WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:02.860 Appreciate you just listening to the series. 00:00:02.920 --> 00:00:06.980 We're eight weeks into the series as one of the longer series that we've ever done at the church. 00:00:07.800 --> 00:00:14.820 typically they will inform pastors not to do series so long because people tend to lose interest along 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:15.280 the way. 00:00:15.680 --> 00:00:23.140 I just want you to know, this is the ending of the portion of a lot of theology for those who aren't so much into the theology, but more in the practicality 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:25.480 of doing things for Jesus. 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:32.479 The next four weeks will be all about application and how what we've learned over this series applies to our lives. 00:00:33.460 --> 00:00:36.580 To those of you who love the depths of theology. 00:00:36.740 --> 00:00:38.100 We balance each other out, don't we? 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:41.980 And I'm grateful that you've come and been a part of that. 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:46.860 And you've listened to just the eight weeks of the core of what the Christian faith is all about. 00:00:47.680 --> 00:00:50.920 We really do balance each other out in those things we need to understand. 00:00:51.020 --> 00:00:56.100 It tells us in Jude chapter or verse 24 and 25 that the Christian life is really about contending the faith. 00:00:56.160 --> 00:00:57.370 What you believe matters. 00:00:58.380 --> 00:01:05.540 But those of us who love studying the depths of theology a lot of times just fill ourselves with a lot of head knowledge, but no practical application. 00:01:06.480 --> 00:01:11.080 And so the danger is that we get really super smart about Jesus, but we really can't connect that into the world. 00:01:11.500 --> 00:01:18.500 And so it's important for us to learn the depths of what we believe, but get with those people who are really engaging in life and learn how to apply that to the 00:01:18.500 --> 00:01:24.280 world, to share that with people, learn what it means to share and contend for your faith and love people to Christ. 00:01:25.380 --> 00:01:30.600 And today, all of what we've learned together is culminating into one important point. 00:01:31.180 --> 00:01:35.740 And that is Jesus has given his life for you and for I. 00:01:36.240 --> 00:01:39.720 This is about the death and the resurrection of Christ. 00:01:40.980 --> 00:01:45.920 Your whole Bible we've gone through the theme together is just one big idea. 00:01:46.180 --> 00:01:51.580 God's pursuit of man and man's redemption through Jesus dying on the cross for us. 00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:53.510 God is the main character. 00:01:53.720 --> 00:01:59.650 His love is declared through us through 66 books found in your Bible, both made up in the Old Testament and the New Testament. 00:01:59.980 --> 00:02:01.260 It's all about him. 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:10.280 And we get the luxury as people of coming to understand him, growing with him relationally, 00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:15.020 and loving him deeply because he's first loved us. 00:02:16.640 --> 00:02:21.580 And all of that culminates in the coming of Jesus and in his death and resurrection. 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:25.000 And so today is a very reflective day. 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:26.440 It's a day of worship for us. 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:33.680 It's a day, really, that's just all about Jesus, because we're going to conclude the service taking communion, which for us is the mark of everything that 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.240 Jesus has done for us. 00:02:35.240 --> 00:02:35.400 For us. 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:35.860 Excuse me? 00:02:35.880 --> 00:02:41.300 The drink is about his blood and the bread is about his body that was broken on our behalf. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:42.720 God saves. 00:02:44.420 --> 00:02:49.080 God is in the saving business, and salvation is made possible because of Jesus's death and resurrection. 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:51.860 Did my did my slide show go away? 00:02:51.940 --> 00:02:52.440 There we go. 00:02:53.060 --> 00:02:56.460 Salvation we refer to is in the form of the word. 00:02:56.460 --> 00:02:57.240 You may have heard it. 00:02:57.240 --> 00:02:57.360 The gospel. 00:02:59.720 --> 00:03:07.100 Gospel really is a breaking down of two English words that mean good spell in the Middle Ages, when they heard the gospel 00:03:07.200 --> 00:03:08.040 or the good spell. 00:03:08.040 --> 00:03:14.720 It was such a wonderful, delightful story for people to hear that God loves them and that God can redeem them, that God will save them and give them eternity with him. 00:03:14.720 --> 00:03:17.480 That it was like a good spell was being cast upon them. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:20.460 And so it later became one word being referred to as the gospel. 00:03:22.020 --> 00:03:27.260 In Greek, the word gospel means good news that someone took your punishment. 00:03:27.420 --> 00:03:34.780 Someone took the penalty, the payment that you owed to God on their behalf for your sake, that you could enjoy the luxury of a relationship with God for all eternity. 00:03:36.460 --> 00:03:43.540 And just to be very pointed in what I'm referring to when I say the word gospel in first Corinthians chapter 15, it declares to us 00:03:43.640 --> 00:03:44.080 what it is. 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:48.390 It says, for I delivered to you as of first importance in the Bible. 00:03:48.660 --> 00:03:55.220 If you read in Colossians chapter one, Ephesians chapter two, and Corinthians chapter 15. 00:03:55.220 --> 00:03:58.680 There are creedal statements that are inserted in texts of Scripture. 