Matthew 27:57-28:10 (#102.2024.10.13)

Scott Keffer [: 00:00:02

Hi. If you're looking for greater hope, assurance, and confidence through the shifting sands of life, then join me on today's episode as we dig deep into the bible to discover rock solid truth for life and living from the God of the bible. I'm your host, Scott Keffer. Hi, and welcome to today's episode. As always, for a deeper experience, you can go

Scott Keffer [: 00:00:26

to the show notes and download the blank insight sheet. Fill in the blanks along with the group. Depending on how you're listening to this, there'll be a

Scott Keffer [: 00:00:34

link to the episode website at beholdingbibletruth.com,

Scott Keffer [: 00:00:39

and a sheet with the answers is included as well. Enjoy today's episode. Well, it's easy to look around in the world today and wonder, is anybody really in charge? And to see that there is, in this chaotic seeming mess of the world around us, that the small details don't really matter. The little things aren't really coming together and adding up to something bigger. And God is gonna remind us in his word today that that's not true, that the little things are not insignificant. They are significant. God is weaving them together into a tapestry of a story and a purpose that's greater than typically what we can see. So if you would stand with me as we read Matthew 27.

Scott Keffer [: 00:01:28

We have their sheet. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own nude tomb, which he had in the rock, and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene was there and the other Mary sitting opposite the grave. Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priest and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate and said, sir, we remember that when he was still alive, that the said, after 3 days, time to rise again. Therefore, give orders for the great to be made secure until the 3rd day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, feel him away, say that the people is risen from the dead.

Scott Keffer [: 00:02:35

And the last deception will be first in the first. Pilate said to them, you have a guard. Go make it as secure as you know how. They went out, made the grave secure, and along with the guard, they set a seal on the stone. Word of the Lord. Thanks. Thanks be to God. Lots of stuff going on.

Scott Keffer [: 00:02:55

Got Joseph, got Pilate, got Mary Magdalene, Mary, got Pharisee, all the stuff going on. And in the midst of Joseph of Arimathea and the work that's going to to bring his body and put it in the tomb, we they are attempting to prevent, right, the the the resurrection. Although, I they didn't believe in the resurrection, but they were attempting to prevent it, right, with the idea that we're willing to deceive. Maybe they are too. Everyone knows what people accuse others of are typically what they're doing themselves. Right? Yeah. It's crazy. So I put on there the attempts to prevent the resurrection, the attempts to prevent the resurrection are the evidence to confirm its authenticity.

Scott Keffer [: 00:03:49

The attempts to prevent the resurrection are evidence to confirm its authenticity. And it's kinda struck me as I was thinking about this, you know, and as you go through scripture common and familiar parts of scripture, you tend to move past really quickly. And it it is always important to, you know, stop and rest, meditate, and think. And I started to think about this. So they laid him in a new tomb that was hewn out of the rock. And the the point of the new tomb, of course, was this idea that there was no body in there that, oh, they can put Jesus in there and then, you know, another body. Right? Or, you know, the body in there like Elijah, somebody could be touched or healed. So the idea that this was a new tomb, but I thought started to think about this.

Scott Keffer [: 00:04:37

So I put leading the dew tube, human in a rock, one way in, one way out. One way in, one way out. Right? So it's a new tomb. There's nothing in there. No other body is in there. Not no one else. It's human in a rock. And if you look at it, there was one way in and one way out.

Scott Keffer [: 00:04:55

In other words, there was no secret passages. There was no back way to get in there. There was no backdoor. There was no way, right, to make this look like anything other than it wasn't. Right? So it was a new tube in which no one had been laid. Then they took this one way, and they secured the one way with a large stone, a large stone. And if you look at what would be this large stone in the picture there, that's more than a stone. That would be a rock.

Scott Keffer [: 00:05:30

That would be, right, big enough that and it says that that Joseph moved it right up there, but the fact was it would take more than one person to move that stone. And, typically, these kind of things were few. They were rare because they were expensive. There was a track in which this large stone right? So it had to be it had to be put in there and then moved in front of the 2. So the one way was secured with a large stone, which would take more than one to move. Then they would take a piece of rope, and they would string it across the rock, and on each side, they would put a glob of wax. And the glob of wax would then have the Roman seal. So it was sealed.

