1 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:06,960 This is Roger Parrott, president of Belhaven University. 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,240 Three years ago, we changed the traditional pattern of our chapel 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,520 program from hosting a variety of guest speakers, like all Christian 4 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,920 colleges do, and instead, I've been the speaker for all of our chapel 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:20,240 services. 6 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,720 This has allowed us to study more deeply the key themes of our 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,720 faith, and students have been responsive to chapel like never before. 8 00:00:29,580 --> 00:00:33,340 This past fall semester, we spent the entire term looking at 9 00:00:33,340 --> 00:00:33,980 Christmas. 10 00:00:34,140 --> 00:00:38,140 And during the spring, my chapel messages all focused on easter. 11 00:00:38,700 --> 00:00:42,860 In over 40 years of preaching college chapels, I don't think I've 12 00:00:42,860 --> 00:00:46,700 ever experienced a more blessed time than this past semester. 13 00:00:47,020 --> 00:00:51,580 Looking at the crucifixion and the resurrection of Christ, students 14 00:00:51,740 --> 00:00:53,060 asked the hard questions,. 15 00:00:53,060 --> 00:00:54,780 And God brought clarity. 16 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:59,430 And as we address them head on in this series of sermons, I want 17 00:00:59,430 --> 00:01:03,670 to share with you the capstone message of that series, in which 18 00:01:03,670 --> 00:01:07,630 I not only summarize what we discovered studying the resurrection, 19 00:01:07,950 --> 00:01:12,430 but look at what Jesus told his disciples during those 40 days 20 00:01:12,430 --> 00:01:15,790 between his resurrection and ascension into heaven. 21 00:01:16,030 --> 00:01:20,110 My message that day began with a short recording of Pastor S.M. 22 00:01:20,110 --> 00:01:23,390 Lockridge's famous sermon, Sunday's Coming. 23 00:01:23,870 --> 00:01:26,670 And then my 25 minute message follows. 24 00:01:26,990 --> 00:01:30,990 I pray God may use this time of worship from Belhaven University 25 00:01:31,150 --> 00:01:34,510 Chapel to bless you and to strengthen your faith. 26 00:01:41,710 --> 00:01:50,030 It's Friday Jesus is praying Peter is asleep Judas is betraying 27 00:01:50,990 --> 00:01:58,410 But Sunday's coming It's Friday Pilots struggling the council 28 00:01:58,730 --> 00:02:05,090 is conspiring the crowd is vilified they don't even know that 29 00:02:05,090 --> 00:02:12,050 Sunday's coming It's Friday the disciples are running like sheep 30 00:02:12,050 --> 00:02:18,730 without a shepherd Mary's crying, Peter is denying but they 31 00:02:18,730 --> 00:02:26,990 don't know that Sundays are coming It's Friday the Roman beat 32 00:02:26,990 --> 00:02:35,110 my Jesus they robe him in scar they crown him with thorns but they 33 00:02:35,110 --> 00:02:43,350 don't know that Sunday's coming It's Friday See Jesus walking 34 00:02:43,510 --> 00:02:50,390 to Calvary his blood dripping his body stumbling and his spirits 35 00:02:50,790 --> 00:03:00,770 burdened but you see it's only Friday Sunday's coming It's Friday 36 00:03:01,970 --> 00:03:09,650 the world's winning People are sinning and evil's grinning It's 37 00:03:09,650 --> 00:03:17,250 Friday the soldiers nailed my Savior's hands to the cross they 38 00:03:17,250 --> 00:03:23,490 nailed my Savior's feet to the cross and then they raised him up 39 00:03:23,890 --> 00:03:31,550 next to criminals It's Friday but let me tell you something Sunday's 40 00:03:31,630 --> 00:03:38,830 coming It's Friday the disciples are questioning what has 41 00:03:38,830 --> 00:03:44,750 happened to their king and the Pharisees are celebrating that their 42 00:03:44,750 --> 00:03:50,830 scheming has been achieved but they don't know it's only Friday 43 00:03:52,270 --> 00:04:01,070 Sunday's coming It's Friday he's hanging on the cross Healing 44 00:04:01,310 --> 00:04:09,770 for Taken by his father Left alone and dying can nobody save him? 45 00:04:10,890 --> 00:04:21,370 Oh, it's Friday But Sunday's coming It's Friday the earth trembles 46 00:04:21,930 --> 00:04:30,650 the sky grows dark My king yields his spirit It's Friday Hope 47 00:04:30,730 --> 00:04:39,670 is lost Death has sin has conquered and Satan's just a laughing. 48 00:04:44,390 --> 00:04:54,510 It's Friday Jesus is buried A soldier stands guard and a rock is 49 00:04:54,510 --> 00:05:06,530 rolled into place but it's Friday it is only Friday is a coming. 50 00:05:14,930 --> 00:05:16,770 Sometimes our life feels like it's Friday. 51 00:05:18,130 --> 00:05:20,370 The words of Reverend Lockridge here are. 52 00:05:21,090 --> 00:05:22,930 Encouraging to me to remember. 53 00:05:22,930 --> 00:05:25,650 Even in those times when it feels like Friday and everything 54 00:05:25,890 --> 00:05:26,690 is honest. 55 00:05:26,690 --> 00:05:28,530 Sunday is coming. 56 00:05:29,170 --> 00:05:31,850 We've been through an overwhelming time this semester, 57 00:05:31,850 --> 00:05:35,650 looking at Easter, and it's felt like Friday building and building. 58 00:05:35,650 --> 00:05:37,570 And that's where we left off last time. 59 00:05:38,290 --> 00:05:38,690 Remember? 60 00:05:38,690 --> 00:05:41,970 We started this journey with Lazarus raising from the dead and 61 00:05:42,050 --> 00:05:44,050 Jesus coming in on Palm Sunday. 