00:03:58.680 --> 00:04:06.080 These statements are so old that they can be dated back to the very beginnings of the church, right after Jesus's death and resurrection. 00:04:07.220 --> 00:04:10.000 First Corinthians 15 and verse three is one such passage. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:18.440 And it says, for I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on 00:04:18.440 --> 00:04:20.380 the third day according to the scriptures. 00:04:21.760 --> 00:04:28.400 When we talk about the gospel, it has nothing to do with us and everything to do with what Jesus accomplished for us. 00:04:29.140 --> 00:04:31.940 It's his death, his burial, and his resurrection. 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:38.600 The cross is a symbol to us of the gospel. 00:04:40.320 --> 00:04:45.840 The cross became the symbol of the early church, and that's weird to think about it. 00:04:45.940 --> 00:04:52.540 For those who are on the outside, to those who've grown up in maybe Christianity their whole life, the cross has just been something that you've accepted as part of your life. 00:04:52.620 --> 00:04:56.240 But to an outsider, it's a ridiculous symbol if you think about it. 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:00.980 The cross is a symbol of shame and of suffering. 00:05:02.460 --> 00:05:05.840 Yet the cross is the most known symbol in the world. 00:05:07.380 --> 00:05:12.920 A little later in this year, in the fall, we're going to send a couple of people to India to care for some of the orphans that are over there. 00:05:12.920 --> 00:05:20.280 There's a ministry that's being conducted, and it's interesting when you study the country of India that worships over 300 million 00:05:20.280 --> 00:05:27.500 gods, but the one thing they won't allow into their country is a cross, because the cross to them 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:29.020 is offensive. 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:31.760 To the church. 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:33.660 The cross is a marvel. 00:05:35.120 --> 00:05:38.860 We marvel at this because upon a cross is where God died. 00:05:40.900 --> 00:05:43.300 Why do we talk about the cross? 00:05:43.640 --> 00:05:46.520 Maybe we could start with that important question this morning. 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:48.410 Why do we talk about the cross? 00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:51.500 The crucifixion is gross. 00:05:53.220 --> 00:05:55.020 It started in 500 B.C. 00:05:55.100 --> 00:05:55.920 under the Persians. 00:05:55.920 --> 00:06:02.480 It was perfected under the Roman rule until it was outlawed by Constantine in 300 A.D. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:08.160 Josephus referred to it as the worst of death, since Cicero said that it's not even worth mentioning. 00:06:08.300 --> 00:06:15.300 And if you read in Galatians chapter three and verse 13, it says, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for 00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:15.420 us. 00:06:15.580 --> 00:06:20.120 For it is written, cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:29.230 The Roman citizens considered the crucifix so disgusting that they wouldn't even crucify their own citizens to be crucified. 00:06:29.460 --> 00:06:30.080 During Roman times. 00:06:30.640 --> 00:06:36.350 You weren't a citizen of Rome, and you had to have conducted the worst and most grievous of crimes. 00:06:38.260 --> 00:06:45.600 What took place upon the cross was considered so painful that even in our English word, the word excruciating literally means from 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:47.520 or out of the cross. 00:06:50.200 --> 00:06:53.700 Details of the crucifixion are disgusting. 00:06:55.260 --> 00:06:58.680 Victims usually died by asphyxiation as they hung on the cross. 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:04.340 They would literally suffocate themselves upon their rib cage in order to prolong their death. 00:07:04.340 --> 00:07:11.520 They would mount, sometimes mount, a seat upon the cross in which an individual could sit down and take a breather and rest without 00:07:11.520 --> 00:07:14.290 having to crush their lungs and become asphyxiated. 00:07:15.340 --> 00:07:18.030 Many times they to speed up their death. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:25.380 Men would fall off of that cross or off of that seat upon the cross, in order to hasten their death, in order to make 00:07:25.380 --> 00:07:32.420 sure the Roman citizens, in order to make sure those individuals would suffer as they hung their, would nail a certain part of the male anatomy upon 00:07:32.420 --> 00:07:34.780 the cross to keep them from sliding off of the seat. 00:07:36.300 --> 00:07:40.120 This was a very slow and painful way to die. 00:07:41.740 --> 00:07:48.940 This was an event that took place in the open when victims were usually crucified, they were done so at 00:07:48.940 --> 00:07:55.960 eye level, in which passersby could mock the individual who hung there, spit upon their face, yell obscenities, 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:57.650 and throw things at them. 00:07:58.880 --> 00:08:05.980 It was considered such a heinous act that women were rarely crucified, and if they were, Rome would turn their 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:11.680 backs to the audience and nail them face down upon the cross so people couldn't see their face. 00:08:14.320 --> 00:08:20.940 At one point, when Spartacus led a revolt against Rome, it tells us that over 6000 individuals were crucified that day. 00:08:21.700 --> 00:08:28.870 It was a line of people that hung on the cross that went for over 120 miles, people just hanging there. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:37.039 Could you imagine that on your drive to work one day, watching the suffering of over 6000 people 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:40.360 as they spanned across that roadway? 