LutheranLectionary.org

Series A – Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 16, 2017 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:28	the holy Gospel According to Saint Matthew chapter 28 verses 1 through 10.
0:34	now after the Sabbath toward the dawn of the first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb
0:41	behold there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the
0:47	stone and sat on it his appearance was like lightning his clothing white as snow and for fear of him the guards
0:54	trembled and became like dead men but the angel said to the women do not be afraid for I know that you seek Jesus
1:02	who was crucified he’s not here for He Is Risen as he said come and see the
1:08	place where he lay then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and
1:14	behold he is going before you to Galilee there you will see him see I have told you
1:20	so they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to tell
1:25	his disciples and behold Jesus met them and said greetings and they came up and took hold of his
1:31	feet and they worshiped him then Jesus said to them do not be afraid go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee
1:39	and there they will see me this is the gospel of the Lord he is risen
1:47	Hallelujah so in our country nowadays there’s a
1:53	political buzzword that everyone is using the buzzword is this are you ready fake news
1:58	you watch CNN you watched Fox News each and every one of these stations are
2:03	accusing the other of fake news apparently fake news is what the deciding factor was regarding the
2:11	election of our current president fake news is all the rage in fact Facebook is
2:16	cracking down on fake news have you seen it I logged into Facebook just a few
2:22	days ago and there in my news feed was a warning from Facebook beware of fake
2:30	news what to look for right how to check sources if it seems sketchy it’s
2:36	probably fake news and we know what to do if you run across fake news find that
2:43	fellow drag him out in the streets tar and feather him and hang his dead carcass over the Red River maybe not
2:49	that last part but I I sometimes think as I watch my
2:55	news feed and Christians this morning all over the world on their news feed have announced he is risen and they’re
3:03	Christian brothers and sisters have answered in the comments section of Facebook he has risen indeed it makes me
3:09	wonder if some atheist fellow in his news feed this morning is going fake
3:15	news fake news no way he didn’t rise from the dead everybody knows YOLO you
3:22	only live once I mean isn’t that really the theme of so many of these kids today YOLO or how did
3:29	we say it back in the day eat and drink for tomorrow you die it’s
3:35	all about doing the things on your bucket list but brothers and sisters I’m here to let
3:42	you know that this report that we are getting from the Tomb of Jesus Christ is
3:48	not fake news it is good news it is good news for you it is good news for me it
3:53	means everything in the whole world and so I would like to return a little bit
3:58	in the context of Our Gospel text if you’d like to turn to Matthew chapter 27 we will begin in verse 50 and like I
4:06	like to point out I’m old enough to remember when The Brady Bunch was actually still putting
4:13	out new episodes Dean is approving here he remembers those days too and I
4:18	remember when The Brady Bunch went to Hawaii and what happened by the second episode
4:24	they said previously on The Brady Bunch so we’re going to go back just a little bit so we can say previously where we
4:30	left Jesus so we get a little bit of context and move forward here’s what it says we’ll leave we’ll fit pick up where
4:37	Jesus dies it says Jesus cried out with a loud voice and he yielded up his
4:42	Spirit notice who was in charge here Jesus yielded up his Spirit he decided
4:48	the time of his death and it says this behold the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom now do
4:56	not think for a second that this curtain in the temple which separated the holy of holies from the holy place that it
5:02	was some well girly white silky thing that easily rips or something like that
5:09	or gets a snag no if you know your Torah then you know that this thing was made
5:14	of hide it was thick and it was well this is not easily torn but God tore it
5:21	from top to bottom which means no human being did this and this was to let us
5:26	all know that the separating wall of hostility between God and us has been
5:32	broken down by the blood of Christ so the temple curtain was torn in two
5:38	from top to bottom the Earth shook the Rocks were split the tombs were opened many bodies of the Saints who had fallen
5:44	asleep were raised and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and they appeared to
5:50	many and when the Centurion and those who were with him keeping watch over Jesus saw the earthquake and what took
5:58	place let’s put a lot into this what took place thing remember Jesus didn’t
6:04	open his mouth to defend himself at his trial not even a peep and they crucified
6:10	him at nine in the morning and then as the prophet Amos prophesied in chapter 8
6:15	of his prophecy God caused the sun to go down at noon the Sun’s light failed and