62 00:05:44,690 --> 00:05:48,130 Then he cleared the temple, took on the Jewish leaders. 63 00:05:49,089 --> 00:05:50,770 We got to the Last Supper. 64 00:05:51,170 --> 00:05:54,130 We got to Gethsemane, where he was crushed. 65 00:05:54,690 --> 00:06:00,130 The arrest of Jesus, the mock trials, the horror of the crucifixion, 66 00:06:00,790 --> 00:06:04,790 the darkness and the earthquakes as he died, and the veil 67 00:06:04,790 --> 00:06:07,190 that was torn from top to bottom. 68 00:06:08,790 --> 00:06:11,110 And then the Scripture takes us from. 69 00:06:11,110 --> 00:06:15,110 All the heaviness of that to Sunday morning. 70 00:06:16,470 --> 00:06:17,590 It reads like this. 71 00:06:18,790 --> 00:06:22,750 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene 72 00:06:22,750 --> 00:06:25,030 and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 73 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,680 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord 74 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,600 had come down from heaven, rolled aside the stone and sat on 75 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:33,840 it. 76 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:39,760 His face shone like lightning and his clothing as white as snow. 77 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,960 The guards shook with fear when they saw him. 78 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,360 And they fell into a dead faint. 79 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,320 Then the angel spoke to the women. 80 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:50,240 Don't be afraid, he said. 81 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:53,440 I know you're looking for Jesus who was crucified. 82 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:55,310 He isn't here. 83 00:06:56,270 --> 00:06:59,390 He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. 84 00:07:00,430 --> 00:07:03,070 Come and see where his body was lying. 85 00:07:04,430 --> 00:07:07,910 Go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from 86 00:07:07,910 --> 00:07:12,750 the dead and he's going ahead of you to Galilee, and you will see 87 00:07:12,750 --> 00:07:13,390 him there. 88 00:07:14,670 --> 00:07:17,390 Remember what I have told you. 89 00:07:18,110 --> 00:07:22,180 The Resurrection is the linchpin our faith. 90 00:07:23,220 --> 00:07:28,900 Everything points to the Resurrection and comes from the Resurrection. 91 00:07:29,380 --> 00:07:33,060 The Resurrection is the linchpoint of human history. 92 00:07:34,340 --> 00:07:38,380 The Resurrection is the centerpiece of the priorities of 93 00:07:38,380 --> 00:07:42,740 our life are all lined out of the Resurrection. 94 00:07:43,940 --> 00:07:48,560 The Resurrection, as we talked about this semester, matters everything. 95 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,480 And that's why we took several chapels to talk through the proof 96 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,720 of the Resurrection and why it matters. 97 00:07:54,720 --> 00:07:56,160 And just to refresh you. 98 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:00,080 The Resurrection, we said, makes all the difference in our lives 99 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,920 because we have victory over evil and death. 100 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,760 Evil is woven into every problem of our world. 101 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,360 Everything that you can look at is difficult. 102 00:08:13,600 --> 00:08:16,340 Every relationship, every societal problem, every. 103 00:08:16,650 --> 00:08:22,890 Everything that is complex and makes life hard, all comes back to 104 00:08:22,890 --> 00:08:24,250 evil in our world. 105 00:08:26,570 --> 00:08:30,210 Jesus in the Resurrection had victory over. 106 00:08:30,210 --> 00:08:32,729 Evil, and Jesus had victory over death. 107 00:08:33,530 --> 00:08:37,130 You know, we don't like to talk about death, but death will 108 00:08:37,130 --> 00:08:37,690 come to. 109 00:08:37,690 --> 00:08:41,690 Each one of us, every single one of us. 110 00:08:42,660 --> 00:08:43,940 We don't like to think about it. 111 00:08:44,100 --> 00:08:45,700 We don't like to dwell on it. 112 00:08:46,180 --> 00:08:50,060 But when we understand the Resurrection, we can dwell on it 113 00:08:50,060 --> 00:08:52,460 with anticipation and hope. 114 00:08:52,460 --> 00:08:55,500 Because we know Jesus promised all of. 115 00:08:55,500 --> 00:08:58,020 Us eternal life if we follow him. 116 00:08:59,060 --> 00:09:00,580 And then we have that. 117 00:09:00,580 --> 00:09:03,220 Hope was restored in the Resurrection. 118 00:09:04,020 --> 00:09:08,180 Hope was restored not just for eternal life, but for this life as 119 00:09:08,180 --> 00:09:08,500 well. 120 00:09:09,590 --> 00:09:13,190 And that there is hope in the battle with evil, and there is hope 121 00:09:13,350 --> 00:09:16,390 that our lives can have meaning and significance. 122 00:09:17,110 --> 00:09:21,910 And then we saw in the Resurrection that we received unlimited 123 00:09:21,910 --> 00:09:22,270 love. 124 00:09:22,270 --> 00:09:27,510 The crucifixion shows the depth to which God loves us. 125 00:09:28,310 --> 00:09:29,830 It is hard for us to understand. 