00:08:41.900 --> 00:08:42.789 People were often dehydrated. 00:08:43.460 --> 00:08:50.920 They were picked up by the birds under the cross where they where they were nailed, there would have been a pile of tears and of blood and 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:58.360 of sweat and of feces and urine that would have collected as the individual hung there for days upon the cross, waiting 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:00.810 for his death to come. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:06.570 And yet today the cross has become to many a fashion statement. 00:09:08.460 --> 00:09:13.580 Jesus's death, I think, was by far even worse than the typical death that you experience upon the cross. 00:09:14.780 --> 00:09:16.920 Before Jesus went to the cross, he was scourged. 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:24.660 They would take a cat O nine tails, and on the end of this tail would have been these metal balls and these giant hooks. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:28.670 And the purpose of the balls were to beat the flesh until it became tenderized. 00:09:28.800 --> 00:09:31.000 And the purpose of the hook was to rip open the flesh. 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:39.180 Sometimes when the individual would be struck by this cat o'nine tails, it would it would hit into the individual's side so hard that it would literally rip 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:43.080 out bones or organs as they pulled back to bring their next swing. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:46.700 Some people couldn't even survive the scourging that took place. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:55.560 The Bible tells us, in reference to Jesus, that as he was heading to the cross in Isaiah 52 and 14, just as many were astonished 00:09:55.560 --> 00:10:02.580 at you, my people, so his appearance was marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men, 00:10:04.940 --> 00:10:07.860 when it talks about Jesus hanging on a cross. 00:10:08.780 --> 00:10:14.360 Jesus's appearance was so destroyed that it was beyond the form of any man that had experienced it. 00:10:17.180 --> 00:10:18.090 Jesus was scourged. 00:10:18.280 --> 00:10:20.520 Jesus had a crown of thorns placed upon his head. 00:10:21.040 --> 00:10:27.880 Jesus carried a timber that could have weighed up to £100 to the place in which he was crucified upon his back. 00:10:29.380 --> 00:10:31.760 Oftentimes that timber was recycled timber. 00:10:31.760 --> 00:10:36.500 Many individuals could have been crucified through that very same timber that Jesus hung on. 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:43.500 It would have been blood stained, and it would have been very raw, piercing and putting splinters into the back of Christ, which was just whipped 00:10:43.500 --> 00:10:50.240 and beaten by the by the Roman guards upon arriving to the crucifixion site. 00:10:51.360 --> 00:10:58.400 Jesus would have been nailed to the most painful place on the human body, into the nervous system that's considered the most sensitive 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:00.560 on the body and is in his wrists and in his ankles. 00:11:01.860 --> 00:11:09.420 He was totally stripped was oftentimes a tradition that in order to mock the individual as much as possible, they would hang on the cross totally 00:11:09.420 --> 00:11:09.600 naked. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:15.460 I know many times we see Jesus covered up, and that wouldn't look good in church if we hung naked Jesus up. 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:23.740 But in shame towards that individual, they would dishonor them by stripping them and then dropping them into a hole. 00:11:25.380 --> 00:11:28.940 Jesus began to sweat, to bleed, and to suffer. 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:34.710 He stood there, hanging up on a cross as people began to mock him. 00:11:35.560 --> 00:11:37.080 You say that you are the Son of God. 00:11:37.140 --> 00:11:37.930 Then save yourselves. 00:11:38.180 --> 00:11:40.080 Come down from upon that cross. 00:11:41.400 --> 00:11:49.240 And yet, the entire time that Jesus proceeds to this persecution and this torture being marred beyond recognition, he never retaliates. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:56.060 Jesus makes seven statements from the cross, including statements like John, please love my mother. 00:11:57.060 --> 00:12:00.640 Father, please forgive them for their sins because they don't know what they're doing. 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:01.960 The thief. 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.320 Today you will be with me in Paradise. 00:12:05.540 --> 00:12:06.180 And it is finished. 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:11.660 Just one chapter later in Isaiah, in chapter 53 and verse three. 00:12:12.400 --> 00:12:18.800 It tells us he was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. 00:12:18.860 --> 00:12:23.420 And like one from whom men hide their face, he was despised, and we did not esteem him. 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:28.900 Surely our griefs he himself bore, and our sorrows he carried. 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:35.560 Yet we ourselves esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:44.520 As Jesus hung upon the cross to make sure that Jesus died, he was run through by a spear into his side. 00:12:45.780 --> 00:12:48.660 The Bible tells us in First Corinthians chapter one. 00:12:49.780 --> 00:12:56.800 The reason the church has picked the cross as an emblem for their victory in God is that it tells us in verse 18, for the 00:12:56.800 --> 00:13:03.940 word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power 00:13:03.940 --> 00:13:05.960 of God. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:06.940 Here's why. 00:13:08.560 --> 00:13:15.660 When you look throughout texts of Scripture, as we've seen the Old Testament, Jesus has been prophesied his coming and his purpose declared to us as people that 00:13:15.660 --> 00:13:21.440 once again, as in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve experienced a holistic, beautiful relationship with God. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:23.160 And when sin entered, it was destroyed. 00:13:24.680 --> 00:13:29.710 But Jesus and loving his created beings still desires that relationship. 00:13:30.360 --> 00:13:37.360 And so Jesus gave us the promise of his coming, and to us it becomes an emblem of victory because of what Jesus has 00:13:37.360 --> 00:13:38.180 done for us. 00:13:38.920 --> 00:13:46.500 Notice as I read these verses, just one little three letter word for why is the cross so important to 00:13:46.500 --> 00:13:47.260 the church? 00:13:47.260 --> 00:13:52.140 It has to do with the word for in Isaiah 53 and five. 00:13:52.140 --> 00:13:57.780 But he was pierced through for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities. 00:13:58.160 --> 00:14:03.450 He was delivered over to death for our sins, and was raised to life for our justification. 00:14:04.160 --> 00:14:07.160 While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 00:14:08.540 --> 00:14:13.920 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:23.100 In John two two, he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins also, but 00:14:23.100 --> 00:14:25.220 for the sins of the whole world. 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:28.760 Why do we talk about the cross? 00:14:29.800 --> 00:14:30.940 Why did Jesus die? 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:33.400 Why is it called good news? 00:14:33.520 --> 00:14:40.380 What is so good about a gospel that leads to someone's death of such despicable suffering that no man has ever experienced. 00:14:42.380 --> 00:14:43.040 It was for us. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:49.900 The mark of the cross is a victory to the church. 00:14:51.640 --> 00:14:58.800 I find it interesting that today Jesus died for our sins, and yet people still try to earn their way into God's favor 00:14:58.800 --> 00:15:03.580 and earn their way into heaven when Jesus has already paid it all. 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:10.200 If Jesus's death was not necessary, then why did Jesus come to die? 00:15:11.760 --> 00:15:14.620 Throughout the Bible, it was prophesied that Christ would die. 00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:21.960 Israel celebrated the Passover of the lamb, the sacrificing of an innocent lamb as the foreshadowing of Christ, who would come and be that sacrifice 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:22.700 for them. 00:15:23.400 --> 00:15:30.600 On the Day of Atonement, Israel would make blood atonement upon the altar before God on behalf of their sins, to enjoy the relationship with 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:30.800 him. 00:15:31.110 --> 00:15:34.520 Reflecting on the fact that one day a messiah would come and die for their sins. 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.970 This cross should inspire for us worship. 00:15:39.960 --> 00:15:47.160 It should take a calloused heart and recognizing God's love for us, and respond in all of what God has done 00:15:47.160 --> 00:15:47.970 for us. 00:15:49.260 --> 00:15:52.170 The cross is our victory symbol. 00:15:53.220 --> 00:16:00.540 The reflection for us today are the thought maybe for us to carry is that when we leave here, go out to the store and buy the biggest honkin cross on 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:07.980 clearance that you can find, carry it around and let people know this is a symbol of victory 00:16:07.980 --> 00:16:08.830 for us. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:12.180 Jesus did this for us. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.320 As a church, we've studied throughout the entire Bible. 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:20.980 God declaring to us that he would come, that he would die for us, and to us it is a symbol of victory. 00:16:21.900 --> 00:16:22.450 To an outsider. 00:16:22.760 --> 00:16:30.120 He sees such suffering and despicable despair that took place upon this cross, but they cannot recognize that it was for our 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:32.400 sake that Jesus did it. 00:16:33.300 --> 00:16:36.740 Jesus did this for us. 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:44.900 God took such a despicable moment of horrendous despair and turned it into such a glorious promise to 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:46.860 those who trust in him. 00:16:48.740 --> 00:16:55.860 You know, when I look at my own life and I consider what Jesus went through, no matter how difficult a moment I find myself experiencing, 00:16:56.160 --> 00:17:03.420 I can look at the cross and say, If God can turn this in for his glory, God can intervene in my moment and help me out too. 00:17:05.800 --> 00:17:14.700 The cross is a reminder to us no matter how bad any moment gets, 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:14.720 God's glory can always shine through. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.880 The death on the cross is important, but you know what? 00:17:16.300 --> 00:17:21.060 It's just as important or more important as the resurrection of Jesus. 00:17:21.760 --> 00:17:23.430 What's the big deal about the resurrection? 00:17:24.700 --> 00:17:32.120 I would say the resurrection of Christ is the most important event in all of Christianity Because apart from the resurrection of Jesus, 00:17:32.260 --> 00:17:33.140 there is no Christianity. 00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:37.690 All of Christianity is based on his resurrection. 00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:41.240 You might say, wait a minute, didn't Jesus teach us some things? 