WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:02.020 Well, good morning church family. 00:00:02.100 --> 00:00:07.520 We are so happy to be celebrating what this day means for us, for the church. 00:00:07.520 --> 00:00:10.120 Easter is the day that changes everything. 00:00:10.120 --> 00:00:14.560 The resurrection of Jesus is that day that changes every day. 00:00:14.560 --> 00:00:16.520 And so this morning we're going to celebrate that. 00:00:16.580 --> 00:00:17.420 Here's what I want you to do. 00:00:17.700 --> 00:00:21.120 We're going to be in the book of 1 Peter, so if you want to go to 1 Peter, you can find that. 00:00:21.360 --> 00:00:28.420 Also, I want to invite you if you've got some grape juice or some crackers, tortilla shells or just some bread to 00:00:28.560 --> 00:00:36.330 grab that because at the end of this message today, we're going to partake of communion together in celebration of what this represents for God's people. 00:00:36.440 --> 00:00:42.300 And so just take a moment and gather that if you would like and I get ready because here at the end we're going to do that together. 00:00:42.920 --> 00:00:50.200 But we want to talk about what this event is for us that took place in history because this becomes the pillar of 00:00:50.300 --> 00:00:52.940 everything that Christianity stands upon. 00:00:53.180 --> 00:00:58.260 If you want to build a healthy structure, you need a healthy foundation. 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.580 And the bigger the building, the more significant the foundation. 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:05.319 And the foundation of Christianity is rooted in a fact. 00:01:05.720 --> 00:01:09.220 It's rooted in an event and that being the resurrection of Jesus. 00:01:09.280 --> 00:01:16.420 In fact, the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:17 that if the resurrection did not happen, we're to be 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:18.620 pitied out of all people. 00:01:19.180 --> 00:01:22.560 And Christianity stands on this event. 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:25.260 If it didn't happen, ignore it. 00:01:25.260 --> 00:01:28.160 But if it did happen, embrace it. 00:01:28.380 --> 00:01:31.540 Jesus really gives us two choices when it comes to him. 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:36.140 It's either crown him or kill him, and there's nothing in between. 00:01:36.140 --> 00:01:37.860 Jesus didn't leave us room for that. 00:01:37.860 --> 00:01:39.620 He declared himself as God. 00:01:39.680 --> 00:01:46.780 He introduced himself in the triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the week in which he was to be crucified as King of 00:01:46.780 --> 00:01:47.180 Kings. 00:01:47.820 --> 00:01:50.700 And Jesus went to the cross for our sins. 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:57.760 And so today I want us to see how the resurrection of Jesus shapes us and it sustains us 00:01:58.200 --> 00:02:00.640 through all the obstacles life can bring. 00:02:01.960 --> 00:02:09.240 It shapes us in such a way that we simply don't just endure the hardship that we go through, but rather God gives us the opportunity 00:02:09.240 --> 00:02:11.660 through the resurrection to overcome. 00:02:12.260 --> 00:02:19.360 And so when you think about the importance of what Jesus did for us, he's teaching us more than just how to take 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:20.190 a punch. 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:25.400 Jesus is showing us how to celebrate in victory because he has triumphed over everything. 00:02:25.880 --> 00:02:28.040 This day is a game changer. 00:02:28.040 --> 00:02:31.180 This is the day that changes everything for us. 00:02:31.420 --> 00:02:37.490 And this is exactly what Peter begins with in his letter that he writes in the book of 1 Peter. 00:02:37.760 --> 00:02:42.090 In 1 Peter 1, Peter is writing to a persecuted church. 00:02:42.500 --> 00:02:48.990 And he wants them to see how in this persecution that God is giving them something that changes everything. 00:02:50.140 --> 00:02:57.400 Just like Peter in the first century writing to this church, when we go through hardship, it brings us to a place 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:00.680 where we sometimes go into panic mode. 00:03:00.940 --> 00:03:04.320 Where we try to reorient the circumstances around us. 00:03:04.660 --> 00:03:11.740 It was the great theologian Mike Tyson that once said, "Everyone's got a game plan until you get punched in the face." 00:03:11.740 --> 00:03:14.480 And from then on out, who knows what happens. 00:03:14.540 --> 00:03:18.470 But for us, it's the resurrection of Christ that shapes everything. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:24.500 And that perspective from the resurrection that helps us to align all things in light of who he is. 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:33.000 Trials bring us to a place that when our world gets rocked, and storms start to blow, a solid 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:34.980 foundation becomes important. 00:03:37.480 --> 00:03:39.200 Where is your structure? 00:03:42.280 --> 00:03:43.960 What have you built yourself upon? 00:03:45.940 --> 00:03:53.000 When we face adversity, the tendency is in our lives to reorient ourselves to what 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:54.560 we know endures. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:57.760 To go back to square one. 00:03:59.680 --> 00:04:07.300 When we faced hardship, I think it's important for us to recognize as people what should orient us is not feeling, 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:09.060 but fact. 00:04:10.780 --> 00:04:15.300 When we start with feeling, it's important to recognize feelings come and go and we go through all sorts of seasons of life. 00:04:15.360 --> 00:04:21.459 And if you base your life on feeling, you're going to go through all sorts of transitions because you'll have nothing that sustains you. 