Scott Keffer [: 00:06:14

Right? It was sealed with a Roman seal. The one way was secured with a Roman seal. And that Roman seal, as you can imagine, would be like do not enter under police authority. Right? If you went through the barrier, you were breaking the law. If you broke the seal, you were breaking the law. So this was Roman authority. So there was the stone, and there was Roman authority, the seal. And lastly, the one way was secured with a Roman guard.

Scott Keffer [: 00:06:44

So Pilate says to them, you have a guard. That sounds like a guard. Right? Mhmm. No. A guard was at least 4 soldiers fully equipped. So at least 4 soldiers fully equipped. Right? And that means they had weapons. They had everything that they needed to guard the tomb.

Scott Keffer [: 00:07:03

So they guarded the tomb, and what did they guard the tomb with? In other words, what did they put on the line? Their life. If the seal they guarded the seal, if you will. Right? They didn't care what was in the tomb. But if the seal was broken, it was definitely bad for your career and oftentimes, your life. Right? If the seal was broken. So they have the because they didn't care what was inside. They didn't care what the deal was. Right? So it was secured with a large stone, secured with a Roman seal, and secured with a guard.

Scott Keffer [: 00:07:40

Right? For right? Because while 2 is left, 2 would guard. So it was round the clock, guard in. So no way in and no way out. No way in and no way out. So the one way was no way. No way in, no way out. So I put on there, so how would you have described that situation? You're a follower of Jesus. What words would you use? How would you felt? Hopeless, impossible, we're sunk, we're done, our lives are at risk, we put everything on the line.

Scott Keffer [: 00:08:16

I can't believe it. How many of you would have said, I knew it. I knew it. I told you. I told you should never follow that guy. Family members around saying, you followed Jesus. I told you not to call him. Right? Think about all the myriad of responses.

Scott Keffer [: 00:08:32

Any of them good? Probably not. I don't you don't know. I mean, they don't really say. But so I put in a how would you felt? How would you felt? So that made me think, what no way in, no way out situation are you in right now? Are you in a no way in, no way out situation? Well, it's typically time in life. You're either in 1, coming out of 1, or going into 1. Right? That's kind of the way it is. And how are you feeling right now? What are you saying? What are you thinking? How are you considering it? Because we you know, we're watching the story knowing the beginning, the middle, and the end, but they were in the middle of the story. But, fortunately, with God, there's more to the story.

Scott Keffer [: 00:09:18

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the 1st day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave, came to look at the grave. What were they looking for? No. And behold, the severe earthquake had occurred for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning was like lightning. And maybe you've been near to lightning. We were growing up down the street. The girl who was friends of ours, lightning struck I don't know how close they said, but within 15, 20 feet, she lost her sight, lost her hearing for 2 or 3 days. I think she was knocked unconscious, woke up.

Scott Keffer [: 00:09:57

She did cover lightning. His appearance was light lightning. Powerful. Right. Right? His clothing is white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him. They became like dead men. The angel said to the woman, do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

Scott Keffer [: 00:10:19

He's not here, for he has risen just as he. Saw. Yeah. Just as he said. Come see the place where he is led lying. Go quickly and tell his disciples that he's risen from the dead. Behold, he's going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.

Scott Keffer [: 00:10:38

Behold, I have told you that left the tune quickly with fear and great joy. Fear and great joy. That's good mixture. Fear and great joy. What's up with this? What's up with this? Fear and great joy. How do you respond to the supernatural? Fear and joy if it's a good thing, but it's supernatural. It's not of the natural world. This is a supernatural intervention by the angels coming into into the natural world.

Scott Keffer [: 00:11:13

Right? They left the tomb. Right? Few few or great joy, they ran and reported to the disciples, and behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. Right? Jesus met them and greeted them. Notice he showed himself to whom? The other women. The guy who was sitting. That's it. You ain't no way. And they came up to go to the steep, and they worshiped him.

Scott Keffer [: 00:11:32

And Jesus said to them, you don't be afraid. Go and take word to my brother and to leave for Galilee, and there they will see me. There they will see me. So, again, I was thinking about this. How do you think about this? If you've got a Christian, you've heard this 10 zillion times. Right? Oh, yeah. Of course, I know the answer to that. He rises from the dead.