126 00:09:30,710 --> 00:09:35,270 We can't comprehend or we can't even come to close to that 127 00:09:35,270 --> 00:09:35,990 level of. 128 00:09:35,990 --> 00:09:38,840 Love for the people, especially the people. 129 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,200 We don't even know. 130 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,280 But Jesus died for all of us. 131 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:47,320 And then the Resurrection is significant because we have our lives 132 00:09:47,720 --> 00:09:48,760 transformed. 133 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,400 Jesus didn't want us to just come and muddle through life, just 134 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:56,680 make it somehow, somehow find a path, somehow find a way, somehow 135 00:09:56,680 --> 00:09:59,120 kind of craft out a way forward. 136 00:09:59,120 --> 00:10:01,000 He wants us to live abundantly. 137 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:01,400 He said. 138 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:02,440 Those were his words. 139 00:10:03,330 --> 00:10:07,410 Come that you've had life and have it abundantly, and how to find 140 00:10:07,410 --> 00:10:10,530 that joy and purpose and significance in life. 141 00:10:10,850 --> 00:10:15,330 That transformation comes all because of the Resurrection. 142 00:10:15,970 --> 00:10:19,410 You see the Resurrection, if you want to think about it this way, 143 00:10:20,770 --> 00:10:21,810 as the most significant. 144 00:10:22,210 --> 00:10:27,410 The Resurrection is the pinnacle of God's commitment to total 145 00:10:27,410 --> 00:10:31,230 justice and his commitment to total love. 146 00:10:31,950 --> 00:10:35,710 You see, God is 100% about justice. 147 00:10:36,190 --> 00:10:40,510 If you feel like you haven't been treated fairly in life at times, 148 00:10:40,910 --> 00:10:43,550 God cares about justice. 149 00:10:45,470 --> 00:10:51,150 God will not be satisfied with anything except complete justice. 150 00:10:53,550 --> 00:10:56,550 And at the same time, he's 100%. 151 00:10:56,950 --> 00:11:00,950 Committed to love, a love that has no boundaries. 152 00:11:00,950 --> 00:11:04,310 Well, how do you put the justice with the love? 153 00:11:05,030 --> 00:11:10,990 The only way that happens is in the resurrection of Jesus as a 154 00:11:10,990 --> 00:11:14,470 sacrifice for us, who then overcame all. 155 00:11:15,030 --> 00:11:18,390 So we look at the significance of the Resurrection, and we spent 156 00:11:18,390 --> 00:11:20,670 a whole chapel talking about that, and then we talked about the 157 00:11:20,670 --> 00:11:25,810 proof, just to remind you the eyewitness biblical accounts that 158 00:11:25,810 --> 00:11:29,690 we have these stories who, if you had made them up, you sure wouldn't 159 00:11:29,690 --> 00:11:30,530 write them that way. 160 00:11:30,530 --> 00:11:35,970 With all the details and the women who were there first and the 161 00:11:36,850 --> 00:11:39,730 quotes of people who saw Jesus. 162 00:11:39,890 --> 00:11:42,210 And essentially the writers are saying they're still alive. 163 00:11:42,210 --> 00:11:43,010 Go ask them. 164 00:11:43,090 --> 00:11:44,210 You can find out. 165 00:11:44,610 --> 00:11:45,970 We're not hiding anything. 166 00:11:46,610 --> 00:11:50,930 And so we know that they're true because of the way those gospel 167 00:11:50,930 --> 00:11:52,640 writers reported the resurrection. 168 00:11:52,950 --> 00:11:56,390 And then we had the empty tomb, the empty tomb so that not 169 00:11:56,390 --> 00:11:59,830 Jesus could get out, so that we could see in and we could see 170 00:11:59,830 --> 00:12:02,470 he really did rise from the grave. 171 00:12:02,710 --> 00:12:06,030 And then we had the post resurrection appearances coming up 172 00:12:06,030 --> 00:12:10,710 to over 500 different people who saw him during those 40 days 173 00:12:10,710 --> 00:12:13,870 between the time of his resurrection and his ascension into 174 00:12:13,870 --> 00:12:14,390 heaven. 175 00:12:14,390 --> 00:12:17,350 And then we see, most importantly maybe the transformation 176 00:12:17,350 --> 00:12:21,460 of the disciples, total change in their lives of who they were. 177 00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:24,660 These were the guys who were with him for three years. 178 00:12:24,980 --> 00:12:28,300 They were there at the Sermon on the Mount, they were there when 179 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:29,620 Jesus walked on the water. 180 00:12:29,780 --> 00:12:33,540 They were there when he fed 5,000 people with a tiny little lunch. 181 00:12:33,780 --> 00:12:35,700 They were there when he healed people. 182 00:12:36,980 --> 00:12:41,460 But in Easter week, as we saw, they all disappeared. 183 00:12:41,860 --> 00:12:42,900 They were gone. 184 00:12:43,300 --> 00:12:49,140 They were scared to death and they ran away when Jesus needed them 185 00:12:49,140 --> 00:12:49,500 most. 186 00:12:50,700 --> 00:12:54,660 So after the resurrection, last time he. 187 00:12:54,660 --> 00:12:58,060 Saw him was in Gethsemane, remember? 188 00:12:58,140 --> 00:12:59,260 You remember what happened there? 189 00:12:59,260 --> 00:13:00,140 They fell asleep. 190 00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:01,460 They weren't even there for him. 191 00:13:01,460 --> 00:13:02,980 And he finally said, I'll just forget it. 192 00:13:02,980 --> 00:13:03,820 I'll use sleep. 