1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,900 He is glorious. 2 00:00:06,900 --> 00:00:13,780 Behold the one who has come for us. 3 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:15,740 Welcome to Hub City Vineyard. 4 00:00:15,740 --> 00:00:17,740 To get connected or to give online, 5 00:00:17,740 --> 00:00:20,540 you can go to connect.hcv.church 6 00:00:20,540 --> 00:00:23,640 or give.hcv.church. 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,640 If at any time during this message 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,280 you feel called to make a change in your life, 9 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:33,000 text changeme to 970-00. 10 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,000 Thank you and enjoy the message. 11 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,160 Good morning, everyone. 12 00:00:37,160 --> 00:00:39,400 How's everybody doing today? 13 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:39,840 Good. 14 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:41,880 This should be the crowd that's full of energy. 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:42,840 It is 1130. 16 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:45,600 You've had plenty of coffee in you and breakfast. 17 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,600 So you're all set to go. 18 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:49,520 We're just so thankful that you're here. 19 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:51,880 If you're joining us from home, thank you for welcoming us 20 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:53,240 into your space. 21 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:55,720 And happy Easter to you as well. 22 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:57,480 Just a few additional announcements 23 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:59,680 that I want to throw out to everyone before we jump 24 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:01,760 into our talk this morning. 25 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:05,040 My children mentioned about the Good Friday Worship Night 26 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:07,040 and Baptism this past Friday. 27 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,680 I just want to let everyone know it's an incredible night. 28 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:16,920 We had over 47 people baptized, declaring that they are now 29 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:18,320 following Jesus. 30 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:20,960 And it was just an incredible night of worship. 31 00:01:20,960 --> 00:01:22,240 So we're just so thankful. 32 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,960 And we're praying for all those that made that commitment. 33 00:01:25,960 --> 00:01:28,440 Also, next Sunday, Luke Zimmermanfield 34 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,160 is called to launch HCV Riders. 35 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,600 So for all of you that enjoy riding motorcycles 36 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:36,040 in the warmer months, he is going 37 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,440 to schedule some rides for all of you 38 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:41,520 after our Sunday gatherings. 39 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,480 So if you would like to be a part of that group, 40 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:46,960 be sure to meet with him in between first and second 41 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:48,200 gathering next week. 42 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:49,720 Meet him at the Welcome Hub. 43 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:51,080 Then you go into the cafe to have 44 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:52,360 a discussion about the group. 45 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:55,320 And also, next Sunday, I'm excited to launch our new series 46 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:56,800 Stretch Thin. 47 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,680 I really feel that within our current climate of culture, 48 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,320 so many people are struggling with mental health. 49 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,160 There's mental health issues rampant in the US. 50 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,040 So we're going to devote a whole month 51 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,520 to focusing on our mental health and our thought life 52 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:14,520 as seen through the Bible and what God says about it. 53 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,960 So if you know someone that's struggling, stressed, 54 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,880 full of anxiety, whatever, be sure to invite them 55 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,040 to be a part of that series. 56 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:24,760 Now, I know what some of you are thinking. 57 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:29,480 I intentionally wore this outfit because I knew some of you 58 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,680 would be thinking, Chris, it's Easter. 59 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:33,840 I dressed up. 60 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:34,720 I'm looking good. 61 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:35,680 Put on my best. 62 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,000 And you're wearing your gym clothes. 63 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:40,840 So what's the deal? 64 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,920 Why are you wearing your workout clothes? 65 00:02:43,920 --> 00:02:46,400 Well, this morning, I want to talk a little bit 66 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,720 about the greatest running moments in history. 67 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,680 And I felt it best that I wear my running gear 68 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,480 to connect you with the story, to bring you in. 69 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,760 So by show of hands, are there any runners 70 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:00,800 in the house today? 71 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:02,600 Any runners? 72 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,600 Just what I thought. 73 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,640 So this is our fourth gathering now. 74 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:10,400 And you know what I'm realizing? 75 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,720 HCV is not a very fit church, okay? 76 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,680 So it's a good thing that in May, we are going to be doing 77 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:24,680 a series on, anyone want to guess, physical health. 78 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:25,920 Yes. 79 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:29,360 So that's coming in May, right? 80 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,640 Because I believe that so many people say, 81 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:34,360 yeah, I know, Chris, one of these days, 82 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:35,800 I'll get back in shape. 83 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:37,680 Yeah, sure you will. 84 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:42,120 So to take it a step further by show of hands, humor me, 85 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,560 has anyone in the house ever run a marathon? 86 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:46,800 One. 87 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:49,120 Two. 88 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:50,800 All right, thank you. 89 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:55,720 Two people, three, yes, have run a marathon. 90 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,960 See, these three individuals, they're the serious runners. 91 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:03,080 I mean, 26.2 miles. 92 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,080 Like people who do this, that actually choose 93 00:04:06,080 --> 00:04:08,840 to run this distance, that's serious, 94 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:12,080 because most of us don't even like driving 26.2 miles 95 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,360 if we're honest, let alone running it. 96 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:16,960 So there was an experiment that I want to bring 97 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:19,360 to your attention that took place a few years ago. 98 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:22,120 I actually watched a documentary that was filmed 99 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,040 regarding the experiment of whether a human being 100 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:30,000 can run a marathon in under two hours. 101 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,920 Okay, now the three of you that have run a marathon before, 102 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:35,840 you may have said, yeah, well, I ran mine 103 00:04:35,840 --> 00:04:40,400 in just over five hours, or maybe you did it over three days, 104 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:41,760 I have no idea. 105 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,400 There would be different times for each of you, 106 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:49,400 but can a human being run a marathon in under two hours? 