1 00:00:14,139 --> 00:00:17,300 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,260 --> 00:00:24,059 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,059 --> 00:00:26,579 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:36,939 --> 00:00:38,679 Good morning everyone. 5 00:00:42,939 --> 00:00:50,840 Amen. I hope you can say that today as they were stating the dates that each one of them got saved. 6 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:57,439 Maybe today, if you've never given your life to Jesus, it will be April 20th, 2025 that you give 7 00:00:57,439 --> 00:01:04,439 your life to Jesus. Make it today if you haven't already. You know, it's resurrection day, right? 8 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:16,359 He is alive. Hallelujah. Praise God. I mean, we are, we are, it's just amazing. He has risen 9 00:01:16,359 --> 00:01:22,640 not only to all humanity, but he's risen in here, hasn't he? Has he transformed your life? 10 00:01:23,099 --> 00:01:27,180 I know we're all working on things. We're all letting him transform more and more of it, 11 00:01:27,379 --> 00:01:34,540 but he has given us new life. Amen. Remember that old song, maybe I hope you do, but 12 00:01:46,359 --> 00:02:09,060 he lives. All fear is gone because I know he holds the future and life is worth the living 13 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:15,939 just because he lives. You sound wonderful this morning. 14 00:02:17,180 --> 00:02:22,979 You know what? Let's try a verse. What do you think? Acapella, you ready for this? Ready? 15 00:02:39,060 --> 00:02:58,060 I'm forgiven, he bled and died to buy my pardon. And what? An empty grave is there to prove my 16 00:02:58,060 --> 00:03:19,180 Savior lives. You ready? Because he lives, I can face tomorrow because he lives. All fear is gone 17 00:03:19,629 --> 00:03:42,090 because I know he holds the future and life is worth the living just because he lives. Praise God. 18 00:03:44,530 --> 00:03:50,210 Hallelujah. We make a great choir, don't we? Beautiful. And you know what? I have a feeling 19 00:03:50,210 --> 00:03:54,810 there's some angels singing in heaven right now saying, look at that wonderful Lansdale 20 00:03:54,810 --> 00:04:02,090 Life Church just exalting me. There he is in the praises of his people. Amen. Amen. Praise God. 21 00:04:02,610 --> 00:04:11,750 So we are going to look at a couple of accounts of the resurrection today. And that video, you 22 00:04:11,750 --> 00:04:19,949 I'm not kidding, probably 50 or more videos. And you know, a lot of this or a lot of that, 23 00:04:20,029 --> 00:04:24,209 but I just found this simple one that really connects with what we're going to be looking at today, 24 00:04:24,589 --> 00:04:30,930 how he has resurrected me and you, how he's new in us. That's why we know, right, 25 00:04:31,329 --> 00:04:37,430 that he is alive because he's alive right in here. Amen. Amen. So we're going to be looking 26 00:04:37,430 --> 00:04:44,110 at a couple of sections and depending on the timeframe, we'll see how much we read. But 27 00:04:44,110 --> 00:04:52,910 if you could turn to John chapter 20, now my Bible has two ribbons. Look at this. I got a fancy one. 28 00:04:53,110 --> 00:04:59,730 See this? So I can put one of these ribbons in one section and another ribbon in another. 29 00:05:02,029 --> 00:05:08,689 Yes. But anyway, if you don't have that, I'm sorry, you can't have mine, but you ought to get one. 30 00:05:09,050 --> 00:05:15,170 But anyway, but also if you could turn to Luke chapter 24, and we're going to toggle back and 31 00:05:15,170 --> 00:05:21,350 forth just once, you know. And we're going to look at these accounts because they're really 32 00:05:21,350 --> 00:05:26,189 significant. They're really significant. What always stunned me, I don't know about you, 33 00:05:26,189 --> 00:05:31,670 but how when he appeared to his disciples, they didn't immediately recognize him. 34 00:05:31,810 --> 00:05:37,449 Did you ever notice that? In fact, the title, the titles changed a few times. I think I finally 35 00:05:37,449 --> 00:05:43,649 landed on recognizing the risen Christ. That's what the title is now because really, 36 00:05:43,709 --> 00:05:50,129 it's a matter of recognizing him. You know, we don't see him here, but we know he's there 37 00:05:50,850 --> 00:05:58,310 and we know he's here because his spirit is within us. And so as we study these scriptures, 38 00:05:58,930 --> 00:06:03,509 we're going to realize that there's a reason. I really believe there's a reason why they didn't 39 00:06:03,509 --> 00:06:11,610 immediately recognize him, but they recognize him in other ways. So let's pray and thank the Lord 40 00:06:11,610 --> 00:06:18,069 for what great voices you have. Lord God, thank you for singing with us. In fact, 41 00:06:18,069 --> 00:06:25,029 in Zephaniah, you say that you cherish us and you look at us and you sing over us. Lord God, 42 00:06:25,149 --> 00:06:30,269 and we believe that we heard you singing today with us, Lord. And we just want to honor you with 43 00:06:30,269 --> 00:06:36,750 your word. Thank you for all these various accounts of people who met you after your resurrection. 44 00:06:37,170 --> 00:06:41,949 How beautiful that is, Lord, and how we can connect with them because they're ordinary people 45 00:06:41,949 --> 00:06:48,569 just like we are. But Lord God, they recognized you through different ways. So we ask you, Lord, 46 00:06:48,709 --> 00:06:56,589 to speak to us and through us in Jesus' name. Amen. So let's look at Mary Magdalene. We're 47 00:06:56,589 --> 00:07:03,389 going to look in John chapter 20, verse 11. And as you know, Mary Magdalene was the first 48 00:07:03,970 --> 00:07:09,009 to see the risen Jesus. I think that's amazing, isn't it? It's wonderful. I mean, 49 00:07:09,730 --> 00:07:16,230 seven demons cast out of her. Jesus even talked about, wow, it's really bad when there's one demon. 