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:22.740 Because feelings are always changing. 00:04:25.460 --> 00:04:32.720 But when you are rooted in fact, and you establish your convictions on those facts, regardless of 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:38.820 what happens around you, there is something that sustains, something that endures. 00:04:38.900 --> 00:04:44.940 And this is where Peter drives the early church in 1 Peter, in the midst of the hardship they face. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:52.620 Peter wants to encourage them to see how this day changes everything for us. 00:04:53.840 --> 00:04:59.280 And so he reminds us in 1 Peter 1:3-7. 00:04:59.880 --> 00:05:06.160 He carries these two ideas, and you're going to see this in verse three, we'll read in just a moment, into verse seven. 00:05:06.160 --> 00:05:10.980 But his encouragement for us is to be refined by the resurrection. 00:05:13.340 --> 00:05:15.300 Be refined by the resurrection. 00:05:15.320 --> 00:05:22.840 Look, I think it's important in life that all of us find something that defines us and that something needs to sustain 00:05:22.840 --> 00:05:23.460 us. 00:05:24.700 --> 00:05:30.860 When we go through hardship in life, we need to orient ourselves to what defines us. 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:35.520 But when you're a follower of Jesus, you no longer have to answer the question of what defines us. 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:40.400 Because that definition is found in Jesus, in the centrality of the resurrection that demonstrates all things in him. 00:05:42.320 --> 00:05:49.640 It's no longer about being defined, though it is important to define who you are, in 00:05:49.640 --> 00:05:50.400 light of who he is. 00:05:52.380 --> 00:05:56.760 But rather as a follower of Jesus, we no longer look for that definition. 00:05:57.020 --> 00:05:58.880 Because the definition of who we are is centered in him. 00:06:00.620 --> 00:06:05.680 And so rather than be defined, we are refined in Jesus. 00:06:07.260 --> 00:06:14.340 And Peter in this story through the resurrection isn't just teaching us how to take a punch, but rather he showing 00:06:14.340 --> 00:06:16.860 us what is the knockout punch. 00:06:17.060 --> 00:06:24.100 That Jesus didn't just get crucified, but Jesus also hit back and he conquered sin, Satan and death. 00:06:24.400 --> 00:06:27.020 And we live in that victory through him. 00:06:27.280 --> 00:06:34.520 And so with this, we are no longer defined by the circumstance of the world or the emotions that we experienced, but our identity is rooted in a fact. 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:40.290 And that fact is in the resurrection of Jesus because he lives, he now promises that we can live too. 00:06:40.580 --> 00:06:42.980 And this shapes how we see the world around us. 00:06:43.140 --> 00:06:45.960 This is our victory and this is our anthem. 00:06:46.300 --> 00:06:50.050 If no one else could get excited about today, let it be God's people. 00:06:50.780 --> 00:06:57.260 Because the resurrection defines who we are and then it continues to refine us in the circumstances of life. 00:06:58.620 --> 00:07:05.860 And in verse three to seven the question is what determines how you respond to the trials that you go through? 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:09.270 And Peter's answer be refined by the resurrection. 00:07:09.400 --> 00:07:16.500 Look in verse three says this, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:23.600 mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the 00:07:23.600 --> 00:07:23.980 dead. 00:07:25.320 --> 00:07:32.280 What Peter is saying to us is, look, the thing that you've found your hope in, continue to find your hope in because this is a living hope. 00:07:32.280 --> 00:07:36.820 He points to us that what brings us hope is the resurrection of Jesus. 00:07:37.980 --> 00:07:45.320 And in verse four, as he explains this resurrection, he goes a little further and he says this, to obtain an inheritance which 00:07:45.320 --> 00:07:52.140 is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:56.560 The promise that you have in Jesus isn't going anywhere, he says. 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:58.360 It never fades. 00:07:58.520 --> 00:08:04.240 Some of you even know over the last couple of weeks when winter ends and spring begins, what do you have to do? 00:08:04.240 --> 00:08:07.980 Well, you've got to go outside and get rid of everything that the seasons destroyed. 00:08:09.660 --> 00:08:10.760 The things that have faded. 00:08:12.700 --> 00:08:17.880 But in Jesus, the thing that you carry in him never fades. 00:08:19.900 --> 00:08:27.180 And so Peter wants God's people to cling to what they know is true and cling to the hope that they have in 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:28.460 it because it never fades. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:35.500 In verse five, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in 00:08:35.500 --> 00:08:36.260 the last day. 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.940 He's saying, God holds it. 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:45.160 In the adversity, remember, the destination is worth it. 00:08:46.940 --> 00:08:54.460 And so in verse six he goes on, in this, you greatly rejoice even though now for a little while it 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:59.180 is necessary you have been distressed by various trials. 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:02.760 Yes, he's saying, you go through hard things. 00:09:04.680 --> 00:09:07.260 We all experience difficult seasons of life. 00:09:08.800 --> 00:09:12.360 But trials can't take away what you possess in Jesus. 