107 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,320 So there was a race set up in Vienna, Austria, 108 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,320 and this legendary marathoner, 109 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:57,520 he is actually the greatest marathoner alive today, 110 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:01,520 his name is Eliud Kipchoge, he's from Kenya, 111 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:06,200 and he set out to run a sub two hour marathon, 112 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,640 and let's watch the final moments of his attempt 113 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:14,640 to achieve this mark. 114 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,840 This humble farmer who used to run two miles 115 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:20,280 to school every day and back, 116 00:05:20,280 --> 00:05:23,200 he used to go to the nearest town on his bike 117 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:25,400 to sell milk at the local markets, 118 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,480 and now through hard work and discipline, he's pointing, 119 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:33,360 come on, he says, Eliud Kipchoge has the hand of history 120 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:39,760 on his shoulder, he has less than 200 meters to go, 121 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,880 Eliud Kipchoge, let's keep an eye on the clock, 122 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,320 into the final 20 seconds, Eliud Kipchoge, 123 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,760 that's Eliud Kipchoge on his shoulder, 124 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,280 140, 140, the unofficial time. 125 00:05:51,280 --> 00:05:52,840 Oh, there's his wife. 126 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:57,840 Eliud Kipchoge storms into the history books in Vienna, 127 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,840 159.40, the unofficial time, 128 00:06:01,840 --> 00:06:05,480 the first man to run a marathon in under two hours. 129 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,600 So he does it, right? 130 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:13,600 Now check this out, this means he ran a four minute 131 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:19,080 and 35 second mile for 26.2 miles, 132 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,960 and he didn't even look tired, right? 133 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:23,880 I mean, my man was just cruising along, 134 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,000 I'm like, that's how I look when I start, 135 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:31,000 much less after 26.2 miles, 136 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,520 but listen to this, it didn't count. 137 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:39,560 It wasn't an open race, it was a specifically designed race 138 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:42,640 set up just for Kipchoge. 139 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:44,280 There were thousands of people on the course, 140 00:06:44,280 --> 00:06:47,080 it all looked and felt legit and official, 141 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,560 but they actually designed the course to be extremely flat 142 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,080 with very few twists and turns. 143 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:55,480 Then they hired a group of elite runners 144 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:59,080 who surrounded Kipchoge the entire race. 145 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,960 They broke the headwinds so he could run in their draft. 146 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,080 He didn't even have to stop or move over to the side 147 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:10,520 to pick up water, there was someone riding on a motorcycle 148 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,520 that every six miles they would pull up beside him, 149 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,920 give him a cup of water so he had nourishment 150 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:17,400 throughout the race. 151 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:21,560 So it's an amazing team and the sophistication of computers 152 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,200 which had engineered the times and distances 153 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,720 to break the two hour mark, this group of runners, 154 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:29,800 they knew they had to keep a certain pace, 155 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,800 cross certain lines, and Kipchoge would follow along. 156 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:37,480 But nonetheless, he did it and he ran the marathon 157 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:42,080 in under two hours even though it didn't count. 158 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,120 But don't feel bad for Mr. Kipchoge because he is a boss, 159 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,800 or as our younger generation likes to call, 160 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,800 he is him or himothy, right? 161 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,320 He currently holds the world record for a marathon 162 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:59,400 in an oh so slow time of two hours, one minute, 163 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:01,640 and 39 seconds, right? 164 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,680 Now many of us, we would have clapped there 165 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:05,480 if we were marathoners, but we can't even wrap our head 166 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,280 around that, so we can't even grasp it. 167 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,880 Let me bring everyone in, show of hands. 168 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,600 How many of you have run a mile before? 169 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,560 One mile, come on, thank you, that's a little bit better. 170 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,520 All right, there's hope for HTV, all right. 171 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:24,240 We're all involved. 172 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,520 Well in 1954, a big event happened in running, 173 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:31,760 so we're talking about big running events this Easter. 174 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:34,640 Okay, our next big one took place in Oxford, England 175 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,880 when Roger Bannister broke the four minute mark 176 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:39,360 for running one mile. 177 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:42,800 And please understand that this time, 178 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:47,320 many people thought would never be broken by a human being. 179 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,120 Roger Bannister does it just barely, 180 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:55,120 running the mile in three minutes, 59.4 seconds. 181 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,280 He only holds the record for 46 days 182 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:01,640 when John Landy beats Bannister's time 183 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:05,280 with three minutes, 57.9 seconds. 184 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:07,000 And for those of you who'd like to know, 185 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,560 I did a little research, well who's got the record now? 186 00:09:10,560 --> 00:09:14,360 A Moroccan runner currently holds the mile record, 187 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:18,560 Hicham Geroju, and he has held the record since 1999, 188 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:20,760 which is quite a long time for a world record. 189 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:22,720 And his time currently stands, 190 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:25,120 for those of you who want to break it, okay, 191 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:30,120 three minutes, 43.13 seconds to run the one mile. 192 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:33,920 And many of you know that the biggest race 193 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,760 in the tri-state area is bigger than both of them. 194 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:39,600 It's a JFK ultra marathon, right? 195 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,120 We think Kipchoge's crazy. 196 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:43,120 Anybody that even attempts that 197 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:46,040 has got to have a little bit of screws loose, okay, 198 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,120 because that is a long way. 199 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,480 But since we are talking about great running events, 200 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:53,480 I want to keep it going, 201 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:58,040 so I looked up the Easter morning 1,000 meter race. 202 00:09:58,040 --> 00:10:01,480 It happened in 30 AD in the city of Jerusalem, 203 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,640 and when the news of the empty tomb 204 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,600 had reached back to the disciples 205 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:09,200 who were still stuck in the doubt of Saturday, 206 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:12,320 a race broke out toward the garden. 