WEBVTT 00:00:09.219 --> 00:00:12.320 Father, I want to thank you that you are good. 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:16.019 We thank you and give you praise that you are 00:00:16.019 --> 00:00:19.800 God and that you blessed the seventh day and 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:24.679 you rested, not for man to have rest, but to 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:28.820 proclaim that you are the God of the Sabbath, 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:34.719 that you are. our Sabbath rest. We praise you 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:36.640 and thank you. May the full counsel of your words 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:39.740 be spoken today. May we rightly divide it for 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:43.159 your glory and honor. And may your people and 00:00:43.159 --> 00:00:45.020 the people that are here today visiting have 00:00:45.020 --> 00:00:46.899 prepared their hearts to receive your word today. 00:00:47.460 --> 00:00:51.479 Most importantly, may they hear the gospel and 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:54.920 Holy Spirit. May you come upon the hearts of 00:00:54.920 --> 00:00:58.950 your people and draw them home. We praise you 00:00:58.950 --> 00:01:01.890 and thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. The Lord 00:01:01.890 --> 00:01:04.409 of the Sabbath. God blessed the seventh day and 00:01:04.409 --> 00:01:08.670 made it holy. Genesis 2, 1 through 3. Thus the 00:01:08.670 --> 00:01:10.989 heavens and the earth were finished and all of 00:01:10.989 --> 00:01:14.129 the host of them. And on the seventh day, God 00:01:14.129 --> 00:01:20.569 finished his work. that he had done, and he rested 00:01:20.569 --> 00:01:25.349 on the seventh day from all of his work that 00:01:25.349 --> 00:01:28.590 he had done. And so God blessed the seventh day 00:01:28.590 --> 00:01:34.650 and made it holy, because on it God rested from 00:01:34.650 --> 00:01:38.870 all his work that he had done in creation. God 00:01:38.870 --> 00:01:42.890 rested, as if the labor that he had done was 00:01:42.890 --> 00:01:49.010 burdensome. No. God rested. It is finished, and 00:01:49.010 --> 00:01:52.209 God rested. His work of salvation was finished, 00:01:52.269 --> 00:01:55.870 and he had rested on the seventh day, the women 00:01:55.870 --> 00:01:58.810 and the rich man. When Jesus had received the 00:01:58.810 --> 00:02:04.290 sour wine, he said, it is finished. The work 00:02:04.290 --> 00:02:09.909 that he had come to do is finished. He's done 00:02:09.909 --> 00:02:13.930 the work, and he bowed his head and gave up his 00:02:13.930 --> 00:02:16.860 spirit. And Joseph took the body and wrapped 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:20.699 it in clean linen shroud and laid it in his own 00:02:20.699 --> 00:02:24.120 new tomb and laid it in his own new tomb, which 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:27.800 he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great 00:02:27.800 --> 00:02:31.080 stone in the entrance of the tomb and went away. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:33.780 And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there 00:02:33.780 --> 00:02:38.479 sitting opposite the tomb. And Joseph bought 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:43.120 a linen shroud, Mark 15, 46. And taking him down, 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:46.000 wrapped him in linen shroud and laid him in a 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:49.120 tomb that he had cut out of the rock. And he 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.240 rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:53.960 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Joseph, 00:02:54.159 --> 00:02:58.819 saw where he was laid. Luke 23, 45 and 46. It 00:02:58.819 --> 00:03:02.060 was the day of preparation. The Sabbath was beginning. 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:06.370 The women who had come with him. from Galilee, 00:03:06.449 --> 00:03:09.330 followed and saw the tomb and how his body was 00:03:09.330 --> 00:03:11.610 laid. Then they returned and prepared spices, 00:03:11.889 --> 00:03:15.729 anointments, John 19, 42. So because of the Jewish 00:03:15.729 --> 00:03:19.110 day of preparation, since the tomb was close 00:03:19.110 --> 00:03:25.469 at hand, they laid him there. God rested. Who 00:03:25.469 --> 00:03:27.229 would have ever thought that the very creation 00:03:27.229 --> 00:03:30.449 of God, the six days of work and the one day 00:03:30.449 --> 00:03:36.500 of rest would be the story of the dead Savior. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:40.699 I didn't see it. I was listening to my son sing 00:03:40.699 --> 00:03:43.960 this song at his Good Friday service. And as 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:45.900 I'm staring, listening to the song, all of a 00:03:45.900 --> 00:03:49.699 sudden, as he sung this song, all of the scriptures 00:03:49.699 --> 00:03:54.300 flooded my mind. And I was like, oh, how could 00:03:54.300 --> 00:03:59.500 I have missed the Lord of the Sabbath? God rest 00:03:59.500 --> 00:04:04.240 it. Why would God use women? I mean, after all, 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:07.939 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw where Jesus 00:04:07.939 --> 00:04:12.620 was laid. Why the women? Why the women? Well, 00:04:12.639 --> 00:04:14.240 first, a couple of things I want you to understand 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:16.959 is it was not typical for the men to go and create 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:19.220 ointment for the dead bodies of their loved ones. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:21.360 It was the women. So it makes a lot of sense 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:23.819 that the women would go and anoint the body to 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:26.180 make sure that the body was preserved as best 00:04:26.180 --> 00:04:28.519 as possible. But the stone had already been rolled 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:32.220 in front of the tomb because God rested from 00:04:32.220 --> 00:04:35.529 all his work. Why the women? Why the women on 00:04:35.529 --> 00:04:38.490 the day of resurrection? Why were they the first 00:04:38.490 --> 00:04:41.649 to go? Because they couldn't move the stone. 00:04:42.430 --> 00:04:44.750 See, men could easily move the stone. I mean, 00:04:44.769 --> 00:04:48.610 Joseph put the stone in place and closed up the 00:04:48.610 --> 00:04:51.850 tomb. Men can move the stone, but can the woman 00:04:51.850 --> 00:04:56.129 move a stone so large and so great? Nope. Why 00:04:56.129 --> 00:04:59.550 the women? Because the testimony of a woman. 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:03.620 She was out of place to go and tell people of 00:05:03.620 --> 00:05:06.060 things. They weren't to do that. They were to 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:10.079 remain quiet. Why the women? Why Mary Magdalene? 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:13.199 Everybody knew Mary Magdalene. Well, that's going 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:15.740 to be the answer today. The resurrection through 00:05:15.740 --> 00:05:20.360 the eyes of the women. Why the women? Credible 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:22.959 witnesses. Why the women? They were credible 00:05:22.959 --> 00:05:27.519 witnesses. They went first. They were the first 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:31.120 witnesses. There are three witnesses in this 00:05:31.120 --> 00:05:34.759 resurrection. Why three witnesses? Because without 00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:38.579 two or three witnesses, an accusation or a truth 00:05:38.579 --> 00:05:42.620 cannot stand. Why the women? They're the most 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:45.459 credible witnesses. Who will remove the stone? 00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:48.139 There's an obstacle. Who's going to remove the 00:05:48.139 --> 00:05:51.560 stone? Now, Matthew 28, 1 through 4. Now, after 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:54.180 the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day 00:05:54.180 --> 00:05:57.319 of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:00.220 went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a 00:06:00.220 --> 00:06:03.600 great earthquake, and for an angel of the Lord 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:07.480 descended from heaven, came and rolled back the 00:06:07.480 --> 00:06:11.220 stone and sat on it. A stone's not too heavy 00:06:11.220 --> 00:06:14.620 for an angel to move, but for a woman. His appearance 00:06:14.620 --> 00:06:17.180 