50 00:07:16,550 --> 00:07:23,329 But when there's seven more that come, it's the worst. Well, she had seven demons within her 51 00:07:23,329 --> 00:07:30,069 that she was delivered from. Can you imagine how in love with Jesus she was? I mean, 52 00:07:30,110 --> 00:07:36,310 she probably never left his side because she always remembered the torment, the evil and 53 00:07:36,310 --> 00:07:42,910 wicked thoughts and feelings and passions and lusts and the depression, everything that was in her, 54 00:07:43,209 --> 00:07:49,850 she realized he set her free. So she probably never left his side. And so we're going to read 55 00:07:49,850 --> 00:08:00,610 about this first. So in John chapter 20, Peter and John ran to the tomb. They saw it empty. 56 00:08:01,330 --> 00:08:07,329 John believed, which was amazing. John looked in there and he saw the empty tomb and he believed, 57 00:08:07,470 --> 00:08:14,050 but Peter had some problems. He had to still sort out. And so we pick it up in 11, but Mary stood 58 00:08:14,050 --> 00:08:19,769 outside by the tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb 59 00:08:20,610 --> 00:08:27,209 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, 60 00:08:27,209 --> 00:08:33,009 where the body of Jesus had lain. And then they said to her, woman, why are you weeping? 61 00:08:33,850 --> 00:08:40,570 She said to them, because they have taken away my Lord. And I do not know where they have laid him. 62 00:08:41,049 --> 00:08:48,250 Verse 14, now when she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there and did not 63 00:08:48,250 --> 00:08:53,710 know that it was Jesus. And Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping? 64 00:08:54,269 --> 00:08:59,490 Whom are you seeking? And she's supposing him to be the gardener said to him, sir, 65 00:08:59,889 --> 00:09:04,429 if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away. 66 00:09:05,149 --> 00:09:13,409 And Jesus said to her, Mary, she turned and said to him, Raboni, which means teacher. 67 00:09:14,009 --> 00:09:21,470 And verse 17, Jesus said to her, do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my father, 68 00:09:21,470 --> 00:09:28,190 but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my father and your father, 69 00:09:28,389 --> 00:09:35,649 to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord 70 00:09:35,649 --> 00:09:41,929 and that he had spoken these things to her. Unfortunately, they won't believe her witness, 71 00:09:42,750 --> 00:09:48,090 her testimony. And so we look at this and always found it interesting, like here she 72 00:09:48,090 --> 00:09:53,110 sees Jesus and when she saw him, she probably just dove at his feet, right? I mean, just like, 73 00:09:53,429 --> 00:10:01,690 you're back. Like she just was overwhelmed that Jesus is standing there and she's clinging to him. 74 00:10:02,029 --> 00:10:08,830 And I always pondered, like, why would Jesus say, don't hang on to me? And then the next thing he 75 00:10:08,830 --> 00:10:14,330 says, because I've not yet gone to my father, not yet ascended. Well, he's not going to ascend, 76 00:10:14,330 --> 00:10:21,470 as you know, for another 40 days. So why did he say, don't cling to me? So of course, you got to do 77 00:10:21,470 --> 00:10:26,669 a little word search. What is the word cling? Okay. And we have that, if you could put that word up 78 00:10:26,669 --> 00:10:37,110 there, it's haptamai, okay? To fastens oneself to, adhere to. And so she was like, clinging. 79 00:10:37,669 --> 00:10:43,870 And Jesus is saying, no, you can't do this. Now, why did he say that? It wasn't like Jesus 80 00:10:45,009 --> 00:10:49,929 didn't want to be touched. No, you're going to get, you know, you're radioactive if you touch me. 81 00:10:50,049 --> 00:10:54,110 I'm risen and you're not, you're going to just disintegrate. It wasn't that, right? 82 00:10:54,549 --> 00:10:57,289 Because other people touched him. Do you remember when he appeared 83 00:10:57,289 --> 00:11:02,070 before the disciples a bit later this day, and he appeared in their midst, 84 00:11:02,450 --> 00:11:06,210 and they looked at him and they were just blown away. And we read in John 85 00:11:08,090 --> 00:11:17,450 chapter 20 verse 20, I'm sorry, Luke 24, 39, behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. 86 00:11:17,809 --> 00:11:24,049 Handle me. It's a different word. Handle me and see for a spirit does not have flesh and bones 87 00:11:24,049 --> 00:11:31,710 as you see I have. And then later, Thomas heard, okay, that he had risen from the dead 88 00:11:31,710 --> 00:11:35,149 from them, but he didn't believe it. So all of a sudden eight days later, he appears. 89 00:11:35,409 --> 00:11:41,129 Thomas is there. And Jesus says, come here, Thomas. That's where we got the name doubting, 90 00:11:41,470 --> 00:11:45,909 Thomas. Okay, no offense to you, Tom's out there. Okay, we all have some doubt 91 00:11:45,909 --> 00:11:50,610 in us that we are being rescued from. But so he says, come here, Thomas. 92 00:11:51,129 --> 00:11:55,730 And then he said to him, reach a different word than that hot Tom eye. 93 00:11:55,929 --> 00:12:00,789 It's a different word than cling. Reach your finger here and look at my hands 94 00:12:00,789 --> 00:12:07,450 and reach your hand here. Put it in my side. Do not be unbelieving but believing. 95 00:12:08,169 --> 00:12:11,509 Do you ever notice his biggest rebuke that he always 96 00:12:12,550 --> 00:12:17,929 hurls at his disciples is unbelief. It's not they're doing something wrong. 97 00:12:18,429 --> 00:12:23,389 It's not that they haven't arrived yet is unbelief because everything happens through what? 98 00:12:24,230 --> 00:12:28,049 Belief through faith. That's how we overcome through faith, right? 