6:23	darkness was over the whole earth for three hours and if that wasn’t enough when Jesus cried out it is finished into
6:30	your hands I commit my spirit showing he was in charge he died and the soul
6:35	soldiers there at the foot of the cross keeping watch over him said filled with
6:40	awe truly this was the son of God there were also many women there looking
6:46	on from a distance note that little note from a distance
6:52	they wanted to see their lord they could they had to be there to watch him die but they had to do so at a distance
6:58	because of their fear they had followed Jesus From Galilee ministering to him among them were Mary Magdalene Mary the
7:05	mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee when it
7:11	was evening there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph who was also a
7:16	disciple of Jesus now the Gospel of John tells us he was a disciple of Jesus
7:21	secretly for fear of the Jews and so he went to pilate he asked for the body of
7:27	Jesus pilate ordered it to be given to him Joseph took the body wrapped it in a clean linen shroud laid it in his own
7:35	tomb which he had cut in the Rock and he rolled a great Stone to the entrance of
7:40	the Tomb and went away and Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the tomb
7:47	still at a distance watching and you can imagine the grief that they
7:52	must have been experienced at this time they had lost their savior
7:57	they lost their lord their teacher their rabbi so the next day after this which is the
8:03	Sabbath which means there’s no work to be done after the day of preparation the chief priests and the Pharisees they
8:09	gathered before Pilate and they said sir we remember how that imposter said while
8:15	he was still alive after three days I will rise and now their duplicity comes to light
8:24	do a little cross-reference work here just a few chapters earlier remember the kangaroo court that took place in the
8:30	middle of the night and they here’s what it says in Matthew 26 59 the chief priests and the whole Council were
8:36	seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death but they found none though many false
8:43	Witnesses came forward and at last two came forward and they said this man said I’m able to destroy the temple of God
8:49	and to rebuild it in three days now watch their answer during the kangaroo
8:54	court trial so the high priest stood up and he said have you no answer to make what is this that these men testify
9:01	against you as if somehow Jesus was blaspheming the temple of God but here
9:07	now that Jesus is dead they go to pilate and by these words they demonstrate that
9:14	they knew all along what Jesus meant they were not interested in understanding what he meant they were
9:20	interested in killing him and so it says we remember how that imposter said while he was still alive after three days I
9:27	will rise and when did Jesus say this to them well the Gospel of John records that on one occasion Jesus coming into
9:33	Jerusalem went to the temple and drove the money changers out how dare you turn
9:39	my father’s house into a Marketplace drove him out and of course the chief priests and the religious leaders at
9:45	this point needed to spring into action they came right up to Jesus and said by what Authority are you doing these
9:51	things what sign can you show us and Jesus says tear down this Temple I’ll build it again in three days and they
9:57	said it’s taken 46 years to build this Temple and you’re going to build it again in three days
10:04	but the temple Jesus was talking about was the Temple of his body and these fellows going to pilate show that they
10:11	knew what it meant all along and at their trial they feigned ignorance oh we don’t understand what you mean Jesus
10:18	this is what well it looks like to be dead in trespasses and sins and blind
10:25	and being hatred with God so they say to pilate so therefore pilate order the tomb to be made secure
10:32	until the third day lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the
10:37	people he has risen from the dead like the very first installment of the Weekend at Bernie’s you know franchise
10:43	hey Jesus make an appearance hi deader than a doornail you can’t parade
10:49	a corpse around and Inspire faith in people this is ridiculous
10:54	but set the guard pilot pilate said you’ve you have a guard of soldiers go make it
11:01	as secure as you can so they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard and everyone
11:07	said oh yeah that’s gonna work that’ll stop Jesus from rising from the dead these people don’t know what they’re up
11:14	to so now Our Gospel text then continues from this point now after the Sabbath
11:21	toward the dawn of the first day of the week that’s Sunday and I want you to think of this particular day not as the
11:28	first day of the week but what it really is and that is the Eighth Day the first
11:35	day of the new creation because the Earth is about to sprout forth the very first fruits of the new creation it says
11:42	Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb and behold there was a great earthquake for an angel of the
11:49	Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it listen to this Angel’s description his
11:56	appearance was like lightning his clothing white as snow
12:01	and what do you think the guards did for fear of him the guards trembled
