The Resurrection Revealed

Take your Bibles over to Mark chapter 16 this morning. Mark chapter 16.

Mark 16 · chapter mention Mark 16 · chapter mention

As we're going to continue looking here at the close of the book of Mark.

! As we recorded for us the day that Jesus rose from the dead.

And that was a day that definitely was filled with activity.

There was much happening.

Because Jesus did not just depart for glory.

You know, He could have very easily just went to heaven.

But you know, as He was here, He realized, He allowed us to understand and realize the importance of the fact

that it's just not said He was alive, but that He is alive.

You know, because it's important to know that Jesus wanted His disciples and those there to know for sure.

They didn't want Him just to think, well the tomb was empty, therefore He must be alive.

We're going to look today at the fact that He wanted them to know that He was alive.

And to understand the importance of knowing that critical bit of information.

That it's not an assumption.

You know, today we get a lot of assumptions.

You know, people assume things.

And well, somebody said that was.

But you know, there's something about a validation.

And I witnessed testimony that says, hey, this happened.

This is a reality.

This is exactly what took place.

And you know, today many people question the resurrection.

And we can't go to the tomb and see the cloth there that was laying and the napkin folded.

We can't see those things with our own eyes.

But we do have the testimony of many in Scripture that says, yes, I did see it.

I do know that Jesus rose from the dead.

As a matter of fact, the Scripture reveals that for the next 40 days, Jesus met with many people.

The next 40 days after this, Jesus met with His disciples.

He met with other individuals.

As a matter of fact, the Scripture tells us that at one time there was 500 at once.

And I'm just always thinking to myself whenever I read that, who could argue with that?

If you get 500 people to agree on something, that's a big task.

If you had 500 that says, yes, I saw Jesus alive, that's pretty good testimony.

That's a powerful testimony.

That's stronger than what one person says.

But when they all understand.

But the Bible wants us to know.

God wants us to know that this first day of the week, He wanted people to know,

not just to assume or just to question, but to know that He was alive.

And He appeared to many.

And we're going to look here this morning as we take some time here to look at the fact that He is alive.

And so if you found Mark chapter 16 this morning,

Mark 16 · chapter mention

let's stand together in honor of the reading of the Word of God.

We'll pick up in verse 9 here this morning.

And it says,

Let's pray.

Heavenly Fathers, we take a few moments here to look at the importance and the critical nature of knowing that you're alive.

Lord, the reality of the resurrection.

And look at these individuals here recorded in the Gospel of Mark for us.

Lord, I pray that you would have your hand upon this message.

Lord, your spirit would speak.

Lord, I pray that you just would work in a mighty way.

Lord, help me to have the thoughts and the things that would be pleasing and honoring to you.

Lord, that would represent your Word.

Lord, help us to just grab a hold of the truth and the reality of the resurrection here this morning.

And Lord, we just thank you and praise you in Jesus' name.

Amen.

May we be seated.

You know, so as we look here, in order to understand the events around the resurrection,

we need to summarize the Gospel accounts because each supplies some important details about the events of that day.

You know, all four of the Gospels give a little different perspective and little different details of the event.

You know, and that's another validation that we have that what they say is true because, you know,

if everybody matched up every detail exactly, it would cause people to question.

I question if I see things just are repeated and they're exactly the same.

You know, if you were going to see an accident out here and the police got a report and everybody said the same thing,

the police would be questioning what was happening.

Because some people pick up on a different detail than somebody else.

Somebody's privy to a different angle of something that happened that somebody else didn't know about.

And when they get all that, that's how they compile that information to say,

okay, now we can say what happened.

Because we have all the angles, all the direction.

The four Gospels give us those angles of direction upon the resurrection to help us know and to see.

And so as we understand this morning that it began here very simply,

all of them begin at the same place.

And that was in the early morning hours when the women traveled from Bethany towards Jerusalem.

You know, and we find that was important and information to know that these ladies had taken off

and they were going to, they brought the spices and the things that they were going to anoint the body of Jesus with.

But at the time they were traveling and wondering who was going to open the tomb.

