WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.680 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:46.220 --> 00:00:47.340 Well, good morning. 00:00:48.220 --> 00:00:50.400 Glad that you guys are here with us. 00:00:50.440 --> 00:00:55.580 This is our third time around this morning, starting bright and early at 730, but I want 00:00:55.580 --> 00:00:59.420 to tell you, we're just as excited to do it now as we did it at 730, right? 00:00:59.460 --> 00:01:04.500 Maybe with a little bit more energy now than I had at 730, but we are glad that you guys 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:05.040 are here. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.840 We want to make sure everybody had an opportunity to pick up your elements for the Lord's Supper. 00:01:10.240 --> 00:01:13.860 We're going to do that at the very end of the message, and so they're at the very back. 00:01:13.940 --> 00:01:16.140 If you didn't get one, we're not going to judge you. 00:01:16.180 --> 00:01:17.300 Get up and head back there now. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:18.960 Would be a great time to do that. 00:01:19.160 --> 00:01:23.800 If you haven't done the Lord's Supper with us yet, what you'll see on here is the wafer 00:01:23.800 --> 00:01:28.480 is in the top section, and so we'll do that first, and then underneath that is the juice 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:30.080 that we'll take at the very end. 00:01:30.180 --> 00:01:34.740 And so, again, we thank you guys for being here, for worshiping with us today. 00:01:34.940 --> 00:01:41.180 I want to let you all know that next Sunday, we're going to have a special guest here with 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:41.460 us. 00:01:41.580 --> 00:01:45.940 Dustin Stotman, Pastor Dustin Stotman, is going to be here to preach with us. 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:47.100 I'll be here. 00:01:47.220 --> 00:01:52.400 Dustin is our church planner that we partner with in West Jordan, right outside of Salt 00:01:52.400 --> 00:01:57.100 Lake City, Utah, and he and his family are planning the Hope Valley Church, and he called 00:01:57.100 --> 00:02:02.100 me and he said, hey, I'm going to be in South Carolina the week after Easter and would love 00:02:02.100 --> 00:02:06.300 to come and share with your church and preach the gospel and share with them. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:07.760 Would you allow me to do that? 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:08.900 And so, absolutely. 00:02:09.060 --> 00:02:10.760 So we're going to be blessed to have him here. 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:12.320 I'm going to be excited to be here. 00:02:12.320 --> 00:02:17.560 So I want to invite you to come here and hear about what God is doing, but also to be with 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:20.880 Dustin as he opens up God's Word. 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:23.800 So that'll be next Sunday. 00:02:24.420 --> 00:02:27.020 Let me ask you guys a question as we get started, all right? 00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:38.260 Can you think of a day in your life where an event happened and your life from that moment 00:02:38.260 --> 00:02:40.120 forward was changed? 00:02:42.320 --> 00:02:43.240 I want you to think about that. 00:02:44.260 --> 00:02:51.400 Think of one day in your life where the events that unfolded that day changed everything for 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:52.380 you moving forward. 00:02:53.380 --> 00:02:56.640 The truth is, you probably can't just think of one day. 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:05.360 You probably can think of multiple days where events happened in your life and it changed 00:03:05.360 --> 00:03:05.840 you. 00:03:06.140 --> 00:03:08.340 It changed details around you. 00:03:08.340 --> 00:03:11.380 It maybe even changed your location in life. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:16.920 Some of you, as you begin to think through that, you'll go to some happy memories, some good 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:18.640 times of things that happened before. 00:03:18.980 --> 00:03:24.360 But also there may be some of you in here, you go to a tragic moment, a tragic event where 00:03:24.360 --> 00:03:29.360 when it happened and took place, your life was altered and drastically changed. 00:03:30.320 --> 00:03:33.040 You know, it's hard for me at least in my childhood. 00:03:33.220 --> 00:03:34.980 My parents stayed together. 00:03:35.180 --> 00:03:37.380 They're still married to this day. 00:03:37.380 --> 00:03:41.560 So I didn't walk through a season of divorce like many people have. 00:03:42.540 --> 00:03:46.940 I didn't lose anyone in my family at a young age. 00:03:47.060 --> 00:03:52.080 My grandfather passed away when I was in high school and be able to watch him walk through 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:52.420 that. 00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:57.520 To be honest with you, as bad as his health had gotten, it was very gracious in that moment 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:00.300 for us to watch him pass on to be with the Lord. 