00:17:41.300 --> 00:17:43.970 Didn't Jesus tell us some things that we're supposed to do in your life? 00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:49.460 And I would say, yes, Jesus taught some things to do, but apart from the resurrection of Jesus, none of that would be important. 00:17:50.780 --> 00:17:58.100 Jesus's resurrection proves to us that God can give us life, that God can bring to us eternal hope that Jesus overcame 00:17:58.100 --> 00:18:00.500 death, he overcame sin, he overcame Satan. 00:18:00.560 --> 00:18:02.640 He overcame the grave to bring you life. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.800 And in fact, it tells us in the Bible in first Corinthians 15. 00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:09.990 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain. 00:18:10.020 --> 00:18:11.280 Your faith also is in vain. 00:18:11.280 --> 00:18:13.760 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless. 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:16.350 You are still in your sins. 00:18:17.980 --> 00:18:23.760 Doesn't matter how moral Jesus taught us to be, because morality isn't what saves. 00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:24.640 Jesus does. 00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:29.240 And without the resurrection of Christ proving to us that he overcame the grave. 00:18:29.760 --> 00:18:31.040 There is no importance in Christianity. 00:18:31.040 --> 00:18:32.540 There is no Christianity. 00:18:34.400 --> 00:18:36.720 So how do we know that Jesus was resurrected? 00:18:39.180 --> 00:18:39.960 Did he really die? 00:18:41.520 --> 00:18:48.600 You know, there's a lot of groups Christian Science, Islam, Jehovah's 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:54.150 Witness that don't teach a literal physical resurrection of Jesus. 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:57.140 Some just say Jesus faked it. 00:18:57.860 --> 00:18:59.340 Yes, Jesus was scourged. 00:19:00.380 --> 00:19:02.800 Jesus went to a cross that was intended to kill people. 00:19:03.580 --> 00:19:06.570 Jesus was executed by a professional executioner. 00:19:07.060 --> 00:19:10.300 Then, to make sure that Jesus was dead, he was run through by a spear. 00:19:10.540 --> 00:19:12.140 Then Jesus was locked in a tomb. 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:14.840 Jesus was sealed in this tomb by Roman guards. 00:19:15.080 --> 00:19:19.240 If the Roman guards fell asleep during the time that they were guarding the tomb, they would forfeit their lives. 00:19:19.620 --> 00:19:20.360 If anyone attempted to. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:22.320 To break the seal, they were forfeit. 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.980 They would forfeit their lives. 00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:31.600 Jesus was wrapped in over £100 of mummification blankets and spices as he was placed into the tomb, 00:19:31.620 --> 00:19:34.180 and somehow Jesus faked it. 00:19:34.380 --> 00:19:36.000 Jesus unwrapped himself in this tomb. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:41.720 Jesus pushed this enormous rock out of the way three days, laying there with no medical attention and no heart because it was pierced. 00:19:42.520 --> 00:19:45.800 Jesus faked it. 00:19:46.380 --> 00:19:47.740 I think that happened at all. 00:19:50.060 --> 00:19:51.060 Jesus died. 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:59.820 As a matter of fact, the professional executioner that would have overseen Jesus hanging on the cross confirmed that Jesus was dead 00:19:59.820 --> 00:20:01.470 before they pierced his side. 00:20:02.020 --> 00:20:04.780 And then he went through and pierced Jesus's side, piercing his heart. 00:20:05.020 --> 00:20:09.270 And the way that we know that he pierced his heart, because the scriptures tell us that blood and water flowed. 00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:17.480 Anytime your heart experiences a tremendous amount of pressure, it feel around it, there's a protective sac of water that would fill up. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:24.340 They say that Jesus, when he was hanging on the cross, didn't die from asphyxiation or not being able to breathe. 00:20:24.340 --> 00:20:26.890 What really killed Jesus was a broken heart. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:35.380 That the amount of sin and the weight of sin that was carried upon his shoulders as he hung on the cross, caused so much pressure and intensity in his life that sack 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:40.940 that was intended to protect his heart because his body had lost so much blood, ended up literally crushing his heart. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:42.720 And Jesus died of a broken heart. 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:52.500 If Jesus had come off that cross, and that professional executioner hadn't confirmed that Jesus had really died, and it was found out later 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:59.440 that Jesus was still living, that executioner would have been executed for having a false claim on Christ. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:07.260 But not only that, being thrown into a tomb without any medical attention being wrapped in £100 of blankets. 00:21:08.320 --> 00:21:09.540 That's not enough to kill you. 00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.380 Jesus died. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:18.640 We know that Jesus died because every form of torture that was placed upon Christ was intended to kill Christ. 00:21:20.520 --> 00:21:25.430 Secondly, we know that Jesus died because of the claims of those who followed Christ. 00:21:27.040 --> 00:21:34.040 You think about the individuals who pursued Jesus after his resurrection, tells us in the Bible that 00:21:34.040 --> 00:21:41.260 Paul was a persecutor of the church, and yet Paul the Jew of Jews, the Hebrew of Hebrews, the Pharisee of Pharisees, 00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:45.960 the very top of his people, left everything behind to follow after Christ. 