was like lightning, and his clothing white as 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:21.420 snow. And for fear of him, the guards trembled 00:06:21.420 --> 00:06:23.800 and became like dead men. Those men couldn't 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:27.420 move the snow. They were like dead men. Mark 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:29.920 16, 1 through 4, when the Sabbath was passed, 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:33.839 Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James and 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:37.879 Salome, brought spices or bought spices so they 00:06:37.879 --> 00:06:41.620 might go and anoint him. And very early on the 00:06:41.620 --> 00:06:46.319 first day of the week, when the sun had risen, 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:50.199 they went to the tomb. And they were saying to 00:06:50.199 --> 00:06:53.040 one another, who will roll the stone away for 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:57.060 us? From the entrance of the tomb. I mean, we 00:06:57.060 --> 00:07:01.899 can't move the stone. It's too heavy. Why the 00:07:01.899 --> 00:07:04.480 women? And he looked up and they saw that the 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:07.100 stone had already been rolled back. And it was 00:07:07.100 --> 00:07:10.740 very large. Luke 24, 1 through 3. But on the 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:13.459 first day of the week, at early dawn, they went 00:07:13.459 --> 00:07:16.439 to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 00:07:16.579 --> 00:07:20.000 And they found the stone rolled away from the 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.040 tomb. But when they went in, they did not find 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:26.759 the body of the Lord Jesus. Why the women? John 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:30.379 21, 20, verse 1. Now on the first day of the 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:34.439 week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:37.480 it was still dark and saw that the stone had 00:07:37.480 --> 00:07:43.139 been taken away from the tomb. Now you know why 00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:46.379 it was the women. Because if the men had come 00:07:46.379 --> 00:07:50.279 first to move, The stone, they would have been 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:54.379 accused of stealing the body. See, what God saw 00:07:54.379 --> 00:07:59.500 in advance was that the guards would run to the 00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:03.439 high priest and say what they had seen. And they 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.740 said, tell the people that the body was stolen. 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:10.079 The problem is the women didn't roll the stone 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:15.100 away. That's why the women, second witnesses, 00:08:15.339 --> 00:08:18.569 the angelic witness. That's a witness you can't 00:08:18.569 --> 00:08:21.290 argue with. These are the creatures that God 00:08:21.290 --> 00:08:23.889 created. They appear in the appearance of man. 00:08:24.029 --> 00:08:26.350 They are the witnesses and messengers of God. 00:08:26.509 --> 00:08:30.670 Who else can tell the truth? They always tell 00:08:30.670 --> 00:08:34.730 the truth. That's why angelic witnesses, the 00:08:34.730 --> 00:08:37.610 heavenly witness. You have the credible witnesses, 00:08:37.870 --> 00:08:40.450 the women. You have the heavenly witnesses, the 00:08:40.450 --> 00:08:43.750 angels. And the angel said, go tell. Matthew 00:08:43.750 --> 00:08:47.110 28, 5 through 7. But the angel said to the women, 00:08:47.250 --> 00:08:51.070 do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus 00:08:51.070 --> 00:08:57.070 who was crucified. He is not here. He is risen. 