1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Stephen Ferdick. I'm the pastor of Elevation 2 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Church and this is our podcast. I wanted to thank 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 1: you for joining us today. Hope this inspires you. Hope 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,559 Speaker 1: it builds your faith. Hope it gives your perspective to 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: see God is moving in your life. Enjoy the message now, listen. 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,439 Speaker 1: I was telling somebody the other day. They said, Easter 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,600 Speaker 1: must be the easiest time for you to preach. I said, oh, 8 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: on the contrary, it's really the hardest because everybody thinks 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,400 Speaker 1: they know the story better than they really do. And 10 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 1: this part of the Easter story is maybe something that 11 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:40,960 Speaker 1: you've heard before. But if we study it together today, 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: I believe you see something you've never seen. In John 13 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 1: chapter twenty, verse twenty four. It's kind of the climax 14 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: of John's gospel. Now, Thomas, also known as Didamus, one 15 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 16 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,680 Speaker 1: So the other disciples told him we have seen the Lord. 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: But he said to them unless I see the nail 18 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 1: marks in his hands and put my finger where the 19 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: nails were and put my hand into his side, I 20 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: will not believe. A week later, his disciples were in 21 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: the house again, and Thomas was with them, though the 22 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: doors were locked. Jesus came and stood among them and said, 23 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: peace be with you. And then he said to Thomas, 24 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: put your finger here see my hands. Be careful what 25 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: you ask for. Reach out your hand and put it 26 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: into my side. Stop doubting and believe. And Thomas said 27 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: to him, my Lord and my God. Then Jesus told him, 28 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are 29 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: those who have not seen and yet have believe. Now 30 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: listen to this. Jesus performed many other signs in the 31 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:20,919 Speaker 1: presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 32 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 1: But these are written that you may believe that Jesus 33 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,519 Speaker 1: is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by 34 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: believing you may have life in his name. Can you say, man, 35 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: that's the word of God. Now let me give a 36 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: title to dis sermon, and you can give it to 37 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,760 Speaker 1: your neighbor. Tell them, I know you're I know you're 38 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: Tell them I know you're a good person. Tell him 39 00:02:50,919 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: I know you're a Christian, I know you're nice. Tell 40 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:10,280 Speaker 1: him I know your moody. Now I don't want to 41 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 1: start anything, but tell him I know you're kind of 42 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: crazy now, but that's not the title. Here's the title. 43 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: Come the title. Say that's not all you are. That's 44 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:31,919 Speaker 1: not all you are. Now be seated, and let's talk 45 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:38,040 Speaker 1: about Thomas, or as you judgmental church people like to 46 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: call him doubting Thomas. If you're new to church. We 47 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: have nicknames that we give certain disciples. We don't do 48 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: it to all the disciples. We just pick on certain disciples. 49 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: Like Peter gets to be called the Rock, right because 50 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: Jesus called him that. We don't call Peter. Peter cussed 51 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: somebody out one time when they were trying to see 52 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:01,960 Speaker 1: if he was a church member of Jesus Christ. But 53 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 1: we don't call him, you know, profanity Peter. No. But Thomas, Like, 54 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: for real, I wish you were here right now because 55 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: you can hide on the other side of that screen. 56 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: It's much better when I can see you in the 57 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,359 Speaker 1: like eyeball to eyeball. I love that because somebody that 58 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: I don't know, what's your name? Yeah, yeah, oh I 59 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: know you work for the church. Okay, I'm gonna pick 60 00:04:25,400 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: somebody else. What's your name? Yeah yeah, hunter? Hunter? Do 61 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 1: you ever? Do you ever? Do you ever? You ever 62 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: do do you ever? Do you ever do something that 63 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 1: contradicts your beliefs? But you know you should do better, 64 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 1: but you do the wrong thing anyway. You're real slow 65 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: to nods. She nodded quickly. I wish you could have 66 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,839 Speaker 1: seen it. She was nodding before I finished the question. 67 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:53,480 Speaker 1: But but, but, but that's called hypocrisy. So what if 68 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: we called you hypocrite? Hunter? Right? That be fair? Be fair. 69 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 1: It wouldn't be kind or gracious or anything like that, Lisa, 70 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 1: Does Tom ever lose his temper? I've never seen him 71 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: do it, So we should call him right tantrum Tom 72 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: because the Bible passage I just said, Thomas was doubting. 73 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: Oh he must be doubting, Thomas. Stick a label on him. 74 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: We love to label things. Is there anybody in the 75 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: back of the room that ever struggles with overeating? Just ever? 76 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: I mean just even like on Christmas, you eat crap 77 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: on the back of the room, on the back of 78 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 1: the room. I'm not looking at y'all right now, on 79 00:05:36,279 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: the back of the room. I'm not even looking at 80 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: the Epham at the back of the room, all right, 81 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: what's your name? All the way up there in the 82 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 1: corner of the room, right there in the back of 83 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: the room. No, no, back behind you, even back behind you, 84 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: even no over that way, over that way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. 