12:08	the Roseboro translation says they wet themselves and became like dead men I
12:14	hope they paid them well because they did a miserable job of keeping Jesus from rising from the dead
12:19	they became like dead men but the angel said to the women and listen to these kind words do not be afraid
12:27	that is comforting in fact we’re going to see in this text that this Angel has
12:33	a message to deliver in fact that’s what the word Ang Halas in Greek means it
12:39	means messenger so when we read in the Book of Revelation where Jesus is
12:45	writing having John write letters to the different churches to the angel of the
12:50	Church of Philadelphia right to the angel of the Church of Smyrna right the
12:55	angel in that context is not a well a Heavenly being the angel in that context
13:01	is the messenger of that church and that is her pastor but in this case
13:06	we have a Heavenly being and he knowing how awesome he is how amazing he is to
13:12	look look at and the natural proclivity for us sinful human beings in the
13:17	presence of such a holy creature we tend to be afraid he says to them do not be
13:23	afraid I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified
13:28	and that’s right Jesus from this point on will forever be referred to as the
13:35	one who was crucified crucified for you crucified for me
13:41	suffered the penalty for our sins filled the breach between man and God so that
13:47	we can have peace he is forever the crucified and he will forever have in his hands and his feet and his side the
13:53	tokens if you would well the tokens of his crucifixion
14:00	they are like medals if you would one in a war and he says to the women he’s not here
14:06	for he has risen as he said and of course he’s risen as he said when has
14:11	God ever said something is going to happen and it doesn’t happen in Genesis we hear God says let there be light and
14:17	there was light Jesus said I’m going to raise from the grave on the third day and you know what he’s going to do he’s
14:22	going to raise from the grave on the third day the logic is impeccable come see the place
14:29	where he lay and isn’t this kind this Angel shining as he is come and see he’s
14:35	excited to show them the empty tomb and because of this the very first human
14:42	beings to Proclaim Jesus’s resurrection from the dead are not men
14:48	they are women and this is very appropriate because remember Jesus’s tomb is in a what it’s
14:56	in a garden hmm I seem to remember something about a
15:01	garden all the way back in Genesis we learned that it was the devil and the serpent who deceived our first mother
15:08	Eve and she was the first to become a sinner in our race and then Adam also
15:14	ate and he became a sinner thus plunging a soul into this curse that we find ourselves in and so now Jesus reversing
15:22	everything gives the Supreme honor the primary place of proclamation of his
15:30	resurrection not to men but to these women this is a high place of honor and it is
15:37	appropriate in this particular instance that this is exactly how this is going down so
15:44	the angel then says this go quickly tell his disciples that he’s risen from the dead behold he’s going before you to
15:50	Galilee there you will see him and now he says this see I have told you which
15:55	is a fine way of saying message delivered and off he goes
16:01	so they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy kind of all
16:07	mixed together and they ran to tell his disciples and behold Jesus met them and
16:14	said greetings now based upon the message that Jesus gave this Angel to give you would expect well Jesus was
16:21	going to head out to Galilee and wait for the disciples to show up but it’s almost as if Jesus couldn’t control
16:26	himself have you ever ever wrapped up a Christmas present
16:32	and then you are so excited to see the look on the person’s face that you
16:38	couldn’t wait till Christmas to give it to them this is that kind of moment all right
16:43	tell my disciples to meet me in Galilee but oh I gotta see the look on their face so Jesus appears to them and listen
16:50	to what he says do not be afraid go tell my brothers to
16:55	go to Galilee and there they will see me and they took Jesus his feet and they
17:01	worshiped him the text says oh
17:06	oh brothers and sisters I would like to tell you that what these
17:12	women had the privilege of doing worshiping at the feet of Jesus and
17:18	hearing from him his voice themselves to do not be afraid that we too will have
17:24	this exact same opportunity when we finally see Jesus with our own eyes we
17:30	will be prostrate before him and hang and cling on to those feet those Nails
17:35	scarred feet of his and worship and praise him because of all of the wondrous Deeds that he has done and his
17:42	word to us also is do not be afraid because he has bled and died for our
17:47	sins and in him there is forgiveness so go tell my brothers to go to Galilee and
17:53	there they will see me brothers and sisters this is not fake
17:58	news this is not something you want deleted from your Facebook feed
18:04	this is something you want to meditate and Ponder on and I would pause it if
18:09	you would this little fact when we read the scriptures over and again we learn that