207 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,680 And we can read about it in John chapter 20, 208 00:10:14,680 --> 00:10:17,800 because the news we are talking about today, friends, 209 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:22,000 is good enough news to send people running, right? 210 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:24,040 Today is not about hands in your pockets, 211 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:25,800 it's not about arms crossed, 212 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,480 wondering why Chris is wearing a tracksuit, 213 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,360 talking about great ideas or in the break room. 214 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:34,320 This kind of news sets people in motion, 215 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,160 which leads us to our first thought. 216 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:39,360 Easter sets people in motion. 217 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,880 Easter is the kind of day that gets people excited, 218 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:46,320 it's the kind of news that makes people want to run. 219 00:10:46,320 --> 00:10:50,280 And on the very first Easter, people started running. 220 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:54,000 Look at John chapter 20, early on Sunday morning, 221 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:57,360 while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb 222 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,960 and found that the stone had been rolled away 223 00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:00,880 from the entrance. 224 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:05,800 Now notice, she ran and found Simon Peter 225 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,200 and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. 226 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:13,080 That's John's way of getting a holy high five, 227 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,680 because he's the one writing this account, 228 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:17,280 oh yeah, the one Jesus loved. 229 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,200 She said they have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb 230 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,360 and we don't know where they have put him. 231 00:11:22,360 --> 00:11:25,920 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 232 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,560 Now please notice how they started out, right? 233 00:11:29,560 --> 00:11:32,880 They didn't say, oh well, we're in the middle of breakfast. 234 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:37,760 You know, we'll head to the tomb when we're done. 235 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,400 Or hey, it's cold out, we'll wait till it gets 236 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:41,240 a little warmer. 237 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,000 We'll head that way after the morning chores are done. 238 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:47,040 No, they were both running. 239 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:49,000 They heard the news and they began running 240 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:52,720 and they entered the Easter morning, the thousand meter race, 241 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:56,080 which is about how far it was from the place 242 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,680 where the disciples were held up to the place 243 00:11:58,680 --> 00:12:01,280 where Jesus was sealed in a tomb. 244 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,400 And we must remember, they weren't running on a track, 245 00:12:04,400 --> 00:12:06,840 they weren't running down a road with people ahead of them, 246 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:08,320 breaking the headwinds. 247 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,120 They're running through the streets 248 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,240 and the alleys of Jerusalem twist, turns, 249 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,920 they go around a cart up this alleyway. 250 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,160 They are running. 251 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,760 And John wants us all to know how the race played out. 252 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,280 He doesn't want us to know about marathon winners 253 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,160 or mile winners or running the JFK. 254 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,640 He wants us to know who won this day, 255 00:12:30,640 --> 00:12:32,240 so he says it this way. 256 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,480 But the other disciple outran Peter 257 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,000 and reached the tomb first. 258 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:39,320 He stooped and looked in 259 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,040 and saw the linen wrappings lying there, 260 00:12:41,040 --> 00:12:43,040 but notice he didn't go in. 261 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:46,840 Then Simon Peter, who was running behind him, 262 00:12:46,840 --> 00:12:49,160 arriving in second place of course, 263 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:50,720 shows up and goes right in. 264 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:52,520 And many of us can picture Simon Peter, right? 265 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:56,240 Little out of shape, maybe a little bit of a gut, right? 266 00:12:56,240 --> 00:12:58,360 Eating too many fish, right? 267 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:00,400 He's like, I don't really wanna run, but I'll run. 268 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,320 And then he just kind of gave up halfway through. 269 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,040 He didn't care about winning. 270 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,600 But also, he's the guy that got out of the boat, 271 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,080 stepped out of the boat when Jesus told him to. 272 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,040 He just rolls right in the tomb. 273 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:12,000 He didn't question it. 274 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,760 He wanted to see what was happening. 275 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:17,200 So the other disciple also went in. 276 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:18,920 He noticed the linen wrappings lying there 277 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,320 while the cloth had covered Jesus' head, 278 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,240 was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 279 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,480 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first 280 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:30,840 also went in and he saw and believed. 281 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:35,160 So we have two guys in a sprint to an empty tomb. 282 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:37,360 And you wanna know what's amazing about this? 283 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:40,640 When they got there, Jesus was already gone. 284 00:13:40,640 --> 00:13:42,440 Jesus was already alive. 285 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,200 The work was already finished. 286 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,280 They ran as fast as they could, 287 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,320 but when they arrived, God had already moved. 288 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,240 And picture this race, right? 289 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,040 Two men running down the streets, 290 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,720 one taking a little bit of lead, the other pulling away. 291 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:59,840 John maybe finds a shortcut 292 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:00,920 but Peter didn't know about it. 293 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,400 He takes another alley, but of course John saved up 294 00:14:04,400 --> 00:14:08,960 for that final sprint, pulls away, and gets there first. 295 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:10,640 Right, he won the race. 296 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,360 Peter comes in second, but here's the reality. 297 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,040 It doesn't matter who was first or second. 298 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:17,800 It didn't matter which one of them walked 299 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,760 into the tomb first, which leads us to our next all. 300 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:25,080 Easter is about God moving first. 301 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,280 John chapter 20 verse one, early on Sunday morning, 302 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:29,520 while it was still dark, right, 303 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,040 Mary shows up, comes to the tomb, 304 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:33,080 and it had been rolled away. 305 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,960 The stone was rolled away from the entrance. 306 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,320 And then after the race, we read in John 20 verse 11 307 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:43,600 and 14 to 16, Mary, she's standing outside the tomb crying 308 00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:46,960 and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 309 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:49,760 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. 