85 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: She raised her hand. She said she struggled with overeating. 86 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 1: What's your name, Camille? What if we call you Calorie 87 00:05:55,880 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: intake Camille? Huh, I'll just make the He's off right. 88 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: This is what we do. We love to label stuff 89 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: because if I label it, I can be lazy, because 90 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: I can think I know you, because you remind me 91 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 1: of something that's in myself that I won't admit. This Easter, 92 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: I would like to talk about Thomas and suggest to 93 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: you that if any of the other disciples had been 94 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: in his same situation, they would have had his same doubt. 95 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:42,840 Speaker 1: The Bible says that Thomas wasn't there when Jesus showed up. Now, 96 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: remember he rose from the dead. He showed himself to 97 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: Mary Magdalene, not to the boys first, because he knows 98 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: that women have the ability to feel and not be 99 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: so calculative about everything, and know things that their minds 100 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,160 Speaker 1: can't conceive, and see things spiritually that men are blind to. 101 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: Because we are so ego focused that we can't even 102 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: connect with one another. Let alone resurrected Son of God. 103 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:07,240 Speaker 1: You like that pandering idea to the female demographic there? 104 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 1: That was good, wasn't it? But I really believe that. 105 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: I really believe that Hollywood was with a bunch of 106 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: other pastor's wives a while back, and she was saying, like, oh, 107 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: it's so good, and we opened up and we talked 108 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: about this, and we talked about that. And I said, 109 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: if that had been the pastors of those churches and 110 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: not the women who are co pastors or pastors' wives, 111 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 1: all we would have talked about is things that started 112 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: with how many or how much? Because we love to label. 113 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 1: Guys are really simple. We are still trying to figure 114 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: out how much do you bench? Just you know, now 115 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: with dollars instead of dumbbells, like how much did you 116 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: make last year? And all this stuff. Because we love 117 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: to label, it helps us. It helps us to accommodate 118 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: our assumptions. If we can label something, look at somebody 119 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: and say, that's not all you are. We love sometimes 120 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: to identify ourselves as Christians by our jewelry, even though 121 00:08:03,720 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: the cross was originally a torture instrument, not a fashion statement. 122 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,600 Speaker 1: There's nothing wrong. I got one myself and I'll wear it. 123 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: But my point is sometimes it's easier to label it 124 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: than to live it. Doubting Thomas, Yeah, that's really fair. 125 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 1: I mean, when it says that he wasn't there, he 126 00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: wasn't there. We don't know why, you know how you 127 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: fill in the blanks and assume things about people. He 128 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:42,800 Speaker 1: wasn't there because Jesus had been crucified and he was 129 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: ashamed to be identified with the others, or maybe he 130 00:08:46,280 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: was running an errand I mean, after all, the other 131 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: disciples were not exactly full of faith. How do you 132 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: know that the Bible says they had the doors locked 133 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:00,679 Speaker 1: because of fear of the Jews. You know how you 134 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: say Easter's the super Bowl? Not really? Not really, It's 135 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: not really like the super Bowl, because even though Jesus 136 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,200 Speaker 1: was risen and they had heard about it, they still 137 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: had to live with the reality that they represented a 138 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:19,080 Speaker 1: threat to the Jewish Council that represented the religious establishment 139 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:23,480 Speaker 1: of the day. So it's a strange celebration. It's kind 140 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: of like how how sometimes in your life you can 141 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: be really happy about something but really worried about something, 142 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: and you can't exactly jump up and down about this 143 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: because you're distracted about that. So somebody says, how you knowing, 144 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 1: You're like, I'm good, But that's not all you are. 145 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: You are good in the particular area of your life 146 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:48,079 Speaker 1: that you chose to disclose in that moment. Thomas wasn't there. 147 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: The only difference between Thomas and Peter is Peter got 148 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 1: to see Jesus when he showed up. Peter didn't have 149 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: greater faith than Thomas. He just he's had a different experience. 150 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,240 Speaker 1: Don't judge people about where they are if you don't 151 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 1: know where they started. Maybe he wasn't there because he 152 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: was scared, or maybe he was just struggled with punctuality. 153 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: Maybe Thomas was late. It's no worse of an assumption 154 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: than the fact that he wasn't there because he didn't 155 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: love God. I don't know why he wasn't there. It 156 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 1: just says, let's read the text again, so y'all will 157 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:38,439 Speaker 1: think I'm not making this up. I don't want y'all 158 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: to trust me. I want you to trust the text now. Thomas, 159 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,560 Speaker 1: also known as did amis one of the twelve, was 160 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:46,319 Speaker 1: not with the disciples when Jesus came. What if he's 161 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,440 Speaker 1: not doubting Thomas at all. He could be tardy Thomas. 