18:15	people like these women people like Peter and James and John and eventually
18:20	the Apostle Paul they were chosen by Christ himself to be Witnesses
18:28	important word and I want you to think for a second that this is witness almost in a legal
18:35	fashion and I would just simply ask the question how many of these fellows and
18:40	ladies do we need to put on the witness stand before you’ll realize that this is not fake news
18:47	this is actually something that really happened well Paul in First Corinthians gives us the list First Corinthians 15
18:54	the list of the witnesses let me read from verse 1 Paul says I would remind
19:00	you Brothers of the Gospel that I preached to you which you received in which you stand by which you are being
19:06	saved oh good words if you hold fast to the word that I preached to you of course unless you believed in vain for I
19:13	delivered to you as of first importance what I also received the Christ died for our sins in accordance with the
19:19	scriptures that he was buried and raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures and that he appeared to
19:25	cephas and then to the twelve this list would then include Andrew James John
19:31	Philip Bartholomew Thomas Matthew the tax collector James the son of alphaeus
19:37	Thaddeus Simon the Zealot and do not forget Matthias you’re thinking well what about Judas
19:44	Iscariot well he vacated his office as apostle after
19:50	he well betrayed Christ and then took his own life and we read in Acts chapter 1
19:56	that they had to choose somebody to fill the vacant office and there were two men
20:01	that met the qualifications the qualifications were they had to be a follower and disciple of Jesus from the
20:07	time of his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist until his death and they must be eyewitnesses of his
20:14	resurrection and Matthias was one of two men whose name was put forward they prayed through holy Dice and the dice or
20:21	actually say the Lord chose Matthias through the dice and so there’s the twelve and then Paul continues he
20:29	appeared to more than 500 Brothers at one time that’s quite the feat most of
20:35	them are still alive though some have fallen asleep and the ancient Church kept track of who these Witnesses were
20:42	and then Paul says that he appeared to the other Apostles and last of all as to
20:47	one untimely born Jesus also appeared to
20:53	me and this is not a small bit of information
20:59	now what we’re going to read next I would like you to turn to Acts chapter 25 I’ll start in verse 23 but in Acts 26
21:07	we actually have a very important bit of data
21:13	in fact what we have in Acts 26 is nothing less than the actual Court
21:20	proceedings of a pre-trial hearing in which the Apostle Paul was on trial
21:29	this is Imperial Roman judicial transcript
21:34	is nothing less than that and I want you to note that the Apostle Paul who as he
21:39	gives us his story will let us know what his posture was towards Christianity in
21:45	its early days and what changed his mind and he will also explicitly State what
21:51	he is on trial for so this is the official Imperial Roman transcript of
21:58	this trial so this is the Apostle Paul literally if you would going on the
22:03	witness stand and saying I promise to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me Jesus here’s How The
22:10	Story Goes acts 25 23 on the next day Agrippa who is the king of that area and
22:16	Bernice his wife came with great pomp they entered the audience Hall with the military tribunes and The prominent men
22:23	of the city then at the command of Festus Paul was brought in Festa said
22:28	King Agrippa and all who are present with us you see this man about whom the whole Jewish people petitioned me both
22:35	in Jerusalem and here shouting that he ought not to live any longer but I have
22:40	found that he is he had done nothing deserving death and as he himself appealed to the emperor I decided to go
22:47	ahead and send him but I have nothing definite to write to my Lord about him therefore I have brought him before you
22:55	all and especially before you King Agrippa so that after we have examined him I may have something to write for it
23:02	seems to me unreasonable in sending a prisoner not to indicate the charges
23:07	against him now remember back in those days there was no distinction between the executive branch and the Judiciary
23:15	they were mixed together in one office and so what we’re going to see here then
23:21	is like the convening of a grand jury they are going to hear the evidence
23:28	and determine whether or not charges need to be filed so this is a pre-trial
23:33	hearing convened by the grand jury so Agrippa said to Paul you have permission to speak for
23:40	yourself and then Paul stretched out his hand and he made his defense
23:46	wonderful story now all of this court transcript I
23:52	consider myself fortunate that is before you King Agrippa I’m going to make my
23:57	defense today against all the accusations of the Jews especially because you are familiar with all the
24:02	customs and the controversies of the Jews therefore I beg you to listen to me
24:07	patiently my manner of life from my youth spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem is known by