And during that time we find that God was already working because as they traveled to the tomb,

it was being opened by an angel, which caused the guards to panic and run,

leaving the tomb unguarded and empty.

You know, we find that two angels were given instructions,

were there to give instructions to the women.

And they said, go and tell others, especially Peter, that what?

Jesus is alive.

To let them know that he's alive.

Peter and John race back towards the tomb and find it empty.

And they just return back to the room where we're going to find that they were at the end of the day.

But now Mary Magdalene also returned to the tomb.

She went back to the tomb and John's gospel gives us the details.

And Mark just summarizes the events.

But I want you to understand that here's Mary Magdalene in a time of despair.

He was revealed to the despairing.

I mean, she's there weeping outside the tomb.

She's there.

Peter and John have left and went back.

And here she is just outside the tomb, despairing of what had taken place.

Standing there over and just contemplating what had happened,

questioning the situation,

desiring to find where they had taken Jesus' body,

even though she had seen and heard the angel in the tomb earlier,

it still was not real to her what had taken place.

Because Jesus was the one that changed her life.

So dramatically.

I want you to understand,

Mary Magdalene is one whose life changed dramatically because of Jesus.

Notice here in our text of how it displays Mary Magdalene here.

Notice here in verse 9,

it says,

He appeared first to Mary Magdalene,

out of whom he had done what?

Cast seven devils.

You know,

it's noted that her encounter with Jesus changed her life.

You know,

we understand that because of the seven devils that were in possession and possessing her,

that she was probably involved in some things that she probably shouldn't have been.

You know,

some occultic practices and things of that nature,

that of witchcraft and sorceries or necromancy.

And we see all these things.

It's not about that dynamic,

because I think she might have been religious.

But you know what?

Oftentimes,

religious people,

even if they dabble in things they shouldn't dabble in,

and they get involved in things that they shouldn't,

because we ought to avoid those things.

But I want you to see here,

that that was where she was.

And we don't have the circumstances of what took place,

but just a simple statement that Jesus cast out seven devils.

Her life changed.

She was set free.

You know,

her encounter with Jesus changed her life.

And afterwards,

you find her serving and ministering to Jesus as they traveled.

And her sins had been forgiven.

And she had not forgotten.

You know,

look over to Luke chapter seven for a moment,

because Jesus makes a statement about another one that anointed him.

And we find here,

notice what the scripture tells us here in Luke 7,

47 says,

wherefore,

I say unto thee,

her sins,

which are many are forgiven for she loved much,

but to whom little is forgiven,

the same loveth little.

You know,

sometimes that's the fact.

Sometimes we forget what Christ has done for us.

You know,

I want you to understand something.

Isn't it that Jesus,

when he saves the most vilest sinner,

you can see that you can imagine,

because yes,

God can save the most vile sinner that walks the face of the earth.

What he did is sufficient for the most vile,

and it changes and transforms their life.

I want you to understand,

it took the same amount,

the same reality as it does for a sixth grader sitting in Sunday school class that gets saved.

The price was the same.

The wages of sin is death.

But you know,

sometimes we look at little,

and it's like,

well,

my life didn't change that much,

and so it affects our attachment to Jesus.

But you know,

people have been,

that Jesus has transformed from the struggles and the hindrance of life.

You'll find that very true.

Oftentimes,

they're all in.

They don't want to go back to where they were.

They say,

I'm with Jesus.

And Mary was one of those,

that she was sold out to the Lord.

That's the reason I think it was such a despairing thing for her.

She'd invested everything towards Jesus.

She had served Him.

Her love for Jesus was seen in her actions.

And we find her here at the tomb weeping.

John chapter 20 tells us this,

John 20 · chapter mention

and it says,

But Mary stood without the sepulcher weeping,

and as she wept,

she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher,

and seeth two angels.

And down in verse 13,

And they say unto her,

Woman,

Why weepest thou?

And she saith unto them,

Because they have taken away my Lord,

and I know not where they have laid Him.