310 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,920 It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. 311 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,160 And of course, Jesus, in his humorous way, 312 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,720 dear woman, why are you crying? 313 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:01,560 Like he knew why she was crying. 314 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,160 Jesus says, sir, who are you looking for? 315 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:06,080 He knew who she was looking for. 316 00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:07,400 She thought he was the gardener. 317 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:10,760 Sir, she said, if you have taken him away, 318 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,720 tell me where you have put him and I will go and get him. 319 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,400 Mary, calling her by name, Jesus said. 320 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:18,760 She turned to him and cried out, 321 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:22,400 Rabbini, which is Hebrew for teacher. 322 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:25,240 See, in the midst of the race, 323 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,640 Jesus was already walking around in the garden. 324 00:15:28,640 --> 00:15:31,080 He's already defeated death, hell, and the grave 325 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,920 and the story of Easter isn't about how fast 326 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:35,960 you need to run to get to the tomb. 327 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:37,760 The story is whenever you get there, 328 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:41,120 God has already gotten there ahead of you 329 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,040 and he is going to finish all the work 330 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,440 before you even arrive because today 331 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,080 it's not about a marathon record, 332 00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:49,880 it's not about a mile record and who cares 333 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,360 who won the Easter morning 1,000 meter sprint? 334 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,600 Today is about the reality that God himself, 335 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:01,600 God Almighty is the first mover in your story 336 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:06,000 and I am so glad and I am so thankful 337 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,240 that we don't have to gather here today 338 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,560 to hear a message of what we need to do to get to God. 339 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:17,560 Our message today is God moves first in your story. 340 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,080 In other words, before you even knew 341 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:24,120 you needed an empty tomb, the stone was rolled away. 342 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,520 Before you even thought to yourself, 343 00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,520 this isn't working, I need a savior. 344 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,760 God had already done the most remarkable running 345 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:34,320 that had ever been done before. 346 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:37,360 Romans chapter five verse eight tells us 347 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:40,320 but God showed his great love for us 348 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:43,480 by sending Christ to die for us while, 349 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,680 notice, we were still sinners. 350 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,680 God runs first. 351 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,200 Now Jesus tells us about the greatest running story 352 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,800 ever recorded in Luke chapter 15 353 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,680 which leads us to our next thought. 354 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:02,360 Humanity wants to negotiate with God. 355 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,080 So there's three stories which in my opinion 356 00:17:05,080 --> 00:17:07,960 are the greatest stories ever told 357 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,280 and Jesus pulls them all together 358 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,320 telling us about a lost sheep, a lost coin, 359 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,520 and the lost son and if I was to say this morning, 360 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,360 the prodigal son, right? 361 00:17:18,360 --> 00:17:20,080 All the church people in the house 362 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:21,920 would identify with that story right away. 363 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,720 In fact, many of you would say, hey Chris, 364 00:17:23,720 --> 00:17:25,880 that's what this whole series is about 365 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,120 but I believe when I say prodigal son, 366 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:31,960 even if you haven't been in church for years 367 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:34,280 or you've never even attended a church, 368 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:36,720 you would be able to reference it, right? 369 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,840 It's that son who says to his dad, 370 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:42,360 I know I have an inheritance coming, 371 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:44,480 I don't care that you're still alive, 372 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:48,200 I want it given to me right now. 373 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:52,480 The father obliges, gives him his share of his inheritance, 374 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:54,600 immediately the son bolts, 375 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:57,680 the Bible tells us to a country far away. 376 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,600 Now we don't know exactly what happened 377 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:02,240 to the son in this country. 378 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:04,720 Now of course we get the older brother's take on the story, 379 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,120 oh he wasted it on sex, drugs, and prostitutes 380 00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:11,040 but we don't really know if that's true. 381 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,600 Maybe he was just living too fast. 382 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,160 Maybe he wasn't making wise decisions 383 00:18:16,160 --> 00:18:18,960 and he wasn't spending his money responsibly 384 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,960 because if we're honest, 385 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:24,640 there's a lot of Americans today that do that, right? 386 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,760 They don't spend their money wisely 387 00:18:27,760 --> 00:18:29,800 but what we do know from the story 388 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,680 is that the younger son went broke, right? 389 00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:35,360 We know that his friends bailed on him 390 00:18:35,360 --> 00:18:37,360 and we do know he lost everything 391 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:39,080 that the father had given him. 392 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:41,640 We know that at some point in the story, 393 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:43,320 he looked at himself and realized, 394 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,680 wow, these choices I've made, 395 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,800 how I've been living, it's not working 396 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:51,000 and it says in verse 20 of Luke 15, 397 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,960 this son decided to make a change 398 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:58,240 and I believe, remember, some of you are here today 399 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:00,120 and maybe you're here because you decided, 400 00:19:00,120 --> 00:19:03,360 I need a change, I need something different 401 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:05,200 and in verse 20 it says, 402 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:09,800 so the son, so he returned home to his father. 403 00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:11,880 That now, we have a lot of ways 404 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:14,120 that we can interpret these words. 405 00:19:14,120 --> 00:19:18,920 In fact, I've taught or shared about these words dozens 406 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:21,160 of times over the years that I've been pastoring 407 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:24,880 and sharing sermons and I've always preached 408 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:29,040 that the son came to a senses, he got it, he repented. 409 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:33,680 He got up, he turned around, he turned from his mistakes. 