Scott Keffer [: 00:11:53

He resurrected. So 3 days later, 3 days later, there's no detail that is beyond his purview and every detail has purpose, doesn't it? 3 days later. So I was thinking about 3 days later. Well, first of all, 3 days later was to fulfill prophecy. 3 days later was to fulfill prophecy. Just as Jonah was 3 days 3 nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the son of man be 3 days 3 nights in the heart of the earth. So in one statement and multiple events, god proves out and demonstrates and shows forth his sovereign rain tea. I was sovereign rain in Jonah's event.

Scott Keffer [: 00:12:44

I am sovereign rain in the son of man's event, and I prophesied it in order for you to know that I know and that I tell them that my purpose and what the lord wills occurs 3 days, 3 nights. And according to Jewish tradition, a a person's soul remained in their body for 3 days. So it took 3 days till they were officially dead. So you were buried, and if you would have risen from the the grave in 2 days, it was said, see you weren't really dead. It took 3 days by Jewish tradition for you to be officially proclaimed dead. So 3 days. Now they proclaim Jesus dead. So they proclaim Jesus' death.

Scott Keffer [: 00:13:31

He actually is dead. So in Hebrews 4, it says there remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the for whom? The people of God. Well, what does that mean? Well, the the one who enters his rest has himself rested from his works. So there was a Sabbath rest to come. Sabbath was to be found in another. They said Joshua didn't bring the Sabbath rest. There was another to come who would bring a rest, a believer's rest. And so Jesus rested on Saturday, which is Jewish Sabbath.

Scott Keffer [: 00:14:10

So on Saturday, he rests. He rises on the 3rd day, but on the 2nd day, he rests. Right? He shows. He rested on the Sabbath. There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Where is the Sabbath? He's the Sabbath. He is the Sabbath. And, of course, he rises on the 3rd day.

Scott Keffer [: 00:14:31

1st day of the week marks a new beginning, a new way, a new life, a new covenant, a new covenant. 3 days later. God is the god where all the details matters. They seem to be just occurring kind of randomly, don't they? But god is weaving together a tapestry of his purpose altogether. Have you seen that before? They show you the back of a a not a name. What do they call it? Like a It's

Marlene [: 00:15:00

called here.

Scott Keffer [: 00:15:01

Embroidery, and then you turn around and you see the front. You go, oh, yeah. The back didn't look like that. Right? And God is weaving together all these details and need to say, oh, he actually had a picture and a purpose. We missed the details. Could that be happening in your life? Would that be happening in your life?

Speaker D [: 00:15:19

So, Scott, you would talk about the details. I never noticed before. I've read this a 1,000,000 times. The card for the guards shook for fear of him and became like, good men. But then down below, it says I looked at him quickly with fear and great joy. So that's us where the unbelievers. It's just fear

Scott Keffer [: 00:15:40

fear and dead.

Speaker D [: 00:15:41

Yeah. Yeah.

Scott Keffer [: 00:15:42

We're believers fear and joy. Yeah. Fear and joy. Yes. Interesting picture. Of course, you know, it's it's what I've always said. You pray for miracles so that unbelievers we pray for miracles because we want the things to happen that we want to happen. That's why we pray for them.

Scott Keffer [: 00:15:59

And then we hope they'll also convert other folks. But scripture showed us here, there were miracle after miracle after miracle that didn't necessarily work in terms of converting others. Right? So flip it over. So I started to think about this. Jesus didn't need an angel to roll the stone away. An angel came and rolled the stone away. Jesus didn't need an angel to roll the stone away. He commands the the sea.

Scott Keffer [: 00:16:25

He he's the sovereign one. So I thought, okay. So what's going on? Well, first of all, Jesus resurrected body is glorified and yet physical. So he has a glorified body, yet it's still physical. What does that mean? He could walk through the stone. Well, how do I know that evening, on that day, the 1st day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus just came and stood in their midst and said, I told you so. That's what I would have said. I told you guys.