00:09:14.340 --> 00:09:23.280 And so it's with that thought, he gives this statement in verse seven he says, so the proof of your faith 00:09:23.280 --> 00:09:30.280 being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire may 00:09:30.280 --> 00:09:35.900 be found to the result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus. 00:09:38.420 --> 00:09:38.850 What's he saying? 00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:48.100 He's saying when you walk in this resurrection through adversity, it's testing the 00:09:48.140 --> 00:09:51.720 validation of this resurrection as though tested by fire. 00:09:53.040 --> 00:09:55.180 This is the idea of refinement. 00:09:57.160 --> 00:10:03.300 That circumstances don't define you, but rather Jesus does. 00:10:05.160 --> 00:10:12.180 And when you cling to the truth of the resurrection of Christ above any pressure that the world might throw 00:10:12.180 --> 00:10:13.280 at you. 00:10:13.900 --> 00:10:18.080 Any circumstance, any emotion that wells up within you. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:25.120 What he's demonstrating here is that this foundation continues to be refined in you. 00:10:27.260 --> 00:10:34.420 You show over and over again the consistency of what this truth is that sustains you 00:10:35.680 --> 00:10:37.280 and gives you your identity. 00:10:38.980 --> 00:10:39.820 It's Jesus. 00:10:41.800 --> 00:10:43.780 And this can never be taken from you. 00:10:45.740 --> 00:10:46.780 This is your victory. 00:10:48.640 --> 00:10:54.280 The declaration in your life of all that you have in Christ because here's what happens in the world. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:56.480 It fades away. 00:10:58.380 --> 00:11:00.240 We need something that endures. 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:06.300 And Jesus who has overcome death now promises us life in him. 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:14.980 And you know the question that we could ask when we look at this passage, this is all the things that we have through the resurrection that Paul's identifying for 00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:15.120 us. 00:11:15.140 --> 00:11:22.300 He wants us to remind us when our world is rocked, we have to reorient ourselves and let ourselves be refined 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:24.220 to what gives us identity. 00:11:25.340 --> 00:11:26.390 And it's not in feeling. 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:27.580 It should be rooted in fact. 00:11:27.580 --> 00:11:29.880 Because it's rooted in feeling, it's going to change. 00:11:30.020 --> 00:11:32.520 We're going to look for something constantly to define who we are. 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:36.880 But rather when that definition has already been declared in Jesus, we're refined in him. 00:11:38.180 --> 00:11:42.220 And when we go through hard things, we need reminded of those things in circumstances. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:49.360 In fact, I would even say for us, it's important before the adversity even comes to determine in our minds what defines who I am as 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:50.080 a human being. 00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:54.540 What will I make my life about? 00:11:56.220 --> 00:12:02.500 What will prove in the midst of adversity, where I consistently look for my identity? 00:12:03.760 --> 00:12:10.860 Paul is saying to this church going through persecution, before they even begin to endure persecution, let yourself be shaped here and 00:12:10.860 --> 00:12:16.760 it will consistently be refined over and over again in your life to show the goodness of who Jesus is. 00:12:16.960 --> 00:12:19.320 And so here comes the question then, how do we know? 00:12:22.360 --> 00:12:25.870 How do we know that our life can be really rooted here? 00:12:26.260 --> 00:12:30.300 And Peter gives an interesting statement in verse eight, let me just read it. 00:12:30.300 --> 00:12:34.600 Verse eight and nine he says this, and though you have not seen him, you love him. 00:12:34.600 --> 00:12:42.080 And though you did not see him now, but believe in him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:45.640 obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 00:12:46.600 --> 00:12:51.520 Now I'm going to be honest and just say his statement in verse eight to me is awkward. 00:12:53.020 --> 00:12:59.920 Though you don't see it and though you don't have it right now, yet you walk in faith. 00:13:01.500 --> 00:13:07.900 It is what Peter's telling us to do with the resurrection is just to be foolish and blind and just simply believe. 00:13:10.520 --> 00:13:11.240 Is that what he's saying? 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:16.320 I don't believe that's what Peter's telling us in this passage. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.260 But let me just encourage you. 00:13:19.300 --> 00:13:26.340 If you look at a verse like that and you think that this is what it's saying, that Peter's just simply saying, okay guys, be ignorant and just have faith. 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:30.520 Just believe me that it's true and you believe it's true and just ignorantly walk forward in that. 00:13:30.900 --> 00:13:37.580 Let me just say if your heart does not resonate with that verse because you think that this what this verse is saying, I love the skeptic. 00:13:40.520 --> 00:13:46.660 I love those that are willing to just pause at a statement like that and just ponder over what Peter could be saying here. 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:50.840 Because if you're not questioning, you're not really seeking. 00:13:53.140 --> 00:13:55.720 I think God creates us with a mind. 00:13:56.860 --> 00:14:03.980 And those that think question, and Jesus encouraged us with our minds to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:05.580 all your soul, with all your mind. 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:07.540 God created you to be a thinker. 