99 00:12:28,049 --> 00:12:32,710 And so we see that he'll let people touch his resurrected body. 100 00:12:32,970 --> 00:12:37,509 So why did he say, don't cling to me? Why would he say that? 101 00:12:37,850 --> 00:12:41,929 Well, I really believe that Jesus was setting things up because, you know, 102 00:12:42,450 --> 00:12:45,669 when he rose from the dead, he had been telling them before he was crucified. 103 00:12:46,149 --> 00:12:50,750 And before he rose, he was saying to them, there's going to be coming a time that I will 104 00:12:50,750 --> 00:12:57,049 not be here any longer. Okay. And you need to prepare yourself for that. Okay. 105 00:12:57,490 --> 00:13:02,990 And he said in John chapter 16, verse seven, he said, 106 00:13:03,009 --> 00:13:07,750 nevertheless, I tell you the truth because as he's telling them, I won't, 107 00:13:07,769 --> 00:13:11,370 you won't see me anymore someday. They're weeping. They're like, Lord, 108 00:13:11,549 --> 00:13:13,289 like where can we go? You have the words of life. 109 00:13:13,429 --> 00:13:17,409 We are nothing if we're not with you. Like you are our identity. 110 00:13:17,409 --> 00:13:20,710 It's like, you know, oh, there's that guy who hangs out with Jesus. 111 00:13:21,009 --> 00:13:24,870 Like that's who we are. The people who hang out with Jesus. Okay. 112 00:13:25,190 --> 00:13:29,190 It doesn't matter about our individual identity. We are identified through Christ. 113 00:13:29,590 --> 00:13:32,570 Right. And so he said, nevertheless, I tell you, 114 00:13:32,570 --> 00:13:39,009 it is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, the helper, 115 00:13:39,049 --> 00:13:45,730 meaning the Holy Spirit will not come to you. But if I depart, I will send him to you. 116 00:13:45,730 --> 00:13:50,509 So you see, he was already preparing Mary Magdalene. That's like, 117 00:13:50,529 --> 00:13:55,149 you can't cling to this frame. This frame is going to be gone someday. 118 00:13:55,629 --> 00:13:59,730 And you're going to need to start getting equipped for my absence. 119 00:14:00,230 --> 00:14:05,049 It's almost like if you had a boss who was on the job training you, right? 120 00:14:05,169 --> 00:14:08,970 Now you do this, you do that, you do that, and you're learning. 121 00:14:09,750 --> 00:14:13,730 He goes, okay, now I'm going to send you and you're going to do what I taught you, 122 00:14:13,730 --> 00:14:18,230 but you're going to do it on your own. What? No, no, you come with me. 123 00:14:18,470 --> 00:14:20,889 You come with me. You know, please, you got to shump. 124 00:14:21,350 --> 00:14:25,029 And sometimes it's hard to let go of the master, right? 125 00:14:25,610 --> 00:14:30,629 Of the instructor who knows everything. Well, Jesus was already starting to say, 126 00:14:31,149 --> 00:14:36,190 you need to get ready to let go of me. Because when I go, when I ascend to heaven 127 00:14:36,190 --> 00:14:39,870 40 days from now, 10 days later, the Holy Spirit's going to come down 128 00:14:39,870 --> 00:14:46,250 and he's going to anoint you to do what I do and greater things will you do than these, right? 129 00:14:46,629 --> 00:14:50,690 So he was already preparing them for what is about to come. 130 00:14:51,049 --> 00:14:53,350 I really believe that we're going to see more of this, right? 131 00:14:54,009 --> 00:14:58,690 And so, okay, so let's, and by the way, the word cling, well, let's move on. 132 00:14:59,929 --> 00:15:06,090 So now we're going to toggle, I like that word today, toggle over to Luke 24. 133 00:15:06,810 --> 00:15:11,490 And these are the two guys that are heading to Emmaus. 134 00:15:12,049 --> 00:15:18,789 So what happens here is Mary Magdalene first went with the women and saw he wasn't there. 135 00:15:18,929 --> 00:15:22,950 They went back. They told people, right? And this is where these guys said, 136 00:15:23,049 --> 00:15:26,169 you know, let's go to Emmaus. I don't know why, but they said, let's go. 137 00:15:26,470 --> 00:15:28,690 So they're leaving. They're on their way to Emmaus, right? 138 00:15:29,129 --> 00:15:33,470 And they didn't know that Jesus actually rose from the dead yet. They didn't hear that. 139 00:15:33,470 --> 00:15:36,950 And so verse 13 in Luke 24. 140 00:15:37,789 --> 00:15:42,129 Now behold, two of them were traveling that day to a village called Emmaus, 141 00:15:42,289 --> 00:15:44,769 which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 142 00:15:45,309 --> 00:15:49,389 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 143 00:15:49,870 --> 00:15:56,710 And so it was while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 144 00:15:57,370 --> 00:16:02,330 But their, their eyes were restrained so that they did not know him. 145 00:16:02,330 --> 00:16:07,450 Mark says that he actually changed form, whatever that's going to mean, we're going to talk about it 146 00:16:07,450 --> 00:16:14,070 soon. And he said to them, what kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you 147 00:16:14,070 --> 00:16:20,269 walk in our sad? And then one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to him, 148 00:16:20,669 --> 00:16:25,730 are you the only stranger in Jerusalem? And have you not known the things which 149 00:16:25,730 --> 00:16:29,690 happened there in these days? And he said to them, what things? 150 00:16:30,250 --> 00:16:33,169 I love how Jesus asks questions. He knows the answers to. 151 00:16:33,570 --> 00:16:40,649 And so they said to him, the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet, mighty indeed, 152 00:16:41,049 --> 00:16:47,509 and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him 153 00:16:47,509 --> 00:16:53,549 to be condemned to death and crucified. But we were hoping that it was he who was going to 154 00:16:53,549 --> 00:17:00,029 redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this today is the third day since these things happened. 