162 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: I like that tardy Thomas. You know how I think 163 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: Jesus would call him. I was sinking about this. What 164 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: would Jesus call Thomas? What would Jesus call the one 165 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:01,880 Speaker 1: that wasn't there? What would Jesus call the one who 166 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: came back a week later to make a special guest 167 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: appearance too? He thought so much of him that he 168 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: showed back up. Maybe Jesus would call him honest Thomas. 169 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 1: Honest Thomas, because what he said. I think. I think 170 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 1: he said a good thing. He said. I've got to 171 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,240 Speaker 1: see it for myself. There comes a time when your 172 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: faith in God, when what your grandparents taught you, or 173 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 1: what you learned on a flenograph and a Sunday school 174 00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 1: can't really get you through the real complications of adult life. 175 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: So what he said wasn't I won't believe, he said. 176 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:53,600 Speaker 1: I won't believe unless I see the nail marks in 177 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 1: his hands and put my finger where the nails were 178 00:11:56,960 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: and put my hand into his side. I won't believe 179 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: unless what would it take for you to believe that 180 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 1: God was with you in this moment, in this season. 181 00:12:13,080 --> 00:12:14,440 Speaker 1: What would it take for you to believe that God 182 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:19,079 Speaker 1: had your kids in his hands. What would it take 183 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: for you to believe that He knows what's best for you? 184 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:26,280 Speaker 1: What would it take for you to believe that God 185 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 1: does not relate to you on the basis of the 186 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 1: thing you're most ashamed about. What would it take for 187 00:12:29,679 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: you to believe? He's already seen so much? Thomas has 188 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: He's seen a lot. And John says, Jesus did so 189 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: much we couldn't write it all down. So John, in 190 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: making this we call it a book, his gospel account, 191 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: he says, I put the ones in the book that 192 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: would serve as a sign so you could believe. And 193 00:12:56,320 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: he includes seven of them, which is a significant number, 194 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 1: especially for the Jewish mind, because it was seven days 195 00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: of creation, you know. And John is saying, here, I'm 196 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: gonna I'm gonna show you seven things. He starts talking 197 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: about the signs in John chapter two, where Jesus turned 198 00:13:16,040 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: the water into wine at a wedding. Then in chapter four, 199 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 1: Jesus heals this official sun. It's crazy because Jesus didn't 200 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,560 Speaker 1: even have to go physically to the place in order 201 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: to heal the boy. All it took was for the 202 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: man to believe it was his faith that made his 203 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: son well. In John chapter five, there's a man trying 204 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:39,079 Speaker 1: to get to the water and Jesus says, well, it's 205 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:42,280 Speaker 1: a good thing that the water showed up, since you 206 00:13:42,360 --> 00:13:45,440 Speaker 1: can't move. Because the man was actually paralyzed, he could 207 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,000 Speaker 1: not get to the water, so Jesus brought water to him. 208 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:51,840 Speaker 1: That's the third sign. One of the miracles that we've 209 00:13:51,840 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: heard a lot about if we were around church was 210 00:13:53,920 --> 00:14:00,280 Speaker 1: when Jesus fed five thousand men, women and children, and 211 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:04,280 Speaker 1: is significant in this particular sign because when they found 212 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: this little boy in John chapter six, they said, here 213 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: is a boy. To them, he looked like a boy. 214 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: He was carrying a buffet. In't that amazing? Look at 215 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,559 Speaker 1: your neighbor again and say, that's not all you are. 216 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: That's not all you are. Yeah, you look like a boy, 217 00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: But when your bread gets in the hands of the 218 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: one who knows how to do with it. As a 219 00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: matter of fact, when Jesus went walking on the water, 220 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,360 Speaker 1: they thought he was a ghost. They didn't recognize him 221 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: at first, they didn't see him at first. They felt 222 00:14:38,360 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: fear at first, not faith. And then in John chapter nine, 223 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,320 Speaker 1: I think it is you can check all these later. 224 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,120 Speaker 1: I'm giving you a Bible study for the next week. 225 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: By the way, you could go through all of this 226 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,760 Speaker 1: where this man was born blind and Jesus healed the 227 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: man born blind, which was amazing. But the greatest thing 228 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: that he did to show who he was started with 229 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:07,280 Speaker 1: what he didn't do. My favorite story in the Bible 230 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: last year was the story of Lazarus in John chapter eleven. 