193 00:13:04,460 --> 00:13:06,060 I'll carry it from here. 194 00:13:06,380 --> 00:13:07,900 That's the last time he saw him. 195 00:13:07,900 --> 00:13:10,340 So he sees them again after the resurrection. 196 00:13:10,340 --> 00:13:11,660 Well, what does he say to them? 197 00:13:12,190 --> 00:13:16,030 I think that's the key question to take out of this post 198 00:13:16,030 --> 00:13:20,070 resurrection period of time beyond the significance of what we 199 00:13:20,070 --> 00:13:20,510 talked about. 200 00:13:20,510 --> 00:13:23,550 And that's what I want us to look at this morning is what did 201 00:13:23,550 --> 00:13:26,270 he say to them during that time? 202 00:13:27,550 --> 00:13:29,310 Here's his first words. 203 00:13:29,710 --> 00:13:30,910 Peace be with you. 204 00:13:31,710 --> 00:13:32,990 Why are you frightened? 205 00:13:33,150 --> 00:13:35,070 Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 206 00:13:35,630 --> 00:13:37,550 Look at my hands, look at my feet. 207 00:13:38,290 --> 00:13:40,210 You can see it's really me. 208 00:13:40,850 --> 00:13:44,010 Touch me and make sure I'm not a ghost. 209 00:13:44,010 --> 00:13:48,530 Because ghosts don't have bodies, as you see that I do. 210 00:13:50,210 --> 00:13:54,050 They were overwhelmed by the resurrection. 211 00:13:54,130 --> 00:13:57,930 It was as impossible for them to believe in the resurrection as 212 00:13:57,930 --> 00:14:00,890 it is difficult for us to believe in the resurrection. 213 00:14:00,890 --> 00:14:02,290 And they were there at the time. 214 00:14:03,820 --> 00:14:07,260 Now the amazing thing is that Jesus had told them, on the third 215 00:14:07,260 --> 00:14:09,820 day, I am going to rise from the grave. 216 00:14:10,300 --> 00:14:12,220 He told them this over and over. 217 00:14:12,860 --> 00:14:19,020 We know that Because Mark, who is very detailed in his reporting 218 00:14:19,179 --> 00:14:22,300 in the Gospel, although there's so much he doesn't write 219 00:14:22,300 --> 00:14:22,620 down. 220 00:14:22,940 --> 00:14:27,820 And he says that, but he writes, three times Jesus told them, 221 00:14:27,900 --> 00:14:29,220 I will rise from the grave. 222 00:14:29,220 --> 00:14:32,590 You know, if Mark wrote down the three times Jesus said that, 223 00:14:32,590 --> 00:14:35,670 that means Jesus said it over and over and over and over and over 224 00:14:35,670 --> 00:14:35,990 again. 225 00:14:36,790 --> 00:14:39,270 He'd been telling them, this is what's going to happen. 226 00:14:39,750 --> 00:14:42,950 But when the time came, they weren't even expecting it. 227 00:14:46,070 --> 00:14:47,510 So then he appears to them. 228 00:14:48,230 --> 00:14:49,910 And what did he say? 229 00:14:50,230 --> 00:14:54,470 Well, what would you say if you'd been through all Jesus has 230 00:14:54,470 --> 00:15:00,130 been through on Friday and now on Sunday, you see them, these people 231 00:15:00,130 --> 00:15:00,930 who ran away. 232 00:15:00,930 --> 00:15:02,250 What would you say to them? 233 00:15:02,970 --> 00:15:06,090 The people who deserted you when you needed them most, the people 234 00:15:06,090 --> 00:15:07,770 who you thought you could count on. 235 00:15:07,850 --> 00:15:09,130 What would you say to them? 236 00:15:10,330 --> 00:15:15,450 You might say, well, you know, guys, I love you, but you really 237 00:15:15,530 --> 00:15:16,170 blew it. 238 00:15:17,370 --> 00:15:20,490 Guys, I love you, but I tried to tell you. 239 00:15:20,570 --> 00:15:23,530 I tried to tell you over and over, and you never listened to me. 240 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:25,880 You don't trust me. 241 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:27,160 You don't believe in me. 242 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:29,240 You blew the test. 243 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:30,560 This was the moment. 244 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:31,480 This was the test. 245 00:15:31,640 --> 00:15:33,640 And you got an F. You failed. 246 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,160 You flunked completely. 247 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:36,760 You got to do better. 248 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:39,400 That's what you think he'd want to. 249 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:42,600 Tell them, but that's not what he told them. 250 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:44,760 That's not what he told them at all. 251 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:45,880 He didn't scold them. 252 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:47,720 He didn't try to correct them. 253 00:15:49,970 --> 00:15:52,370 He just gave them a way forward. 254 00:15:53,010 --> 00:15:55,650 And three things he told them, peace be with you. 255 00:15:55,890 --> 00:15:59,690 We see, but in the Gospels, we get detailed accounts of what Jesus 256 00:15:59,690 --> 00:15:59,890 said. 257 00:15:59,890 --> 00:16:02,290 Now, because of time, I'm not going to quote all the scriptures 258 00:16:02,290 --> 00:16:03,130 back and forth to you. 259 00:16:03,130 --> 00:16:04,610 So if you let me summarize. 260 00:16:04,690 --> 00:16:09,010 Let me summarize essentially the three things, primary things, 261 00:16:09,330 --> 00:16:13,890 that Jesus told his disciples between the time of his resurrection 262 00:16:13,890 --> 00:16:15,710 and his ascension into heaven, which was. 263 00:16:15,860 --> 00:16:16,580 Was 40 days. 264 00:16:16,980 --> 00:16:18,340 Let's look at those three things. 