155 00:17:00,549 --> 00:17:08,170 Yes. And certain women of our company who arrived at the tomb early as astonished us. 156 00:17:08,470 --> 00:17:14,789 And when they did not find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels 157 00:17:14,789 --> 00:17:21,670 who said he was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found 158 00:17:21,670 --> 00:17:29,710 it just as the women had said, but him they did not see. And then he said to them, oh foolish ones, 159 00:17:29,829 --> 00:17:36,309 there's a compliment, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken, 160 00:17:36,730 --> 00:17:42,630 ought not the Christ who have suffered these things and to enter into his glory and beginning 161 00:17:42,630 --> 00:17:49,490 at Moses and all the prophets he expounded to them in all the scriptures, the things concerning 162 00:17:49,490 --> 00:17:55,890 himself. And verse 28, and then they drew near to the village where they were going, and he indicated 163 00:17:55,890 --> 00:18:02,049 that he would have gone further, but they constrain him saying, abide with us, for it is toward evening 164 00:18:02,049 --> 00:18:09,829 and the day is far spent. And he went in to stay with them. And it came to pass as he sat at 165 00:18:09,829 --> 00:18:16,670 the table with them, that he took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 166 00:18:16,670 --> 00:18:24,289 And then their eyes were open and they knew him and he vanished from their sight. And they said to 167 00:18:24,289 --> 00:18:32,009 one another, did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us on the road and while 168 00:18:32,009 --> 00:18:39,349 he opened the scriptures to us? And so they rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem 169 00:18:39,349 --> 00:18:46,230 and found the 11 and those who were with them gathered together saying, the Lord has risen indeed 170 00:18:46,230 --> 00:18:52,450 and has appeared to Simon. And they told about the things that had happened on the road and how he 171 00:18:52,450 --> 00:19:01,769 was known to them in the breaking of the bread. So think about this, Mary Magdalene didn't recognize 172 00:19:01,769 --> 00:19:09,930 Jesus. The word says that she turned and looked at him and after he asked, why are you weeping? 173 00:19:10,069 --> 00:19:16,789 Who are you seeking? And she said, where have you laid him? She's talking to Jesus. Now, 174 00:19:16,910 --> 00:19:22,230 perhaps there was a few bushes in the garden. Perhaps her eyes were a little blurry with 175 00:19:22,230 --> 00:19:31,910 tears, but she spent three or more years hanging with Jesus. She knew his voice. She knew everything 176 00:19:31,910 --> 00:19:38,670 about him and she owed everything to him. How did she not recognize him? Like, even I would recognize 177 00:19:38,670 --> 00:19:44,069 Jill a couple hundred yards away, right? And if she yelled at me, I would definitely know who she 178 00:19:44,069 --> 00:19:50,130 was. No, I'm kidding. She doesn't, she doesn't yell. She hollers. She hollers. She doesn't yell. No, I'm 179 00:19:50,130 --> 00:19:57,970 kidding. Anyway, I don't know where that came from. So disregard it, strike it from the record. 180 00:20:00,730 --> 00:20:08,269 So, but, but she knew him. How didn't she recognize him? How didn't she, she recognized him when, 181 00:20:09,170 --> 00:20:16,730 when he said Mary? Isn't that amazing? That's when she recognized him. When he said her name, 182 00:20:17,289 --> 00:20:23,109 she recognized his voice saying her name. That's beautiful. That's the only way she suddenly, 183 00:20:23,809 --> 00:20:31,250 that's him. Okay. And now these two going to Emmaus, okay, they're walking next to Jesus. They knew 184 00:20:31,250 --> 00:20:34,950 Jesus again. I don't know how many years they traveled with him, or probably at least a year, 185 00:20:34,950 --> 00:20:39,130 right? They knew him. He was everything to them. They're walking along with him, 186 00:20:39,130 --> 00:20:45,430 and they don't know it's him. I mean, how can that be? But when did they recognize him? 187 00:20:46,710 --> 00:20:50,410 They recognize him when he broke the bread. It's all of a sudden like, 188 00:20:51,490 --> 00:20:57,470 the lights went on. Why? Because he did that before with them. He had communion with them. 189 00:20:57,470 --> 00:21:06,029 They recognize, wow, this is Jesus because of his actions. And then what did they say? Didn't our hearts 190 00:21:06,029 --> 00:21:13,630 burn within us when he spoke scriptures to us? You know, people, when they heard Jesus speak, 191 00:21:14,269 --> 00:21:20,829 it was with authority. It was with familiarity because he knew heaven. He knew his father. He 192 00:21:20,829 --> 00:21:26,230 knew everything he was talking about. He was like just a digest of just everything. Because 193 00:21:26,230 --> 00:21:33,589 he is the word of God. Yeah, when you squeeze Jesus, the word comes out, right? And it comes out 194 00:21:33,589 --> 00:21:40,309 with purity, right? And so they knew everything, and suddenly they think, how are you kidding me? 195 00:21:40,329 --> 00:21:44,990 How did we miss that? And we're going to talk about that in a minute. How they didn't even know 196 00:21:44,990 --> 00:21:51,910 Jesus through this, being right next to him, not recognize him until he did a simple act 197 00:21:51,910 --> 00:21:56,829 like breaking apart the bread. Isn't that amazing? And then he goes back and he says, 198 00:21:56,890 --> 00:22:01,410 yeah, we didn't even know it was him except when he broke the bread and what he said, 199 00:22:01,910 --> 00:22:07,470 the bread and what he said. That's how they knew him. So let's toggle back. Are you getting 200 00:22:07,470 --> 00:22:20,069 tired of toggling? Let's toggle back to John 20. So the next person that Jesus appears to, 201 00:22:20,069 --> 00:22:25,529 we mentioned a little bit earlier is Thomas, doubting Thomas. Now, Thomas wasn't there when 202 00:22:25,529 --> 00:22:30,569 he appeared to them and he said, look, you know, and see and so forth. And so he said, 203 00:22:30,650 --> 00:22:36,029 I won't believe it. Let's say he touches scars and everything. And then Jesus appears to him 204 00:22:36,549 --> 00:22:46,289 and then he believes. In fact, we see in John 20 verse 29. He says, and Thomas answered 205 00:22:46,289 --> 00:22:51,910 and said, I don't even know that he even touched. Okay, because he was so probably embarrassed. 