410 00:19:33,680 --> 00:19:36,000 Remember, repent's not a bad word. 411 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,680 All it means is to return around and go the right way. 412 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,400 That's all it means and he decided, 413 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:44,480 I wanna go home and he repented before his father 414 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:49,000 but while studying for this talk over the last few weeks, 415 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,000 I quickly learned that the son's speech 416 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,040 that he shared with his father were not his words. 417 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:59,400 Okay, and notice what he says in Luke 15, 17 through 19. 418 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:02,720 He finally came to a senses, he said to himself, 419 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,200 at home, even the hired servants have enough food to spare 420 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,200 and here I am dying of hunger. 421 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:09,920 I will go home to my father and say, 422 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,760 Father, I've sinned against both heaven and you 423 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:14,840 and I'm no longer worthy to be called your son. 424 00:20:14,840 --> 00:20:17,640 Please take me on as your hired servant. 425 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,360 See, these words were not the son's words. 426 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:24,160 They were actually the Pharaoh's words 427 00:20:24,160 --> 00:20:27,440 that he was quoting from the Old Testament. 428 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,440 Pharaoh said this to Moses 429 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:31,480 when he wanted the plagues to be lifted. 430 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,040 Remember, Egypt is being bombarded by plagues. 431 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:38,080 Pharaoh was the leader of Egypt, he wanted them to end 432 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:40,800 so these are the words he shares with Moses. 433 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:42,920 Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron, 434 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:46,120 noticed, I have sinned against the Lord, 435 00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:48,160 your God, and against you. 436 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,640 Please take this plague away. 437 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,960 And we must understand, this wasn't Pharaoh repenting. 438 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,920 He was trying to work out a deal with God 439 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:01,320 so that he could get some relief from his current situation 440 00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:05,240 and the son was most likely thinking the same. 441 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,480 Oh man, I messed up. 442 00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,920 I have to repay my dad 443 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,680 and I'm not making a penny living in this country. 444 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:17,040 In fact, I am so low now, I'm eating the scraps 445 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:19,440 from the pigs that I'm feeding. 446 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:22,560 I'm completely unclean, I'm so far away from God, 447 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:24,160 my family and friends. 448 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:28,120 The only way I can see me paying back my dad 449 00:21:28,120 --> 00:21:31,160 is getting a job as one of my dad's servants 450 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,640 because let's be honest, my dad is fair and generous 451 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:37,280 and his servants get paid a very generous wage. 452 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,240 If I can get on with him, if I can work for my dad, 453 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:43,600 I will work off my debt so that I can pay him back 454 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,600 all the money that I owe him. 455 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:47,880 So suddenly when we take a step back 456 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,560 and learn the parable and what the son is thinking, 457 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:54,800 he had his speech ready, he knew what he was gonna do, 458 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,560 so he turned and returned home. 459 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:01,280 But watch what happens, which leads us to our next thought. 460 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:06,000 Easter announces God's grace. 461 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,040 Luke 15, 20 to 21. 462 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:10,400 So he returned home to his father 463 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,240 and while he was still a long way off, 464 00:22:12,240 --> 00:22:15,640 his father saw him coming, filled with love and compassion. 465 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,680 He ran to his son, right? 466 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,760 Now we're talking about a running event. 467 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,800 He embraced him and kissed him. 468 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:25,720 And first, let's be honest. 469 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:29,960 Many of us are stunned by the fact that when the dad 470 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:32,520 saw the son a long way off, right? 471 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:35,080 He wasn't filled with contempt for the son. 472 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,240 He wasn't angry with the son, rather he was full of what? 473 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:39,880 Compassion. 474 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:43,880 And when God sees us today, when God sees you today, 475 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:46,880 wherever you are in your state of life, 476 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:49,760 he doesn't have contempt for you. 477 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:52,200 He doesn't hate you, he's not upset with you. 478 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:55,040 He has compassion for you. 479 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:58,400 And it doesn't mean that consequences are not real. 480 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,880 It doesn't mean that God is happy about the choices 481 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:03,640 that you've made or are currently making. 482 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:07,600 It just means he sees how miserable you are. 483 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:09,400 He sees the pain in your heart. 484 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,480 He sees how devastating the consequences have been. 485 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:13,920 And he's looking at you saying, 486 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,880 I understand everything is a mess, 487 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,160 but my heart longs to be with you. 488 00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,080 It doesn't matter that you lost your marriage. 489 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:24,240 It doesn't matter you got fired from your job. 490 00:23:24,240 --> 00:23:26,880 It doesn't matter that you're currently overwhelmed 491 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:29,080 and stressed out with anxiety. 492 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,280 It doesn't matter that your kids won't listen. 493 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,400 I have compassion on your situation right now, 494 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:40,400 so much so that I'm gonna start running towards you. 495 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:44,720 Now many of us, again, know the three stories 496 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,560 that Jesus told and we know that in the first parable, 497 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:51,480 in Luke 15, four, we learn about a sheep. 498 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:54,680 If a man has 100 sheep and one of them gets lost, 499 00:23:54,680 --> 00:23:55,840 what will he do? 500 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:57,960 Won't he leave the 99 others in the wilderness 501 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:01,520 and go to search for the one until he finds it? 502 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,880 So if we're honest, one out of 100 sheep, 503 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:06,960 one happens to get caught in a briar, 504 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:10,640 wanders off looking for water, who knows what happens. 505 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:14,400 One out of 100, many of us read about it and think, 506 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:18,280 well, that's just one, there's 100 others. 