231 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 1: I spent the greater part of the year off and 232 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: on looking at this story. And I want to show 233 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: you something that's in the story that I think might 234 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: relate to your season of life as well. If you 235 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: have John chapter twenty right now, just maybe put that 236 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: little ribbon in your Bible. Who am I kidding? Like 237 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:36,200 Speaker 1: y'all brought paper to church today, Just mark it on 238 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: the screen and go to John chapter eleven for just 239 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: a moment, because if we flip back to John chapter eleven, 240 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: it will show us something about who Jesus really is. Now, 241 00:15:49,080 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 1: John says, I can't tell you everything, but I told 242 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 1: you enough that you can believe. For the part that 243 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: you can't see, I can't I can't tell you everything 244 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,640 Speaker 1: that he did, but I gave you enough to believe 245 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: God said, I'll give you enough to go on. So 246 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: when Moses asked God, who are you, he said, I am. 247 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: You don't have time for me to tell you all 248 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,880 Speaker 1: that I am, because the moment that I tell you 249 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: exactly what I am, you will label me, and the 250 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: moment you label me, you will limit me. It's like this. 251 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: People will say, oh, oh, that must be a Pentecostal church. 252 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: That must be a Baptist church, that must be a 253 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: well they say. Sometimes they'll say oh, they'll say, I 254 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,120 Speaker 1: remember one person said, sometimes I don't like how elevation 255 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:46,680 Speaker 1: mixes different genres. It should either be worship or gospel, 256 00:16:46,720 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: not both. So the definitions I found in the Bible 257 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: confused me because I thought worship was our job description 258 00:16:56,880 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 1: and gospel was our message. But now what's what we'll do. 259 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: We want to create a genre about a God who's 260 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: worthy of eternal worship, because if we can categorize him, 261 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:24,159 Speaker 1: we don't really have to trust him. So Jesus, watch this. 262 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:31,080 Speaker 1: Thomas wasn't the only one who wasn't there. Jesus wasn't 263 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: there in John chapter eleven to heal his friend Lazarus. 264 00:17:37,480 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: And what I'm discovering in the Bible is you can 265 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:44,199 Speaker 1: learn just as much about God through absence as you 266 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: can through presence. Prove it to me. Okay, one time 267 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,240 Speaker 1: Paul said, I had this storn and I wanted God 268 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,679 Speaker 1: to take it away, but God didn't do what I 269 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:55,639 Speaker 1: asked him to do. How many have something in your 270 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:57,360 Speaker 1: life right now that God's not doing that you asked 271 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 1: him to do on the timetable that you're asking him 272 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:00,879 Speaker 1: to do. If he is doing it, he better go 273 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: ahead and get to it because it's gonna be too late, 274 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 1: real soon. This is the situation in John eleven. At 275 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: first Lazarus is sick, and then Lazarus is dead, and 276 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,480 Speaker 1: they do not get the attention of the healer. Now 277 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:21,880 Speaker 1: we can see this most clearly because there's a lot 278 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: in this passage, and God, I wish I couldppreciate it 279 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,240 Speaker 1: all to you right now. If I summarized it, it it 280 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: would actually ruin it because I would squeeze out at 281 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 1: all the detail. So I'm not gonna summarize it. By 282 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:37,720 Speaker 1: the way, just to the side point, don't trust the summary. 283 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: Don't trust the summary. Put that in the chat. Don't 284 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:46,160 Speaker 1: trust the summary. When we try to summarize something, we 285 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 1: squeeze out of at the meaning right. So if I 286 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:52,160 Speaker 1: tell you John, chapter eleven, Lazarus died, Jesus raised him 287 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:56,879 Speaker 1: from the dead. You missed the tears that he cried 288 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: at his tomb. Don't even try to summarize salvation and 289 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: just make it about heaven and hell. Because I need 290 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: Jesus on this earth, and they needed Jesus to show 291 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,119 Speaker 1: up and heal their brother. And they had a reason 292 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:21,720 Speaker 1: to expect because he would stop through Bethany every time 293 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 1: he needed airbnb at Martha's house, and Mary would listen 294 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,440 Speaker 1: because she had a good heart. But Mary, Martha actually 295 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: knew how to cook, so she's the one doing the work, 296 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: paying the mortgage, and Mary is over here doing anyway. 297 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: It's a whole dynamic. Again, I can't summarize it. It's 298 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:40,720 Speaker 1: a very very involved story. But I thought I would 299 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:43,199 Speaker 1: show you verse thirty two, John, chapter eleven, because their 300 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:46,879 Speaker 1: brother is now dead and Jesus missed the opportunity to 301 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 1: heal him. Now, very specifically, before I came, God said, 302 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:55,440 Speaker 1: you're going to speak to somebody today who thinks it's over. 303 00:19:56,840 --> 00:19:59,520 Speaker 1: And the limitation that they have placed is not on 304 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:04,840 Speaker 1: a genre of music. The limitation that they have placed 305 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 1: is on themselves. In the story of Lazarus, they asked 306 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: for the healer to come. They call him the teacher 307 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,600 Speaker 1: or the rabbi. That's how they knew him. And it 308 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:20,680 Speaker 1: says in verse thirty two, when Mary reached the place 309 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:22,439 Speaker 1: where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his 310 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: feed and said, Lord, if you had been here, my 311 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: brother would not have died. When Jesus saw her weeping, 312 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: and the Jews who had come along with her, also weeping, 313 00:20:31,320 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: he was deeply moved in spirit and trouble. Where have 314 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,280 Speaker 1: you laid him? He asked, Come and see Lord, they replied, 315 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: and Jesus wept. Wait a minute, I thought you were God. 316 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:49,959 Speaker 1: You're supposed to be drying tears, not crying them. What 317 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,080 Speaker 1: I what you've heard about God is not all there 318 00:20:52,119 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: is to him? What if the God that you've heard 319 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:04,040 Speaker 1: about is only a sliver? See, people will describe God 320 00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:08,920 Speaker 1: in many ways, and they'll say that God is a healer. 