Now,

you know,

when you read the scripture,

sometimes this gets confusing,

because we say,

well,

she was already there,

and the angel told her they were alive.

You know what the problem is?

Sometimes we hear something,

but it doesn't connect.

When we get in distress,

you know what happens?

We go back to default.

We default back into the things of what,

how we're thinking,

and how we're processing,

instead of looking at it in light of the scripture,

of what God has promised.

She went back to what she understood.

She didn't grab a hold of the reality of the resurrection.

The resurrection to her,

I think is like many things today,

it was a theological dynamic to talk about,

but it was not a reality in her life.

Even though she saw everything,

it hadn't connected.

That connection wasn't there,

and she was despairing,

because even though she knew Jesus wasn't in the tomb,

what's she saying?

Hey,

where did they lay Him?

Where did they take Him?

Even though the angel said,

He's not here.

He's been,

He's alive.

He's risen.

You know,

I want you to understand something,

because sometimes even today as believers,

we can be the same way about the things of God,

because we can understand it intellectually.

We can understand it theologically,

but there's a difference to understanding it practically,

to understand what does that mean?

How does it apply?

How does it impact my life?

She was in such despair,

where the Bible tells us that she didn't even recognize Jesus.

John's account says,

Jesus came up behind her,

and asked her a question,

you know,

what's going on here?

And she thought He was the gardener.

But John says something,

and I think this is one of those things,

that all he said was Mary.

I think it was probably in the same tone of voice,

that he had mentioned her by name many times.

Because you know what happened?

Something clicked in her head.

She goes,

that's Jesus,

standing right there with her.

It connected with her.

Jesus had been crucified,

buried,

and she saw,

she witnessed it,

and now Jesus is standing behind her.

And she turns,

the Bible says,

and says,

Master,

the resurrection changed everything.

You know,

it's interesting that Mary was the first one to see the resurrected Savior.

She was the first one.

You know,

Mark tells us that it was first.

He tells us this,

and when Jesus had risen early on the first day of the week,

we find that He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.

You know,

I was asking myself a question on this,

of just thinking through,

why did He appear to Mary first?

You know,

sometimes in Scripture it's good to ask questions.

You know what?

Because I think she was the one wanting to draw nigh.

She was the one that wanted to be close to her Savior.

She was the one that went back and said,

no,

I want to know.

She wanted to draw close once again to the one who had changed her life.

He didn't appear to the disciples.

You know,

Jesus didn't appear to His own mother or His other half-siblings.

Jesus first was to Mary Magdalene.

Why?

Because I believe she wanted to be close to God.

Look over to Psalm 73 for a moment.

Psalm 73 and verse 28.

The Bible tells us this,

and it makes it clear,

but it is good for me to draw near to God.

I have put my trust in the Lord God,

that I may declare all thy works.

You know,

I think it's good to draw close to God.

In times of despair,

we need to draw close to Him.

He came to consult her,

encourage her with love and grace.

You know,

I want you to see here,

Jesus didn't get after Mary for still questioning the resurrection.

Remember,

she said,

where have they laid Him?

I need to see the body.

And Jesus comes up behind her and says,

Mary,

and everything changed.

She did get to see the body,

just like she was suspecting.

Because instead of a dead corpse laying someplace,

it was a living and standing right there with her,

Jesus.

Jesus was right there.

When you're in despair,

we need to seek the Lord,

never forgetting what God has done for us.

He's there.

He's alive.

You know,

but next we find in this account of Mark,

we find the distraught walking home,

not understanding.

I mean,

sometimes when things happen in life,

we get distraught,

and we're like rolling things over in their heads.

And as you read this account,

these individuals,

I think I can see them walking and talking as they're going that seven mile plus journey back home from Jerusalem,

and they're just replaying everything in their head.

You know,

what just happened?

I think they were still in shock.

They were still trying to process all that was going on.

The two that were walking home.

Look here at verse 12 with me in the scripture.

It says,

after that,

he appeared to another form under two of them as they walked and went into the country.

Here we find that these two were walking home.

Mark just gives a quick summary,

but Luke records from his eyewitness testimony.