00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:09.960 And if you're not questioning, you're not thinking. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:18.640 Peter's not just simply saying in this statement, just be blind and just believe that the resurrection existed because someone told you so. 00:14:19.540 --> 00:14:26.740 In fact, if you look in 1 Peter 3:15, our main theme to this passage of scripture, this section 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:33.750 as we go through together, we're calling this series, "All In." And our theme verse is in 1 Peter 3:15, listen to what Peter says. 00:14:34.780 --> 00:14:41.840 But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for 00:14:41.840 --> 00:14:45.980 the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:51.100 Look, he's saying, you've got to give an account for the hope that's in you. 00:14:51.100 --> 00:14:54.460 Make a defense for the hope is in you, and I love the attitude he says with gentleness and reverence. 00:14:55.860 --> 00:15:01.440 Look, we don't take the truth of who God is to simply prove to people we're right and other people are wrong or to beat people up with truth. 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:04.660 We use truth to serve people because it changes our lives. 00:15:06.600 --> 00:15:13.700 So do it with gentleness and reverence, but the place that I think that we should fixate on here as it relates to what Peter's saying is, he says 00:15:13.700 --> 00:15:17.140 to us, make a defense to everyone for the hope that's in you. 00:15:18.800 --> 00:15:19.660 This word defense. 00:15:19.660 --> 00:15:21.390 Some of you may know is the Greek word "apologia". 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:27.140 And some think that it could be connected to apologize, you have to apologize for your faith. 00:15:27.140 --> 00:15:28.840 And he's not telling us to apologize here. 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.660 You don't have to apologize for what Jesus has done. 00:15:31.900 --> 00:15:36.220 We're not into that sort of apologetic for Christianity. 00:15:36.260 --> 00:15:37.520 That's not what this defense means. 00:15:38.460 --> 00:15:43.690 But rather when you think about this word, what he's saying is point to the credibility. 00:15:44.880 --> 00:15:45.510 Make a defense. 00:15:46.400 --> 00:15:49.160 Why is your truth claim credible? 00:15:51.160 --> 00:15:52.180 Why hold to this? 00:15:52.440 --> 00:15:58.400 Peter is not simply saying to do this simply because you should just be foolish and blind. 00:15:59.540 --> 00:16:06.600 What he's saying is people are going to try to power trip over you, but can't take away what 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:08.110 you have in Jesus. 00:16:10.560 --> 00:16:14.180 There is a foundation there that's been demonstrated. 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.240 How do you know? 00:16:18.640 --> 00:16:22.740 I want you to know this morning, I can't go through every reason of proving the resurrection. 00:16:22.800 --> 00:16:24.880 I just going to talk about a few of them to you this morning. 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:27.530 I can't give you every reason to validate the resurrection. 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:32.280 Because of that, what I did this morning is if you go to alpinebible.com, you click on the blog page. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:35.700 The first blog will give you 13 concise reasons for believing in the resurrection. 00:16:36.300 --> 00:16:38.230 You can go to our Facebook page and see that as well. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:41.120 Or you can click on the app and click on blogs. 00:16:41.400 --> 00:16:42.370 And so you'll see it listed there. 00:16:42.700 --> 00:16:48.680 Last night I was just typing these up and I actually decided to cut the list at 13, even though I had more that followed that. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:51.020 But there are ample reasons to believe in the resurrection. 00:16:51.380 --> 00:16:57.620 And I think the first thing to just simply say to us, in order to have a resurrection as you've got to have a dead person, right? 00:16:58.180 --> 00:17:04.079 And when you think about the significance of this day and what it represents in Jesus, Jesus died for us. 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:09.920 And if there's any question as to whether or not Jesus died, just consider the events of this day. 00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:14.010 Passover, Jerusalem packed. 00:17:14.300 --> 00:17:15.660 The people are just around. 00:17:16.280 --> 00:17:20.720 And then they're surrounded even with Jesus, because Jesus has just declared himself as King. 00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:27.589 The streets are full and Jesus is brought on trial and the crowds come before the trial of Jesus. 00:17:28.780 --> 00:17:34.150 And when the judgment is delivered on Jesus, he's brought before professional executioners. 00:17:35.580 --> 00:17:41.560 Everyone sees this on public display in the streets of Jerusalem and Jesus is beaten. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.180 Jesus is whipped. 00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:50.920 Jesus after the whipping, which would even in Jesus' day was common for people to die just from that Jesus has to carry a cross beam of 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:54.290 which his strength was so weak, he couldn't fully do it to the place it would be crucified. 00:17:54.760 --> 00:17:57.460 They had to get Simon of Cyrene to help him carry that. 00:17:58.100 --> 00:18:00.640 And when Jesus gets to the cross, he's crucified. 00:18:02.770 --> 00:18:04.920 And after he's crucified, he speared in the heart. 00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:11.970 And after he's speared in the heart he's thrown into a tomb for three days without any medical attention and the tomb is sealed and guarded by Roman soldiers. 