24:14	all the Jews they have known for a long time if they are willing to testify that
24:20	according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee and
24:25	now I stand Here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our
24:33	fathers to which our Twelve Tribes hope to attain as they earnestly worship
24:38	night and day and for this hope I am Accused by Jews O King why is it thought
24:45	incredible by any of you you that God raises the Dead
24:52	what does Paul think he’s on trial for for his hope in the resurrection his
25:00	belief that God raises the dead he was actually put on trial as a witness
25:07	he says I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the
25:14	name of Jesus of Nazareth and I did so in Jerusalem I not only locked up many
25:19	of the Saints in prison after receiving Authority from the chief priests but when they were put to death I cast my
25:26	vote against them and I punish them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme an enraging Fury
25:34	against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities
25:40	this sounds like a man who’s hostile to Jesus does it not by his own account
25:46	and yet I would pause it here at this point that what is going to take place next is beyond amazing it’s utterly
25:52	miraculous the most hated enemy of Christianity the man avowed to do undo it has he’s going
26:01	to become a Christian what we’re going to hear next would be the equivalent of Adolf Hitler converting to Judaism
26:08	that’s how amazing this is and listen what he says so in Connection in this
26:14	connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority in the commission of the chief priests and at midday O King I saw
26:20	on the way a light from Heaven brighter than the sun that’s shown around me and those who journeyed with me and when we
26:27	had all fall into the ground I Heard a Voice saying to me in the Hebrew language and here’s how he would have
26:33	heard his own his own name why are you persecuting me
26:41	it’s hard for you to kick against the goads I can almost do an entire sermon on this
26:46	idea you persecute Christ’s children his sheep his baptized penitent forgiven
26:53	Believers you’re persecuting Jesus himself why are you persecuting me it’s hard for
26:59	you to kick against the goads and I said who are you Lord and the Lord said I am Jesus whom you are persecuting
27:09	wow so this arch enemy of Christianity now
27:15	becomes an eyewitness to the resurrection he says but rise stand upon your feet
27:22	for I have appeared to you for this purpose to appoint you as a servant and
27:28	witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you delivering you from your
27:34	people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you to open their eyes so
27:40	that they may turn from Darkness to light from the power of Satan to God and
27:45	here’s the best part so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are Sanctified by faith
27:53	in me and that’s what Paul does he becomes one of the greatest
27:59	missionaries the church has ever heard of and he goes and proclaims that in
28:05	Christ there is the Forgiveness of sins that he is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament that he was crucified and
28:12	that he rose again and he has seen him with his own eyes and through this message people’s sins are forgiven and
28:19	they now have a place among those who are Sanctified by faith in Christ so
28:24	Paul continues therefore O King Agrippa I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision but declared first to those in
28:31	Damascus then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea and also to the Gentiles that they should
28:37	repent and turn to God change your mind you’re not good you’re
28:43	a sinner repent turn to God be forgiven and then perform deeds in keeping with
28:49	repentance for this reason the Jews seized me in the temple tried to kill me to this day
28:56	I have had the help that comes from God and so I stand Here testifying both to
29:01	small and to Great saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would
29:07	come to pass that the Messiah must suffer and that by being the first to
29:13	rise from the dead he would Proclaim light both to our people and to the
29:19	Gentiles and thus Paul’s testimony ends watch the
29:24	reaction as he was saying these things these things in his defense Festus said
29:29	with a loud voice Paul you’re out of your mind your great learning is driving you out of your mind you’re believing
29:37	fake news but Paul said I am not out of my mind
29:42	most excellent Festus I am speaking true and rational words
29:50	When You Say He Is Risen indeed you are not pronouncing fake news you
29:57	are speaking the truth you are saying the most rational thing ever
30:02	to the king knows about these things and to him I speak boldly for I am persuaded
30:07	that none of these things has escaped his notice for this has not been done in a corner King Agrippa do you believe the
30:15	prophets I know that you believe and Agrippa said to Paul in such a short time would you
30:22	persuade me to be a Christian and Paul said whether short or long I
30:27	would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am except for these chains
30:35	and so you’ll notice there’s Paul on trial literally for his life because