321 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 1: But then someone that you love will die. And to 322 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,879 Speaker 1: assume that he's not as powerful as you thought he 323 00:21:16,119 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: was because he didn't do what you thought he would 324 00:21:20,760 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: misses the entire basis of true faith. Our problem is 325 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: just like we do to Thomas, we do to God. 326 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:36,159 Speaker 1: We want to define people and even define God, and 327 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: even define ourselves by our worst moment. Now, the danger 328 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 1: in this passage is that by seeing their expectation unmet, 329 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: their faith could have been discontinued. And you've got two perspectives. 330 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,880 Speaker 1: At the tomb of Lazarus this day, in verse thirty six, 331 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: the Jews said, see how he loved him. But some 332 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: of them said, now watch this, this is my message. 333 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind 334 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:08,159 Speaker 1: man have kept this man from dying? You see what 335 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 1: they did. They labeled him according to their limited experience 336 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,639 Speaker 1: of what he could do, because they heard he was 337 00:22:16,680 --> 00:22:20,840 Speaker 1: a healer, So to them, that's all he is. And 338 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 1: if he's a healer and he didn't heal, then it's over. 339 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 1: If he's only the one who opens blind eyes and 340 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 1: your brother died, then he didn't do what he could do, 341 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:37,880 Speaker 1: and he can't do it now. But sometimes you've got 342 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: to have enough faith in God. Listen to me, by 343 00:22:40,560 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: the spirit of the Lord. Sometimes you got to have 344 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,200 Speaker 1: enough faith to say, God, I thought you were a healer, 345 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 1: but that's not all you are. God, I thought, I 346 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,720 Speaker 1: thought you were the one who would keep it from happening. 347 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: But that's not all you are. Have you ever had 348 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:08,120 Speaker 1: God not stop something and he could have, then you're 349 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:12,920 Speaker 1: just like Jesus. His father could have stopped him from 350 00:23:12,960 --> 00:23:16,760 Speaker 1: going to the cross. Even Jesus said I could call 351 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: a legion of angels and they would rescue me. And 352 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:30,320 Speaker 1: they thought he was a king. And when we worship 353 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: Jesus and we say you're a king, he is. He's 354 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: also a carpenter. And the greatest revelation that Jesus ever 355 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: gave anybody in the scripture of who he was was 356 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 1: after what he didn't do. So let me break this 357 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:56,040 Speaker 1: down real simple. I was talking to a YouTuber the 358 00:23:56,040 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: other day, and there's nothing uncommon about YouTubers, but he's 359 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 1: fifty nine and he was sharing with me how he 360 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 1: had been a music producer and then when that stopped 361 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,399 Speaker 1: and he was down to his last little bit of 362 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: money in the bank account. I told you this story, 363 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:21,800 Speaker 1: I'm gonna tell them now. He kind of was at 364 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 1: the point in his life where, you know, by the 365 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 1: time you're fifty four, he's fifty four when he started 366 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 1: his channel. You kind of have a pretty good idea 367 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: of what you can and can't do, right, Like, I mean, 368 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: one day his intern walks and he told me the story. 369 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 1: He said. One day his intern walks and he says, 370 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 1: you should start a YouTube channel. And the beautiful thing 371 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 1: about this guy, he's got the grayest gray hair, shocking white, 372 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:50,440 Speaker 1: like the transfiguration of Jesus Christ himself. And he said, 373 00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:55,440 Speaker 1: there's nobody with hair like this on YouTube. I'm a producer. 374 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: This is what I do. I'm a music teacher. This 375 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 1: is what I do. I don't even know how to 376 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:03,760 Speaker 1: make the videos. Now, I wouldn't be telling you this 377 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 1: story if he tried and failed. Obviously he succeeded, right, 378 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:14,200 Speaker 1: I was studying. There's all these other YouTubers who are 379 00:25:14,240 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: younger and more hair and different colored hair and all 380 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 1: of these different things. See. See, I'm telling you the 381 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: story because you can tell yourself a summary of what 382 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:34,040 Speaker 1: you are and what you're not based on the experience 383 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: that you've had, not the potential that you carry. And 384 00:25:41,400 --> 00:25:44,880 Speaker 1: so what he said was, I'm not a YouTuber. I'm 385 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:49,919 Speaker 1: a fifty four year old producer. His channel is bigger 386 00:25:49,960 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 1: than all the young guys today, right right, And you 387 00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: would be clapping so hard if you realized that whatever 388 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:04,200 Speaker 1: you have told yourself is the stopping point of what 389 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:08,639 Speaker 1: you can be fails to factor in that the limitless God, 390 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:12,119 Speaker 1: who says my name is I am and will not 391 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 1: be confined to one category, is living on the inside 392 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:23,200 Speaker 1: of you. Sophy was gonna do it, he'd have done 393 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:26,680 Speaker 1: it by now. Well, maybe he wants to do something different. 