206 00:22:52,210 --> 00:22:58,250 Like he looked at the scars. He's like, oh my gosh, I saw, I saw those nails 207 00:22:59,829 --> 00:23:06,170 punctured in his hands and feet. I either saw or heard about that Roman soldier plunging that 208 00:23:06,170 --> 00:23:13,849 spear in his side. Like, how could I have doubt it? Right? And then he said, my Lord and my God, 209 00:23:13,849 --> 00:23:21,069 Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen, you have believed, but blessed are those who have 210 00:23:21,069 --> 00:23:30,869 not seen and yet have believed. Thomas believed because he saw the wounds. He needed to see 211 00:23:30,869 --> 00:23:37,609 something. You know, the word says that what do we walk by faith, not by say, we're never 212 00:23:37,609 --> 00:23:41,329 going to see the things they saw. You can say, well, we're at a disadvantage. No, we're not. 213 00:23:41,329 --> 00:23:49,029 We have the witness from heaven coming down and going into us. We believe because it's in us to 214 00:23:49,029 --> 00:23:56,029 know it's true. I mean, just like that video said, I know it because I know what I was before I met 215 00:23:56,029 --> 00:24:02,630 him. I know what I was before the Holy Spirit came in and resided in me and just started cleaning 216 00:24:02,630 --> 00:24:10,289 house, you know, just like extracting the just dirty stuff of my soul and mind. I know he's alive. 217 00:24:10,769 --> 00:24:17,490 I mean, my faith is stronger every single year because I see the evidence of my faith. You 218 00:24:17,490 --> 00:24:25,109 know the definition of faith? Faith is a substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things 219 00:24:25,950 --> 00:24:33,930 unseen. Well, they used to be unseen. I'm seeing it now in my life. I'm 61 years old. I've been a 220 00:24:33,930 --> 00:24:40,029 believer for whatever I've been a believer for. I lose track, but 30 some years and I just know 221 00:24:40,630 --> 00:24:46,569 it's true. I see a wake of evidence behind me saying, how could I ever like even question 222 00:24:46,569 --> 00:24:54,650 or doubt that Jesus is alive? It's so obvious, right? And so Thomas believed because he saw, 223 00:24:54,650 --> 00:25:00,829 but we're told we will be blessed by faith. You know, Jesus, the high priestly prayer, 224 00:25:00,930 --> 00:25:07,069 remember when he prayed to his father? And if you ever read John 17, it's so beautiful. I remember 225 00:25:07,069 --> 00:25:12,990 when I first got saved, I'm reading John 17, I literally started crying because I'm thinking, 226 00:25:13,269 --> 00:25:19,170 wow, this is Jesus letting us in on his relationship with God, the Father. And he 227 00:25:19,170 --> 00:25:27,130 even includes us and even he even prays for us because he knows that from the world's view, 228 00:25:27,170 --> 00:25:33,269 we're at a disadvantage if we didn't have the evidence and witness living in us, right? And so 229 00:25:34,050 --> 00:25:40,650 he said in John 17, 20, he says, I do not pray for these alone, meaning the disciples he was 230 00:25:40,650 --> 00:25:48,950 leaving behind, but also for those who will believe in me through their words. That's us. 231 00:25:49,930 --> 00:25:56,670 We believe because the word of God, when we say yes to Jesus, the evidence pours into us. Here comes 232 00:25:56,670 --> 00:26:03,130 heaven. Heaven is just downloading into us. We have the evidence, the witness from heaven 233 00:26:03,130 --> 00:26:12,089 within us now. Amen. And so now we can know it's true. And then the final incident we're going to 234 00:26:12,089 --> 00:26:19,049 read about, after these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of 235 00:26:19,049 --> 00:26:26,509 Tiberius. This is chapter 21. And in this he showed himself, Simon Peter Thomas called the twin 236 00:26:28,450 --> 00:26:34,829 Nathaniel of Cana and Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two others of his disciples 237 00:26:34,829 --> 00:26:39,990 were together. Simon Peter said to him, I'm going fishing. And then they said to him, 238 00:26:40,069 --> 00:26:45,910 we are going with you also. And they went out and immediately got into the boat. And that 239 00:26:45,910 --> 00:26:52,369 night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore, 240 00:26:52,369 --> 00:26:59,589 yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. And then he said to them, children, 241 00:26:59,849 --> 00:27:07,369 have you any food? And they answered him, no. And he said to them, cast the net on the right side 242 00:27:07,369 --> 00:27:12,329 of the boat. Can you imagine? Like, who does this guy think he is? Wait a minute. 