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:06.740 When I look at my childhood, though, and think of an event, it seemed minor at the time, but 00:04:06.740 --> 00:04:10.560 for me, it's rippled true into who I am today. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:17.620 When I graduated from high school, my parents had given me some gifts for graduating, but 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:20.560 my dad did something that my dad had never done before. 00:04:21.180 --> 00:04:27.420 My dad gave me a letter, and he handed me that letter, and I opened the letter. 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:33.220 He wanted me to read it in private, and so I went and read that letter in private and laid 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:33.500 it out. 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:38.880 Me and my dad have a great relationship, okay, but this is not the norm of my dad in my life, 00:04:38.900 --> 00:04:39.080 right? 00:04:39.220 --> 00:04:40.480 You would think we're brothers. 00:04:40.620 --> 00:04:41.980 We pick on each other so much. 00:04:42.900 --> 00:04:50.080 But laid out through those pages was how much he loved me and would sacrifice for me, and 00:04:50.080 --> 00:04:57.100 it really just imprinted on my heart, affirming to a deeper level how much my dad loved me 00:04:57.100 --> 00:05:02.580 and cared for me, and then able to take that on and to carry that into the relationship that 00:05:02.580 --> 00:05:04.100 I have with my son or my daughter. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:06.700 That letter changed me. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:08.900 It changed my future. 00:05:09.060 --> 00:05:09.940 It changed my trajectory. 00:05:11.240 --> 00:05:16.900 I'll never forget, December 15th, it was at First Baptist North Augusta. 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:18.800 Many of you have heard this story. 00:05:18.880 --> 00:05:19.580 You know where I'm going. 00:05:20.640 --> 00:05:28.180 And I saw walking down the stairs, I was set up on a blind date, and I saw this beautiful 00:05:28.180 --> 00:05:33.580 college-age girl come walking down the stairs, and I thought, I hope that's her, but if it 00:05:33.580 --> 00:05:35.620 is, she's too good for me. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:39.360 And it was, and she is too good for me. 00:05:40.760 --> 00:05:41.920 But we got married. 00:05:43.060 --> 00:05:44.440 She's loved me through a lot. 00:05:45.240 --> 00:05:48.700 But that day changed the trajectory of my life. 00:05:50.700 --> 00:05:52.300 I remember the day that I got saved. 00:05:53.580 --> 00:05:55.500 I remember the day that God called me into ministry. 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.600 I remember the first time my wife told me she was pregnant. 00:06:03.460 --> 00:06:08.860 And I remember thereafter her telling me that she lost a baby. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:14.900 I remember the second time she told me she was pregnant with a baby. 00:06:15.980 --> 00:06:20.880 And she came back, said, just kidding, two babies, all right? 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:23.680 And I thought my life changed then. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:26.140 And then Emma and Grayson were born. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:30.860 And man, did things change from that point moving forward. 00:06:31.860 --> 00:06:36.840 And there's been time and time again where my life, events have happened, and my life has 00:06:36.840 --> 00:06:40.460 been altered and changed and shown up and seen what God is doing. 00:06:40.580 --> 00:06:42.640 And I can look back on those memories. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:45.480 I can think back to when God called me here to be the senior pastor. 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:50.720 I can think back to the time where Emma called us up to her bedroom to profess to us her relationship 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:51.660 with Jesus Christ. 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:56.280 I can remember when Grayson called us to his bedroom about six months later and told us that 00:06:56.280 --> 00:06:59.280 he trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. 00:06:59.280 --> 00:07:04.040 I can remember baptizing both of them, like I can remember mission trips, and I can remember 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:09.040 these moments and opportunities where my life was altered and changed because of the events 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:09.740 that took place. 00:07:10.280 --> 00:07:13.780 And as you look at your life, you've got those milestones as well. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:19.240 You've got those points and times where God and his kindness and his graciousness allowed 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:28.220 moments of triumph and tragedy to happen to you to massage and mold your heart to be one 00:07:28.220 --> 00:07:31.060 that more resembles and looks like his. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:34.040 And that's the beauty of how God works. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:39.900 But you know, like, what happened to me on a day that might have been just an okay day 00:07:39.900 --> 00:07:40.300 for you. 00:07:41.520 --> 00:07:42.980 My events aren't your events. 