265 00:16:18,340 --> 00:16:19,380 The first one is this. 266 00:16:20,660 --> 00:16:23,780 He essentially said, you underestimated me. 267 00:16:25,060 --> 00:16:26,660 You underestimated me. 268 00:16:27,700 --> 00:16:30,260 First of all, you underestimated my calling. 269 00:16:32,260 --> 00:16:36,820 They had built their lives around Jesus and who he was and his 270 00:16:36,820 --> 00:16:38,820 teaching and all that he was about. 271 00:16:39,140 --> 00:16:42,660 But they missed that he was the savior of the world. 272 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:46,040 They underestimated his calling. 273 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,920 His calling was not just to be a great teacher. 274 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:52,680 His calling was not just to guide us in the daily activities 275 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:53,240 of life. 276 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:57,600 His calling was to save the world and to be a sacrifice on the 277 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,320 cross and to conquer sin and death. 278 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:00,760 That was his calling. 279 00:17:00,840 --> 00:17:03,240 And, guys, you underestimated me. 280 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,160 I think so often you. 281 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:10,280 And I can look at Jesus and say, well, I just love what he teaches. 282 00:17:11,159 --> 00:17:13,799 I love that he teaches turn the other cheek. 283 00:17:13,799 --> 00:17:15,639 I love that he says, go the extra mile. 284 00:17:15,639 --> 00:17:17,879 I love that he teaches me through this and that. 285 00:17:17,879 --> 00:17:21,319 But some of this other stuff, you know, that's just a bit too far. 286 00:17:22,039 --> 00:17:24,999 No, we underestimate Jesus. 287 00:17:25,879 --> 00:17:29,159 His calling was his purpose. 288 00:17:30,439 --> 00:17:33,719 The teaching was not the primary purpose. 289 00:17:34,999 --> 00:17:38,790 Don't underestimate the calling of Jesus. 290 00:17:38,790 --> 00:17:40,590 And that's what the disciples did. 291 00:17:41,150 --> 00:17:44,830 And this is where the transformation begins in their lives. 292 00:17:44,910 --> 00:17:47,470 From people who ran away on Friday. 293 00:17:48,190 --> 00:17:51,470 To people who boldly marched into the future. 294 00:17:51,950 --> 00:17:54,230 We underestimate the calling of Jesus. 295 00:17:54,230 --> 00:17:57,830 And then I'm sure he said, you know, you underestimated the cost 296 00:17:57,830 --> 00:17:58,750 of redemption. 297 00:18:00,110 --> 00:18:05,030 You underestimated what a price had to be paid to deal with 298 00:18:05,030 --> 00:18:05,310 the. 299 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,200 With the justice that God won't compromise on. 300 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:12,320 He will not compromise on justice. 301 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,880 And somebody had to pay that price. 302 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,800 And I paid that price with love. 303 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:23,440 You know, they wanted Jesus to come and save them from the Romans, 304 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:28,440 but what they didn't realize is they needed Jesus to come and 305 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:29,120 save them from. 306 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:32,490 Sin, which was their worst oppressor. 307 00:18:33,930 --> 00:18:35,050 And I think too much. 308 00:18:35,050 --> 00:18:40,010 Today we have Christians who are wanting Jesus to come and save 309 00:18:41,370 --> 00:18:48,170 a political process or save a culture or save a public policy issue. 310 00:18:48,890 --> 00:18:53,490 Instead, we need to be looking to Jesus as the one who paid the 311 00:18:53,490 --> 00:18:55,370 ultimate cost of redemption. 312 00:18:55,610 --> 00:18:58,230 And our worst oppressor is sin. 313 00:18:58,630 --> 00:19:00,910 It's not these other issues that we. 314 00:19:00,910 --> 00:19:01,910 Tend to focus on. 315 00:19:03,350 --> 00:19:05,710 They underestimated the cost of redemption. 316 00:19:05,710 --> 00:19:09,270 And then thirdly, they underestimated the power of God. 317 00:19:10,310 --> 00:19:12,390 They completely underestimated the power of God. 318 00:19:12,390 --> 00:19:14,550 Now, he had told them over and over, on the third day, I'm going 319 00:19:14,550 --> 00:19:15,470 to rise from the dead. 320 00:19:15,470 --> 00:19:17,230 On the third day, I'm going to rise from the dead. 321 00:19:17,230 --> 00:19:21,350 You would think they would be lining up at that tomb on Sunday 322 00:19:21,430 --> 00:19:26,320 morning to see it happen, but they were nowhere to be found. 323 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,720 In fact, Mary and the other Mary came with spices in order to 324 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:32,000 treat. 325 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:36,720 The dead body, and they assumed it was all over. 326 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,480 They underestimated the power of God. 327 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:45,520 They underestimated the power of God to overcome death and forgive 328 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:46,000 sin. 329 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:52,200 And remember, the proof that he forgives sin is that veil in the 330 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:52,560 temple. 