394 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,960 Speaker 1: So God, I expected you to be this in my life. 395 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,159 Speaker 1: I expected you to plan it and do it and 396 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: executed like this. But what I thought you were is 397 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,800 Speaker 1: not all you are. So the message of Easter is 398 00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:48,440 Speaker 1: just like the tomb. I'm open. I'm open. Say it 399 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:52,280 Speaker 1: out loud. I'm open. I'm open. I'm open. And the 400 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: thing about it is, I'm not open to what I 401 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: hoped would have happened. I'm not open to what I 402 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:59,199 Speaker 1: thought would have happened. I'm not open to what I 403 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 1: think would be better. God, I believe if you could 404 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: put a fifty nine year old on the top of 405 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,239 Speaker 1: a YouTube mountain, watch this. If you can heal a 406 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: man who's been in the grave so long that his 407 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 1: sister is more concerned about the stinch than she is 408 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 1: about the potential. If you can do that. Come on, 409 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:30,440 Speaker 1: I'm open. God wants you to unlearn your limitations. You've 410 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:35,040 Speaker 1: got to unlearn your limitations and stop thinking that it 411 00:27:35,119 --> 00:27:39,959 Speaker 1: had to be on one schedule. Well, their kid is 412 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:43,879 Speaker 1: smarter than mine. Their kid is peaking too soon. All right, 413 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: that's all it is. Your kid has got street smarts 414 00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: and d's on their report card. And later in life, 415 00:27:57,240 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: Later in life, the lateness of God. Why did he 416 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:13,400 Speaker 1: make Thomas wait a week? Thomas wasn't there. Jesus could 417 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: have waited, caught up with him somewhere else. Why did 418 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 1: he wait a week? You didn't see it when I 419 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 1: read it. Okay, I'll go back to it for you. 420 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 1: This is really and Elijah's reading through the Book of 421 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: Matthew right now, and he said, Dad, do you ever 422 00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:30,280 Speaker 1: feel like Jesus is trolling his disciples? And I said kinda, 423 00:28:30,359 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: he does. Doesn't mean like I'm going to pay the 424 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 1: temple tax, but go fishing. It'll be in the fish's mouth. 425 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:37,320 Speaker 1: He's like, this is just weird, and I'm like, it 426 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 1: kind of is. I see. I'm glad he's reading the 427 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:44,000 Speaker 1: Bible for himself so he can learn to wrestle with 428 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:48,000 Speaker 1: questions about God. And about life, and not just trust 429 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:53,600 Speaker 1: the summary that Jesus loves the little children. Jesus does 430 00:28:53,680 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 1: love the little children. Jesus also flips tables. I asked 431 00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:03,760 Speaker 1: him the other day, did you get to the party 432 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: in Matthew yet? Because he read chapter nine? I said, 433 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 1: you get the party at where he's cussing it all 434 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: the pharisees out. Not exactly cussing, but he might as well. 435 00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:12,240 Speaker 1: I mean everything you'd want to call him. He's calling 436 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:16,080 Speaker 1: them whitewashed tombs and all these things. But see, when 437 00:29:16,120 --> 00:29:18,240 Speaker 1: you have a view of God that thinks that he 438 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,880 Speaker 1: only says soothing things, you get surprised. That's why I 439 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: hate preaching on holidays. We took something as powerful as 440 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:46,960 Speaker 1: the resurrection and dressed it in pastel. Let me tell 441 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: you my Christmas sermon. I already got it. You're ready 442 00:29:48,760 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: my Christmas sermon. You know, silent night, Holy night, all 443 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:53,760 Speaker 1: us calm, all his bright away a manjing Cridford, a 444 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:56,600 Speaker 1: better lord. Jesus laid down the sweethet. The cattle are 445 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,560 Speaker 1: lowing the sky. I don't know the word, but this part, 446 00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 1: little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. That's a lie. 447 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:08,280 Speaker 1: I like the song to y'all, but it's not true. 448 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:16,320 Speaker 1: He's a baby in a bard. He's crying. So I'm 449 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 1: gonna do a message on Christmas, not silent Night. It's 450 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: gonna be called Screaming Jesus. I hope you'll put it 451 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:26,000 Speaker 1: on the It's December twenty fifth, twenty twenty one, right 452 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: here from this pulpit, coming soon, Screaming Jesus Ah. I 453 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: know you know me as a healer. I know you 454 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: know me that I open the man's blind eyes. I 455 00:30:41,440 --> 00:30:43,000 Speaker 1: know you know me in this season of your life 456 00:30:43,040 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: is this. I know you know me as that I 457 00:30:44,440 --> 00:30:46,480 Speaker 1: know up until this point I provided for you this way. 458 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:48,120 Speaker 1: And I know you think that what you've seen is 459 00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 1: all there is. But blessed her those. This is what 460 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 1: he told Thomas, who have not seen and still believe. 461 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,400 Speaker 1: Who's he talking about in that? Who's he talking about? 462 00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 1: He's not talking about the other disciples they saw. Who's 463 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: he talking about? I think he's talking about Mary and 464 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: Martha because Martha was like, if you would have been here, 465 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:25,240 Speaker 1: my brother wouldn't have died. And Mary was like, if 466 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:26,920 Speaker 1: you'd have been here, my brother wouldn't have died. And 467 00:31:26,920 --> 00:31:28,440 Speaker 1: if you would have did what I thought you could do. 468 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 1: But Martha says something real powerful. Watch this, she said, 469 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: But I know that even now it's too late. But 470 00:31:41,120 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 1: even now you didn't fit the definition of what I 471 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:50,800 Speaker 1: thought a good friend was God. But even now you 472 00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:52,880 Speaker 1: withheld the healing that you easily could have given in 473 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 1: you intentionally missed the opportunity to perform. But even now 474 00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: I thought you were a healer. But that's not all 475 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:10,840 Speaker 1: you are. Martha's confession is the powerful confession. She says, 476 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:16,320 Speaker 1: you are the Christ, the Messiah who has come into 477 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:22,400 Speaker 1: the world. So whatever I thought you were, whatever I 478 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 1: thought you would do, whatever I expected from your hand, 479 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 1: that's not all you are. Would you say that to God? 480 00:32:32,200 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 1: This Easter? I had my nice little pretty picture of 481 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:42,480 Speaker 1: little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay, or the great 482 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 1: King Jesus, who destroys every devil and drives out all darkness. 