00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:44.900 My story's not your story. 00:07:45.540 --> 00:07:46.980 My journey's not your journey. 00:07:47.180 --> 00:07:47.760 I know that. 00:07:47.880 --> 00:07:48.720 I understand that. 00:07:48.940 --> 00:07:52.160 So while we all have our stories, they're all different. 00:07:53.160 --> 00:08:00.480 But today we're here because there's been one story that's happened. 00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:10.600 And as a result, mankind feels the ripples for eternity of what has happened and what has 00:08:10.600 --> 00:08:11.880 taken place. 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:16.740 And the entire point of Easter is that. 00:08:17.700 --> 00:08:21.460 The events that we're going to read about, the events that are going to culminate of what 00:08:21.460 --> 00:08:27.580 we're going to see here in Matthew chapter 28 is going to ring through through the pages 00:08:27.580 --> 00:08:32.560 of time that your life and your life and your life and my life and people who are filling 00:08:32.560 --> 00:08:37.440 churches all over the world and who have passed and have gone on before and people who will 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:46.980 be born, like, all of their lives are affected because that tomb is empty and because Jesus is alive. 00:08:48.500 --> 00:08:56.440 And so we gather on Easter Sunday and we celebrate the Resurrection Sunday and we do things 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:57.260 differently. 00:08:57.540 --> 00:08:58.660 Like, y'all know me. 00:08:58.980 --> 00:09:03.480 My shirt usually ain't tucked in and I definitely don't have one of these on, right? 00:09:03.480 --> 00:09:06.920 But we do things differently because it's Easter. 00:09:08.160 --> 00:09:15.940 But what I want us to think through this morning is what does our life begin to look like if we 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:19.380 live each day as it's Easter? 00:09:20.420 --> 00:09:27.720 What if we lived in every moment with who we are of the defining, the decisions that we make, 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:32.260 the pursuits of our hearts, the lives that we live, the messages that we share, 00:09:32.540 --> 00:09:41.340 because it's Easter, because an Easter, because of Easter, everything changes. 00:09:42.180 --> 00:09:46.800 I love the video that we were able to show that Dawn and her team found for us, right? 00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:53.360 That lays out the story and the narrative of what is laying forth of defeat. 00:09:54.200 --> 00:09:55.220 It should be done. 00:09:55.340 --> 00:09:56.860 It should be over with. 00:09:57.920 --> 00:09:59.460 But at the end, there's victory. 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:07.760 Like, you go back to that Thursday, the betrayal in the garden of what Jesus faced, the conflict 00:10:07.760 --> 00:10:09.600 that happened and existed there. 00:10:09.760 --> 00:10:11.660 But the betrayal in the garden is redeemed. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:12.000 Why? 00:10:12.680 --> 00:10:13.820 Because Jesus is alive. 00:10:15.540 --> 00:10:20.880 We look forward on that Friday and we see the horror and the gore of the crucifixion. 00:10:22.380 --> 00:10:29.380 Of Jesus beaten, crown of thorns shoved onto his head, beaten with a whip, clothes stripped 00:10:29.380 --> 00:10:33.260 off of him, hands and feet nailed to a cross. 00:10:34.400 --> 00:10:37.020 But now there's life that comes from that gore. 00:10:37.880 --> 00:10:38.280 Why? 00:10:39.040 --> 00:10:40.480 Because Jesus is alive. 00:10:41.740 --> 00:10:45.200 You know, a day that we don't talk about in the narrative enough is Saturday. 00:10:46.380 --> 00:10:50.980 The day of silence is his body laying in the tomb. 00:10:52.880 --> 00:10:57.460 And can you imagine being one of those closest, like you've lost someone close to you. 00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:02.000 You know what that day after is like when it begins to hit you. 00:11:03.040 --> 00:11:03.860 Things are different. 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:06.020 Things are changed. 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:08.780 And just as we just sang, right? 00:11:09.900 --> 00:11:16.720 Because Jesus is still alive, a day of silence, a day of mourning will be filled with shouts 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.820 of joy. 00:11:19.260 --> 00:11:24.560 And the beauty and the hope and the reason why is because on that day they show up to the 00:11:24.560 --> 00:11:27.380 tomb and it's empty. 00:11:28.900 --> 00:11:37.100 Not only is it empty then, it's still empty today because Jesus is alive. 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:42.000 Let's read that account starting in Matthew 28, verse 1. 00:11:42.100 --> 00:11:44.720 We're going to read all of Matthew 28 together. 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:46.600 It says, 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:52.740 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:54.220 the other Mary went to see the tomb. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:56.960 And behold, there was a great earthquake. 