00:18:14.540 --> 00:18:15.400 Jesus died. 00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:21.460 Jesus is executed by people whose job is to be professional killers. 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:23.940 There is no question Jesus died. 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:31.250 And Jesus is resurrected and there's so many reasons that you can point to in scripture. 00:18:32.080 --> 00:18:36.040 Some that are even silly to think about and some are interesting to think about. 00:18:36.120 --> 00:18:43.220 Like for example, silly, when Jesus' tomb is rolled back, it tells us in Matthew 28, that when the ladies go 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:45.200 to the tomb, the tomb is rolled back. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:51.050 Not to let Jesus out, but to show the people on the outside that there's no one on the inside. 00:18:52.800 --> 00:19:00.120 And when they see the tomb, they see that the grave clothes are folded in a corner separated from the turban and his garment 00:19:00.120 --> 00:19:01.240 that wrapped his body. 00:19:02.340 --> 00:19:07.040 When you go to a grave to rob a body, you don't take time to fold clothes, right? 00:19:08.380 --> 00:19:11.390 And maybe it's just a miracle that a dude folded his clothes. 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:14.940 But here they are. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.600 And if you're going to rob a grave, you want to take things of value. 00:19:17.720 --> 00:19:19.520 But Jesus' clothing is left behind. 00:19:21.260 --> 00:19:24.020 And not only that women were the first one at the tomb. 00:19:24.040 --> 00:19:29.720 And when you think about the first century, the credibility of women weren't allowed to be used in the court of law. 00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.030 They wouldn't allow them to testify. 00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:35.560 And yet God doesn't care about that because he sees men and women as equal. 00:19:35.600 --> 00:19:40.830 And so the first one's to the tomb and the first ones to testify about the resurrection are the ladies. 00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:47.620 It's beautiful to see how God elevated and honored humanity, especially women. 00:19:47.760 --> 00:19:50.000 Jesus never talked negatively about women. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:52.020 You see consistently, he used them as an example. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:57.330 You would look at a guy that would turn from Jesus and he looked to the ladies and he would say, be like them, because they're faithful. 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:03.620 And on and on you could go with the idea, the credibility of the resurrection. 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:08.540 Even to the point that Jesus appears to 500 people at one time it tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:6. 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:15.960 And the reason Paul writes that in 1 Corinthians 15 is to say to people, look, if you don't believe in the resurrection of Jesus, go 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:16.700 ask people. 00:20:16.700 --> 00:20:20.480 There are hundreds of people still walking the earth that saw the resurrection of Christ. 00:20:21.540 --> 00:20:22.800 You can speak to them. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:26.220 And not only that, you have the prophecy of Jesus. 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:31.320 And when you read further on in 1 Peter, this is exactly the arguments Peter starts to use. 00:20:31.540 --> 00:20:36.440 He doesn't go through every reason to believe in the credibility of the resurrection, but he does identify a few of them. 00:20:37.060 --> 00:20:38.450 In verse 10, listen to what he says. 00:20:39.460 --> 00:20:46.540 As to the salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know 00:20:46.540 --> 00:20:49.780 what person or time the spirit of Christ within them was indicating. 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:53.500 As he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 00:20:54.420 --> 00:21:01.440 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you and these things which now have been announced to you through 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:05.740 those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.970 What's he saying to us? 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:13.290 He's saying cling to the credibility of Christ. 00:21:14.580 --> 00:21:16.420 And here's where we see it. 00:21:17.780 --> 00:21:20.380 You can see, as Paul says, prophetically. 00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:30.260 It used to be argued years ago in the 1940s and 50s and previous to that the prophecies of Jesus were 00:21:30.260 --> 00:21:37.280 so clear and concise as to the time of his birth, the place of his birth, details of 00:21:37.280 --> 00:21:38.840 his life and even of his death. 00:21:38.940 --> 00:21:46.100 To the point that Jesus' crucifixion was predicted before the cross even existed, Isaiah 52 and 00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:46.200 53. 00:21:48.340 --> 00:21:55.340 They used to argue about Jesus, well, because these prophecies are so concise to the life of Christ and the death of Christ 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:57.980 that they had to have been written after Jesus his days. 00:21:59.320 --> 00:22:02.330 And then in the 1940s and 50s in the Qumran Hills, what do they discover? 00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:04.600 The Dead Sea Scrolls. 00:22:06.440 --> 00:22:07.580 And what does that give us? 00:22:08.920 --> 00:22:12.960 Manuscripts that date as old as 200 years previous to Jesus. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:14.580 Literally the Bible Jesus would've read. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:19.680 And it predicts to us the life and death of Christ. 00:22:21.760 --> 00:22:26.820 And Peter's coming to this section of scripture and he's saying to you, how do you know this resurrection is real? 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:30.460 Sometimes when you go through hard things, you want to validate the foundation that you rest upon. 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.470 And so what does he say? 00:22:34.740 --> 00:22:35.540 Look to the prophets. 00:22:37.260 --> 00:22:40.560 Even the prophets were looking forward to this day, longing for this day. 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:46.960 And what he's saying to the church, what he's saying to us, think about how exceptional it is to live in this day and time. 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:54.080 That in the Old Testament people looked forward to this day in great anticipation. 00:22:54.900 --> 00:23:00.800 And here you are right now on the backend of it, having experienced the goodness of Jesus made known in your life. 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:03.800 What a beautiful story. 00:23:06.340 --> 00:23:13.500 Not only can you look to the idea of the prophets does Peter say, but there's even something unsaid about Peter's own declaration of 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.540 the resurrection. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:18.100 And I would even say it's founded in Peter's life. 00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:20.600 Think about the person who's writing this letter to you. 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:28.540 You remember Peter's own story that he went from cowardly fleer to boldly follower. 00:23:29.780 --> 00:23:30.980 Or boldly leader. 00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:39.120 Peter went from a coward that ran on the day of Jesus' crucifixion to one who leads boldly. 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:42.560 And he leads so boldly that he leads in a martyrdom. 00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:48.140 When Peter writes the book of 1 Peter and 2 Peter, these are months away from Peter's own death. 00:23:48.280 --> 00:23:51.140 What caused Peter to go from coward to leader? 00:23:54.560 --> 00:23:57.860 A fact changed everything. 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:02.330 He saw a dead man walking. 00:24:04.580 --> 00:24:07.030 If you think about the significance of the resurrection. 00:24:07.780 --> 00:24:12.710 You know when you think about belief systems in this world, people give their lives all day long for ideologies. 00:24:13.380 --> 00:24:17.580 People will fly planes into the side of buildings over an ideology. 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:21.900 But the disciples didn't give their lives for an ideology. 00:24:22.020 --> 00:24:23.640 They gave their lives for a fact. 00:24:23.640 --> 00:24:24.600 And what was that fact? 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:28.940 They couldn't deny that they had seen a dead man walking. 00:24:31.180 --> 00:24:38.380 And Peter is saying to us, when we go through hardship, not only is this foundation refined within us and how important it 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:45.760 is to let this foundation be refined through us in the resurrection of Jesus, but there is credibility to what you stand upon. 00:24:45.760 --> 00:24:48.700 And he just gives this example of the idea of the prophets. 00:24:51.520 --> 00:24:53.860 And even his own life by writing this letter. 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:55.620 Why is this credibility important? 00:24:57.980 --> 00:25:01.550 Because Christianity has a cost. 00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:08.390 If it's not true, why pay the price to lay your life down? 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:13.800 But if it is true, why not lay down your life? 00:25:16.520 --> 00:25:18.860 We don't follow Jesus because it's easy. 00:25:21.580 --> 00:25:23.740 We follow Jesus because it's true. 00:25:25.740 --> 00:25:28.440 Because this event defines us. 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:36.320 Through every circumstance we experience in life we continue to allow it to refine us. 00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:40.560 That because he lives we live too. 00:25:42.680 --> 00:25:49.680 When you think about the example that Peter uses here, I think he concludes in these last two verses at the end of verse 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:56.840 12 and 13 for this purpose: information is intended to bring 00:25:56.840 --> 00:26:01.180 transformation as it relates to Jesus. 00:26:02.040 --> 00:26:04.670 This isn't a truth that we just didn't accept intellectually. 00:26:07.660 --> 00:26:10.940 This is the truth that gives us completely new identity. 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:15.600 It transforms our lives. 00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:23.400 And he says to us, at the end of verse 12 that even the angels long to look into this. 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:32.880 Let me just say, if you read the Bible and you see the angels provoked by a circumstance, it's 00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:36.160 a good reason to let that light a fire under your rear end too. 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:45.580 And what he says at the end of 1 Peter, verse 12 is that even the angles are longing 00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:47.380 to look into this moment. 