I want you to understand Luke's gospel is a little unique because it's like a gathering.

It's like a big major news report because Luke gathered eyewitnesses and he's writing it to say,

hey,

this is what's most surely believed among us because of what we've heard and what we've seen and the witnesses that witnessed it.

Luke is the one that revealed to us exactly a lot of details because he was like the investigative reporter that went out and interviewed people.

He said,

what happened?

What took place?

And he read God had him record that for us.

But we find here in Luke chapter 24 that we know that one of them was Cleopas and the other not mentioned.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

We're walking back to Emmaus about seven and a half mile walk.

Here's the two that were there.

They had plenty of time to discuss what had happened over the course of the past week.

You know,

think about it.

You have a lot of time to talk on a seven mile walk.

Because let me give you a clue.

They weren't walking like this as they walked and talked.

They were probably traveling with many others that were departing Jerusalem that day.

Because it was the first day of the week had been after the Passover.

Everybody had been in Jerusalem.

They're heading back home.

Many other people are probably departing.

You say,

well,

why didn't they leave earlier?

It was the Sabbath.

They couldn't.

They had to stay put on the Sabbath.

Because if you lived outside of Sabbath day's journey,

you'd get in trouble.

So they hadn't left yet.

So that morning on the first day of the week,

here they take off.

A little later in the morning,

we find out because they knew the report that Jesus had risen from the dead.

They got the verbal report.

They understood what had happened.

And as they were talking along the way and over the course of all the events of that past week,

Luke 24,

Luke 24:14

verse 14 says,

and they talked together of all these things that which had happened.

They were trying to process that.

They were distraught.

They didn't understand.

When you read Luke 24,

you find we had trusted that Jesus was the one.

They'd invested their time and understood from the scripture that Jesus was supposed to be their Messiah,

the one they looked for,

and it didn't turn out the way they thought.

You know,

I think as they walked and they talked,

that's the reason they didn't think anything special about the one that began to walk with them.

You know,

I imagine many people were passing by and they're probably passing other people and one comes up beside them.

And he asked them,

what's going on?

You know,

when you read Luke 24,

I'll just give you a little summation here.

You know,

it's kind of like I imagine them looking at Jesus,

you know,

as they're leaving Jerusalem,

where are you been hiding under a rock?

You know,

because he asked them,

well,

what happened?

So they start telling him all that took place.

And kind of that idea of,

you know,

why didn't you know?

You know,

if you're in Jerusalem,

how'd you not hear?

Everybody's talking about it.

Everything was centered around this event that took place.

It was a big dynamic.

You know,

they talked about what had happened,

about how Jesus had been crucified,

how he was buried,

and how the reports about the empty tomb,

and some of the female followers of Jesus

claimed they saw the empty tomb,

and an angel had told them he was alive.

While they walked with Jesus,

began to reveal all that had been declared about Christ in the Scripture.

You know,

look over to Luke chapter 24 for a moment.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

You know,

Luke chapter 24,

Luke 24 · chapter mention

we find here that Jesus does something to help them,

to encourage them.

They're distraught.

They're like,

I don't understand.

And look what it says in verse 25.

It says,

and he said,

and he said unto them,

O fools,

and slow of heart to believe

all that the prophets have spoken.

So they got the report Jesus was alive.

They knew the information.

Look at verse 26,

and he says,

Ought not Christ to have suffered these things

to enter into his glory?

In other words,

he says,

hadn't you read Isaiah 53?

Haven't you read Psalm 16?

Haven't you read the other passages

in the prophets

talking about what was going to take place?

Notice what he says here in verse 27,

and beginning at Moses and all the prophets,

he expounded unto them in all the scriptures

the things concerning himself.

Now you talk about a Bible lesson.

You know,

no place in scripture tells us exactly

what that conversation entailed

other than he says,

go read the back,

go read the Old Testament.

I've already told you everything.

Consider that dynamic here.

Jesus expounds to them

everything from Moses,

all and how he fulfilled

everything in regard to the law.

Now that's a class you ought to want to sit in.

Amen?