Jack [: 00:16:55

What's wrong with

Scott Keffer [: 00:16:56

you? Jesus said to them, peace be with you. And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Does this blow your mind? So his body is glorified. He could walk through physical matter, but he still you could see his hands and his side. What would that be like? I have no idea. Fear and joy. I I don't know. Wouldn't it? You just what? I think you just fall on the ground.

Scott Keffer [: 00:17:24

I don't know. But he's in a glorified body, yet he's physical, which means he could've walked through this stone. So what was going on? The first thing I put is divine proclamation divine proclamation. This was not to let Jesus out. This was to let the world in. This was divine proclamation and also divine demonstration. This was demonstration, wasn't it? So you say, how did this happen? Jesus said in John 10, for this reason this reason, the father loves me. K? What reason? Because.

Scott Keffer [: 00:17:59

So he answers that. Because I lay down my life that I may take it again. So he says, I lay down my life. The father loves me because I lay down my life, and that is so I can take it again, Take it back. No one has taken it from me. Well yeah. But no. Yeah.

Scott Keffer [: 00:18:21

There were culprits in the midst of this, pilots, the Jews, and the Gentiles, right, to carry out what his predetermined purpose was. So he said, no one's taken it from me, but I lay it down on my own initiative. Who who is this son of god who would step out of eternity in intimate fellowship with the father? Right? The uncontainable would step into a container and be mocked and scourged and crucified. He said, I do it on my own initiative. I have authority. It's his key. I have authority, and I have authority to take it up again. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.

Scott Keffer [: 00:19:12

Anybody in here have authority over your own life? You don't. He said I have authority to lay it down, to take it up again. Where did that authority come from? This commandment I received from my father. I received the authority from my father. So I put on there, this is divine authority and cooperation. This is divine authority and cooperation. Right? That the the father and son in cooperation are carrying out, right, his purpose, but they have authority to do that. They have authority to do that, which means who has authority over my life? For it to be born and for it to call or whatever.

Scott Keffer [: 00:19:54

He has authority to do that. I have authority to do that. And he said, for this reason, father loves me. So when Jesus sacrifice and Jesus laying down on his life and taking it back up again, he's demonstrating the love of God. And he says that. Right? God demonstrates his own love toward us, and while that we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Right? He's demonstrating God's love. So we have faith.

Scott Keffer [: 00:20:26

Our faith, if you think about this, is not in a theory or a concept or a set of beliefs. Our faith is grounded in a physical resurrection. It's a physical resurrection. Jack, how important is the resurrection?

Jack [: 00:20:44

Christianity collapses without it.

Scott Keffer [: 00:20:47

It collapses without it.

Jack [: 00:20:49

Well, yeah. Allison Beck said, not one page in the New Testament would have been written apart from the resurrection. That being the resurrection, there'd be no New Testament. No faith. No covenant covenant.

Scott Keffer [: 00:20:59

Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. So he gave us a physical resurrection at a point in time in history. He appeared to more than 500 brethren. And so in 1st Corinthians, he said, if no resurrection if no resurrection, here are some things. Right? First of all, he says that not only with our preaching being paid, but the gospel being paid, but your faith is in vain. Our faith is in vain.

Scott Keffer [: 00:21:26

There's no resurrection. It's a joke. It's vanity. It's without substance. He also says if Christ hasn't been written, then your faith is worthless and you are still in your sins. There's no forgiveness. Then he said, and those who fall asleep in Christ, they're dead. There's a dead, so there's no eternal life.

Scott Keffer [: 00:21:51

And at the end of the day, you're just pitiful. Besides, if you're if Christ hasn't been great, if if we both in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pity. You if there's no Christ and there's no resurrection, you should eat, drink, and be merry. You should. What's the point? Right? Do do everything you can. Get away with as much as you can. Eat, drink, and be merry. If you're if you're hoping in Christ just for this life, then there's no eternal life.

Scott Keffer [: 00:22:20

Right? So if you don't resurrect, our faith is in vain. There's no forgiveness, no eternal life. We're pitiful. And death is the victor. Death is the victor. Death would still have its state. No resurrection. No resurrection.

Scott Keffer [: 00:22:38

And it's a physical resurrection. It's not an idea. It's not a theory. It's not, something we embrace as a concept. You know, I believe. No. There was a physical resurrection. I believe in the resurrection.