243 00:27:13,470 --> 00:27:18,450 I'm starting to remember something. They weren't very good fishermen when Jesus wasn't 244 00:27:18,450 --> 00:27:24,809 around. Because this is how John met Jesus. When he said, no, no, not, don't throw the net there, 245 00:27:25,170 --> 00:27:32,609 throw it there. In other words, Jesus sent the fish. Jesus brought the increase. So John is 246 00:27:32,609 --> 00:27:38,869 saying, wait, this is so peculiar. Throw it on the right side of the boat. Any side of the 247 00:27:38,869 --> 00:27:43,029 boat Jesus says to throw your net, throw it because it's the right side. But anyway, 248 00:27:43,490 --> 00:27:46,630 he says, throw it to the right side of the boat. 249 00:27:48,450 --> 00:27:55,910 Which verse are we on? Thank you. Okay. And he said to them, cast the net on the right side 250 00:27:55,910 --> 00:28:02,430 of the boat and you will find some. And so they cast and now they were not able to draw it in 251 00:28:02,430 --> 00:28:09,529 because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved, which is John, 252 00:28:09,789 --> 00:28:16,089 said to Peter, it is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, 253 00:28:16,089 --> 00:28:21,670 he put his outer garment on and he dove into the water and it goes on from there. 254 00:28:22,230 --> 00:28:29,710 But so they were about 100 yards from Jesus. He was on the shore. And he was about 100 yards 255 00:28:29,710 --> 00:28:36,190 away. Now 100 yards, wouldn't you recognize most people that you know real well 100 yards away? 256 00:28:36,269 --> 00:28:40,529 They couldn't have all been short-sighted or far-sighted or whatever that. They couldn't 257 00:28:40,529 --> 00:28:45,349 have all had bad vision. They didn't recognize. And it's on the beaches. It's not 258 00:28:45,349 --> 00:28:48,750 like there's a lot of trees and everything. If you've ever been to the Mediterranean, 259 00:28:49,170 --> 00:28:54,630 it's pretty, you know, around the sea, it's pretty sparse, right? Except, you know, so anyway, 260 00:28:54,789 --> 00:29:02,369 they look and they don't recognize them until what? Until the miracle. The miracle that reminded 261 00:29:02,369 --> 00:29:08,470 John, there's only one guy that does this. And it's Jesus. How to suddenly they're pulling 262 00:29:08,470 --> 00:29:15,970 in 153 fish. And miraculously, the net doesn't break. That's pretty amazing, isn't it? Last time 263 00:29:15,970 --> 00:29:22,029 he did that a couple with a couple nets, the nets were busting apart. This time they all brought 264 00:29:22,029 --> 00:29:27,250 them in. You know, they're already learning how to be true fishermen of men, right? And so Jesus, 265 00:29:27,569 --> 00:29:32,009 so all of a sudden, and you know the story there, how Peter comes to him and he gets, 266 00:29:32,009 --> 00:29:39,869 and he gets reconciled with Jesus. And so, so now we see like, so they don't recognize them either. 267 00:29:40,089 --> 00:29:44,930 So I started thinking, like, what is the deal? Let's just look at the summary again, if you have that 268 00:29:44,930 --> 00:29:53,569 slide. Mary only recognized Jesus by his voice speaking her name. The Emmaus duo, the Cleopas 269 00:29:53,569 --> 00:30:01,170 and his friend, recognize him by the breaking of bread and scriptures, words and actions. John 270 00:30:01,170 --> 00:30:09,670 recognized Jesus by the miracle of fish caught and Thomas recognized Jesus by seeing the wounds. 271 00:30:09,849 --> 00:30:19,089 Probably the least honorable way to see was Thomas seeing Jesus through evidence. That's why 272 00:30:19,089 --> 00:30:25,029 believers walk by faith, not by sight. And Jesus prayed that we would see him that way. 273 00:30:25,210 --> 00:30:29,230 But why didn't he just show himself? So I was thinking about this. Let's think through this 274 00:30:29,230 --> 00:30:38,289 a little bit. Jesus was brutally beaten, right? In Isaiah chapter 52, it says he was marred, okay? 275 00:30:39,349 --> 00:30:45,150 As many were astonished at you, his appearance was so marred beyond human resemblance. 276 00:30:45,970 --> 00:30:53,690 And then his form beyond that of the children of mankind, like he was brutally beaten. 277 00:30:54,250 --> 00:31:02,890 So, like, would he have risen with marred and a disastrous look? And I'm not going to answer that 278 00:31:02,890 --> 00:31:08,450 right now. I mean, some might say maybe that's why, you know, you'll be able to find those 279 00:31:09,309 --> 00:31:15,529 views of maybe they just didn't recognize him because he was so brutally beaten and tortured, 280 00:31:15,529 --> 00:31:22,490 right? And so that would be one, you know, imagine a thorn, a crown of thorns, 281 00:31:23,690 --> 00:31:31,309 bang down with that reed into your scalp and just it's going in and these were long thorns. 282 00:31:31,430 --> 00:31:35,490 It's just ripping up your whole face, you know? I mean, could it have been that? 283 00:31:36,470 --> 00:31:41,930 I don't know. I mean, I wouldn't think so. I think they still would recognize him, right? 284 00:31:43,449 --> 00:31:48,329 Maybe it was unbelief, okay? I mean, if you're really astonished, like, wait, 285 00:31:48,450 --> 00:31:57,289 but they didn't even have any hint that it was him, okay? You know, even in disbelief, 286 00:31:57,390 --> 00:32:01,950 like Thomas, I'm not going to believe until I see it. And then he saw, I believe my Lord 287 00:32:01,950 --> 00:32:07,329 and my Savior, my Lord and my God, right? Could it have been that? Because, you know, 288 00:32:07,329 --> 00:32:12,509 they were just in such disbelief. I mean, I don't know. That doesn't seem to make much sense, right? 