WEBVTT 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:02.319 There's this beautiful poem. 00:00:02.479 --> 00:00:03.759 It's in the book of Isaiah. 00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:08.720 The city of Jerusalem has just been destroyed by Babylon, a great kingdom in the north. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:14.320 And all of these Jewish people, they've been sent away into exile, but a few remained in the city. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.519 And they're left wondering, what just happened? 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:19.120 Has our God abandoned us? 00:00:19.440 --> 00:00:26.800 Right, because Jerusalem was supposed to be the city where God would reign over the world to bring peace and blessing to everyone. 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:32.719 Now Isaiah had been saying that Jerusalem's destruction was a mess of Israel's own making. 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:38.560 They had turned away from their God, become corrupt, and so their city and their temple were destroyed. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:40.399 Everything seems lost. 00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:41.679 But the poem goes on. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:44.240 There's a watchman on the city walls. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:48.640 And far out on the hills we see a messenger, and he's running towards the city. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:57.359 He's running and he's shouting, Good news! And Isaiah says, How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. 00:00:57.679 --> 00:00:58.719 Beautiful feet? 00:00:58.880 --> 00:00:59.200 Yes. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:02.719 The feet are beautiful because they're carrying a beautiful message. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:04.000 What's the message? 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:08.959 That despite Jerusalem's destruction, Israel's God still reigns as king. 00:01:09.040 --> 00:01:15.120 And that God himself is going to one day return to this city, take up his throne, and bring peace. 00:01:15.359 --> 00:01:20.879 And the watchmen sing for joy because of the good news that their God still reigns. 00:01:21.200 --> 00:01:24.959 Now in the New Testament, we find this same phrase, the good news. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:30.319 It's the Greek word Evangelion, and it's also sometimes translated with the word gospel. 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:35.359 So when Christians say, do you believe the gospel, they mean, do you believe the news? 00:01:35.680 --> 00:01:36.719 But not just any news. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:40.959 In the Bible, this phrase is always about the announcement of the reign of a new king. 00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:46.799 And in the New Testament, the Gospels use this phrase to summarize all of Jesus' teachings. 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:50.959 They say that he went about proclaiming the good news of God's kingdom. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:55.359 So Jesus saw himself as the messenger, bringing the news that God reigns. 00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:00.079 Yes, but the way that he described God's reign, it surprised everybody. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:02.959 I mean, think powerful, successful kingdom. 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:07.760 It needs to be strong, able to impose its will, able to defeat its enemies. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:16.080 But Jesus said the greatest person in God's kingdom was the weakest, the one who loves and who serves the poor. 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:24.400 And he said that you live under God's reign when you respond to evil by loving your enemies and forgiving them and seeking peace. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:27.280 This is an upside-down kingdom. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:32.800 Now Jesus also said that this kingdom was arriving with him. 00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:41.199 Yeah, so for example, there's this really interesting story where there's a high-ranking Roman officer, and he comes to Jesus begging him to heal his servant. 00:02:41.520 --> 00:02:46.560 And he even calls Jesus his Lord, acknowledging that Jesus is his authority. 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:51.199 Jesus praises this man for recognizing what no one else yet had. 00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:56.479 That not only was Jesus announcing God's kingdom, he was the king. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:03:02.240 And so the word gets out that this Jewish man from Galilee is talking and acting like he's the king of Israel. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:07.199 He's appointing twelve disciples, which are an image of Israel's twelve tribes. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:10.319 He's healing people, forgiving people their sins. 00:03:10.560 --> 00:03:16.479 And all of this so threatened Israel's leaders that they finally decide to have him killed. 00:03:16.719 --> 00:03:18.479 And Jesus let them. 00:03:18.719 --> 00:03:19.039 Yeah. 00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:23.439 Which is a weird thing to do if you're trying to become king. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:24.240 That's right. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:27.759 But for Jesus, this is what had to happen. 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:36.000 Jesus saw the sin and the devastation of his people Israel as just one small part of the entire human condition. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:43.360 How all humanity has rebelled against God, resulting in the tragedy and devastation of our whole world. 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:47.840 So how is God going to bring his reign over such a world? 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:53.840 Jesus believed it would be through an act of sacrificial love for his enemies. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:01.360 This is why in the Gospels, Jesus' crucifixion is depicted as his enthronement as the king of the Jews. 00:04:01.520 --> 00:04:03.199 Yeah, he receives a crown. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:10.400 He's exalted up, not onto a throne, but onto the cross. 00:04:10.719 --> 00:04:14.159 How beautiful are the feet that bring good news. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:26.560 And the good news now is that Jesus has defeated death and that he reigns as king, that he's dealt with our sin and corruption himself, and that he's conquered it with his life and with his love. 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:33.519 And then Jesus sends his followers to go out and keep announcing this good news of the upside-down kingdom. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:40.480 And to invite everyone to give their allegiance to him, the king who defeated death with his love. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:33.839 So much so that we don't really expect the news to be good, and when good news actually is what we get, we get kind of surprised by that. 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:41.120 I remember a little over a year ago, Megan, my wife was pregnant with Judah, our third child, and uh and I'm driving one of our cars. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:43.040 I say that as if we have many cars. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:43.680 We have two. 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:48.399 I was driving half of our car, and uh and I heard this sound. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:50.319 And I'm not a car guy. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.160 I never have been, I never will be, I've given up hope on that. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:58.720 I'm the guy that when the car breaks down, I pop the hood and I just go, okay. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:00.800 I have no idea what I'm looking at, I have no idea. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:04.000 I don't know why I pop the hood to begin with, but I just do that because that's what you're supposed to do. 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:08.240 And uh and so I'm driving the car and I hear this noise, and I'm like, oh, this sounds, this sounds bad. 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:09.920 I have never heard a car make this noise. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:15.360 I know enough about cars to know that if your car makes a noise that scares you, that's bad. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:20.560 And I also know enough about cars to know that bad plus car equals expensive. 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:23.279 And so I'm sitting there going, oh my goodness, not now. 00:06:23.439 --> 00:06:24.160 Like, not now. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:25.680 This is the worst timing in the world. 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:28.079 We're about to have a baby, our third child. 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:32.639 We don't have a ton in savings to begin with, and I don't want to wipe it all out to fix the car. 00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:36.959 This is the worst possible timing, and I'm having this little, you know, mini crisis as I drive. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:38.959 And so I had an idea. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:41.360 A little bit of a tough sell with Megan, but I had this idea. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:42.000 I said, you know what? 00:06:42.160 --> 00:06:43.680 Judah's not coming for three months. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:46.000 We've got three months to save. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:47.279 We've got three months. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:07:01.360 We could we could go down to one car for three months, save all the money we would be spending on gas, save in every extra area we could think of, no eating out, no extra spending, nothing, and in three months we will save enough to be able to pay off whatever this monstrous car bill is obviously going to be. 00:07:01.439 --> 00:07:02.879 And so I went to Megan with that. 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:07.680 And and I don't know if you've ever had a conversation with a woman who's significantly pregnant. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:08.319 Okay? 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:12.240 It's kind of intimidating, right? 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.199 As a man, there are a few things that scare me more than pregnant women. 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:16.720 I'm just gonna love, I'm just being honest. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:21.600 Like I've Megan's been pregnant three times, and and every time she gets what she wants, right? 00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.439 Because uh it's just the way it goes. 00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:27.839 And so I said, hey honey, I am so sorry this has happened, but I need you to trust me. 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:28.959 Here's what I want us to do. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:41.360 I want us to go down to one car, and and that means that when I'm at work and you're at home, you're either gonna have to go without a car and be stuck, or you need to get up in the morning and get the kids together and drive me to work and then do that again when I get off work, and I'll just let that be up to you. 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.360 Um and we we need to not eat out. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:46.399 So, you know, all those cravings that you have all the time? 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:48.399 I need you to say no to those. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:53.759 Just for three months, just for three months, so we can we can have this child and not be financially strapped, just trust me. 00:07:53.839 --> 00:07:57.600 And and and she went along with it for six weeks. 00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:59.920 Not three months, six weeks in. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:05.279 She just looked at me and she said, I'm seven months pregnant, I'm tired of being your driver, I'm done, I want to eat what I want, go get the car fixed. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:07.279 I don't care how much it costs. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:10.240 And I was scared for my life, and I said, Yes. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:12.480 I mean, I told you, I'm being honest. 00:08:12.720 --> 00:08:22.560 And so I started the car for the first time in in over a month, and it's making that noise again, and I pull into the shop, and I'm just I'm just reserved to being broke, but the good news is it would not be the first time. 00:08:22.639 --> 00:08:23.600 I've been there before. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:30.000 So I drop it off, and I get a call three hours later from the shop, and it began the way I thought it would begin. 00:08:30.079 --> 00:08:31.040 The gentleman said, Mr. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.799 McTear, we uh we took a look at your car, we have some news, we think we have figured it out. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:36.559 And I'm like, all right, here it comes. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:40.080 And he says, uh, your car was very, very low on oil. 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:41.360 Very low. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:46.000 And so oil is what lubricates all those gears and all the things inside of your car. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:46.720 That's what you were hearing. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:48.960 But the good news is, no real damage was done. 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:51.039 We just filled it with oil and you're good. 00:08:51.759 --> 00:08:58.000 And I was like, I remember telling the guy, you know, you're gonna have to forgive me. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:03.120 I'm not a car guy, but it sounds to me like you just said you gave me an oil change. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:05.600 And he says, Yes, sir, it'll be$30. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:07.360 You can pick her up when you're ready. 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:09.120 And I'm like excited. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:14.240 Because I was, I was, I swore it was gonna be like a thousand dollars, something crazy, you know, a transmission, something. 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:16.639 I don't really even know what a transmission does, but I know it's expensive. 00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.519 I just I knew it was gonna be something like that, and so I'm on I'm on cloud nine. 00:09:19.600 --> 00:09:21.919 I call Megan, I'm like, honey, you're not gonna believe the news. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:22.639 Good news. 00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:24.480 It was just an oil change the whole time. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:26.240 30 bucks, that's it. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.159 She did not seem as excited as I was. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:33.360 Not even, not even close. 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:52.159 She sort of just paused, and then she said, Are you are you telling me that I have been your personal chauffeur at seven months pregnant for the last six weeks because you did not change the oil in the car? 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:57.279 And I said, That's one way to look at it. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:01.279 Like that is that's an angle you can choose to see it from. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:06.399 I do believe there's another angle though, and that's that it only cost$30, and we saved all this money, and this is a good, this is good news. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:07.440 Trust me, this is good news. 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:15.519 And then she said, Are you telling me that for the last six weeks I have said no to every craving I have as a woman who's seven months pregnant, in case you forgot, because you didn't change the oil. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:18.559 And I was like, Honey, honey, honey, but where do you want to eat tonight? 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.720 And that's when it was good news to Megan. 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:22.879 That's when she finally came around. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.440 I just expected it to be bad. 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:29.519 I I just thought it's gonna be bad. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:35.919 I know it's gonna be bad because I'm I'm part of this world, and this world trains us to expect bad news. 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:39.279 And that's part of the reason Jesus is so refreshing. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:42.240 Because Jesus brings good news. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:47.679 And Jesus is good news, not just for our world, but for your life today. 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:58.639 When Jesus decided to step into the limelight, so to speak, and let the world know that he was here and let the world know who he was, his opening statement, this is what Jesus chose to lead with, was this. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.519 He read from the prophet Isaiah, we can see it in Luke chapter 4. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:04.480 He says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:08.320 For he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:16.559 He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord's favor has come. 00:11:16.799 --> 00:11:21.840 So, right from the outset, Jesus was all about bringing people good news. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:24.159 And that's what he did. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:27.039 Left and right, it's it's good news. 00:11:27.200 --> 00:11:29.039 Good news followed Jesus everywhere he went. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:36.320 When he interacted with anyone, if they were even just the slightest bit open to God, they would get good news from Jesus. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:40.960 One time there was this woman who was just doing her daily routine. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:44.399 She was heading to a well to get water, and Jesus happened to be at that well. 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:51.039 And so Jesus starts talking to her as she's getting her water, and he starts going on and on about living water, and she just thinks he's nuts. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:53.360 Here's this guy next to a well talking about living water. 00:11:53.519 --> 00:11:56.000 And she's just sort of going, uh-uh, okay, I'm just trying to get my water and go. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:57.120 Please don't attack me. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:12:00.559 Um and Jesus has to convince her that he's not crazy. 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:05.759 He was using a metaphor to talk about this life that he offers us that that fills us so fully. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:08.240 So fully, it's it's like we're alive for the very first time. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:12.639 And he proves that he's not crazy to her by telling her everything about her life. 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:13.840 They've never met before. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:17.600 And Jesus just lays out her life story right in front of her, and she's taken aback. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:21.919 And the thing about it is, is her life story is not one she was particularly proud of. 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:28.960 Her life story had some secrets, and she had worked really hard to keep some of those things secret. 00:12:30.559 --> 00:12:35.440 So it doesn't seem like it would be good news for Jesus to sit there and list out all the things she's done in her life. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:40.720 But see, for the very first time, here's someone who knows everything about her, but he's not judging her. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:46.159 He's not condemning her, he's not laying on shame and guilt. 00:12:46.720 --> 00:12:48.000 In fact, just the opposite. 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:57.519 Jesus loves her and he loves her so much that he pulls the curtain back, and she becomes the very first person that ever hears Jesus say from his mouth directly, I'm the Messiah. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:01.600 She's the first person that's ever brought in that close. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:03.840 And it changes her life. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.720 She immediately starts going back to her hometown and she's walking around town going, I've got good news. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:12.639 I met a man, he told me everything I've ever done. 00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:16.799 He knew all of it, and he loved me, and he accepted me and he included me. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:19.039 God's not mad at me. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.879 God wants to know me. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:22.720 I mean, it was good news to her. 00:13:23.519 --> 00:13:28.240 There was another time that a woman came to Jesus and she was desperate. 00:13:28.480 --> 00:13:31.440 She had this medical problem, and the doctors in her day couldn't solve it. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:35.840 She'd spent all of her money trying to have it fixed, but to no avail. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:46.559 And to make matters worse in her culture, if you had a disease or a disability or just serious misfortune hit your life, people didn't have compassion on you, not very much anyway, because they believed that that was God punishing you. 00:13:46.639 --> 00:13:52.000 That obviously you had done something so bad that God was giving you your just deserves. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:57.919 And so rather than have compassion, they just ignored you, they ostracized you, they shunned you. 00:13:58.240 --> 00:13:59.600 You were a pariah. 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.080 And so she's lived her life this way. 00:14:02.159 --> 00:14:07.120 But she goes to Jesus and she has so much faith in Jesus that she just touches him and she's instantly healed. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:09.919 And then she sort of tries to sneak away. 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:11.279 She's used to that. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.600 But Jesus stops. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.480 And the Bible says that Jesus saw her. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:18.159 It's very, very powerful. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:22.559 It says he saw her for once and who knows how long. 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:28.240 He didn't look past her, he didn't overlook her, he saw her, he he understood her. 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:30.240 And that day she got really good news. 00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:34.080 And the news was not simply you're healed, the news was you're seen. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:36.480 That you're not alone. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:45.600 The idea that God was not punishing her, that was news to her, and it was good news because Jesus was letting her know that somebody cared, and not just anybody, but God Himself. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:48.240 She was noticed, she was known, she was loved. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.759 That was good news. 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:52.960 There was a man that brought his son to Jesus. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:15:01.519 His son was dealing with something real serious, and he had heard that Jesus could heal people, but he didn't have the faith that this woman had, where if he just touched Jesus, his son would be healed, or anything like that. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.200 To be honest, he was a skeptic. 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:04.480 And who could blame him? 00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.600 It's kind of crazy. 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.320 There's this man and he touches people and they're they're healed. 00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:11.519 But when you love your kids, you'll do anything for them. 00:15:11.679 --> 00:15:16.720 And so he brings his son to Jesus and he goes up to Jesus and he says, Jesus, you know, this is my son, here's what's going on. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:19.440 Heal him if you can. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:21.519 He puts in that if. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.120 If you're able. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:25.440 Because he's not sure. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:32.159 And that day he got really, really good news from Jesus because Jesus looked at him and Jesus said, Oh, I'm able. 00:15:32.559 --> 00:15:35.679 And right in front of him, he healed his son, and that man got his son back. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.240 His son was whole for the very first time. 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:43.519 But more than that, that man understood, maybe for the first time in his life, that God is able. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:48.320 That God is not just some distant being or some made-up idea. 