You know,

there's no speculation.

There's no question.

You hear it directly from the one

who's the author of it.

The exact dynamic,

and he tells them all the things

concerning himself

on this seven mile walk,

and they invite him to stay

as the day was gone.

And it says,

as they were eating,

they began to recognize,

they recognized Jesus

and the one that he had been speaking with.

The resurrected Savior

changed everything.

Because here we have two

that were walking

and they were distraught.

They were disappointed

in what was happening.

There were all these dynamics

and suddenly everything changed

when they realized

it was Jesus

they were talking to.

They went from being distraught

to rejoicing

in the fact it was true.

They understand

Jesus is risen indeed.

Now the Bible tells us

that they went back,

notice what it says

in verse 13.

It says,

and they went and told it

to the residue,

neither believed they them.

Now,

what happened here?

Now,

this tells you something

that when Jesus gets a hold

and changes something in your life,

suddenly a lot of things change

because remember

it's supper time.

It's getting late in the day.

They just walked seven miles home.

They're so excited

they walked the seven miles

back to Jerusalem

to tell everybody,

hey,

we just saw Jesus.

They went all the way back

to give the report.

report.

Now,

as I was thinking through that,

I'm thinking,

yeah,

they were probably walking

a little bit faster

going back

than they were going home

because you know what?

There's a difference

between a walk

when you're

in despair,

when you're distraught

because you kind of walk

in the mopey mode.

But you know what?

It's interesting.

It says that they were rejoicing.

I imagine that

their pace picked up

quite a bit

on the way back

because when people

are rejoicing,

their pace picks up.

I imagine they wanted

to get back

and say,

hey,

listen to what happened

to us.

You know,

anybody living on that day

would have loved

to see

all these things

that had taken place.

You think about

all the things

that took place

on the day

that Jesus rose again.

you have the angels

rolling the stone away,

opening it up

for everybody to see.

You have them telling them

that Jesus is alive.

They see an empty tomb.

They see that

there's a wrapping

that they had wrapped him in

and how it had

just collapsed there

and the napkin

around his head

that was folded

and placed

where his head was.

You know,

that day,

they could go see

all those things.

They could see the stone

that had rolled away.

They saw the Savior

walking and talking

with them.

But you know,

the scripture here

tells us something

very important.

Did you know

that they needed

none of those things

to believe that Jesus

was going to rise

from the dead?

You know,

oftentimes we get

caught up in saying,

hey,

I want to see it.

I want to feel it.

I want to touch it.

I want to experience it.

You know,

have you ever thought

that when they went

to the tomb that morning

on the third day,

they should have been

expecting it to be empty?

Instead of going

with gloom,

they should have went

with expectation

to check it out.

They should have gone

not looking for a dead body

but a living Lord.

Why should they have gone

there rejoicing

and not weeping?

Why?

Because Jesus

had already told them

exactly what was

going to happen.

The problem was

none of them

believed Him.

You know,

three times

on the way to Jerusalem,

before He went

to the cross,

the Bible says

that Jesus

told them

what was going

to take place.

He told them

exactly what was

going to happen

when He rose

from the dead.

He was simply

doing what He'd

already told them

He was going to do.

Three times,

you know,

Mark chapter 9,

Mark 9 · chapter mention

we find one of those

accounts and it says this,

for He taught

His disciples

and said,

and the Son of Man

is delivered

into the hands

of men

and they shall kill Him

and after He is killed

He shall do what?

Rise the third day.

That Sunday morning

they should have went

with expectation

because Jesus

had already told them.

Jesus told them

what was going to happen.

It was there,

you know,

but I want you to understand

many times people

are seeking

that experience

before they respond

to Jesus,

but the fact is

you just have to

accept Him at His word.

Jesus told us

what was going to happen

and that's what happened.

Jesus says,

whosoever shall call

upon the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

You know what?

It's a reality.

Anybody that calls

upon Him

is saved.

Why?

Not because of

what you experience

physically

because Jesus

promised it

and it transforms you.

The Bible says

that you were dead

and now you're alive.

there's a difference.

