, and you can have a confident, confident expectation that a better tomorrow waits because Jesus is alive. 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:05.599 So, how do you experience hope personally? 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:16.640 Well, Jesus said, the one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:30.480 When we put our faith, our confidence in the person of Jesus, he says that you then have life now and forevermore. 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:35.119 See, if you have Jesus, you have hope. 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:38.319 If you have Jesus, you have life. 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:42.240 If you have Jesus, you have resurrection. 00:33:42.480 --> 00:33:48.640 And the question today is, do you believe this? 00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.279 Do you believe? 00:33:54.480 --> 00:34:01.359 I realize I never told you Martha's response to Jesus' question, do you believe? 00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:03.920 Martha responded this way. 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:07.759 She said, Yes, Lord, I believe. 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:14.400 I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is come into the world. 00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:16.079 Think about it. 00:34:16.400 --> 00:34:19.840 This was before Lazarus was raised from the dead. 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:22.639 Her response was, Yes, Lord, I believe. 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:30.639 Even though she couldn't see exactly how it all worked out, yes, Lord, I believe in this moment. 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:35.599 And I believe you're the Son of God who has come into the world. 00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:39.039 God has come into the world. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.960 And I think we wrestle with this. 00:34:41.039 --> 00:34:43.440 Like, I'm searching, how do I find hope? 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:46.639 The question isn't how do you find hope? 00:34:47.119 --> 00:34:49.199 You don't have to find hope. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:55.199 Hope has come to find you in the person of Jesus. 00:34:55.760 --> 00:35:00.159 In fact, hope is pursuing you right now in this moment. 00:35:01.280 --> 00:35:06.639 Hope is calling you, saying, I have defeated the grave. 00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:09.280 I want to give you life. 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:11.440 Do you believe this? 00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:13.760 Would you say yes, Lord? 00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:16.800 See, how do we experience hope personally? 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:20.400 We just simply respond the way Martha responded. 00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:23.440 Yes, Lord, I believe. 00:35:23.679 --> 00:35:26.239 Yes, Lord, I need you. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:30.159 In a moment, we're gonna sing a song called Graves into Gardens. 00:35:30.239 --> 00:35:32.239 And I love the opening lines of this. 00:35:32.559 --> 00:35:37.760 It begins this way: I searched the world, but it couldn't fill me. 00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:42.400 Men's empty praise and treasures that fade are never enough. 00:35:42.880 --> 00:35:50.559 Then you came along and put me back together, and every desire is now satisfied. 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:57.360 That's the hope of Jesus because of the resurrection of Jesus. 00:35:57.760 --> 00:36:03.760 And if this morning or today, rather, you would like to experience hope personally. 00:36:04.480 --> 00:36:10.079 If you'd like to step into new life and have a personal relationship, would you just pray with me? 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:12.880 Would you have a conversation with your Heavenly Father? 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:18.880 Would you bring your heart to Him and your prayer is just simply a conversation with God? 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:26.000 And right now, maybe you're alone and you can pray it out loud, and maybe you just want to pray in the quietness of your heart. 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:28.159 Either way, God still hears. 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:30.320 But pray after me this. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:39.679 Yes, Jesus, I believe that you are the hope of the world, the resurrection and the life. 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:49.679 I believe you died on the cross for me, for my brokenness, for my sin, and you are raised to life, defeating death. 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:57.280 That all who put their trust in you will have true life now and forevermore. 00:36:57.920 --> 00:37:00.880 So today I confess my need for you. 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:06.079 Will you forgive me and come into my life and make me new? 00:37:06.480 --> 00:37:11.280 I place the full weight of my life in your hands. 00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:20.559 Thank you for loving me, for pursuing me, for giving me new life, for being my hope. 00:37:20.800 --> 00:37:24.159 In the mighty name of Jesus. 00:37:24.480 --> 00:37:25.119 Amen. 00:37:26.639 --> 00:37:38.400 And if in this moment you just gave your life to Jesus, I want you to right now, as we sing this song, click the connection card and let us know. 00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:45.840 Would you click the response card and or the prayer button and ask for prayer? 00:37:46.239 --> 00:37:48.960 We want to know and join with you and celebrate. 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:51.280 This is a wonderful celebration. 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:56.079 This is a moment where angels are just freaking out in heaven, honestly. 00:37:56.239 --> 00:38:04.639 And this is a moment where hope has arrived because you've experienced the person and the presence of Jesus in your life, new life. 00:38:04.880 --> 00:38:06.079 Would you let us know? 00:38:06.239 --> 00:38:08.400 Click the connection card. 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:16.239 And would you join with us as Taylor and the team lead us in graves into gardens?