507 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,080 God doesn't really care about me. 508 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:22,120 He doesn't really love me. 509 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:25,200 But then suddenly if you notice in the second story, 510 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,680 in Luke 15, eight, where suppose a woman has 10 511 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:30,200 silver coins and loses one. 512 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,760 Won't she light a lamp, sweep the entire house 513 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:34,440 and search carefully until she finds it? 514 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,960 Suddenly notice the odds, they're getting a little better. 515 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:39,600 Now it's one out of how many? 516 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:40,560 10. 517 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,480 So as the furniture's flying, 518 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:45,160 as the tables are being turned over, 519 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:48,200 suddenly you see God the Father searching the house 520 00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:51,640 until he finds that which is lost. 521 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:53,720 But in the final parable, we have a father 522 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,240 with how many sons? 523 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:56,280 Two. 524 00:24:56,280 --> 00:24:58,040 So now the stakes are much higher, 525 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:00,640 not one out of 100, not one out of 10. 526 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:03,880 Now it's one out of two and this father 527 00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:07,160 represents our heavenly Father, God Almighty. 528 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:11,080 And God, the creator of the universe, right, 529 00:25:11,080 --> 00:25:13,840 isn't searching, isn't flipping tables, 530 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:17,200 he is running towards you. 531 00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:22,680 And we have to realize, this is probably the craziest, 532 00:25:22,680 --> 00:25:26,560 most absurd thing that Jesus could have said. 533 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:29,320 Because when you look through the eyes 534 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,440 and the lens of someone living 535 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:33,560 in the Middle Eastern Palestinian world 536 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:36,880 at the time of Jesus, no patriarchal figure 537 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:41,120 in a position of that father would ever run in public. 538 00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:42,600 You wanna know why? 539 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,600 Because to run in public, it means that he would have to 540 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,800 lift up his robe, tuck it into his belt, 541 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:51,840 and while doing so, he would expose his legs 542 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:55,240 and that was straight up disrespectful in this culture 543 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,680 and it would never happen. 544 00:25:57,680 --> 00:25:59,680 This action would disgrace the father 545 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:01,080 and to take it a step further, 546 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,720 be an embarrassment to the entire village. 547 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,880 But this father said, I could care less 548 00:26:07,880 --> 00:26:09,880 what the village thinks today. 549 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,520 They are gonna see my ankles, they're gonna see my shins, 550 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:14,360 they're gonna see my wobbly knees 551 00:26:14,360 --> 00:26:18,200 because I am running towards my son today. 552 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:22,040 I see him a long way off and I am sprinting down that road 553 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,920 and I'm gonna turn into the father that ran. 554 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:30,400 So, we now have a view of the greatest running event 555 00:26:30,400 --> 00:26:33,080 in the history of all mankind. 556 00:26:33,080 --> 00:26:34,200 Now some of you may be thinking, 557 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,560 well what's the big deal about the father running, Chris? 558 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:39,200 And if you feel this way, it's probably because 559 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:42,720 you see the dad living at the end of a very long 560 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:47,440 tree-lined lane with a big estate at the end. 561 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:49,400 Is that kind of the way you picture this parable? 562 00:26:49,400 --> 00:26:50,840 Like when I read that parable, 563 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:53,280 it's like I see this big estate, right? 564 00:26:53,280 --> 00:26:54,920 It's got a porch wrapped around it, 565 00:26:54,920 --> 00:26:58,640 it's got this huge driveway that extends down, 566 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,880 it comes up over a hill. 567 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:03,880 And you see the father sitting in his rocking chair 568 00:27:03,880 --> 00:27:07,500 on the porch and suddenly, as the son's head 569 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:09,320 just peaks up over the lane, 570 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:11,840 he hops out of his chair and begins to run. 571 00:27:11,840 --> 00:27:16,580 Well friends, culturally, that's a very western view 572 00:27:16,580 --> 00:27:20,580 of this story because in the days of Jesus, 573 00:27:20,580 --> 00:27:23,040 people lived in community. 574 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:24,640 There wouldn't have been a long lane, 575 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:26,960 there wouldn't have been an estate. 576 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:31,000 In fact, the entire village is involved. 577 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,840 See, there's a community reputation at stake 578 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,920 and as I studied more and more over the last few weeks 579 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:39,680 on this text, I discovered there's something 580 00:27:39,680 --> 00:27:42,000 in play here called kesa. 581 00:27:42,000 --> 00:27:42,920 Can everyone say that? 582 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:44,760 Say kesa. 583 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:47,200 Very nice, you learned a little Hebrew this morning. 584 00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:48,160 Very nice. 585 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:52,040 And Jesus doesn't explicitly mention it in this story, 586 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,320 but would have been in the background 587 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:56,600 of the minds and listeners, remember, 588 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:59,440 hearing this through Palestinian eyes. 589 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:01,920 Dr. Kenneth Bailey is a New Testament scholar 590 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,360 and has written extensively on seeing the gospel 591 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:07,120 and teachings of Jesus through the eyes of people 592 00:28:07,120 --> 00:28:10,760 who lived in that culture, writes about this parable 593 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:13,200 saying that the Talmud, the Jewish law, 594 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,240 dating all the way back to the days of Moses, 595 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:19,240 there was a ceremony called kesa. 596 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:22,280 This ceremony would happen if a Jewish boy 597 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,520 married someone that the family didn't approve of 598 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:30,040 or notice, if a Jewish boy lost his inheritance 599 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:31,680 to a Gentile. 600 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,320 And were that to happen, if at any point 601 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:37,200 the boy decided that he wanted to go back home, 602 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,060 he would have to come to the village 603 00:28:39,060 --> 00:28:43,000 and face the kesa ceremony at the gates of the village. 604 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:45,880 The ceremony would literally be held by the elders 605 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:48,040 of the village and notice this, 606 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,200 the father of the boy was not allowed to attend. 607 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:54,200 The reason for this is the father's blessing 608 00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:56,440 trumped community decisions. 609 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:59,400 So the father was required to stay at home, 610 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,320 the mother could attend and plead for the mercy 611 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:04,760 of her son, but not the dad. 612 00:29:04,760 --> 00:29:06,680 The elders of the community, 613 00:29:06,680 --> 00:29:08,760 they'd hear out the boy's testimony 614 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,100 and remember the boy already made up in his mind 615 00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:13,180 what he was gonna say, I'm gonna work for my dad, 616 00:29:13,180 --> 00:29:14,300 I'm gonna work off the money, 617 00:29:14,300 --> 00:29:16,480 I'm gonna be a hired servant. 