00:11:57.800 --> 00:12:04.420 For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on 00:12:04.420 --> 00:12:04.580 it. 00:12:05.760 --> 00:12:09.460 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 00:12:10.540 --> 00:12:14.700 And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men. 00:12:15.420 --> 00:12:17.180 But the angel said to the women, 00:12:18.180 --> 00:12:22.760 Not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 00:12:23.880 --> 00:12:24.940 He is not here. 00:12:25.660 --> 00:12:27.600 For he is risen as he said. 00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:30.260 Come, see the place where he lay. 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:35.760 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. 00:12:36.600 --> 00:12:40.040 And behold, he is going before you to Galilee. 00:12:40.920 --> 00:12:42.620 There you will see him. 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:45.300 See, I have told you. 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:52.080 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell the disciples. 00:12:53.180 --> 00:12:55.580 And behold, Jesus met them and said, Greetings. 00:12:56.620 --> 00:13:00.000 And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 00:13:00.880 --> 00:13:02.860 Then Jesus said to them, Do not be afraid. 00:13:03.520 --> 00:13:06.200 Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. 00:13:06.780 --> 00:13:08.400 And there they will see me. 00:13:09.140 --> 00:13:09.820 Verse 11. 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:15.780 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priest all that had taken place. 00:13:17.080 --> 00:13:19.980 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, 00:13:20.160 --> 00:13:23.300 they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:28.340 Tell people his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep. 00:13:28.900 --> 00:13:34.020 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. 00:13:34.640 --> 00:13:37.240 So they took the money and did as they were directed. 00:13:37.380 --> 00:13:40.520 And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:46.600 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:50.440 And when they saw him, they worshipped him, but some doubted. 00:13:51.080 --> 00:13:53.060 And Jesus came and said to them, 00:13:53.160 --> 00:13:56.120 All authority in heaven on earth has been given to me. 00:13:56.520 --> 00:13:59.080 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:03.600 baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 00:14:03.680 --> 00:14:06.520 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. 00:14:06.520 --> 00:14:11.780 And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:14:12.280 --> 00:14:15.300 There's so much that's found in this story. 00:14:16.160 --> 00:14:20.280 There's so much that unfolds for us in Matthew chapter 28. 00:14:20.640 --> 00:14:25.280 We're not going to talk about it a lot, but I don't want us to miss verses 11 through 15, 00:14:25.520 --> 00:14:27.640 where understand this about truth. 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:30.340 Understand this about truth of the gospel. 00:14:30.800 --> 00:14:35.460 That there will be points and times where even those who know it to be true 00:14:35.460 --> 00:14:39.980 will suppress the truth for their own sake, for their own benefit. 00:14:40.300 --> 00:14:41.820 And this is what we see here. 00:14:42.800 --> 00:14:44.960 They know that he hasn't been stolen, 00:14:45.520 --> 00:14:48.440 but they create this story and pay off. 00:14:48.640 --> 00:14:48.820 Why? 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:52.160 Because of the selfish narrative of the heart of the lost. 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:54.580 And this is what we can see in here. 00:14:54.580 --> 00:14:58.620 And they choose to live their life under the law. 00:14:59.100 --> 00:15:04.100 They choose to live their life as the result of the deception that's there. 00:15:04.520 --> 00:15:11.640 But for us, we get the opportunity to live not just today like it's Easter, 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:22.560 but we get the opportunity to live every single day in the power and the truth of what comes out of this Easter story. 00:15:23.460 --> 00:15:29.860 And so I've got five things of reminders or encouragements for us that we can live in this morning, 00:15:29.860 --> 00:15:31.760 because the tomb is empty. 00:15:32.300 --> 00:15:35.540 The first that we can live in is we can live in promises. 00:15:36.260 --> 00:15:38.200 We can live in the promises of God. 00:15:39.020 --> 00:15:43.700 All of God's word, we can live as it's true, because the tomb is empty. 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:50.500 You see, if Jesus were still in it, if the tomb were filled, this would be a lie. 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.460 Every page. 00:15:53.260 --> 00:15:57.780 Because the point of everything that happens before is to point to this day, 00:15:58.260 --> 00:16:02.020 and the point of everything that happens after is to point back to this day. 00:16:02.340 --> 00:16:09.540 Everything that is going to culminate is based in this reality that Jesus is not dead, 00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:11.660 that Jesus is now alive. 