00:08:58.370 --> 00:09:02.269 As he said, come see the place where he lay, 00:09:02.490 --> 00:09:08.179 where he rested. Then go quickly and tell. his 00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:13.980 disciples, that he has risen from the dead. And 00:09:13.980 --> 00:09:17.059 behold, he is going before you to Galilee. There 00:09:17.059 --> 00:09:21.679 you will see him. See, I have told you. Notice 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:25.360 the heavenly witness tells the credible witness 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:29.600 why the women. Mark 16, five through seven. And 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.679 entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:33.639 on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:36.629 they were alarmed. And he said to them, Do not 00:09:36.629 --> 00:09:40.029 be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was 00:09:40.029 --> 00:09:44.889 crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See 00:09:44.889 --> 00:09:49.629 the place where they laid him, where he rested. 00:09:50.230 --> 00:09:54.629 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he 00:09:54.629 --> 00:09:57.250 is going before you to Galilee. There you will 00:09:57.250 --> 00:10:04.529 see him just as he told you. Go and tell. That's 00:10:04.529 --> 00:10:07.940 why the women. In Luke 24, four through seven, 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:10.620 while they were perplexed about this, behold, 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:15.720 two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:18.299 as they were frightened and bowed their faces 00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:21.059 to the ground, the men said to them, why do you 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:24.980 seek the living among the dead? He is not here, 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:29.559 but has risen. Remember, he told you while you 00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:33.429 were still in Galilee. That the Son of Man must 00:10:33.429 --> 00:10:36.389 be delivered into the hands of sinful men and 00:10:36.389 --> 00:10:41.529 be crucified on the third day. Rise. That's why 00:10:41.529 --> 00:10:46.370 the women. Third witness. Interesting. The third 00:10:46.370 --> 00:10:49.470 witnesses end up becoming the apostles. I haven't 00:10:49.470 --> 00:10:53.029 gotten there yet. Why the women? Because the 00:10:53.029 --> 00:10:56.490 women are faithful witnesses. Not only are they 00:10:56.490 --> 00:10:59.090 the credible witnesses, but they are the faithful 00:10:59.090 --> 00:11:03.090 witnesses. So much so that out of all of the 00:11:03.090 --> 00:11:08.029 women, one is mentioned by name. Why? Because 00:11:08.029 --> 00:11:11.669 she is faithful. The faithful women risk it all 00:11:11.669 --> 00:11:16.090 to tell the resurrection. He is alive. Think 00:11:16.090 --> 00:11:19.690 about this. They are willing to give their lives 00:11:19.690 --> 00:11:24.169 to tell that he is raised from the dead. Matthew 00:11:24.169 --> 00:11:28.610 28. eight through 10. So they departed quickly 00:11:28.610 --> 00:11:31.549 from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran 00:11:31.549 --> 00:11:35.389 to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met 00:11:35.389 --> 00:11:40.450 them and said, greetings. And they came up and 00:11:40.450 --> 00:11:43.669 took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Notice 00:11:43.669 --> 00:11:46.669 they went to the tomb. They realized he's not 00:11:46.669 --> 00:11:50.750 there. They are running home because the angel 00:11:50.750 --> 00:11:53.110 said, go and tell. And they're like, no, we ain't 00:11:53.110 --> 00:11:55.240 telling anybody. Do you know what will happen 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:59.860 to us? And Jesus says, greetings. And they worshiped 00:11:59.860 --> 00:12:04.240 him, not because he is one of many gods, but 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:10.080 because he is the only God. And they came up 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.080 and took hold of him by his feet and worshiped 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:15.320 him. Then Jesus said to them, do not be afraid. 