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:52.480 That God is powerful, that God is able, that God can. 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:56.000 Jesus could and Jesus did, and that was good news for this man. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:59.519 There's another man that came to Jesus to be healed, himself. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:01.279 And he had all the faith in the world. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:05.679 He knew Jesus could, but his his question was, would Jesus, would he for me? 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:09.679 And so he asked Jesus to heal him, but he throws an if in there as well. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:12.960 He says, Jesus, heal me if you're willing. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:19.360 And we don't know what happened in this man's life, but obviously he's questioning whether or not he's worth the investment. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:22.000 He's worth the time, he's worth a little bit of Jesus' power. 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:29.120 And that day he got really good news because Jesus looked him in the eyes and Jesus said, I am willing. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.720 And he healed him. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.559 Everywhere you look with Jesus, it's just good news. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:37.679 Good news, good news, good news everywhere. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:40.080 And we could tell story after story. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.080 It would take a really long time. 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:44.320 But I want to look at just one more. 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:45.519 This is a big one. 00:16:45.840 --> 00:16:48.879 Jesus' closest friends and followers are hiding. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.960 They're terrified for their lives. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:54.720 They're behind closed doors, doors that are locked. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:17:00.720 They're trying to figure out how they can how they can escape, how they can get out of Dodge, because just a few days earlier Jesus died. 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.879 And they did not see that coming. 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.680 See, they had risked everything for Jesus. 00:17:05.839 --> 00:17:08.720 To walk with Jesus and be associated with Jesus, it was risky. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.839 It still is risky in so many places in the world, by the way. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:15.759 But they were putting their lives on the line and they knew that. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:17.759 Jesus had enemies, very, very powerful enemies. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:20.640 But see, when you stood next to Jesus, you just felt safe. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.960 Because they had heard Jesus say things that only God could say. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:30.960 Things that were so profound that there's just no way anyone other than God could even think things like that. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:37.839 Jesus had an understanding and an insight on the human condition that only makes sense if he's the one who authored humanity. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:44.079 So they heard him say things that just blew their minds, and they thought only God could know these things. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:47.440 But beyond that, they saw Jesus do things that only God could do. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:51.119 They saw miracles, they saw things that were unexplainable. 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:57.599 And so they thought, man, I've got Jesus, I'm safe, I'm good, but but then they saw some things that they never thought they'd see. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:02.640 They saw soldiers come and arrest Jesus, and Jesus didn't really put up much of a fight. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:15.119 And they saw Jesus put on trial, and they were probably waiting for Jesus just to nail his accusers with a defense that they couldn't touch, but Jesus didn't say a word. 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:20.799 And a few of them even watched Jesus beaten and crucified. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:23.359 And their heads are spinning. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:25.039 They're thinking, how how is this possible? 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:30.079 Not only how did we lose Jesus, but I mean, is Jesus really who he said he was? 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:31.680 Is he really the Messiah? 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:32.720 Is he the Son of God? 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:33.839 Is he God in the flesh? 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:37.920 Because I would think it would take more than a few nails and a cross to kill God. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:42.880 And they're asking themselves the questions we'd all be asking, man, was I taken for a fool? 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.160 Am I just gullible? 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.440 Am I just am I just a sucker? 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.880 Like, what happened? 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:50.559 And all they can think right now is, I'm taking no more risks for Jesus. 00:18:50.640 --> 00:18:51.839 I'm I'm I'm gonna get out of here. 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:56.000 And they hear a knock on the door, and no doubt they're terrified that it's the soldiers. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:59.680 But it's not it's not soldiers coming to arrest them. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:03.440 It's these these women who had just gotten back from Jesus' tomb. 00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:04.720 They were followers of Jesus as well. 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.079 There was a woman named Mary. 00:19:06.400 --> 00:19:08.000 There was another woman named Mary. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:10.079 There's a third woman named Mary. 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:16.079 There's a fourth woman, potentially, named Mary, and there was a fifth woman named Solome. 