331 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:56,370 Is ripped from top to bottom, which allows the presence of God 332 00:19:56,690 --> 00:19:59,890 to be among us and us to be in the presence of God. 333 00:20:00,930 --> 00:20:02,690 They underestimated Jesus. 334 00:20:02,690 --> 00:20:06,370 And when you look at what he said to them during those 40 days, 335 00:20:06,690 --> 00:20:11,010 this is the primary message that comes across first of all is 336 00:20:11,010 --> 00:20:12,410 that you underestimated me. 337 00:20:12,410 --> 00:20:13,970 You underestimated my calling. 338 00:20:14,050 --> 00:20:18,890 You underestimated the cost of redemption and you underestimated 339 00:20:18,890 --> 00:20:19,890 the power of God. 340 00:20:21,690 --> 00:20:23,090 You know what I think often you. 341 00:20:23,090 --> 00:20:24,090 And I live that way. 342 00:20:25,210 --> 00:20:27,210 We underestimate Jesus. 343 00:20:28,330 --> 00:20:33,210 We way underestimate Jesus in what he can and will do. 344 00:20:33,850 --> 00:20:36,410 So that's the first thing that he said to them. 345 00:20:36,570 --> 00:20:41,610 The second thing he said to them is read your Bible. 346 00:20:43,930 --> 00:20:44,810 Read your Bible. 347 00:20:46,740 --> 00:20:52,500 He points them to the scripture in several different instances. 348 00:20:52,580 --> 00:20:57,660 When he talks to them, to the disciples or other followers, he 349 00:20:57,660 --> 00:21:00,020 points them to the scriptures. 350 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:03,660 He says, you find it so hard to believe that the prophets wrote 351 00:21:03,660 --> 00:21:04,980 all this in the scripture. 352 00:21:05,140 --> 00:21:08,180 He keeps pointing them back to the scripture. 353 00:21:11,150 --> 00:21:14,150 So if you're going to have your life transformed, it's got to 354 00:21:14,150 --> 00:21:16,750 be grounded in the scripture. 355 00:21:17,710 --> 00:21:18,670 Here's the thing. 356 00:21:19,310 --> 00:21:23,150 Jesus knew the scripture was the word of God. 357 00:21:25,150 --> 00:21:28,110 We don't act like that too often. 358 00:21:28,110 --> 00:21:31,990 We act like the scripture is something that's a nice little add 359 00:21:31,990 --> 00:21:34,670 on either to start the day or to end the day. 360 00:21:35,790 --> 00:21:38,990 Yeah, if I have time and I can get up early enough, I'll read a 361 00:21:38,990 --> 00:21:39,390 little bit. 362 00:21:39,660 --> 00:21:41,740 If I have time, I'll read a little bit at night. 363 00:21:42,060 --> 00:21:44,980 And that's a nice add on to kind of put a book in on the day. 364 00:21:44,980 --> 00:21:46,780 And that's a good spiritual life. 365 00:21:47,020 --> 00:21:50,860 No, to Jesus, the scripture was his life. 366 00:21:52,220 --> 00:21:57,140 Jesus understood it really was the word. 367 00:21:57,140 --> 00:22:00,060 Of God and so he made it centerpiece in his life. 368 00:22:01,020 --> 00:22:03,500 And he so often quotes the scripture. 369 00:22:04,220 --> 00:22:06,650 And so during this time in these. 370 00:22:06,650 --> 00:22:09,930 40 days between his resurrection, the ascension, he's 371 00:22:09,930 --> 00:22:13,090 pointing his disciples back to the scripture and essentially saying, 372 00:22:13,250 --> 00:22:14,690 guys, read your Bible. 373 00:22:14,690 --> 00:22:15,490 It's all there. 374 00:22:16,290 --> 00:22:20,210 If you would have read it, you would know what was going to happen. 375 00:22:20,450 --> 00:22:25,090 With this crucifixion and my rising from the grave. 376 00:22:25,650 --> 00:22:26,690 It's all there. 377 00:22:27,890 --> 00:22:32,620 Great admiration, direction to us again. 378 00:22:32,620 --> 00:22:36,100 Now Jesus is turning over everything to these, to these disciples 379 00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:36,700 for the future. 380 00:22:36,700 --> 00:22:38,620 So he's trying to give them direction for the future. 381 00:22:38,940 --> 00:22:40,420 First, don't underestimate me. 382 00:22:40,420 --> 00:22:42,300 And secondly, read your Bible. 383 00:22:42,380 --> 00:22:43,860 And then the third thing he says. 384 00:22:43,860 --> 00:22:45,180 Is, go make disciples. 385 00:22:46,300 --> 00:22:47,260 Make disciples. 386 00:22:48,540 --> 00:22:52,300 Essentially he was giving them their marching orders for the future. 387 00:22:54,060 --> 00:22:58,220 He was saying, this is your calling to make disciples. 388 00:22:59,370 --> 00:23:03,930 Now it's kind of remarkable to me that here's Jesus, all he's been 389 00:23:03,930 --> 00:23:04,250 through. 390 00:23:05,850 --> 00:23:08,490 We just look at Friday, we look at all he'd been through on 391 00:23:08,490 --> 00:23:12,210 Friday and here's this resurrection and he's come out of 392 00:23:12,210 --> 00:23:12,730 the grave. 393 00:23:12,970 --> 00:23:16,610 You would think he knows he's just got a Few days to talk to these 394 00:23:16,610 --> 00:23:17,090 disciples. 395 00:23:17,090 --> 00:23:19,130 And finally, guys, get it straight. 396 00:23:19,130 --> 00:23:20,130 You blew the test. 397 00:23:20,130 --> 00:23:21,450 You weren't there at the moment. 398 00:23:21,530 --> 00:23:23,370 You don't seem to get the main thing. 