483 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:50,640 Speaker 1: But you're also the one who weeps with me in 484 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:56,680 Speaker 1: something that you could have prevented. You are the one 485 00:32:56,680 --> 00:33:01,080 Speaker 1: with all authority. You are also the one with all empathy. 486 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:06,040 Speaker 1: I wonder what else you are. You know, for years 487 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:10,600 Speaker 1: now you've been defining yourself by your dysfunction. MHM. I 488 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:12,760 Speaker 1: hear it because I talk. I talk to you, I 489 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: hear you. I hear when you talk. You do it, 490 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: you do I do it. I do it all the time. 491 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: I think it's somewhat of a cop out from us 492 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:28,480 Speaker 1: having to grow, because if we condemn ourselves, we don't 493 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:33,680 Speaker 1: have to work towards change. That's just how I am. 494 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: Hey man, I'm just not organized. I can't hope it. 495 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:43,360 Speaker 1: I'm just not organized. You know, there's like methods for that, right, 496 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 1: And now I'm worried because, Yo, when they do personality 497 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 1: tests Myers Briggs and Enneagrams and all of this, I 498 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,040 Speaker 1: know Aneagram's not a personality test. Trust me. I get 499 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: a lot of feedback every time I make fun of 500 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 1: Vineagram on the internet, and I'm grateful for that. It's 501 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: a blessing. And uh, but that's a helpful tool. But 502 00:34:09,280 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 1: if you take something that was meant to be a tool, 503 00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 1: do you know, Enneagram, you put a number and that's 504 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 1: kind of your dominant sin or weakness or something, then 505 00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 1: you can understand it and all that that is really 506 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,600 Speaker 1: what it is. But see, we like to slap a 507 00:34:20,680 --> 00:34:23,080 Speaker 1: number on something so we don't really have to know it. 508 00:34:23,160 --> 00:34:25,440 Speaker 1: I hear people walking around all the time. You're a seven, 509 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: you're a three, you're an eight. I'm like, I'm like 510 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,239 Speaker 1: a at least a like because Holly told me I'm 511 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:31,879 Speaker 1: a one, I'm at least I'm at least a one 512 00:34:31,920 --> 00:34:34,440 Speaker 1: point five, a one point seven? Like do I get 513 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 1: a decimal? Like? Do I really have to be that 514 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:39,520 Speaker 1: exact of a thing? And there's nothing against all of that. 515 00:34:39,600 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: It's good, it's good. It's good, it's good. But we 516 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:51,120 Speaker 1: will even turn a tool into an excuse. Yeah, I'm 517 00:34:51,160 --> 00:34:54,440 Speaker 1: a perfectionist. That's just who I am. That's just how 518 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 1: I am. You're also a payment. You're also aggravating to 519 00:34:58,320 --> 00:35:03,080 Speaker 1: some people. That's not all you are. And I love 520 00:35:03,160 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 1: yelling church. I'm a child of God. I am a 521 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:11,080 Speaker 1: child of God. That is not all you are all 522 00:35:11,120 --> 00:35:23,239 Speaker 1: the time. If you clap, I won't call you out. 523 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:28,080 Speaker 1: We won't pretend like you are always holy and righteous 524 00:35:28,239 --> 00:35:33,640 Speaker 1: and blessed and full of faith. So how do we 525 00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: deal with this? Thomas aka Didamus I love how he 526 00:35:39,640 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 1: even had a little nickname means the twin You ever 527 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: feel like there's two of you? By the way, this 528 00:35:56,640 --> 00:36:01,839 Speaker 1: is an opportunity for him who experienced Jesus not through 529 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 1: another spectacular miracle, but through a sacred scar and notice 530 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:13,080 Speaker 1: what he wanted to see. I've already seen him walk 531 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:16,560 Speaker 1: on water, I've already seen him feed the hungry crowds, 532 00:36:16,600 --> 00:36:21,000 Speaker 1: I've already seen him open blind eyes. But I never 533 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:26,640 Speaker 1: saw him die before. And the experience of the cross 534 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:32,440 Speaker 1: would be enough to confuse any of us, because how 535 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 1: can God be with you? And how can God before 536 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:40,280 Speaker 1: you and you go through this? So when Thomas says, 537 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:48,960 Speaker 1: my Lord and my God, one commentator said that it 538 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:53,200 Speaker 1: is the most powerful expression of faith in any Gospel account. 539 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:58,239 Speaker 1: Now let me ask you something. What do you take 540 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:02,240 Speaker 1: from the fact that the most powerful expression of faith 541 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:06,960 Speaker 1: in the whole Bible was uttered from the mouth of 542 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 1: the disciple with the greatest doubt. I think it means 543 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:18,719 Speaker 1: that even though you might be a skeptic, sometimes that's 544 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:23,399 Speaker 1: not all you are, right And even though you might 545 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 1: be addicted to something right now, an attic is not 546 00:37:27,080 --> 00:37:33,799 Speaker 1: all you are. And even though you've limited yourself to 547 00:37:34,800 --> 00:37:37,759 Speaker 1: the path that you've seen thus far, Jesus said, it's 548 00:37:37,800 --> 00:37:41,920 Speaker 1: great to see it and believe it, but blessed her 549 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 1: you if you really can believe it and you don't 550 00:37:46,239 --> 00:37:51,040 Speaker 1: even see it. So if I don't see God making away, 551 00:37:51,160 --> 00:37:56,720 Speaker 1: is he still a waymaker? This is the decision of Easter. 