00:19:16.319 --> 00:19:18.079 And so, you know, she's the oddball. 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:23.759 And they come in and they look at these men and they say, We've got good news. 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:25.920 Like we have good news. 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:27.359 He's alive. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:31.680 Jesus is risen, and the men just sort of stand there. 00:19:31.839 --> 00:19:35.680 They had the same reaction Megan had when I told her that it was just an oil change. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:39.599 They didn't seem very excited at this obvious good news. 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:42.720 They just say, What do you what do you mean? 00:19:43.119 --> 00:19:44.079 What do you mean he's alive? 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:44.720 What are you talking about? 00:19:44.880 --> 00:20:05.839 And the women say, We went to his tomb, and and the stone that that was ordered to be placed in his tomb to be extra secure because the Pharisees were afraid that something would happen and Jesus would be gone because he had predicted this, he'd predicted his death, and that he would be raised, and they're thinking, oh man, if if the disciples take his body, then that's going to look like it was true, and we're going to have a whole other mess on our hands. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:13.920 So they're like, we want a huge stone to seal the tomb, a stone so big that it would take an earthquake or a multitude of people to roll it away. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:17.039 And so God just sent an earthquake because he can get that done. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:25.279 It's gone, it's been rolled away, and and the soldiers that were guarding the tomb, they're nowhere to be found because when the earthquake happened and they saw angels, they like freaked out and ran away. 00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.880 And who could blame them? 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:31.119 And they go there and Jesus' body is not there. 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.480 And then Mary, one of one of the Marys anyway, says, I talked to him. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:37.920 I saw him. 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.039 He's alive. 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:40.960 And the disciples still can't quite believe it. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:53.519 Two of them get up the courage to run and go see for themselves, and they see the empty tomb, and they're thinking, okay, I mean, I guess it's possible, but still they can't quite believe until a short time later they see Jesus for themselves. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:56.400 And they talk to Jesus and they touch Jesus. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.640 Like Jesus actually let them poke him. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:00.000 Can you imagine that moment? 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.519 I'm alive, and they're like, I can't. 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.960 We would all do the same, right? 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:06.160 Like, no offense, but can I? 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:09.039 Can I okay, he's alive. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:15.359 And see, at this moment, fear is gone. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:24.799 They they go from being these men in hiding, they go right out in the streets and they start telling everybody that he's alive, that he's risen. 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:33.839 And if this is a lie, by the way, they're the most unintelligent men that have ever lived, because they literally have nothing to gain by telling the truth, then certain death, and that is what they experienced. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:37.680 All but one of them was martyred for their faith in Jesus. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:40.079 They have nothing to gain to perpetuate this lie. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.799 They have everything to lose, but they they know it's not a lie. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:46.000 They've seen him, they've touched him, and they go out and they start telling people. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:47.920 And other people are seeing Jesus. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:58.559 And miracles are happening, and crazy stuff's going, and all of a sudden that the Pharisees, the people who oppose Jesus, think that they've they've dealt with Jesus because they put some nails in him and they find out that, hey, it is actually very hard to kill God. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.720 He gets back up. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:02.480 He's alive. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:06.880 And that is good, good news for all of us here. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.240 That is good news. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:10.960 Jesus is just, it's good news on top of good news. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.759 See, maybe you're here today and maybe you're not proud of your life story. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.759 Maybe you're not proud of your past. 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:18.880 Maybe it's your recent past. 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:24.880 Maybe you look at yourself and you feel like you have disqualified yourself from being valuable to God or to the world around you. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.799 And Jesus would look at you and He would say, Look, I know everything you've ever done and I love you. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:33.759 I am far, far more concerned with you than your mistakes. 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:43.119 And I do not put guilt on you, and I'm not going to shame you, and I'm not just going to be another people in the long line of people who have told you that you haven't measured up. 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:44.799 I'm going to look at you and I'm going to include you. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.640 I'm going to bring you in to my plans. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:49.680 Your past does not disqualify you from God's future. 