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:20.800 We can live in the promises of Jesus, who he is, and what he says. 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:24.740 Jesus' promise is fulfilled. 00:16:26.140 --> 00:16:29.400 In Matthew 16, Jesus gives a promise. 00:16:30.380 --> 00:16:36.380 In Matthew 16, he tells the disciples that he would suffer and die, and on the third day, rise again. 00:16:37.300 --> 00:16:42.300 This is right after Peter had declared that he is the Messiah, and Peter wanted to argue with him. 00:16:43.180 --> 00:16:44.840 And Jesus says, get behind me, Satan. 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:51.720 As he had his eyes set on the Father in obedience, he promised that this would happen. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:17:00.080 In Matthew 17, the second time, Jesus tells his followers, look, I'm going to be handed over to men and killed, 00:17:00.400 --> 00:17:02.820 but I will rise again. 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:09.280 And the scripture tells us that the disciples, that they were distressed by this. 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:11.480 But he promised them it would happen. 00:17:11.480 --> 00:17:16.860 Matthew 20, Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem. 00:17:16.860 --> 00:17:17.800 And I love this picture. 00:17:18.980 --> 00:17:20.980 I want you to put yourself on this journey with them. 00:17:22.040 --> 00:17:23.520 They've been headed toward Jerusalem. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.280 They know where they're headed. 00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:28.280 They don't fully understand what's going to happen and take place. 00:17:28.580 --> 00:17:37.760 And scripture tells us that as they can see off in the distance, Jerusalem, Jesus pulls the disciples over to the side, 00:17:37.820 --> 00:17:42.980 and he tells them, like, look, this is where I'm going to die, and this is where I'm going to be resurrected. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:47.480 Make sure you don't miss this, right? 00:17:48.320 --> 00:17:49.380 And what did Jesus do? 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:54.840 Everything that he said was fulfilled. 00:17:56.340 --> 00:17:59.520 Was it easy to have the promises fulfilled? 00:18:00.540 --> 00:18:01.020 No. 00:18:02.020 --> 00:18:04.220 Because in order to fulfill him, he had to die. 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:07.660 In order to fulfill him, he had to take on the wrath. 00:18:08.540 --> 00:18:14.180 In order to fulfill him, he who knew no sin had to become sin on our behalf, 00:18:14.260 --> 00:18:16.820 that we might become the righteousness of God. 00:18:16.820 --> 00:18:28.280 The weight of the man who knew no sin took on and became, for us, the promise that we see. 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:37.300 And so because today the tomb is empty, every promise of scripture we know will be fulfilled or has been fulfilled. 00:18:37.420 --> 00:18:37.620 Why? 00:18:38.520 --> 00:18:39.720 Because God said it would. 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:47.460 And so there's two promises I want us to kind of look at in this journey of this last year that we've been on. 00:18:48.100 --> 00:18:51.920 The difficulty of what this year has been like. 00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:58.600 Two promises that have stood out to me and reminded myself as I go through this journey along with you. 00:18:59.020 --> 00:19:01.080 Matthew 5, Jesus gives a promise. 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:08.780 Where he says, blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:12.140 And because Jesus said it, we can take it to heart. 00:19:13.280 --> 00:19:15.820 Here's the thing about a relationship with God. 00:19:16.320 --> 00:19:18.280 Have you mourned this year? 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:21.780 Have you struggled this year? 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:28.740 Have you walked through the experiences and the difficulties of life this year? 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:30.320 Well, here's what God promises. 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:32.560 God promises his comfort. 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:33.860 Now, here's how we are. 00:19:34.520 --> 00:19:36.240 We want the instant. 00:19:36.380 --> 00:19:37.280 We want the now. 00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.220 We want this in here. 00:19:38.220 --> 00:19:48.120 But because the tomb is empty, because there's a hope for eternity, because things are different than in the now, we can take heart for that. 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:52.800 That as we mourn, we shall be comforted. 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:57.900 In John 10, Jesus says, my sheep hear my voice and I know them. 00:19:58.100 --> 00:19:58.980 Now, I love that. 00:19:59.340 --> 00:20:07.700 That Jesus says that as he's the shepherd, he knows his sheep and that they follow him. 00:20:08.540 --> 00:20:14.920 And then he says, as a result of this, what this looks like is I give them eternal life and they'll never perish. 