289 00:32:13,069 --> 00:32:19,269 Maybe Jesus rose with a glorified body, but would it have been a body that they wouldn't 290 00:32:19,269 --> 00:32:26,450 recognize at all? Okay? Because remember, he's fully glorified in heaven. When Peter, 291 00:32:26,730 --> 00:32:32,849 James and John saw him on the mount of transfiguration, he was illuminated, you know? And that was 292 00:32:32,849 --> 00:32:38,910 glory. Well, you don't see any of the resurrection stories say, you know, everyone putting on sunglasses 293 00:32:38,910 --> 00:32:44,910 so that you look at Jesus, right? Because he's so radiant and resurrected. It doesn't say anything 294 00:32:44,910 --> 00:32:50,250 about that either, right? So it wasn't, you know, I would doubt that his body was 295 00:32:50,250 --> 00:32:56,289 transformed to his permanent body in heaven, you know? But it's what some might say. 296 00:32:57,029 --> 00:33:06,470 But the Word said that God restrained their sight from seeing who he was. And it also says that he 297 00:33:06,470 --> 00:33:14,190 changed form so that they wouldn't recognize him. Now, why? Why would he do that? I really 298 00:33:14,190 --> 00:33:26,269 believe because he wants them to start training to see him not in his physical form. He's 299 00:33:26,269 --> 00:33:31,789 going to be able to see his face. Remember how I spoke to you, Mary, what's going on? What's going 300 00:33:31,789 --> 00:33:37,190 on with these demons in you? Talk to me. Talk to me, all right? Because I'm about to cast them 301 00:33:37,190 --> 00:33:41,849 out. I just want to know where you are in this mix, you know? He's talking to Mary as he's about 302 00:33:41,849 --> 00:33:49,930 to cast out these demons, you know? He, she needs to remember his voice calling her name. 303 00:33:51,289 --> 00:34:00,069 The two going to Emmaus, they needed to remember the scriptures all point to Jesus. He was teaching 304 00:34:00,069 --> 00:34:04,630 them that, right? On the way to Emmaus, he was teaching them. And we got to remember that. 305 00:34:04,890 --> 00:34:11,190 We got to recognize Jesus through what the scriptures say about him. I love this Leviticus 306 00:34:11,190 --> 00:34:15,030 study we're doing on Wednesday nights. If you can ever come out, we're going to move on from 307 00:34:15,030 --> 00:34:20,349 there to Deuteronomy, but everything points to Jesus. All the teachers are doing such an amazing 308 00:34:20,349 --> 00:34:27,989 job at showing how it all points to Jesus. All scriptures point to Jesus. They were 309 00:34:27,989 --> 00:34:32,349 recognizing and then when he broke the bread, like, this is why we have communion. We'll 310 00:34:32,349 --> 00:34:40,909 have communion next Sunday. We have communion to remember this is what Jesus does. He has 311 00:34:40,909 --> 00:34:46,929 communion with us, right? And then John remembering the miracles. Wait a minute. 312 00:34:48,090 --> 00:34:54,769 I do everything better when Jesus is with me. Isn't that true about you? Like any hint, you 313 00:34:54,769 --> 00:34:59,210 don't sin as well. That's for sure. You're not good sinners anymore. I'm sure of that 314 00:34:59,210 --> 00:35:03,550 because Jesus transformed you within. When you sin, you're like, this is gross. 315 00:35:04,409 --> 00:35:09,909 This just has no fun at all anymore, right? Because it's not who you are anymore, right? 316 00:35:09,909 --> 00:35:18,710 You're a new creation. It's anti you because you are in Christ. He was training them. Look, 317 00:35:18,849 --> 00:35:24,269 you're going to be able to have to see me in other ways because you're not going to see me soon. 318 00:35:24,809 --> 00:35:32,570 It's not long from now I will be ascending into heaven, but sending my witness into you 319 00:35:32,570 --> 00:35:40,250 through Pentecost. You know, I love how when Jesus was sitting at the Last Supper, which if you read 320 00:35:40,250 --> 00:35:47,969 through John, you know, there's several chapters dedicated to all the conversation that John had 321 00:35:47,969 --> 00:35:53,429 with his disciples, preparing them for his departure. Like we read earlier, you know, 322 00:35:53,449 --> 00:35:56,869 you should be glad I'm leaving because if I didn't leave, the Holy Spirit wouldn't come and 323 00:35:56,869 --> 00:36:04,590 equip you, right? And as he's speaking to them, he says this in John 14 verses 19 and 20, 324 00:36:05,110 --> 00:36:15,170 a little while longer and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. How can that be? 325 00:36:15,170 --> 00:36:28,110 Nobody else sees me, but you do. You recognize me. You will recognize me through how much I love you, 326 00:36:28,590 --> 00:36:36,469 calling your name. You know that I know you. The Lord knows each one of you intimately. He knew 327 00:36:36,469 --> 00:36:44,650 your sins when he was dying on the cross says, yep, that's for Tony's sins. He knows the law 328 00:36:45,190 --> 00:36:52,429 and he died on the cross for every one of our sins. He became our sins on the cross. Mary knew 329 00:36:52,429 --> 00:37:01,369 that and he set her free, you know, and we will, we know him by the miracles that he's, 330 00:37:01,369 --> 00:37:07,630 doing through you and around you. You know, I hope you know that so many things in life are miracles. 331 00:37:08,190 --> 00:37:14,769 You know, like Augusta, the Lord just sparing her and seeing her through that and, you know, 332 00:37:14,869 --> 00:37:20,389 she's here with us. Another testimony. Augusta has a lot of testimonies, I'm just saying, 333 00:37:20,909 --> 00:37:28,590 from China to America. But, you know, so many miracles are all the time happening around you 334 00:37:29,309 --> 00:37:36,369 and you're part of that miracle. And perhaps we can all engage in being his miracle to the world, 335 00:37:37,150 --> 00:37:42,050 right? A demonstration of his power. You know, miracle and power is the same word in Greek, 336 00:37:42,489 --> 00:37:50,369 dunamis, dynamite. We, you know, dynamite changes things around it and so do we, right? 337 00:37:51,289 --> 00:37:57,030 Recognizing Jesus through all of these things, he says, the world will see me no more, but you 338 00:37:57,030 --> 00:38:05,150 will see me because I live and I love this. You will live also and that day you will know that I 339 00:38:05,150 --> 00:38:15,909 am in my Father and what? You in me and what? I in you. That's how we see him because he's right 340 00:38:15,909 --> 00:38:22,590 here. I once heard of a missionary talking and it sounds like almost blasphemous. Somebody was 341 00:38:22,590 --> 00:38:28,389 asking, how do I know Jesus is real? Well, you're talking to him right now because he's in here. 342 00:38:29,230 --> 00:38:33,949 I could say, well, you're not Jesus. Well, no, but I'm a representative of him. 343 00:38:34,769 --> 00:38:43,869 There's aspects of me that is him, right? Because he lives in here. As the worship team comes up, 344 00:38:45,630 --> 00:38:53,570 we mentioned last week how in Jerusalem in his Palm Sunday when he came in and 345 00:38:55,309 --> 00:39:03,230 people were looking to kill him and he knew that of course. And they're also looking to kill Lazarus 346 00:39:03,230 --> 00:39:08,510 because Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and they wanted to destroy the evidence, right? 