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.839 And that is good, good news. 00:22:56.799 --> 00:23:00.240 Maybe, maybe you feel kind of invisible. 00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:01.359 Maybe you feel alone. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:04.079 Maybe you feel like no one understands you. 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:08.480 You have all these issues, you have struggles, and no one really gives you the time of day. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.440 People look past you. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:12.240 People just say, oh, well, yeah, they've they've done this to themselves. 00:23:15.519 --> 00:23:16.720 I have good news for you today. 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:17.680 You're not alone. 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:19.759 There's a God. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:20.880 His name is Jesus. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:23.119 He's alive and he sees you. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.440 He sees you. 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:27.839 He sees you like no one else has ever seen you. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:31.920 He's the one person who looks at you and he looks right to your heart, and you are not misunderstood. 00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:36.079 He understands. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:41.200 You are noticed, you are known, and you are loved by God, and that is good news. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.720 That is such good news. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:46.960 Maybe you're here today and you're like, okay, I guess there might be a God. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:49.759 Maybe you're struggling with that, and we all do, and I'm so glad you're here. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:52.400 This is a place where it's okay to question. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:54.240 God's not afraid of questions. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.039 I believe that. 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:00.960 And you're just wondering, okay, if God is real, is he really able to help me? 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:04.720 Is he really able to step into my world and my life and deal with my issues right now? 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:07.200 I want you to know that there is good news for you today. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:09.200 There's a man named Jesus. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.079 He's alive and he is able. 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:13.680 And there's nothing he can't do. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:15.839 I've experienced it for myself. 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:22.880 Seven years ago today, I was in the NICU at Kennestone Hospital with my newborn son, Liam, our firstborn. 00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:29.519 And I'm having a pretty interesting start to being a dad because the doctors don't know what's wrong with him. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.640 He can't breathe on his own. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:32.559 He's having seizures, and we have no idea what to do. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:33.839 And so we're just there. 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:36.160 Can't even really hold him. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:41.279 He's hooked up to all these tubes and these machines, and I'm just beside myself. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:48.880 Every single day the doctors come in and they have a new potential diagnosis, and then they rule that out with tests, but that means that the next potential diagnosis is more serious. 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:51.839 This just keeps happening, and every day is looking more and more grim. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.119 And I got to a breaking point. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:55.519 They came to take Liam away for another test. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:57.200 There's so many tests. 00:24:57.519 --> 00:24:59.119 And this one was really serious. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:04.000 And they were pretty certain that this is what it was, that they had figured it out because they'd ruled so many other things out. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:06.720 And this would be something that would affect him for the rest of his life. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:08.160 And honestly, I was okay with that. 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.039 I love my kids. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.640 I love my kids no matter what. 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:17.119 But I was so broken and desperate, and I broke down and I just cried out to Jesus. 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:22.640 And I mean, I cried out to Jesus in the waiting room of the Kennestone Hospital NICU. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:26.319 I made noises that they probably sent doctors to check on me. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:27.039 I just couldn't see him. 00:25:27.119 --> 00:25:27.839 I don't know. 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:31.599 And I asked Jesus, point blank, to heal my son. 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:34.480 And they brought Liam back an hour later from that test. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:38.400 And from that moment on, he never had another seizure, never had another breathing episode. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:40.400 They sent us home two days later. 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:42.000 Yeah. 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:45.519 They sent us home two days later. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:51.039 And they put this device on his chest and they said, This is gonna go off if he has another breathing episode or anything like that. 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:52.079 And so pay attention. 00:25:52.160 --> 00:25:54.799 And it never went off one time. 00:25:54.960 --> 00:25:58.160 We got to give it back to them and say, not once. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:05.119 They told us to pay really close attention to his development to make sure he developed normally because you never know what could have happened. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:07.119