Scott Keffer [: 00:22:52

Why? There is enough evidence to prove it. He rose. He appeared here to more 500 brethren at one time. So I love this. When they encountered Jesus on the way back, Jesus said to them, do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. If you were there, you saw Jesus hanging on the cross, dead, buried, and then you saw him walking along the way, would you be afraid? Yeah. They were fearful and joyful when they saw the empty tomb.

Scott Keffer [: 00:23:29

But what happens when you see the risen Jesus? What? We say it, but then you think, what? And I love it. He says, do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. Now it's not an exact science because of the way that the translations work. But if you look at how many times in the Bible that the phrase that God says to men, do not be afraid, 365, which sounds like every day. Now, again, depending on the translation, you can get that, but isn't that cool? Like, every day, God says, do not be afraid. And he's not saying do not be afraid. He's saying do not be afraid.

Jack [: 00:24:11

Why? Look at me.

Scott Keffer [: 00:24:12

Look at me. Do not be afraid. I'm risen. So we see Jesus' compassion. His compassion, his tenderness, his kindness, that the son of God and the son of man is compassionate. Oh, like the father, the Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness. Our god is compassionate. And he says to them, go tell my brethren.

Scott Keffer [: 00:24:37

For the first time in scripture, the son of god says, go tell my brethren. Bart says, they no doubt thought that Christ would reproach them with their past cowardice and infidelity. Right? You're the disciples. Jesus is coming. Right? So the the lady is saying Jesus is coming. Ye. Ye. Right? Remember what we did.

Scott Keffer [: 00:25:02

Remember what we didn't do. He's saying that it gives them full assurance in the most tender terms. You're my brother. You're my brother. That all that was passed was underlying buried forever. All that was passed was buried forever. Left in the tomb, if you will. Picture left in the tomb, my brother.

Scott Keffer [: 00:25:25

So we see Jesus' compassion. Do not be afraid And my brother, it's an awesome that the son of God, he did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but he emptied himself, taking on the form of a bondservant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. But the sub god steps out of eternity, the uncontainable into a container, and he comes with humility and compassion and grace and favor. Is that something? It's mind blowing that he is as compassionate as he is. So I thought, okay, lord. Heard this a billion times. So what does this mean for us? And they have your faith waiver.

Scott Keffer [: 00:26:14

And our faith waiver is 2 ways. 1, there is the, I'm not a Christian. I can't be a Christian. Do what I do, I can't be a Christian. Lord, if I have to confess this again, I can't be a Christian. I can't believe it. Here I am every day. Right? Every day with my pride, my lust, my anger, my envy, my fear, my anxiety, right, my greed, all of that stuff.

Scott Keffer [: 00:26:34

Here I am again. That's part of the faith struggle, ain't it? The other part is you sometimes say to yourself, is this really real? Sometimes you say, is this really real? Maybe you don't do that, but some of us do. Right? We say, is this really real? Right? Because I didn't see him. I didn't see him. But he reminds us he gave physical evidence for you to stand upon. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, but it doesn't sit, right, in the invisible. He has given us physical evidence for us to stand upon, stand in. Right? So remember, he gave us physical evidence.

Scott Keffer [: 00:27:15

He gave us eyewitnesses, 500 eyewitnesses, words for convicting in a just court, the fact that he is real. The next thing I put is when, not if, but when you feel no way in, no way out, which is often in life. And it seems like as the days go on, there's more no way in, no way out situations, aren't there? Because what he's doing is for us is removing the other ways. He says they're false ways because at the end of the day, there's only one way. So he's removing our other ways. Right? And as much as we like it or don't like it, right, we all have idles. The government and the economy and the situation the way it is and freedom and all that stuff. Right? And when it shakes, it freaks you out, doesn't it? Say what? So as he reminds us, when there are no way in and no way out, nothing can separate you from God and his love.

Scott Keffer [: 00:28:14

Nothing. So what did he show you? If you were in a tomb, I could get you. You're not there's nothing physical, not no situation that can keep me out of being in your life. For I'm convinced, what? With either death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor things present or things to come nor height nor depth or any other creative thing will be able to separate us. What? No. Any other creative thing. Not separate us. Right? Separate us.