00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:19.540 And no one will snatch them out of my hand. 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:24.880 You can't take me away because I'm his. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:32.460 And he knows me and I know him, the truth of the gospel. 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:41.300 And then we see from this three times, Jesus looks at his disciples. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.340 I'm going to be betrayed. 00:20:45.400 --> 00:20:46.720 I'm going to die. 00:20:47.720 --> 00:20:49.080 But I'm going to rise again. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:55.200 And because it's true, we can live in his promises. 00:20:56.260 --> 00:21:01.380 Next book that the empty tomb reminds us is that we can live in care. 00:21:02.460 --> 00:21:03.660 We can live in care. 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:09.300 Now, it's easy to notice that Jesus' disciples missed this, right? 00:21:09.760 --> 00:21:11.920 Like the followers of Christ, that they missed this. 00:21:12.180 --> 00:21:15.200 We just said three times he told them that this is what would happen. 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:17.940 And then it happens and they're caught off guard. 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.980 They're surprised. 00:21:19.080 --> 00:21:20.960 It's like they didn't see this coming. 00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:23.300 Maybe they didn't believe him all the way. 00:21:23.300 --> 00:21:28.000 But these events unfolded the exact same way that he said they would. 00:21:28.280 --> 00:21:31.780 And they miss it time and time and time again. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.640 Failing after failing after failing. 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:38.380 And on this third day, the day that he says that he will rise again, 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.720 they show up to do what? 00:21:39.860 --> 00:21:41.140 To prepare his dead body. 00:21:42.020 --> 00:21:46.480 To come into the tomb and to take care of what needs to be taken care of. 00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:49.620 To fulfill the obligation for someone who had died. 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.040 They missed it. 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.940 It's not that they doubted. 00:21:53.300 --> 00:21:56.180 They completely missed it in this moment. 00:21:56.440 --> 00:21:56.980 Now, I want you to think about it. 00:21:56.980 --> 00:21:58.280 Jesus has told them three times. 00:21:58.580 --> 00:22:01.880 Parents, like, let's feel this for a moment, right? 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:06.980 If you're a parent, this has probably never happened in my household, right? 00:22:08.020 --> 00:22:09.860 And you tell your kid to do something one time. 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.800 And they don't do it. 00:22:13.240 --> 00:22:14.320 And then you tell them to do it again. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:16.980 And they don't do it. 00:22:18.000 --> 00:22:19.880 And then you tell them to do it a third time. 00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:21.440 And they don't do it. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:23.360 Has anybody else ever been there, right? 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.260 Like, do this, do this, do this. 00:22:25.340 --> 00:22:26.240 And they miss it, right? 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:28.440 They ignored. 00:22:29.120 --> 00:22:30.140 They didn't listen. 00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:32.700 And what does that bring out of you? 00:22:33.520 --> 00:22:36.120 What's the level of frustration that's there? 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.760 Well, think about this with Jesus. 00:22:38.820 --> 00:22:40.900 You and Jesus, we're different, right? 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:41.680 Let's get that first. 00:22:41.740 --> 00:22:42.320 Like, we're different. 00:22:43.280 --> 00:22:44.880 Because I've let my kids down. 00:22:46.320 --> 00:22:48.700 I've made promises that I haven't fulfilled. 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:51.480 I've been selfish. 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:56.780 My sin has come up in our relationship, but Jesus with them, it never has. 00:22:57.600 --> 00:23:04.840 So if anyone stands in righteousness to rebuke them, it's Jesus, but he doesn't. 00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:08.120 To punish them, it's Jesus, but he doesn't. 00:23:09.040 --> 00:23:11.700 To mock them, it will be Jesus, but he doesn't. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:18.320 And instead, and only the beautiful way of being displayed in the gospel, is he cares for them. 00:23:19.260 --> 00:23:22.360 Verse 5, it says that the angel of the Lord said to the women, what? 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:24.760 They're showing up to take care of his body. 00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:31.080 Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 00:23:32.020 --> 00:23:36.460 He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. 