347 00:39:09,190 --> 00:39:16,170 After four days of death, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. And I love as he's approaching the tomb 348 00:39:16,170 --> 00:39:25,349 and he's talking to Mary and then Martha. And then he says in John 11, 24 to 26, he says, Martha said 349 00:39:25,349 --> 00:39:32,130 to him, I know that he will rise again, meaning Lazarus because Lazarus said, I'm going to raise 350 00:39:32,130 --> 00:39:36,929 him from the dead. You see what's happening here? And she's like, yeah, I know Jesus like 351 00:39:37,489 --> 00:39:42,010 you mean in the resurrection someday, right? I get that, you know? 352 00:39:44,070 --> 00:39:48,869 She said, I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day and Jesus said to her, 353 00:39:49,170 --> 00:39:57,250 I am the resurrection. Like you're looking at resurrection power. You know, the same resurrection 354 00:39:57,250 --> 00:40:03,829 power that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. That means anything that's dying in you 355 00:40:03,829 --> 00:40:12,449 he wants to bring back to life. Anything that is dead and should be dead, he will prune, right? 356 00:40:12,710 --> 00:40:19,530 John 15. He will prune it off. He will remove it, right? Because he wants to bring you back to life 357 00:40:19,530 --> 00:40:27,650 because he lives so do we, right? And he who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. 358 00:40:27,650 --> 00:40:34,150 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? I'm asking you, 359 00:40:34,170 --> 00:40:40,630 do you believe this? Amen. Are you alive? Are you alive in Jesus Christ? Hallelujah! 360 00:40:43,110 --> 00:40:50,829 Let's all stand up. Let's all stand up. Why don't we do that chorus one more time? What do you 361 00:40:50,829 --> 00:40:54,309 think? Some of you are like, oh, I don't like that song. Yes, you do. 362 00:41:20,829 --> 00:41:38,389 He holds the future and life is worth the living just because he lives. Listen, if you're here and 363 00:41:38,389 --> 00:41:47,849 you've never come alive in Jesus Christ, what are you waiting for? I was not alive until I died. 364 00:41:47,849 --> 00:41:56,949 Why don't you make today your death? Your old self dies with Christ on the cross. Right here, 365 00:41:57,429 --> 00:42:03,110 right now, I know there are at least five people in this room right now that have not given their 366 00:42:03,110 --> 00:42:09,469 lives to Jesus Christ. And you know who you are. And I'm saying right now, right here, 367 00:42:09,570 --> 00:42:13,650 come on, before a great cloud of witnesses, we're all going to close our eyes and no peeking. 368 00:42:14,289 --> 00:42:18,070 Okay, let's all close our eyes and look down. 369 00:42:20,450 --> 00:42:30,849 And I just want to encourage you right now to be bold, to be bold and say, Jesus, 370 00:42:31,269 --> 00:42:40,190 I know I am a sinner. There's no question about that. And I know I need to be saved. 371 00:42:41,610 --> 00:42:48,789 Today, I want to give you my life. Just surrender and die right here with you, Lord. 372 00:42:50,289 --> 00:42:56,429 Because I believe you are the Son of God who died for me on the sins. And it's only through you, 373 00:42:56,690 --> 00:43:04,969 I can be forgiven. So today, I give you my life so that I can have yours. 374 00:43:06,450 --> 00:43:12,489 Lord, give me your life. I want your life, Lord. I want your life to live in me. 375 00:43:15,210 --> 00:43:21,090 Father God, just save me right now. Save now. Hallelujah. 376 00:43:23,449 --> 00:43:31,710 And fill me with your Holy Spirit and Jesus' name. Amen. If you did that right now, 377 00:43:31,710 --> 00:43:35,730 there's no one looking up. Just raise your hand. 378 00:43:39,590 --> 00:43:44,530 Come on, do it. Think of what Jesus did for you. 379 00:43:48,550 --> 00:43:50,150 Don't fight this. Come on. 380 00:43:55,449 --> 00:43:58,489 I just want to say, you know, you're still saved. 381 00:44:00,230 --> 00:44:05,090 And someday, you're not only going to be raising your hand once, you're going to be clapping your hands, 382 00:44:06,010 --> 00:44:13,250 praising Jesus in public when you're ready. Because I didn't raise my hand either. I was a 383 00:44:13,250 --> 00:44:20,710 chicken. When I got saved, I kept it to myself. And I fought with God for a solid year until he 384 00:44:20,710 --> 00:44:26,090 finally delivered me from myself. And he's going to do that with you today as well. 385 00:44:26,650 --> 00:44:30,489 So don't let guilt and condemnation trickle in because you didn't raise your hand, 386 00:44:30,670 --> 00:44:34,929 because you didn't step forward, because you didn't acknowledge it. But I'm going to, 387 00:44:35,070 --> 00:44:40,369 I'm saying someday you will. And you'll be so happy to do it because you're going to get 388 00:44:40,369 --> 00:44:46,989 baptized in front of a great cloud of witnesses and say, look at me. I've died and I've come 389 00:44:46,989 --> 00:44:49,849 back to life in Jesus' name. Amen. 390 00:44:54,070 --> 00:44:59,429 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss His Word. 391 00:45:00,130 --> 00:45:05,550 Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern on YouTube. 392 00:45:06,469 --> 00:45:08,710 Be blessed and have a great day.