30:40	they wanted him dead and the only person he could talk about was Jesus
30:46	and he stood his ground he did not recant he spoke the truth he is an
30:52	eyewitness of the resurrection of Jesus how many of these people must we put on
30:57	the witness stand before the atheists realized they’re
31:02	wrong this is not fake news this is exactly
31:07	how it went down the Apostle Peter and if you remember while Jesus was being
31:13	crucified he was in the corner crying like a baby because he had denied Christ three times
31:22	racked with guilt hardly the fellow who well is so bold and who was it that
31:29	caused him to deny Jesus a little servant girl
31:34	were you one of his disciples no I don’t know the man but listen to Peter in Acts
31:41	10 from our first reading Peter is preaching to the Roman Centurion Cornelius in his entire
31:47	household and he says these words I understand that God shows no
31:54	partiality but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is
31:59	acceptable to God as for the word that he sent to Israel preaching good news of peace through
32:05	Jesus Christ he’s Lord of all you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea beginning From Galilee after
32:11	the baptism that John proclaimed how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power he went about
32:18	doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil for God was with
32:23	him and we are let me change the word back into Greek real quick
32:30	we are martus Witnesses
32:35	you’ve heard the word martyr it comes from the Greek word martirao
32:40	it means to Bear Witness and we Are Witnesses
32:46	of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem they put him to death by hanging him on a tree
32:52	but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear not to all the people
32:58	but to us who have been chosen by God as Witnesses Martyrs who ate and drank with
33:03	him after he rose from the dead you see it’s one thing to say well they maybe
33:09	experienced some kind of mass hallucination maybe they were passing a bong around or
33:16	something oh yeah there’s Jesus man no they ate with him they touched his scars
33:21	you can’t touch something like this and Jesus when he appears to them he says do
33:27	not be afraid I’m not a ghost a ghost doesn’t have
33:32	Skin and Bones as you see that I have this was no hallucination
33:37	and Peter then says this Christ commanded us and watch what comes next all of this is
33:45	the command of Christ he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that
33:51	he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead
33:57	now we hear something like this and we immediately start to have that chill run
34:02	through our blood this idea of standing before Jesus on the Judgment Day is not
34:07	a happy thought because we all know how guilty we stand before him but listen to
34:13	what Jesus also commands to him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who
34:18	believes in Him receives the Forgiveness of sins through his name you will stand
34:23	before Jesus someday and give an accounting of your life and all of your misdeeds but keep this
34:29	in mind all who believe in him all of their misdeeds are spoken by for by
34:34	Christ all of their sins have been bled and died for by Christ so the one who is
34:40	going to judge the living and the dead is also the one who is bled and died for your sins
34:45	and he promises you that you receive the Forgiveness of sins through believing in
34:50	his name and if he had not risen from the dead I seriously doubt anyone would
34:56	be trusting in Jesus for the Forgiveness of their sins but because he rose from the grave we know that the Forgiveness
35:03	of sins offered in his name is true so I ask do you believe this
35:10	yes and you should this is sane this is rational this is not fake news
35:19	we read from our epistle text if then you have been raised with Christ
35:27	brothers and sisters have you been raised with Christ yes
35:32	Deanna Brenda today you were United with Christ in the
35:40	waters of your baptism today you were buried with Christ today you were raised
35:46	with him you have been raised with Christ so seek the things that are above
35:51	where Christ is seated at the right hand of God set your minds on the things that are above not on the things of the Earth
35:58	for you have already died your life is hidden with Christ and God that’s right ladies and gentlemen
36:04	brothers and sisters this morning we watched Deanna and
36:10	Brenda die and Rise Again and now we just wait for their bodies to
36:16	catch up so your life is hidden now with Christ and here’s the
36:22	best part because he has risen from the dead when Christ who is your life appears you will also appear with him
36:30	in glory fake news I think not
36:35	this is good news YOLO I don’t think so
36:41	let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die hogwash Brothers and Sisters in Christ
36:47	we have been United with Jesus and his death and Resurrection so let us eat and drink for tomorrow we live
36:56	he is risen I’m going to make you do that again
37:05	he is risen you have questions and when he appears you will also appear
37:13	with him in glory in the name of Jesus Amen

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