552 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:02,880 Speaker 1: This is the decision of every day. Don't trust the 553 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:05,120 Speaker 1: summary because people will tell you things in the summary 554 00:38:05,160 --> 00:38:08,439 Speaker 1: that are just too simple. God is good all the time, 555 00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:10,879 Speaker 1: all the time. God is good. Oh, they repeated it. 556 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:18,000 Speaker 1: It must be true. That's cute. But to really know 557 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:23,600 Speaker 1: that God is good for Thomas, he had to touch 558 00:38:23,640 --> 00:38:28,200 Speaker 1: the wounds, and the most powerful expression of faith was 559 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:32,680 Speaker 1: uttered from the one with the greatest doubts. I think 560 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:38,480 Speaker 1: sometimes God can use the people the most who are 561 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:44,239 Speaker 1: willing to get honest about where they really are and 562 00:38:44,400 --> 00:38:46,560 Speaker 1: just be willing to admit that every day doesn't feel 563 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:51,120 Speaker 1: like Easter in your heart. He showed up a week 564 00:38:51,239 --> 00:38:57,040 Speaker 1: later because Thomas was ready yet. And isn't it crazy 565 00:38:57,200 --> 00:39:00,840 Speaker 1: that the only thing that would stop God from revealing 566 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:08,600 Speaker 1: himself to Thomas was his own belief. Stop doubting and 567 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:15,640 Speaker 1: believe makes it sound so simple, doesn't it. Stop doubting? 568 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:21,359 Speaker 1: I wish it was that simple. Siri came on in 569 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:23,560 Speaker 1: my office a minute ago before I came to preach. 570 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:26,120 Speaker 1: I said, hey, Siri, stop, She said, there's nothing to 571 00:39:26,160 --> 00:39:31,880 Speaker 1: stop here. I'm talking to right now, there's nothing to 572 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:38,839 Speaker 1: stop here. I wish doubt could be like just like, hey, 573 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:46,160 Speaker 1: fear stop, Hey, bad memory of the thing that stop? Hey, 574 00:39:46,239 --> 00:39:49,759 Speaker 1: worrying about things that haven't happened yet stop. And the 575 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:52,200 Speaker 1: more I studied it, I realized Jesus wasn't just telling 576 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:56,839 Speaker 1: Thomas to do something mentally. The thing that he said 577 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:02,600 Speaker 1: is actually better translated like this, stop becoming an unbeliever 578 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:07,840 Speaker 1: and become a believer. That's what he literally said, Danny, 579 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:12,640 Speaker 1: stop becoming an unbeliever. When did you start becoming an unbeliever? 580 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:16,760 Speaker 1: When did you get so jaded about others about yourself? 581 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:20,359 Speaker 1: When did you start trusting more in the summary right 582 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:26,360 Speaker 1: than you did in the Holy Spirit? And so I 583 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:28,920 Speaker 1: want to share something with you today on this Easter. 584 00:40:31,520 --> 00:40:36,759 Speaker 1: A few months ago, I was kind of just unsuspecting 585 00:40:36,800 --> 00:40:40,440 Speaker 1: on a Thursday afternoon, writing some thoughts down about Lazarus, 586 00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:43,040 Speaker 1: who eventually did get up and rise from the dead, 587 00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:46,000 Speaker 1: and there's so much good stuff in that story, but 588 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:51,640 Speaker 1: it's for another time. And the opening line to what 589 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:55,239 Speaker 1: I thought was like a poem came to me and said, 590 00:40:55,239 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: may I never lose the wonder of this gospel mystery. 591 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:02,600 Speaker 1: From the heaven came a savior from the ground to 592 00:41:02,719 --> 00:41:08,080 Speaker 1: Rosa King. I sat with it for a moment, and 593 00:41:08,120 --> 00:41:09,880 Speaker 1: it just kept coming to me in this way, and 594 00:41:10,440 --> 00:41:13,719 Speaker 1: I wrote down the rest. Every day is born in darkness, 595 00:41:15,200 --> 00:41:19,239 Speaker 1: every winter yields to spring. So let us speak of 596 00:41:19,280 --> 00:41:26,400 Speaker 1: resurrection even in the suffering. As the sisters begged the 597 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:31,080 Speaker 1: Savior come at once to Bethany, for the one you 598 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:34,360 Speaker 1: love is dying. But his yes was not to be, 599 00:41:36,200 --> 00:41:39,799 Speaker 1: and his weeping begged the question could his friend he 600 00:41:39,880 --> 00:41:45,080 Speaker 1: not have healed? But he still is Resurrection Even when 601 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:59,320 Speaker 1: the two is sealed, speaks a whisper in the silence 602 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:05,080 Speaker 1: sleeps the harvest in the sea, cradled now a new 603 00:42:05,120 --> 00:42:11,719 Speaker 1: beginning in the heart that dares believe. So crucify your hesitation. 604 00:42:14,600 --> 00:42:22,400 Speaker 1: Whom did expectation bring? Will you welcome resurrection? Will you 605 00:42:22,440 --> 00:42:28,759 Speaker 1: crown the risen key? So that's the question, will you 606 00:42:28,880 --> 00:42:33,160 Speaker 1: welcome resurrection? I know you've lost some things, and I 607 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:35,719 Speaker 1: know that it seems like it's too late, But will 608 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:38,319 Speaker 1: you welcome the possibility that God is greater than any 609 00:42:38,360 --> 00:42:41,920 Speaker 1: of your limitations? That's what Jesus wanted. The sisters to 610 00:42:41,960 --> 00:42:45,600 Speaker 1: see that I'm greater than anything you imagine me to be. 611 00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:49,400 Speaker 1: And when God doesn't meet our expectations, sometimes it's because 612 00:42:49,400 --> 00:42:52,360 Speaker 1: He wants to exceed them. If the disciples would have 613 00:42:52,360 --> 00:42:55,200 Speaker 1: had their way, Jesus never would have gone to the cross. 614 00:42:55,880 --> 00:42:57,600 Speaker 1: But if he'd never gone to the cross, he couldn't 615 00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:02,120 Speaker 1: pay for their sin, he couldn't redeem and set them free. 616 00:43:02,719 --> 00:43:05,319 Speaker 1: I just want you to know in the bottom of 617 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:10,440 Speaker 1: your heart today that whatever you've done, however you've run, 618 00:43:11,280 --> 00:43:15,920 Speaker 1: whatever limitations you've placed on yourself or God, he's so 619 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:19,239 Speaker 1: much greater and he's in you. Father. I pray right 620 00:43:19,280 --> 00:43:23,879 Speaker 1: now for Easter resurrection, miracles in the lives of men 621 00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:26,600 Speaker 1: and women all over the world. I thank you so 622 00:43:26,719 --> 00:43:29,520 Speaker 1: much that you have called us to this hope. I 623 00:43:29,520 --> 00:43:32,120 Speaker 1: thank you that it's a living hope, and I thank 624 00:43:32,160 --> 00:43:35,120 Speaker 1: you that the empty tomb gives us confidence for any 625 00:43:35,120 --> 00:43:38,239 Speaker 1: of the spaces we don't understand in our life. Lord, 626 00:43:38,280 --> 00:43:41,359 Speaker 1: I pray for miracles. I pray for breakthrough, I pray 627 00:43:41,360 --> 00:43:44,480 Speaker 1: for deliverance. I pray for salvation to come to their 628 00:43:44,480 --> 00:43:47,560 Speaker 1: home today, that you would touch them and they would 629 00:43:47,600 --> 00:43:53,040 Speaker 1: be whope. In Jesus' name, Amen, Thank you for sharing 630 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:56,000 Speaker 1: this day with us. We love you, we're praying for you. 631 00:43:56,440 --> 00:43:58,600 Speaker 1: Thank you for being a part of this global ministry 632 00:43:58,640 --> 00:44:01,120 Speaker 1: all over the world. May God bless you in a 633 00:44:01,160 --> 00:44:02,359 Speaker 1: tremendous way this week