399 00:23:23,450 --> 00:23:25,200 Now here, here's the game plan. 400 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:26,280 1, 2, 3, 4. 401 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,080 Okay, you're going to do this, this and this. 402 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:29,040 I would have been. 403 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:33,200 If I knew I was leaving Belhaven in 40 days, I would be with 404 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,920 my team making plans to make sure everything was ready to go when 405 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:37,080 I. 406 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:43,760 Walk out the door and not Jesus, he said, don't underestimate 407 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:44,160 me. 408 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,160 Read your Bible and go make disciples. 409 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:50,080 That's the plan. 410 00:23:51,790 --> 00:23:52,510 That's the plan. 411 00:23:52,910 --> 00:23:56,030 He turns it all over to them. 412 00:23:57,390 --> 00:23:59,110 Now, out of this, we take really. 413 00:23:59,110 --> 00:24:01,110 Two insights that are helpful. 414 00:24:01,110 --> 00:24:06,470 First of all, Jesus used them and turned it all over to him when. 415 00:24:06,470 --> 00:24:09,470 They didn't feel qualified and ready to do it. 416 00:24:10,350 --> 00:24:13,830 And I think so often when we think about making disciples, we 417 00:24:13,830 --> 00:24:17,070 say, well, you know, my job to make disciples, Maybe I can get somebody 418 00:24:17,070 --> 00:24:17,750 to come to church. 419 00:24:18,380 --> 00:24:22,500 No, there are things we can do to make disciples even when we don't 420 00:24:22,500 --> 00:24:23,340 feel qualified. 421 00:24:23,900 --> 00:24:27,140 We don't have to have all the theological understanding. 422 00:24:27,140 --> 00:24:29,460 We don't have to have the biblical literacy. 423 00:24:29,460 --> 00:24:32,860 We don't have to have all that in order to help make disciples. 424 00:24:33,659 --> 00:24:37,020 But Jesus said, this is our priority. 425 00:24:37,260 --> 00:24:40,740 Even when you don't feel qualified, I will equip you to help 426 00:24:40,740 --> 00:24:41,660 you make disciples. 427 00:24:41,740 --> 00:24:43,180 Because this is everybody's job. 428 00:24:43,590 --> 00:24:48,150 If you are a follower of Christ, your calling is to make disciples. 429 00:24:49,990 --> 00:24:53,190 Jesus never said make converts, ever. 430 00:24:54,070 --> 00:24:55,910 He said, make disciples. 431 00:24:56,710 --> 00:25:01,110 People who understand the scripture, people who don't underestimate 432 00:25:01,510 --> 00:25:05,510 the power of God and who what the cost of redemption is. 433 00:25:06,550 --> 00:25:10,940 Those are the people we need to build up in our lives, and that's 434 00:25:10,940 --> 00:25:11,540 our calling. 435 00:25:11,540 --> 00:25:14,780 Jesus said, make disciples is your highest priority. 436 00:25:14,780 --> 00:25:16,220 So you're not qualified. 437 00:25:16,220 --> 00:25:17,220 But that doesn't matter. 438 00:25:17,220 --> 00:25:18,620 That doesn't get you out of this. 439 00:25:18,620 --> 00:25:21,580 You don't have to wait till you're qualified in order to make 440 00:25:21,580 --> 00:25:24,660 disciples because these disciples of Jesus, at that point, 441 00:25:24,660 --> 00:25:27,260 the 11 who were left surely weren't qualified. 442 00:25:27,580 --> 00:25:28,620 They flunked the test. 443 00:25:29,180 --> 00:25:31,020 But Jesus said, go do it right now. 444 00:25:31,100 --> 00:25:31,820 Don't wait. 445 00:25:32,860 --> 00:25:35,820 Secondly, out of this, we take that. 446 00:25:35,820 --> 00:25:38,750 Making disciples is our highest priority. 447 00:25:39,870 --> 00:25:42,030 All of you have goals for your life, and you should. 448 00:25:43,070 --> 00:25:46,510 And they're exciting to hear about the things you want to do with 449 00:25:46,510 --> 00:25:47,070 your life. 450 00:25:47,470 --> 00:25:49,510 You want to build a career, you. 451 00:25:49,510 --> 00:25:50,510 Want to build a family. 452 00:25:50,830 --> 00:25:54,110 You want to have a place of significance and meaning and make 453 00:25:54,110 --> 00:25:54,870 your life count. 454 00:25:54,870 --> 00:25:58,430 And all those things are good, but your highest Calling Jesus makes 455 00:25:58,430 --> 00:25:59,070 clear here. 456 00:25:59,070 --> 00:26:00,430 Is to make disciples. 457 00:26:01,710 --> 00:26:04,350 So if you have a great career and you don't make disciples, you 458 00:26:04,350 --> 00:26:04,830 failed. 459 00:26:05,860 --> 00:26:08,820 If you make a lot of money and you don't make disciples, you failed. 460 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:12,020 If you have a terrific family and you don't make disciples, you 461 00:26:12,020 --> 00:26:12,580 failed. 462 00:26:13,140 --> 00:26:17,460 Jesus said making disciples is our highest priority. 463 00:26:18,100 --> 00:26:22,780 And when it comes to making disciples, all of us take one of 464 00:26:22,780 --> 00:26:23,700 three paths. 465 00:26:24,180 --> 00:26:26,900 You could be a person who draws people to God. 466 00:26:27,220 --> 00:26:28,100 Do you do that? 467 00:26:28,900 --> 00:26:32,790 Do you draw people to God by how you interact with them, how you 468 00:26:32,790 --> 00:26:35,990 respond to them, how you show grace, how you show kindness? 