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:50.640 After Jesus's crucifixion, many of the disciples forsook him. 00:21:51.940 --> 00:21:54.350 Peter, if you remember, Jesus told him before he was crucified. 00:21:54.560 --> 00:21:58.200 Listen, Peter, before the rooster crows, you're going to deny me three times this night. 00:21:59.280 --> 00:22:04.540 And it tells us that Peter's outside around a fire, listening to the things that are happening to Jesus as he's put on trial. 00:22:04.780 --> 00:22:08.550 And a little school girl comes to Peter and says, aren't you one of his disciples? 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:15.680 And Peter denies Jesus because of a little schoolgirl doubting Thomas says, no way am I going to believe that Jesus has 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:19.760 overcome the grave until I put my fingers into his hands and into his side. 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:29.800 The Bible tells us in first Corinthians 15 that 500 people saw the resurrected Christ at one time, 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:31.580 500 at one time. 00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:35.460 That's not to mention the rest who saw the resurrected Jesus at the time Scripture was written? 00:22:35.980 --> 00:22:39.400 If you wanted to know Jesus was resurrected, you could read First Corinthians and see. 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:46.980 Paul says, 500 people saw this, and you could go find the 500 people and confirm that they had seen the resurrected Jesus out 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:52.320 of the disciples that Jesus had, ten of them died a martyr's death because of their faith. 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:55.960 The only one who didn't die a martyr's death was John. 00:22:57.020 --> 00:23:03.880 John was boiled alive in a pot of boiling water and somehow managed to live, and then was exiled to the island of Patmos. 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:08.870 Their claim was that they saw the resurrected Christ. 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:13.840 I don't know about you, but when I tend to lie, it is to my benefit. 00:23:16.280 --> 00:23:18.720 When I think about stretching the truth a little bit, I have. 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:22.060 For those of you who don't know, I've caught fish up to eight feet long. 00:23:22.100 --> 00:23:22.860 Right? 00:23:23.540 --> 00:23:26.700 If I weren't here today, I would be a male model somewhere, right? 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:28.640 We tell ourselves that's not true. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:29.100 I wouldn't do that. 00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:31.480 Not that male models are bad. 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:35.340 Any male models are here if you're looking for someone to hire. 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:35.840 I'm just kidding. 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:36.700 I'm just kidding. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:42.540 But when we stretch the truth, the reason that we stretch the truth is to our benefit. 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:45.540 You think about these individuals who are following after Jesus. 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.620 What did they gain by making this claim? 00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:56.120 They died horrendous deaths, much similar to Jesus's, and yet they remained loyal to 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:57.070 him. 00:23:58.020 --> 00:23:58.670 Any of you have siblings? 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:05.260 You think of what it would take for one of your siblings to worship you. 00:24:06.770 --> 00:24:08.290 Let's think about this for a minute. 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.980 I'm pretty sure my sister is a no on that. 00:24:12.120 --> 00:24:19.380 I have given her too many torturous moments in her life, but what would it take for your sibling to 00:24:19.380 --> 00:24:19.660 worship. 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:22.860 You can imagine Jesus. 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:25.000 Did you know Jesus had siblings? 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:28.140 Jesus had sisters and brothers. 00:24:29.380 --> 00:24:35.020 The Bible tells us, as a matter of fact, that his brothers refused to worship him as God. 00:24:35.800 --> 00:24:42.140 To those of you who have siblings, you might relate to that perfect Jesus. 00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:46.520 You bring your bees home and you're so happy about your report card and Jesus has a-pluses. 00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:51.020 It tells us in chapter seven, verse three. 00:24:51.060 --> 00:24:56.900 Therefore his brothers said to him, leave here and go into Judea, so that your disciples also may see your works which you are doing. 00:24:57.440 --> 00:25:01.040 For no one does anything in secret when he himself seeks to be known publicly. 00:25:01.420 --> 00:25:08.650 If you do these things, show yourself to the world and look in verse five, for not even his brothers were believing in him. 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:13.880 His brothers refused to follow after him. 00:25:14.740 --> 00:25:17.360 But, right after Jesus's death and resurrection. 00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:23.650 It tells us in acts 114, the early church had gathered together and they went into the upper room and prayed. 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:32.180 It says, these all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women and Mary, the mother of 00:25:32.280 --> 00:25:34.220 Jesus and with his brothers. 