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:19.820 Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and 00:12:19.820 --> 00:12:24.080 there they will see me. Mark 16, 8, And they 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.960 went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:29.539 and astonishment had seized them. And they said 00:12:29.539 --> 00:12:32.320 nothing to anyone, for they were afraid, except 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:37.399 Jesus met them on the way. And Luke 24, 8 through 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:40.820 11 says, And they remembered his words, and returning 00:12:40.820 --> 00:12:44.759 from the tomb, they told all these things to 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:49.789 the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary 00:12:49.789 --> 00:12:54.169 Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary, the mother of James, 00:12:54.389 --> 00:12:58.190 and the other women with them who told these 00:12:58.190 --> 00:13:02.169 things to the apostles. Why? They are the credible 00:13:02.169 --> 00:13:07.149 and faithful witnesses. But these words seem 00:13:07.149 --> 00:13:11.870 to be an idle tale to them. They did not believe 00:13:11.870 --> 00:13:16.970 the women. Why? Because they were women. Why 00:13:16.970 --> 00:13:19.789 did God choose the women? And John 20 verse 2 00:13:19.789 --> 00:13:23.029 says this, So she, Mary Magdalene, ran and went 00:13:23.029 --> 00:13:25.669 to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one 00:13:25.669 --> 00:13:27.990 whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have 00:13:27.990 --> 00:13:31.210 taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not 00:13:31.210 --> 00:13:34.710 know where they have laid him. And then they 00:13:34.710 --> 00:13:38.950 all run back. You know the story. The apostolic 00:13:38.950 --> 00:13:42.009 witness. Here's the third witness. The witness 00:13:42.009 --> 00:13:46.149 of the apostles. Finally, someone will believe. 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:49.919 Luke 24, 12, but Peter rose and ran to the tomb. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:57.340 Now, if you know, Peter is old, like me. I don't 00:13:57.340 --> 00:14:01.759 know about, you know, me and Owen ran. He will 00:14:01.759 --> 00:14:05.200 get there first because he's like, John, I'm 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:09.360 dying halfway through. This is what Peter did. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:12.330 He's gone. Peter's like, yo, I'm gone. So Peter 00:14:12.330 --> 00:14:15.490 rose and he ran to the tombs, stooping and looking 00:14:15.490 --> 00:14:18.470 in. And he saw the linen cloths by themselves. 00:14:18.549 --> 00:14:22.009 And he went home marveling at what happened. 00:14:22.110 --> 00:14:25.509 That's what it says in Luke 24, 12. In John 20, 00:14:25.690 --> 00:14:28.929 verse 2 through 10. So Peter went out with the 00:14:28.929 --> 00:14:31.750 other disciple and they were going toward the 00:14:31.750 --> 00:14:34.309 tomb. Both of them were running together. And 00:14:34.309 --> 00:14:38.490 the other disciple outran Peter and reached the 00:14:38.490 --> 00:14:46.539 tomb first. That's Owen. Not fair. And stooping 00:14:46.539 --> 00:14:49.240 in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but 00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:55.460 he didn't go in because Peter did. Then Simon 00:14:55.460 --> 00:14:58.179 Peter came, followed him and went into the tomb 00:14:58.179 --> 00:15:00.259 and he saw the linen cloths lying there and the 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:05.799 face cloth, which had been on Jesus's head, not 00:15:05.799 --> 00:15:10.580 lying with the linen cloths, but folded up in. 00:15:11.159 --> 00:15:15.759 a place by itself. To all of our wonderful brothers 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.879 and sisters that believe that the shrouded Torah 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:21.919 in Israel, this scripture alone verifies it's 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:25.779 not. Because he had a face cloth wrapped around 00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:30.399 his face, and it was the only thing folded. I 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.440 believe the scripture above all else. This is 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:36.080 what the scripture says. And the other disciple, 00:15:36.159 --> 00:15:39.539 the one who reached the tomb first, also went 00:15:39.539 --> 00:15:42.679 in and saw and believed. For as yet they did 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:45.820 not understand the scripture that he must rise 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:49.200 from the dead. Then the disciples went back to 00:15:49.200 --> 00:15:52.519 their homes. John and Peter went back home in 00:15:52.519 --> 00:15:54.539 the morning going, what are we going to do with 00:15:54.539 --> 00:15:57.919 this? But everybody knows