469 00:26:36,710 --> 00:26:42,150 Do you draw people to God by demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit 470 00:26:42,310 --> 00:26:43,110 in your life? 471 00:26:47,590 --> 00:26:49,070 You can be that kind of a. 472 00:26:49,070 --> 00:26:50,790 Person who draws people to God. 473 00:26:50,790 --> 00:26:51,910 That's disciple making. 474 00:26:52,070 --> 00:26:53,710 It's not sitting down saying, well, let's. 475 00:26:53,710 --> 00:26:54,870 Study these four scriptures. 476 00:26:54,950 --> 00:26:56,550 That's not necessarily disciple making. 477 00:26:56,550 --> 00:26:58,710 It's part of it, but that's not really it. 478 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,200 It's more importantly how you live as a Christian in interactions 479 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:04,960 with people you're closest to. 480 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,920 So you can be a person who draws people to God. 481 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:11,760 Secondly, you can be a person who pushes people away from God. 482 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:13,840 And there are a lot of folks who do that. 483 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,080 So you're tempted to do some stuff you shouldn't be doing because 484 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:19,200 it doesn't honor God. 485 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:23,640 And you, you pull other people along into that with you because 486 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:23,960 then you. 487 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:25,310 Feel better about your yourself. 488 00:27:25,310 --> 00:27:29,230 If you can get others to walk farther away from God so that you. 489 00:27:29,230 --> 00:27:33,470 Feel better, you can be a person who reacts in anger. 490 00:27:33,630 --> 00:27:35,950 You can be a person who is selfish. 491 00:27:35,950 --> 00:27:37,710 You can be a person who's bullying. 492 00:27:37,790 --> 00:27:41,230 You can be a person who's, who's manipulative. 493 00:27:42,190 --> 00:27:48,670 Those things push, pull people away from God as you demonstrate 494 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:51,240 not the fruits. 495 00:27:51,240 --> 00:27:54,200 Of the spirit, but the fruits of evil. 496 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:58,720 As you demonstrate that, you can pull people away from God. 497 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,440 And the scripture talks very much about the penalty. 498 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:07,400 For those of us who pull people away from God, there's a high 499 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:08,520 cost to pay for that. 500 00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:12,680 It's better to be the third, which. 501 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:13,960 Is essentially, you don't care. 502 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:16,200 You don't do anything. 503 00:28:16,650 --> 00:28:17,610 You're just about you. 504 00:28:20,010 --> 00:28:22,850 You don't draw people to God. 505 00:28:22,850 --> 00:28:24,610 You don't push people away from God. 506 00:28:24,610 --> 00:28:25,290 You're just you. 507 00:28:26,090 --> 00:28:27,210 It's all about you. 508 00:28:28,410 --> 00:28:29,770 It's better than the second one. 509 00:28:30,810 --> 00:28:33,890 But there's no reason all of us can't do the first one of pulling 510 00:28:33,890 --> 00:28:34,730 people to God. 511 00:28:35,050 --> 00:28:38,610 You don't have to be qualified to do that because the disciples 512 00:28:38,610 --> 00:28:39,690 surely weren't qualified. 513 00:28:39,690 --> 00:28:40,490 They just flunked. 514 00:28:40,490 --> 00:28:41,610 The biggest test of their life. 515 00:28:42,260 --> 00:28:45,540 And Jesus said, go and make disciples. 516 00:28:46,740 --> 00:28:49,620 So that's what Jesus told them during these 40 days. 517 00:28:50,580 --> 00:28:52,980 You underestimated me big time. 518 00:28:54,180 --> 00:28:55,700 Secondly, read your Bible. 519 00:28:56,420 --> 00:28:57,620 It's a real thing. 520 00:28:58,180 --> 00:29:02,180 And thirdly, go make disciples. 521 00:29:03,220 --> 00:29:06,020 Well, one last thing he told them before we finish up. 522 00:29:06,820 --> 00:29:07,700 He said this. 523 00:29:08,730 --> 00:29:13,770 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. 524 00:29:16,810 --> 00:29:19,050 Two weeks from now, next week's spring break. 525 00:29:19,450 --> 00:29:22,010 Week after that, we're going to have our last chapel. 526 00:29:22,010 --> 00:29:23,170 And we're going to talk about the. 527 00:29:23,170 --> 00:29:25,690 Ascension, when Jesus went to heaven. 528 00:29:25,770 --> 00:29:28,330 And we're going to talk about the coming of the Holy Spirit. 529 00:29:28,810 --> 00:29:34,100 And that's how God is with us always, even to the end of the age. 530 00:29:35,210 --> 00:29:40,130 And in that, we can accomplish the challenge he gives us to go and 531 00:29:40,130 --> 00:29:40,890 make disciples. 532 00:29:42,090 --> 00:29:43,850 Let's say together our benediction. 533 00:29:44,490 --> 00:29:49,210 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what 534 00:29:49,210 --> 00:29:51,690 God has prepared for those who love him. 535 00:29:52,010 --> 00:29:52,690 God bless. 536 00:29:52,690 --> 00:29:53,450 Have a good day.