00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:43.840 Something between John chapter seven and acts chapter one caused the brothers of Jesus to change their hearts and follow 00:25:43.840 --> 00:25:45.000 after him. 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:49.270 The thought is, what could that have been? 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.920 I think the response is very plain. 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.800 They saw Jesus. 00:25:55.800 --> 00:25:59.000 Mary was there as Jesus hung on the cross and died. 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:03.260 And then Jesus, after his resurrection, began to appear. 00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:08.660 And now his brothers begin to worship Jesus as God. 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:16.440 When you look at the early church, they begin to celebrate communion and baptism, symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. 00:26:17.940 --> 00:26:25.360 These weren't the kind of people that lied, people who lived in poverty, who cared for the widows and orphans. 00:26:25.580 --> 00:26:26.980 They weren't about lying. 00:26:28.580 --> 00:26:29.360 They were about truth. 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:36.300 They began to worship Jesus as God in a monotheistic society that only worshiped one God. 00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:45.320 They gathered on Sunday to worship God in the Jewish tradition was upon Saturday, but they began gathering worshiping God on 00:26:45.320 --> 00:26:49.120 Sunday because Jesus resurrected on a Sunday. 00:26:50.380 --> 00:26:55.680 The tomb in which Jesus was buried wasn't enshrined until much later on in history. 00:26:55.720 --> 00:27:01.610 In fact, some people are even unsure of whether or not the tomb that they gather at today is even the right tomb in which Jesus was crucified in. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:06.880 You can go to every tomb of every major religious leader in the world and honor them. 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:09.460 But Jesus's tomb, they didn't go to worship there. 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:09.890 You know why? 00:27:10.780 --> 00:27:12.540 Because Jesus wasn't there. 00:27:13.600 --> 00:27:19.820 The Bible tells us in Matthew chapter 28, when Jesus ascended into heaven, he says, lo, I am with you always. 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:27.000 And rather than go to the tomb and worship the church, begin to gather together, worshiping and praising God's name, because God's presence is promised to be 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.920 among us. 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:32.600 Christianity comes like fire. 00:27:32.740 --> 00:27:33.980 We saw quotes last week. 00:27:34.020 --> 00:27:41.260 It didn't even take 20 years after the time of Jesus, before the news of his death, burial and resurrection went from Jerusalem all the way to Rome, 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.060 proclaiming the name of Christ. 00:27:44.700 --> 00:27:46.760 And why stop at the resurrection of Jesus? 00:27:46.900 --> 00:27:49.740 Why can we not believe in a physical resurrection of Christ? 00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:52.520 Jesus's prophecies to this point foretold everything that had happened. 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:54.620 Jesus would come and he came. 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:58.390 Jesus would live in a certain way, and he fulfilled all the prophecies of the way in which he would live. 00:27:58.780 --> 00:27:59.410 Born in Bethlehem. 00:27:59.600 --> 00:28:02.040 Sold for 30 pieces of silver, crucified on the cross. 00:28:02.060 --> 00:28:04.000 And it tells us in prophecy that Jesus would die. 00:28:04.280 --> 00:28:07.270 And it also tells us in prophecy that Jesus would be resurrected. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.260 Jesus fulfilled it all. 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:15.120 So what does the resurrection prove for us as people? 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:20.820 What does the resurrection say to us as a church family? 00:28:20.900 --> 00:28:24.400 Paul wrote it a few different ways in Scripture, and I want to just look at a couple. 00:28:26.040 --> 00:28:33.060 Romans 116 when he considered going into this world and proclaiming the name of Christ, all of Romans is about the saving work of 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.180 Christ on our behalf. 00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:39.420 And he begins with this thesis statement of everything that the book of Romans is going to be about. 00:28:39.440 --> 00:28:41.420 He says, listen, for I am not ashamed. 00:28:42.580 --> 00:28:47.620 There's one thing to feel shame from people who mock you and make fun of you. 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:51.180 But he's saying to us, there is no reason to be ashamed when it comes to Jesus. 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:58.880 And this is why he's not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. 00:29:01.060 --> 00:29:05.240 There is hope in this promise because there is a resurrected Christ. 00:29:06.820 --> 00:29:12.060 First Corinthians 15 it says, but now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:16.580 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:22.880 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:25.760 God saves. 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:36.220 This morning, this message is just simply all about everything that Jesus has done for us to 00:29:36.280 --> 00:29:41.290 think about that this morning, I'm going to invite the guys that are passing out the communion just to go ahead and come forward. 