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:54.420 This unfathomable reality that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords would become the servant of 00:26:54.420 --> 00:27:01.120 servants and give his life and to love up people that would reject him and even crucify him. 00:27:03.760 --> 00:27:07.100 You know what's astounding for me in all of this as I consider it? 00:27:08.820 --> 00:27:15.840 That even in the last days of his life as Jesus was going to go to the cross, 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:18.330 he goes to the upper room and he spends it with his disciples. 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:23.720 And even after he knew Judas was going to betray him and he pronounces it. 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.680 Do you know what Jesus does? 00:27:27.160 --> 00:27:33.020 Matthew 26:50, he refers to Judas as his friend. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:40.740 Even after he just finishes a statement saying, Judas I know you're going to betray me. 00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:53.360 Jesus looks at his enemy and he calls him friend. 00:27:53.360 --> 00:28:00.020 You think about in your own life, how well do you even love the people that like you? 00:28:03.760 --> 00:28:05.980 How well do you love the people that hate you? 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.880 And Jesus never stopped loving you. 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:17.240 Jesus never stopped loving Judas. 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:17.460 Why? 00:28:19.660 --> 00:28:21.940 Because his love is what transforms you. 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:24.700 That's why he went to the cross. 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:28.130 This isn't just information. 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:32.430 This is for life changing transformation. 00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:41.240 The significance of the cross and the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of all of Christianity. 00:28:43.840 --> 00:28:51.300 Understanding the validity of this event helps us be defined and continue to be redefined. 00:28:51.700 --> 00:28:56.820 So he says this in verse 13 therefore, prepare your minds. 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:58.500 Think. 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:00.020 Think. 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:04.540 Because Peter knows that the church is going to go through adversity. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:05.700 We're all going to face it. 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:10.080 And what are you going to let live out of you in the midst of those circumstances? 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:13.340 What will you align your life with? 00:29:13.340 --> 00:29:20.520 What will be demonstrated in this world as to what defines you and continues to 00:29:20.520 --> 00:29:21.460 refine you? 00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:24.920 Is it the circumstances that the feeling? 00:29:25.880 --> 00:29:32.640 Think, prepare your minds right now for action, he says, keep sober in spirit. 00:29:32.660 --> 00:29:37.450 This idea of sober is, look, when you go through adversity, it's easy to get caught up in those moments. 00:29:37.520 --> 00:29:42.580 It's easy to go through this emotional exercise and to panic and have anxiety and to worry. 00:29:42.740 --> 00:29:46.000 But this idea of being sober is saying calm and collected. 00:29:46.040 --> 00:29:47.720 And what allows you to be calm and collected? 00:29:48.200 --> 00:29:52.610 The thing that you know is consistent and the thing that gives you your identity. 00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:56.060 It's Jesus. 00:29:56.380 --> 00:30:03.480 Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:12.660 Peter's not just teaching his people how to take a punch. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:22.780 He's showing the people how to walk in victory because Jesus didn't just take a punch, but 00:30:22.800 --> 00:30:29.880 rather he counter punched to the point of victory over sin, Satan and death and we belong 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.990 to him. 00:30:32.560 --> 00:30:35.060 Which brings me to this thought of communion. 00:30:37.260 --> 00:30:44.520 For us as people, communion is so important because it represents the body and the blood of Jesus for 00:30:44.520 --> 00:30:44.820 our sins. 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:48.740 The love that never stopped giving. 00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:54.560 And the resurrection for us is a game changer. 00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:56.290 This is the day that changed everything. 00:30:56.620 --> 00:31:01.610 And if you think about what this day is for God's people. 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:07.140 For centuries the Jews had celebrated Passover. 00:31:08.300 --> 00:31:15.380 And Jesus in the upper room with his disciples is now celebrating the Passover and fulfilling 00:31:15.380 --> 00:31:16.000 the old covenant. 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:24.040 He now institutes the new covenant and changes the Passover to what some call sacrament, but I think it's more appropriate to call 00:31:24.040 --> 00:31:24.590 it communion. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:30.340 And the reason is, sacrament acknowledges that you need to do this to earn God's grace. 00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:35.240 But we aren't doing communion because we want to make God love us. 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:38.960 We partake in communion because God has already loved us in our sin. 00:31:40.280 --> 00:31:42.300 Jesus gives his life for us. 