00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:41.120 Verse 10, as they encounter Jesus himself. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.320 What are his words to him? 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:51.820 Do not be afraid, but go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:58.000 When Jesus provides care, when they didn't trust him, he cared. 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:01.700 When they didn't believe him, he cared. 00:24:02.540 --> 00:24:07.580 When they didn't live out the expectation of what God has for them, what did Jesus do? 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:12.120 He cared for them time and time again. 00:24:13.260 --> 00:24:18.180 You know, to live in the reality that the tomb is empty is to live in the care and the grace of God. 00:24:19.520 --> 00:24:35.000 The story of Christ making dead people alive, of what he's done in your life and mine, is not a life that should be marked by shame and death and slavery, 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:40.040 but is marked with life and hope and freedom in the gospel. 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:47.420 And we don't have to pretend to be kids hiding away in their closets because we've disappointed our father, 00:24:47.540 --> 00:24:50.840 but instead that we can come to him and receive the care that he gives us. 00:24:50.940 --> 00:24:51.140 Why? 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:52.440 Because we're his. 00:24:53.520 --> 00:24:56.600 And he holds us in his hand. 00:24:57.580 --> 00:25:00.900 I love the words, don't be afraid, I'm here. 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:03.960 But also don't be afraid and go and tell. 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:11.540 The third area that we can live in because of Easter is we can live in victory. 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.040 We can live in victory. 00:25:14.340 --> 00:25:19.720 And what the empty tomb reminds us is that death is defeated. 00:25:20.560 --> 00:25:21.780 It can't be said enough. 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:24.500 We need to know this and believe this within our hearts. 00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:25.940 Jesus died. 00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:30.820 His life ceased to exist in that moment. 00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.760 His heart was not beating. 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:36.220 His lungs were not working. 00:25:36.560 --> 00:25:40.240 That in this moment on the cross, Jesus died. 00:25:40.520 --> 00:25:42.860 But as he comes to life, death is defeated. 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:45.200 Sin was overcome. 00:25:45.840 --> 00:25:50.940 The whole weight of the sin of the world poured out on him. 00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:53.580 And it couldn't keep him back. 00:25:54.460 --> 00:26:01.140 That at one, because he is going, because he rises again and he ascends into heaven to be the righteous judge. 00:26:01.260 --> 00:26:04.160 That every injustice will be before him. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:07.000 Because he is the king of kings and the Lord of lords. 00:26:07.240 --> 00:26:12.920 Because of Easter, not only is everything leading up to it true, but everything after. 00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.900 That we see as well. 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:19.840 The hope of what we have in Christ. 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:25.680 And so we should not live as those who have been defeated. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:37.400 But we should live as those who have experienced, are experiencing, and will experience victory. 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:39.740 And victory eternally. 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:45.700 Because of Easter, the way that we live it every day in our life is we go. 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.080 We go. 00:26:47.640 --> 00:26:53.220 I love the fact that when the women come to the tomb to find Jesus, what's the message? 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.320 Go. 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:55.840 Go. 00:26:56.680 --> 00:26:57.080 Go. 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.500 Go tell. 00:26:58.900 --> 00:26:59.660 Go bring. 00:26:59.900 --> 00:27:00.720 What are they telling? 00:27:00.980 --> 00:27:02.080 Where are they bringing them to? 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:03.240 To where Jesus is. 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:07.820 You know, we read the Great Commission at the end, and we're going to get to that in just a second too. 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:12.860 But from the very moment when the resurrection of Christ is being made known, it's not keep this secret. 00:27:14.040 --> 00:27:15.600 It's not, what are they going to do if they find this out? 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:20.360 It's go and tell people, and then bring them to Jesus. 