What was it built in?

The word of the Lord

reveals the will

of the Lord.

God's word

reveals His will

and it reveals

His promises.

It reveals

what He desires.

It reveals

what He's going to give to us.

The problem isn't

with His book

and His promises

and His will.

The problem's with us.

Are we going to believe it?

Are you going to believe

what the Scripture says?

You know,

Jesus next appears

to what we'll call

He revealed Himself

to the difficult.

You know,

I don't know what other term

to use for this crew.

You might say

this is the difficult crew.

Look at verse 14.

It says,

afterwards He appeared

unto the eleven

as they sat at meat.

You know,

the ones who should have been

first to believe

had spent the day

pretty much secluded

because they were fearful

of what might happen.

the very ones

who should have been out

and telling everybody,

hey,

Jesus is alive

are hiding in a room.

They'd went,

I want you to understand

at this point,

Peter and John

had already went

to the tomb,

saw the empty tomb,

but yet it still

didn't connect

what Jesus said

and what Jesus did.

They were still

having problems.

They were being difficult,

you might say,

and we're going to see

how that was revealed

in Jesus

what He does here

because Mark just kind of

points to one portion of this.

I want you to understand

that Jesus,

what didn't come in

and just get after Him,

Jesus was there lovingly

and responding to them

and then He goes,

guys,

I'm going to have to get after you

because you should have been

the first ones to believe.

You walked with me

and talked with me.

You saw the miracles.

I sent you out.

You did miracles in my name.

We see all these things,

these validations

that they had experienced.

They saw the empty tomb.

They had the report.

They had Mary Magdalene

that went back to them

and said,

hey,

I just saw Jesus at the tomb.

But look back up.

When she went to them,

what did they do?

Verse 11,

and when they heard

that He was alive

and had been seen of her,

believed not.

Believed not.

They did not believe the report.

Look at verse 13.

When the two from Emmaus

came back

and they went and told it

under the residue,

neither believed they them.

Now,

I want you to understand

something from Scripture

a little bit

because there is a

scriptural principle

applied here.

The Bible says

that at the mouth

of one witness,

you shouldn't,

things aren't established.

But at the mouth

of two or three witnesses,

do you establish a thing?

I understand.

You can give them a break

for not believing Mary,

but when the other two showed up

and said they'd said

the same thing,

now what do you have?

You have enough witnesses

to say,

hey,

there's some validity

to what's being said.

God is validating

those things to them

and now Jesus,

they're there in the room

and Luke and John

both record

what took place.

It says,

afterwards,

he appeared unto the eleven

as they sat at meat.

Here's Jesus

later that evening.

He appears in the room

with them.

You know,

the Bible says

the door was closed

and Jesus shows up

and he didn't come

through the door.

Jesus appears in the room.

He begins to talk with them.

They had heard the reports

of his resurrection.

You know,

John 20 tells us

that the disciples

were there in that room

because they were afraid

of the Jews

and, you know,

Jesus just passes through

or materializes

in their presence

and he reveals himself

and John tells us

that he looked at them

and said,

hey,

you want some validation?

Here's my hands.

Here's my side.

Look at my feet.

Understand that I am he.

It says that the disciples

were glad

when they saw the Lord.

But you know,

it's something here

that when Jesus assures them

that he's alive

and that he is

who he said he is,

you know,

he could have come in

and just got right after him

for their unbelief.

But I want you to understand

Jesus lovingly

came alongside them

because, you know,

one part of correction

is to know

that the person correcting you

has your best things at heart.

Here Jesus said,

hey guys,

I love you.

But now let me tell you something.

Jesus gets after them.

I want you to understand

the term that Mark uses here

is a strong term.

Upbraided them

with their unbelief

and hardness

of heart.

They should have been

the first to believe

that Jesus was alive.

You know,

it would be critical

that these men

would understand

the need to believe

not only by sight,

but by faith

that Jesus is alive.

The resurrection

is a fact.

It was eight days later,

the Bible tells us

that Jesus appeared

again to them

with Thomas present

and considering

what Jesus tells them.