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:50.080 And here's what I want us to think about as we get ready to partake of communion, Communion is for believers, those who have put their faith in 00:31:50.080 --> 00:31:52.920 the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and what it represents for you. 00:31:53.980 --> 00:32:01.140 And if you think about the day Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the Bible tells us that in 00:32:01.140 --> 00:32:05.300 Luke 23, Jesus is crucified between two thieves. 00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:09.300 Luke 23:39, 43. 00:32:10.320 --> 00:32:16.100 And one thief in Luke 23:39 represents really the rest of the crowd. 00:32:16.120 --> 00:32:21.260 If you remember at this time, Jesus is being insulted and they are hurling insults at him. 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:27.880 And one thief looks at Jesus and says, look, if you are King, save yourself, come down off the cross. 00:32:28.780 --> 00:32:35.860 And the reason the crowd turn on Jesus is because they had this preconceived idea of who Jesus should be as a political leader. 00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:40.500 They wanted Jesus to physically rule and reign and dominate. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:45.640 But Jesus didn't give them what they wanted. 00:32:48.280 --> 00:32:52.040 And because Jesus didn't give them what they wanted, they turn their back on Jesus. 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.860 And guys, we have the tendency to do that too. 00:32:57.200 --> 00:33:01.380 When we come to God, we say, God, if you do this, then I'll do this. 00:33:03.640 --> 00:33:05.850 Jesus doesn't operate that way. 00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:08.900 To the thief on the cross who said, come down off that cross. 00:33:09.020 --> 00:33:13.300 The thief's expectation is that Jesus would rule and reign according to their agenda. 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:16.480 Jesus, give me what I want. 00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:24.570 But instead of giving you what you want, Jesus gives you what you need. 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:28.040 And that's the picture of the other thief on the cross. 00:33:30.260 --> 00:33:37.940 The other thief begins to recognize in Luke 23, he says to us, God, 00:33:39.800 --> 00:33:40.940 I deserve where I'm at. 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:48.520 But Jesus, remember me when you're in paradise. 00:33:51.380 --> 00:33:56.920 2 Corinthians 12:1-2 reminds us that paradise is the celestial kingdom. 00:33:59.260 --> 00:34:04.400 It's the place where God rules and reigns and Jesus promises the thief that he will be there. 00:34:05.320 --> 00:34:08.400 Not because the thief came to Jesus because of what he wanted. 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:10.820 He came to Jesus because of what he needed. 00:34:13.820 --> 00:34:20.980 Jesus gives you a hope that transcends, and the way he does this, it's through 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:26.179 his own body that took your place by paying for your sins on the cross. 00:34:26.239 --> 00:34:29.400 And this is exactly what communion represents for us. 00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:36.980 Jesus' body that was broken and his blood that was shed. 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:45.760 And so Paul writes for us in 1 Corinthians 1,1 if you have 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:50.500 not put your faith in Christ, here's the opportunity for you today because of the validity of the resurrection. 00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:53.460 Listen, even if you count yourself as an enemy of God, we all were. 00:34:55.020 --> 00:34:59.500 And here's the moment because of what Jesus has done for you, where you get to bow yourself and say, Jesus, I'm a sinner. 00:34:59.660 --> 00:35:04.970 Just like a thief on the cross who never could do a good work because his hands were nailed and yet it gives them a promise of life. 00:35:07.520 --> 00:35:08.780 God, you died for my sins too. 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:14.730 Save me, rescue me, give me the hope of this resurrection. 00:35:15.100 --> 00:35:19.080 If you've done that in Jesus, then we partake of communion together. 00:35:19.080 --> 00:35:21.560 All you have to do is just cry out to him for that salvation. 00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:28.440 And in 1 Corinthians 11:23, for I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you. 00:35:29.520 --> 00:35:34.120 That the Lord in the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread. 00:35:35.180 --> 00:35:39.540 When he'd given thanks, he broke it and said, this is my body, which is for you. 00:35:40.380 --> 00:35:43.030 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:35:50.160 --> 00:35:55.650 The same way he took the cup also after supper. 00:35:57.100 --> 00:36:01.330 And he said to us, this cup is the new covenant in my blood. 00:36:02.380 --> 00:36:09.040 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.980 And then he ends up with a promise. 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:25.400 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until 00:36:25.400 --> 00:36:26.450 he comes. 00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:29.780 Jesus leaves us with the promise. 00:36:30.080 --> 00:36:34.020 Paul writes the promise in 1 Corinthians 12 and so does Peter. 00:36:35.720 --> 00:36:37.080 Here's the encouragement for all of us. 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:46.040 When you face adversity in life and yes, those things can be hard, they don't have power over you because Jesus 00:36:46.200 --> 00:36:48.070 has already given the victory. 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:56.900 Don't let your circumstances define you, but rather continue to let the resurrection of Jesus 00:36:57.780 --> 00:36:59.300 refine you. 00:36:59.520 --> 00:37:06.520 Because who you are in him you never lose and his love will never end for 00:37:06.520 --> 00:37:07.070 you.