618 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:20,080 But the elders decided the fate 619 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:22,960 and if they decided kesa was coming, 620 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,200 a word which means cut off, 621 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,360 they would literally take a clay pot 622 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:28,600 and they would throw it 623 00:29:31,480 --> 00:29:32,680 at the son's feet. 624 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:38,420 And essentially, those elders, that community 625 00:29:38,420 --> 00:29:41,840 would be saying you are kesa. 626 00:29:41,840 --> 00:29:44,640 You are now cut off from our community 627 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:47,420 and our village forever. 628 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:53,320 This son knew that not only did he have to face his dad, 629 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,400 he knew he would have to face the kesa ceremony as well. 630 00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:01,640 His only opportunity to not be cut off from the village 631 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,600 was to have a plan to work enough for his dad 632 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:08,720 to earn that money back to pay off the debt that was owed. 633 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:12,800 I may never make it back into my father's house, 634 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:15,600 but I will be a servant for the rest of my life. 635 00:30:15,600 --> 00:30:18,440 Please let me back into the village. 636 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:20,320 Right, that's what was going through the son's mind. 637 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,640 Knowing this, the father, what was he doing? 638 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:25,480 He was watching the road. 639 00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:27,100 The boy had decided to come home. 640 00:30:27,100 --> 00:30:28,840 The news had traveled through different people 641 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:31,120 and this day, the father heard 642 00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,380 that his son was coming home. 643 00:30:33,380 --> 00:30:35,600 Now we don't know how long the journey took. 644 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:37,560 He was in a far country, maybe it was a month 645 00:30:37,560 --> 00:30:39,960 or two weeks or a week, we don't know, 646 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:42,600 but the dad was watching the road, why? 647 00:30:42,600 --> 00:30:46,160 Because the dad had to get to the son 648 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:49,040 before the boy got to kesa. 649 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,780 The only chance that the dad had to put his arms 650 00:30:52,780 --> 00:30:55,040 around the boy was to get to him 651 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,360 before he got to the gates of the village. 652 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:00,000 And when he saw the son a long way off, 653 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:04,360 he pulled up his robe and he started to sprint, 654 00:31:04,360 --> 00:31:06,360 thinking in his head, I don't care 655 00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:10,200 what anyone thinks about me, I just wanna see my son, 656 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:13,760 embrace him and let him know how much I love him. 657 00:31:13,760 --> 00:31:16,920 He finds him, right, down the road. 658 00:31:16,920 --> 00:31:20,320 He makes it to his son before he makes it to the gates. 659 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:22,280 He throws his arms around him, kisses him 660 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:25,320 and shouts and proclaims, this boy was dead, 661 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:27,960 but now he is alive. 662 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:30,680 Put the best robe on his back, put a ring on his finger, 663 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:33,660 put shoes on his feet, this son of mine was lost, 664 00:31:33,660 --> 00:31:36,640 but now is found and in that very second, 665 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,480 on that very road, reconciliation happened. 666 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:44,000 And all of that trumped kesa. 667 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,400 So when the father and the son returned together, 668 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,520 as they approached the gates of the village, 669 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:52,760 picture this, the boy already had on the robe 670 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:54,120 of his father's family. 671 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:58,160 He had the rings of his dad's authority on his finger. 672 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,560 He had the shoes that elevated him 673 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:02,240 in the culture of the day. 674 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:05,120 And with his dad's arm wrapped around him, 675 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:06,920 they walked right through the city gates, 676 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:11,920 right past kesa and the party began. 677 00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,880 This boy did not get cut off, right? 678 00:32:15,880 --> 00:32:20,080 He did not ever, he was not ever not able to come home. 679 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:24,480 Instead he experienced God's great dance floor, right? 680 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,600 Amazing, and how? 681 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:27,840 You know, because there's so many people 682 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:29,400 that think this whole gospel thing, 683 00:32:29,400 --> 00:32:33,360 this good news, it's too easy. 684 00:32:33,360 --> 00:32:35,560 That is not what's gonna happen to my son 685 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:37,520 if he decides to come home. 686 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,920 He's gonna pay back everything he owes me. 687 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:43,460 But if we're honest, because of our sinful nature, 688 00:32:43,460 --> 00:32:46,280 that's typically how humanity thinks. 689 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:47,740 When someone makes mistakes, 690 00:32:47,740 --> 00:32:52,560 they have to earn their way back into good graces. 691 00:32:52,560 --> 00:32:55,820 And this is not God saying there's no consequences. 692 00:32:55,820 --> 00:33:00,540 This is God announcing something called grace. 693 00:33:00,540 --> 00:33:03,100 So when you fast forward to Good Friday, 694 00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:07,280 now you can see and understand when Jesus hung on the cross, 695 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:08,560 what did he get? 696 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:13,560 He got kesa, his broken body, his shed blood. 697 00:33:16,560 --> 00:33:21,440 He literally got cut off so much from the father 698 00:33:21,440 --> 00:33:24,320 that he cried out in Mark 15, 34, 699 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:29,320 my God, my God, why have you abandoned me? 700 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,000 See, God smashed the pot of our sins 701 00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:36,520 at the foot of the cross of his son, 702 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:37,920 and he looked at his son and said, 703 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:41,380 you are cut off so that all of us gathered 704 00:33:41,380 --> 00:33:45,080 in this place today has the open arms of the father 705 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:49,040 waiting and welcoming us home for an embrace. 706 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:54,040 Jesus got kesa and we receive grace. 707 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:57,760 And then the father says in verses 22 to 24, 708 00:33:57,760 --> 00:33:59,840 kill the calf we've been fattening. 709 00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,000 We must celebrate with a feast for the son of mine was dead 710 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:04,680 and now has returned to life. 711 00:34:04,680 --> 00:34:06,600 So he was lost, but now is found. 712 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,900 So the party began. 713 00:34:08,900 --> 00:34:11,980 And again, remember, fast forward to our culture. 714 00:34:11,980 --> 00:34:13,640 Many of us aren't ranchers. 715 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:15,600 Many of us don't raise animals. 716 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:18,440 Like we buy our meat at Martin's or Walmart or Sam's. 717 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:22,080 We don't understand what a fattened calf is, right? 718 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:25,240 It doesn't add up, but in Jesus' culture, listen, 719 00:34:25,240 --> 00:34:27,840 when you are anticipating a great celebration, 720 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:29,120 you know what they would do? 721 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,720 They would start fattening up one of the cows. 722 00:34:32,720 --> 00:34:35,820 Get it ready, because we are having a party 723 00:34:35,820 --> 00:34:39,680 on March 31st, 2024. 724 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:41,480 No, get him a little fatter. 