00:29:43.220 --> 00:29:43.460 Who's. 00:29:46.190 --> 00:29:53.420 As I hand this out to us, let me ask the question, why is the death and resurrection 00:29:53.420 --> 00:29:57.080 of Jesus so important? 00:29:59.040 --> 00:30:00.990 Some of us believe we have to punish ourselves. 00:30:01.180 --> 00:30:02.030 You guys can go ahead. 00:30:02.560 --> 00:30:06.960 We have to punish ourselves when we sin and we need to know it is unnecessary. 00:30:09.040 --> 00:30:11.850 God wants to forgive our past and give us a better future. 00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:17.400 Some of us are trying to earn God's favor, not realizing we have it available to us through Christ. 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:24.000 Some of us don't see the importance of Jesus's death because we don't understand the importance of eternal life. 00:30:25.580 --> 00:30:29.920 Some of us think we're unworthy to come before God, not realizing that Jesus can make us worthy. 00:30:31.580 --> 00:30:37.800 Some of us have heard of the word salvation, but have no idea that salvation means rescued from sin, Satan, and death. 00:30:38.020 --> 00:30:41.660 And so our decision over what we choose to do with Jesus is eternally important. 00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:47.880 Some of us don't understand the magnitude of God's love displayed to us on the cross. 00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:54.710 You need to know that Jesus, by his death, wants to cleanse your soul and make you a new person and give you a new heart. 00:30:56.120 --> 00:31:00.080 Some of us have a hard time seeing how God can work bad situations out for his good. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:03.980 Until we look at the disgusting cross and see the glory of God. 00:31:06.760 --> 00:31:09.100 We see how God can heal through a despicable cross. 00:31:09.280 --> 00:31:12.550 We can see how God can heal through our tough situation too. 00:31:14.660 --> 00:31:18.800 Some of us need to be reminded that there is greater hope to come in Christ. 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:24.490 Some of us need to know that God cares even when we feel like no one else does. 00:31:26.360 --> 00:31:29.920 Some of us need to know that apart from Jesus, we are under God's wrath. 00:31:30.060 --> 00:31:32.780 Yet Jesus makes a way for us to be rescued. 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:41.250 Some of us need to know that when Jesus died for you should embrace that for the first time in your life. 00:31:41.520 --> 00:31:44.720 Connect to God in a relationship with him. 00:31:47.760 --> 00:31:50.080 Let me just share with you the significance of today. 00:31:52.940 --> 00:32:00.300 There are a lot of things that we could address in our lives to just be more like Christ, but there's nothing better 00:32:00.300 --> 00:32:02.620 that could happen in our lives than to know Christ. 00:32:05.080 --> 00:32:07.540 God heals everything that we could ever want. 00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:11.190 God's given us a greater love than we could ever experience. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:15.460 Jesus did this for you. 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:25.100 Bible tells us first Corinthians 1123 for I received from the Lord that which also I delivered to 00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:31.120 you, that the Lord Jesus, in the night that he was betrayed, took bread, and he gave thanks. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:34.080 Let's pray. 00:32:34.180 --> 00:32:39.420 God, we just thank you this morning that we could stop in everything and just in our hearts and our lives. 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:43.060 Acknowledge your significance and importance. 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:48.820 God help us just to commit to just placing you where you should be in our lives. 00:32:49.260 --> 00:32:50.300 And thank you for dying for us. 00:32:51.600 --> 00:32:54.160 In Jesus name, Amen. 00:32:54.340 --> 00:32:58.180 When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, this is my body, which is for you. 00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:00.980 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:33:06.140 --> 00:33:12.860 In the same way he took the cup also after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:33:13.940 --> 00:33:18.980 Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. 00:33:24.870 --> 00:33:32.320 I think if we really saw ourselves as Jesus, saw us the future that he gives us, the love that we can experience 00:33:32.320 --> 00:33:35.570 through him, we would never have to feel alone. 00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:40.060 We'd never have to value or struggle with our value or self esteem. 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:49.120 We'd never live life for a vain purpose, but we'd live every day with hope and joy and 00:33:49.120 --> 00:33:50.600 peace through him. 00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:59.040 Paul said this in Galatians chapter six and verse 14, far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of 00:33:59.060 --> 00:34:05.300 our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 00:34:06.860 --> 00:34:10.840 In verse 15 it says, he has made you a new creation. 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:20.460 And this morning all we talk about is Jesus, because we know in Christ God 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:26.050 has made us completely new in him, and that is something for us to celebrate. 00:34:26.989 --> 00:34:28.900 So the goal for you this morning, I'm doing this. 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:35.260 This week I'm going to go buy the biggest cross that they sell at that little nice store up the road. 00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:42.580 And I'm not going to be ashamed of Jesus because of what he's done for me or to you.