You know,

look over to John chapter 20

John 20 · chapter mention

for a moment

because I think

this is important

because remember Thomas,

we get the doubting Thomas,

you know,

that's all from this,

you know,

because when,

after Thomas wasn't there

for the supper

the first time

and when

all the other disciples

say,

hey Thomas,

Jesus was here

and Thomas goes,

I don't believe you.

Unless I can see

his hands and his side,

I'm not going to believe it.

Look at verse 29

and Jesus saith unto him,

Thomas,

because thou hast seen me,

thou hast believed.

But he says,

blessed are they

that have not seen

and yet have believed.

You know what?

The reality is

if you're saved today,

you're blessed.

We are blessed

with what God

has done for us.

Jesus tells them

they'll go

to preach the truth

of the resurrected Savior

the one that is preached

that lives

and might be changed,

will change those

and change by faith

in what's happening.

You know,

Luke 24 goes on

and it tells us

that Jesus

reveals some more

to them.

You know,

earlier before the cross,

Jesus says,

I can't tell you

everything right now

because you're not ready

to hear what I'm going

to have to tell you,

but here Jesus tells them,

look what happened

in verse 45.

It says this,

and then opened he

their understanding

that they might

understand the Scripture.

And said unto them,

thus it is written

and thus it behooved

Christ to suffer

and to rise from dead

the third day

and that repentance

and remissions of sin

should be preached

in his name

among all nations

beginning at Jerusalem.

And he says,

and ye are what?

Witnesses

of these things.

He says you give a witness

because of what happened.

You know,

the same thing

is when we share

the truth of the gospel

with somebody,

you're just being a witness

to what should have

happened to you.

Of what took place.

Because the resurrected Savior

changes forever

everything around it.

You cannot know him

and the power of his resurrection

and remain as you are.

You know,

this morning

the reality is this,

if you've never been saved,

you need to get saved today.

You need to have that settled

in your heart,

not in a hope so,

but I know so,

not because of what

I have done,

I know because he said,

if I do this,

he will save.

It's not about us,

it's about trusting

in what he did,

what he declared.

He said,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life,

and no man cometh

unto the Father

but by me.

It has to be

a settled thing.

You know,

we ought not to delay

and waiting for a better time

and stop putting off

what you know

you need to do,

you know,

and just come to Jesus.

Call upon him.

You know,

the reality is

is today's

the day of salvation.

But you know,

the other thing

we learn from this

is that if you've been saved,

you need to live like it.

That means being holy,

being faithful,

it means being in your place,

it means living for the Lord,

it means getting before him

to thank him

and praise him

for what he's done

in your life.

You know,

this morning we have

the reality

of the resurrection.

The reality of what

Christ has done.

No matter where you are,

the resurrection

of a living Savior

has been revealed

to us.

The question is,

what are you going to do with it?

It was revealed

to all these today.

And they had to make a decision,

what am I going to do with it?

What have you done

with the Savior?

His heads are bowed

and eyes are closed

this morning.

What about you today?

Are you here today

and know 100% for sure

that you're saved

of where you stand

with the Lord?

If not,

why not today?

Get that settled with him.

If you want,

you can come

while somebody

show you from God's word.

not what the preacher says,

not what somebody else says,

not what some influencer says,

but what God says

in regard to your salvation.

But maybe you're here today

and say,

Lord,

I need to start living

in light

of the resurrection.

Heavenly Fathers,

we just come before you

this morning.

Lord,

we just thank you

and praise you

for the day.

thank you for,

that we don't worship

and go to a tomb

and try to honor you there,

Lord,

but we can honor you here

because you're alive.

Lord,

you say you're never

going to leave us

or forsake us

and you're here today

with us.

Your spirit is here

moving amongst your people,

moving amongst those

that need to respond to you.

Lord,

I pray just have your hand

upon each one.

Lord,

you know each one

here today.

Lord,

I just pray that you

just work in a mighty way

and we just give you

all the praise

and glory and honor

in Jesus' name.

As the piano plays,

what about you?