the story. Later on 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:01.340 that day, it gets out that the disciples had 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:04.600 stolen the body, quote unquote, because the guards 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.220 told the truth, but the Pharisees wanted to lie. 00:16:08.009 --> 00:16:10.250 And they all meet in a room and lock the door. 00:16:10.789 --> 00:16:14.909 And guess who shows up? Jesus. And they're terrified, 00:16:15.029 --> 00:16:17.490 thinking he was a ghost. And he says, peace be 00:16:17.490 --> 00:16:21.210 with you. And you guys know the story. Why Mary 00:16:21.210 --> 00:16:25.190 Magdalene out of all of the women? Why Mary out 00:16:25.190 --> 00:16:28.350 of all of the women? She is the only one mentioned 00:16:28.350 --> 00:16:31.190 by name in all four gospels concerning the resurrection 00:16:31.190 --> 00:16:36.250 of Christ. By name. Not even the mother of Jesus. 00:16:36.970 --> 00:16:39.870 is mentioned by name, but Mary Magdalene is. 00:16:40.210 --> 00:16:44.110 Why? The faithful witness. Look what it says. 00:16:44.490 --> 00:16:47.809 She is mentioned in Matthew 28 1, Mark 16 1, 00:16:47.950 --> 00:16:53.610 Luke 24 10, and John 21. A true and faithful 00:16:53.610 --> 00:16:58.549 witness. I have seen the Lord. That's why Mary 00:16:58.549 --> 00:17:01.250 Magdalene. But Mary stood weeping outside the 00:17:01.250 --> 00:17:05.710 tomb, and as she As she wept, she stooped to 00:17:05.710 --> 00:17:08.309 look into the tomb and she saw two angels in 00:17:08.309 --> 00:17:10.849 white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, 00:17:11.069 --> 00:17:14.890 where he rested. One at the head and the other 00:17:14.890 --> 00:17:18.230 at the feet. And they said to her, woman, why 00:17:18.230 --> 00:17:21.529 are you weeping? And she said to them, they have 00:17:21.529 --> 00:17:23.769 taken away my Lord and I do not know where they 00:17:23.769 --> 00:17:26.970 laid him. Why? Because after this, Peter and 00:17:26.970 --> 00:17:30.700 John went home and she stayed. weeping that someone 00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:34.380 had taken the body, because why else would there 00:17:34.380 --> 00:17:37.720 be no body? Having said this, she turned around 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.180 and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not 00:17:41.180 --> 00:17:44.559 know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, woman, 00:17:44.740 --> 00:17:48.960 why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking, supposing 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:52.059 him to be the gardener? I don't know about that, 00:17:52.099 --> 00:17:55.160 but she thinks so. I mean, if the angels are 00:17:55.160 --> 00:17:58.980 glorified. Can you imagine? That's a pretty brilliant 00:17:58.980 --> 00:18:02.539 gardener. She said to him, sir, if you have carried 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:05.740 him away, tell me where you laid him and I will 00:18:05.740 --> 00:18:09.140 take him away. She couldn't roll a stone, but 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:11.940 she wants the body of Jesus. Well, she got the 00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:14.039 body of Jesus in a way she did not understand 00:18:14.039 --> 00:18:18.799 until now. And Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.460 and said to him in Aramaic, Rabboni. which means 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:26.019 teacher, Jesus said to her, do not cling to me, 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:29.539 for I have not yet ascended to the Father, but 00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:33.460 go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending 00:18:33.460 --> 00:18:37.380 to my Father and your Father, to my God and your 00:18:37.380 --> 00:18:41.480 God. And Mary Magdalene went and announced, proclaimed, 00:18:41.920 --> 00:18:47.720 screamed to the disciples, I have seen the risen 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:53.759 Lord. and that he had said these things to her. 00:18:54.299 --> 00:18:57.160 Why the women? Because they're credible witnesses. 00:18:57.799 --> 00:19:00.619 Why the women? Because they are faithful witness. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:04.259 Why Mary Magdalene out of all the women? Because 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:07.460 she is the true and faithful witness who proclaimed, 00:19:07.660 --> 00:19:13.000 I have seen the Lord. Can you be a faithful witness? 00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:17.119 In our society and in this country, being a woman 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:21.059 is not esteemed. God esteems you. Being a woman, 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:24.980 your femininity is being removed and stolen from 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:28.799 you. God sees you. Why the women? Because they 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:32.680 are true, credible, faithful witnesses. Can you 00:19:32.680 --> 00:19:36.019 be a faithful witness? Men, can you be like the 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:39.900 men, faithful witnesses? Or do you have to, like 00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:43.400 Thomas, wait to see and stick your finger in 00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:46.220 his hands and put your hand in his side to believe? 00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:50.829 Or do you believe because he said so? Remember, 00:19:51.190 --> 00:19:56.230 he told you before he was crucified to go to 00:19:56.230 --> 00:19:58.349 Galilee and I will meet you there. Why did they 00:19:58.349 --> 00:20:05.589 not go? Men, be men. You lead. Why the women? 00:20:05.950 --> 00:20:08.369 Because they couldn't roll the stone away. Why 00:20:08.369 --> 00:20:11.289 the women? Because society didn't believe them 00:20:11.289 --> 00:20:15.829 either in their day. Why the women? Why Mary 00:20:15.829 --> 00:20:21.250 Magdalene? Because she's seen the Lord. Go and 00:20:21.250 --> 00:20:27.529 be faithful, credible witnesses. Our Lord is 00:20:27.529 --> 00:20:33.849 risen. He is alive. He is one. You can kill me 00:20:33.849 --> 00:20:37.170 and take my life. I will be with him forever. 00:20:37.410 --> 00:20:40.170 And there's nothing you can do about that. Because 00:20:40.170 --> 00:20:43.609 one day I will return with him on a white horse 00:20:43.609 --> 00:20:48.009 as he takes all things and restores all things. 00:20:48.170 --> 00:20:51.509 His restoration is complete in us. And we will 00:20:51.509 --> 00:20:56.890 one day be like him as he has promised. Because 00:20:56.890 --> 00:21:00.470 he has risen. So I want to give you a gospel. 00:21:00.809 --> 00:21:04.789 What's the faithful witness do? Go. into all 00:21:04.789 --> 00:21:07.930 the world, make disciples, baptizing them in 00:21:07.930 --> 00:21:10.549 the name of the Father and of the Son and of 00:21:10.549 --> 00:21:13.930 the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all 00:21:13.930 --> 00:21:18.869 that I've commanded. Preach the gospel. Go into 00:21:18.869 --> 00:21:23.869 all the world and preach to every creature. What 00:21:23.869 --> 00:21:27.509 is the gospel? I will read it to you verbatim. 00:21:27.509 --> 00:21:32.130 First Corinthians chapter 15, verse three through 00:21:32.130 --> 00:21:36.990 four. For I've delivered to you as a first importance 00:21:36.990 --> 00:21:41.589 what I also received, that Christ died for our 00:21:41.589 --> 00:21:44.329 sins in accordance with the scriptures, that 00:21:44.329 --> 00:21:47.210 he was buried and that he raised on the third 00:21:47.210 --> 00:21:51.869 day in accordance with the scriptures. That's 00:21:51.869 --> 00:21:56.430 the gospel. All you got to tell, Jesus is risen. 00:21:57.250 --> 00:22:03.089 He is risen. Father, I want to thank you. that 00:22:03.089 --> 00:22:07.289 you are God. We are not. You are faithful. You 00:22:07.289 --> 00:22:10.450 are King. You are Lord. You are the risen Christ, 00:22:10.710 --> 00:22:15.150 the everlasting to everlasting, who was and is 00:22:15.150 --> 00:22:18.950 and is to come, the Almighty. Holy, holy, holy 00:22:18.950 --> 00:22:22.150 is the Lord Almighty. We praise you and we thank 00:22:22.150 --> 00:22:26.289 you. Today is the day we are reminded that you 00:22:26.289 --> 00:22:30.890 are the God who has given us victory. You are. 00:22:31.390 --> 00:22:35.309 our Sabbath rest. We praise you and thank you. 00:22:35.369 --> 00:22:40.170 We have to work. Our six days aren't up yet, 00:22:40.269 --> 00:22:47.250 but one day we will rest like you have from all 00:22:47.250 --> 00:22:52.549 our labor. Help us to be busy, found, laboring 00:22:52.549 --> 00:22:55.410 for your glory. In Jesus' name, amen.