00:27:21.220 --> 00:27:27.500 You see, the fact that the tomb is empty for us is the reminder that in our life of who we are, we are to go. 00:27:28.320 --> 00:27:29.560 And then that's what Jesus is. 00:27:29.640 --> 00:27:30.860 Everyone is drawn to Him. 00:27:31.100 --> 00:27:32.860 That's the message that He gives. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:35.100 That's what's been called. 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:37.800 That's what we see here in Scripture. 00:27:38.260 --> 00:27:45.380 Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:48.040 teaching them to observe all that I've commanded you. 00:27:48.280 --> 00:27:50.980 And behold, I'm with you always to the end. 00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:53.640 Jesus says, now this is getting out of Jerusalem. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:55.780 This is getting out of Galilee. 00:27:55.780 --> 00:27:57.340 And now what's going to happen? 00:27:57.520 --> 00:27:59.440 Because the tomb is empty, people go. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:01.780 And so here's the thing. 00:28:03.080 --> 00:28:13.140 If you don't go, if you don't tell, if you don't make, if you don't baptize, you're still sitting there like Jesus is dead. 00:28:14.660 --> 00:28:16.520 And that's what the gospel points us to. 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:23.540 To go and proclaim who we are and who He is. 00:28:24.300 --> 00:28:25.740 And then the last one. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:30.860 Because of Easter, you and I have power. 00:28:32.180 --> 00:28:33.780 Because of Easter, we have power. 00:28:34.720 --> 00:28:36.700 Paul writes these words in Romans 8-11. 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:43.380 If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, 00:28:44.300 --> 00:28:54.680 He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 00:28:55.120 --> 00:29:00.320 It's the reminder of the truth that we have in Christ, in Christ alone. 00:29:00.960 --> 00:29:06.880 Because the Spirit that raised Him from the dead, the Holy Spirit, is the Spirit that lives in us. 00:29:07.540 --> 00:29:13.120 That's why Jesus says in Acts 1-8, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:29:13.260 --> 00:29:17.940 And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria until the ends of the earth. 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:24.940 That because the tomb is empty, the power that raised Christ from the dead is the power of God that fills you. 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:28.340 And gives you life and hope and meaning and purpose. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:32.520 And so stop trying to manifest your own power. 00:29:32.780 --> 00:29:35.640 Stop trying to lean in to somebody else's power. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:41.200 But live in the truth of the hope of the gospel that knows that God's Spirit is in you. 00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.800 Because the tomb is empty. 00:29:45.180 --> 00:29:52.420 And so today we're going to gather and when we celebrate, we talk about the resurrection on this Sunday. 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.900 It's a special day. 00:29:54.160 --> 00:30:01.340 There will be more people in church today than there will be in any other day this year because the tomb is empty. 00:30:01.340 --> 00:30:05.460 But church, too often times, the fact that the tomb is empty ends at these doors. 00:30:08.100 --> 00:30:15.520 And we proclaim in here that Jesus is alive, but we live out there like he's still dead. 00:30:17.140 --> 00:30:34.040 And so my challenge for you, the challenge for me this morning, is do we live each and every day of our life in the truth that Jesus is alive? 00:30:34.840 --> 00:30:35.680 Would you pray with me? 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:43.140 Lord, thank you so much that the tomb is empty. 00:30:44.780 --> 00:30:53.160 Lord, we thank you on a day like today that people were more apt to listen to and to hear the gospel. 00:30:54.580 --> 00:30:59.020 To come to churches and to partake and to be with your people. 00:31:00.600 --> 00:31:07.020 But Lord, I pray that for all of us, the truth and the hope of the gospel will ring true. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:13.820 Lord, if there's anyone here who doesn't know you, I pray that today would be the day that they repent of their sins. 00:31:15.520 --> 00:31:17.100 That they confess you as Lord. 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:21.440 That they believe in their heart of who you are. 00:31:23.020 --> 00:31:26.420 And Lord, that today would be the day that you reveal yourself to them. 00:31:26.520 --> 00:31:28.460 You draw them to yourself, Lord. 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:31.760 And today would be the day of their salvation. 00:31:31.760 --> 00:31:48.180 Thanks again for listening to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:31:48.700 --> 00:31:51.000 We hope that you enjoyed listening to this week's message. 00:31:51.300 --> 00:32:00.060 If you'd like to learn more about who we are or explore additional resources, visit us online at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:32:00.060 --> 00:32:03.640 Or by searching for Willow Ridge Church on Facebook and Instagram.