Scott Keffer [: 00:28:46

Separate us from what? Which is in Christ Jesus, our lord. So tune that would keep me out in those situation that you can be in. There's no there's no there's no way in no way out situation that can keep me from huge. This is one of my favorite verses. Do not call to mind the former things or ponder the things of the past. Why? Behold, I do what's it say? I will do something new. Well, how will that work? Because I'm in the wilderness. No.

Scott Keffer [: 00:29:20

I'm in a desert. He said, now it will spring forth. Just pay attention. Otherwise, you'll miss it. Will you not be aware of it? If you're looking at the desert or you're looking at the spring, you're gonna miss what I'm doing. So he says, because I'll need to make a roadway in the wilderness. Lord, if there's a wilderness, it's not possible to do a roadway in the world. It's not naturally possible.

Scott Keffer [: 00:29:46

You know, I'll make rivers in the desert. So when you're in the when you're in a river, when you're or you're in the desert or you're in the wilderness, he said, even more money to god is not bound by your physical circumstances. He's not. He can do something new. And, of course, when he said new, he means not possible. He means miraculous. He means supernatural divine intervention. I can do something new.

Scott Keffer [: 00:30:15

And lastly, if we consider the resurrection, then at the core of this was the son of god who became the son of man on our behalf, shed his blood on the cross. He is the lamb who was slain. The lamb who was slain. What do we do with the lamb who was slain? In in in the world system, we'd say, well, that's foolishness. Scripture says for Jews, it's a stumbling block. For Gentiles, it's foolishness. But he's saying in in the reality of what is true, right, he who is the way, the truth, and the life, the one who was slain, the lamb who was slain, will be worshiped eternally. He says there are myriads of myriads and thousands upon thousands saying with a loud voice worthy.

Scott Keffer [: 00:31:06

Worthy is the lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. And then he said every creative thing, which is in the heavens and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them, He said, I heard him say to him who sits upon the throne and to the lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. And then it says the 4 living creatures and the elders fell down and worshiped. So at the end of the day, the resurrected one is the lamb who was slain. And so we should respond and worship the resurrected Christ. We should worship the resurrected Christ. One day, we will indeed join the myriads and myriads of 1,000 upon 1,000. How many is that? It's a sea that cannot be the end you can't see, right, in all directions or the the lamb who was slain.

Scott Keffer [: 00:32:10

So when your faith waivers, remember, he gave us physical evidence, eyewitnesses. The lamb was slain as resurrected. He sits at the right hand of god the father. When you feel no way in, no way out, nothing can separate you from god and his love, his presence. God is not bound by physical circumstances. He can do something new, and we need to worship the resurrected one, Christ, the lamb who was slain. Alright. I've done insight that you received, and it's all rounded on the resurrection.

Scott Keffer [: 00:32:43

If something they'd like to share.

Speaker D [: 00:32:45

So this is it's

Marlene [: 00:32:47

more of

Speaker D [: 00:32:47

a replies to me than in the. I mean, this whole lesson is so good, but so this is the month 47 years ago that I was saved. And I think when I was reading that worthy is the land that was slain, that I I actually began to come to work watching that old movie, Jesus Nazareth, if anybody ever remembers it. Remember he had blue eyes. It was a pretty pretty accent. But it was the the term worthy is the lamb that once spoke to me that has ever since spoke to me. That is the grace. Worthy is the lamb that has gone through my mind and my spirit of all these 47 years.

Scott Keffer [: 00:33:25

Worthy is the lamb.

Marlene [: 00:33:26

Marlene, I'll I'll build on that. We're at not a little the same way. But you always say, you know, use the word of God and you're praying in Revelation 45. It you read it. And even when sometimes in prayer time, I had paid to admit, like, I don't feel anything. I feel dry. And then I open that up and join those angels. And they're swirling around and saying, Lord, you're the lamb.

Marlene [: 00:33:52

So it revives our hearts to Christ. So what else then?

Scott Keffer [: 00:33:56

Yeah. It does. It does. Because we need that, don't we? We need that spark to revive our soul. Yeah.