725 00:34:41,480 --> 00:34:45,400 We need more weight on him because it's celebration time. 726 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:48,200 Right, the people, they're not looking around 727 00:34:48,200 --> 00:34:49,600 for what they need. 728 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:52,680 No, the calf has already been fattened, right? 729 00:34:52,680 --> 00:34:56,420 They have it there ready because they're expecting a party. 730 00:34:56,420 --> 00:34:57,720 God, what is he? 731 00:34:57,720 --> 00:35:00,680 He's the first mover in your story. 732 00:35:00,680 --> 00:35:03,740 So that on the day you decide to return home, 733 00:35:03,740 --> 00:35:06,520 on the day that you recognize you need forgiveness, 734 00:35:06,520 --> 00:35:09,560 on the day that you recognize you need a savior, 735 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:12,040 God's not gonna get caught off guard, right? 736 00:35:12,040 --> 00:35:14,320 He's not gonna throw an impromptu party for you. 737 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,360 He's not gonna get in the fridge and get leftovers, right? 738 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:19,360 Who likes leftovers? 739 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:20,840 No one. 740 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:22,900 If you like leftovers, come on. 741 00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:26,120 You want the fattened calf, right? 742 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:29,120 No, he's gonna throw a party for you 743 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:31,880 that's gonna be the best party you could ever imagine, 744 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:34,220 which leads us to our final thought. 745 00:35:34,220 --> 00:35:38,760 Today, God is welcoming you home. 746 00:35:39,700 --> 00:35:41,200 Kill the calf we've been fattening 747 00:35:41,200 --> 00:35:42,920 and we'll celebrate with a feast. 748 00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:46,400 The son of mine was dead and has returned to life. 749 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:51,400 God is saying, I already anticipated your return. 750 00:35:51,520 --> 00:35:53,600 When the father saw his son coming home, 751 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:55,440 he knew the boy was coming back 752 00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:58,240 and he expected his son to come home. 753 00:35:58,240 --> 00:35:59,920 He had been praying for his son. 754 00:35:59,920 --> 00:36:02,280 See the light, let him be changed. 755 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:04,680 I've been fattening up this calf the whole time 756 00:36:04,680 --> 00:36:07,080 and as soon as he found out his son was coming, 757 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,360 he started double fattening the calf 758 00:36:09,360 --> 00:36:11,800 so that on the day that he came over that hill, 759 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:13,920 that calf was ready for the party. 760 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:17,760 And when we read in Revelation 13 verses eight through nine, 761 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:20,840 and all the people who belong to this world 762 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:22,800 worshiped the beast. 763 00:36:22,800 --> 00:36:25,040 They are the ones whose names were not written 764 00:36:25,040 --> 00:36:27,440 in the book of life that belongs to the lamb. 765 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:29,800 Remember the lamb is referencing Jesus 766 00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:34,280 who was slaughtered before the world was made. 767 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:37,840 Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand. 768 00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:41,080 We understand that when we were ready to look for God, 769 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:44,800 listen, God's already looking for us. 770 00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:46,920 He has been fattening up his son 771 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:50,160 for the sins of the entire world 772 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,440 so that that sacrifice, right, 773 00:36:53,440 --> 00:36:56,400 that broken body, that shed blood, 774 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:58,160 it already took place on the cross. 775 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:01,360 When we decide to turn into God's grace, 776 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,200 we are accepted in and welcome and forgiven. 777 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:07,360 The price has already been paid. 778 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:09,440 Everything has already been done. 779 00:37:09,440 --> 00:37:12,680 A party is being thrown in the very moment 780 00:37:12,680 --> 00:37:14,640 that you choose to return. 781 00:37:14,640 --> 00:37:15,840 Jesus got 782 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:18,240 Keza 783 00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:20,960 and we get welcomed home. 784 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:24,080 I wanna tell you in the simplest way possible 785 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:25,960 why this is good news. 786 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,520 Because we were created by God. 787 00:37:28,520 --> 00:37:31,920 And friends, our lives will terminate at our creator. 788 00:37:31,920 --> 00:37:33,720 The scripture tells us it doesn't matter 789 00:37:33,720 --> 00:37:35,520 what the culture has told you. 790 00:37:35,520 --> 00:37:37,600 The Bible tells us today. 791 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:41,000 It is disappointed for humanity to die once 792 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:42,840 and then to stand in judgment. 793 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:44,600 But unfortunately, so many people believe 794 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:46,960 that they can make up their mistakes in life 795 00:37:46,960 --> 00:37:48,960 by negotiating with God. 796 00:37:48,960 --> 00:37:52,080 Listen, friends, there's no pearly gates. 797 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:54,040 Like when people make jokes about pearly gates, 798 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:55,760 that's what they are, their jokes. 799 00:37:55,760 --> 00:37:59,120 At the end of our life, we're gonna stand before God 800 00:37:59,120 --> 00:38:01,480 in judgment at his seat 801 00:38:01,480 --> 00:38:04,160 and we're gonna give account for everything 802 00:38:04,160 --> 00:38:06,080 that we've done in our lives. 803 00:38:06,080 --> 00:38:07,760 And we're not gonna be able to quote Pharaoh, 804 00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:11,440 oh God, I sinned against heaven, I sinned against you. 805 00:38:11,440 --> 00:38:13,840 I'm sorry, I did those bad things. 806 00:38:13,840 --> 00:38:15,880 I didn't get it right, I didn't respond to you, 807 00:38:15,880 --> 00:38:18,440 I didn't listen to you, I made some mistakes, 808 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,080 I hurt others. 809 00:38:20,080 --> 00:38:22,480 It doesn't work at the judgment seat of Jesus. 810 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:24,680 God is holy. 811 00:38:25,800 --> 00:38:28,200 And that is why he had to run to you 812 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:29,920 when you were a long way off. 813 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:31,280 That's why he had to get to you 814 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:33,080 before you got to the gates. 815 00:38:33,080 --> 00:38:35,680 So that when you get to the gates, 816 00:38:35,680 --> 00:38:37,840 when you're in that relationship with Jesus, 817 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:39,560 you have the robe around you, 818 00:38:39,560 --> 00:38:41,280 you have the ring on your finger, 819 00:38:41,280 --> 00:38:45,480 you have the shoes of the gospel of peace on your feet, 820 00:38:45,480 --> 00:38:47,800 and God's arm is around you 821 00:38:47,800 --> 00:38:50,160 as you walk into the kingdom of God 822 00:38:50,160 --> 00:38:54,600 already covered in the Father's blessing. 823 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:58,520 Because the Father's blessing trumps Chezzah 824 00:38:58,520 --> 00:39:01,520 every single time. 825 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:05,520 Praise God for Easter. 826 00:39:05,520 --> 00:39:08,520 I love the way the song, this song says it, 827 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:13,520 it says, oh what a savior, isn't he wonderful? 828 00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:15,520 Sing hallelujah, Jesus is risen. 829 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:18,520 Bow down before him, for he is Lord of all. 830 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:22,520 Sing hallelujah, Jesus is risen. 831 00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:24,520 And I want to tell all of you this morning, 832 00:39:24,520 --> 00:39:27,520 it doesn't matter where you are in your walk of life, 833 00:39:27,520 --> 00:39:31,520 God doesn't hate you, He doesn't have contempt for you, 834 00:39:31,520 --> 00:39:33,520 He loves you. 835 00:39:33,520 --> 00:39:35,520 And He desires to embrace you, 836 00:39:35,520 --> 00:39:37,520 and not only does He desire to embrace you, 837 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:41,520 He is running towards you with His grace and His mercy, 838 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:44,520 and He's saying, friend, come home. 839 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:51,520 The King of Glory is here, come and be whole. 840 00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:56,520 The King of Glory is here, come and be whole. 841 00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:58,520 The King of Glory is here.