Speaker F [: 00:34:02

Yeah. And and to keep building on those women that I love. If Christ, the one who knew no sin, not only that, all he knew was presence with God. If he can do what he did for us and God can allow that to happen, which is also unbelievable, then and this could be just for me more than anybody else. Then I need to be able to attempt at least when I'm struggling and worrying and doubting and fearful to worship him. It almost seems it's impossible for me to do that as what I described Christ did, but I need to attempt it Mhmm. More often.

Scott Keffer [: 00:34:40

Yeah. I think that's true. And then there's a bigger story. I just just reminded God God's story is a bigger story than the details that I'm in and the things that I could see. He just I have such tunnel vision. I'm really stuck where I am, you know, and he's doing something bigger.

Speaker G [: 00:34:58

Well, when you talk about being in a tribe, I mean, your faith may be wavering

Speaker F [: 00:35:05

and It is.

Speaker G [: 00:35:06

We've all been there, but just the power of the resurrection. This past year, I read through Ephesians and to just build upon that resurrection in chapter 12, Paul's, you know, it's at the tail end of his prayer that believe that power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead. And secondly, not just that physical resurrection, but seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realm above all the rule authority power and dominion. And then you jump to 26 and says that God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. I mean, that blew my mind. So not only did Jesus raise physically from the dead, but he's seated ruling in power above everything, and we're already seated there with him. I just I that became a new favorite verse. So, you know, I'm still unpacking that.

Speaker G [: 00:36:13

But to remember in those times, I I just said, I am already seated in Christ and then heavenly realms.

Jack [: 00:36:23

Very. Amen.

Scott Keffer [: 00:36:24

It's unbelievable. Wow. And if you think about that, when he says, my brethren, that's Yes. That's it. Right? You're seated with him because we're his brother. Right? What you got, Jake?

Jack [: 00:36:37

Shameless bug. As we said in the book put it this way. The Christianity is about something that happened. Not just a series of clever sayings. It's not just a code of conduct. Not just a book of rules. It's about a historical event. And so all the evidence that that supports that could actually happen, the empty tomb, the, appearances, the conversion of the disc disciple that when they were they were scared and scattered inside of the of the crucifixion.

Jack [: 00:37:12

And then all of a sudden, they become bold proclaimers of truth, the Jesus resurrection, which was the core of the gospel initially, in the end of the church. And they did that, and then they were willing to suffer martyrs death for it. And then ultimately, a conversion of Paul and a conversion of James who thought he was Jesus was the wacko. But historically, even critical scholars agree those things those are historical facts. And one scholar, Richard Zunberg in England, puts I love this way. He puts it. He said, those historical facts are exactly what you would expect to see if the if the resurrection occurred. But if it did not occur, those facts are inexplicable.

Jack [: 00:37:55

There's no way to explain the f t 2, the conversion, you know, and the appearance that we recognize those happened, but there's no explanation for those if the resurrection didn't happen. So it's he likes us to talk about running to a core. That is the core of our faith. We we can have doubts about various pieces of doctrine and disagree and so forth. But when the doubt, we run to the poor. This is the foundation. We believe that, and that allows us to believe in him as our only hope for salvation.

Scott Keffer [: 00:38:26

Okay. Close this if you would, please.

Jack [: 00:38:29

Well, we thank you again for this opportunity gathering here and so much, around us these days and raise our doubts and raise our questions about what you're up to with the various circumstances that we are always thankful what the bitterness of our circumstances ultimately give way to the sweetness of your word, and we treasure that. Thank you for the opportunity to study it and to encourage each other by it. Thank you for Scott and his diligence. Pray for all those who, need to hear your word and to be drawn close to you because of it. Thank you for all of this in Jesus' precious name. Amen. Amen.

Scott Keffer [: 00:39:10

And may the one who resurrected and said do not be afraid. May he bless you. May he keep you. May he cause his face to shine upon you. May he lift up his countenance and grant you shalom, his peace deep in your soul. May he bless you and keep you this day and all days until he comes again or calls you home. Amen. Amen.

Scott Keffer [: 00:39:31

Thanks for listening. I hope you have greater hope, assurance, and confidence in your life and a deeper trust in the God of the bible and his son, Jesus Christ. Until next time, may the lord bless you and keep you. May the lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and may the lord lift up his countenance on you and give you his peace, his shalom in your soul and in your life. Until next time, may God bless you and keep you.