From Fear to Faith (Part 2 of 2)

Immediately after Jesus's objection.

His disciples hid behind locked doors.

They feared a similar fate.

What happened to transform these anxious men into bold evangelists today on Truth for Life. Alister Beck describes the disciples remarkable transition from fear to faith in John chapter 20 another message in our series encore 2020 by any standards.

The disciples when a complete sham. One of them that betrayer Judas Iscariot, my name was already dead. Suicide the unofficial spokesman of the group Simon Peter. He had crumbled before the questionings of a young girl just hours before and so to go and look for them is to discover the dejected and paralyzed company.

The question is obvious to any thinking person what was in the turn these men from fear to faith. What was it that took what was apparently a Friday evening catastrophe and turn it into a Sunday morning victory. You gotta go to the evidence for the origin of the belief in the resurrection on the part of the disciples you got to go and do something with the postmortem appearances of Christ and you've got a go finally and do something with this empty tomb, and when you look at the evidence concerning the empty tomb. The evidence that supports the fact of the empty tomb is it is best far more than I can give to just now that you're a sensible person, you must look at the evidence, you must read it.

You know what you'll discover you'll discover that not only is this a book which is capable of your investigation of it, but you will discover as you read this book actually investigated you and this is actually a handbook that explains your existence. The fighting you've had it in the glove box for so long and have driven for 40 years of your life, without reference to it is only an indication of God's gracious provision, but it will be a wonderful day when you take it out of the glove box in your sake. I wonder why it is that I am Uzziah.

I wonder if there is an answer today.

I wonder if that is an explanation of life. I wonder what this matter of the empty tomb is if there was a body in the tomb. It would've been impossible for the resurrection story to survive for five. Also, it is underpinned by the fact that the empty tomb, and his discovery is recorded as being encountered. First of all by women. In that context, they didn't have a vote. They couldn't give testimony in a court of law. Shepherds couldn't either. And the women were regarded as the lowest when it came to these matters and yet you read the story and what is it say airily in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary mandoline went to the tomb. Let's imagine for a moment there were putting together mythology and were sitting in the room I decide let's say that airily in the morning Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. Any sensible person in the room is going say no don't say Mary Magdalene went to the Civil War by the mother of Claude by such noted bones say a woman went to the tomb. Sam went to the tomb because nobody will believe the testimony of a woman I'm ever going to make a fiction. Let's make it a good section. So the fact that it is the weather go to the two substantiates the fact of his historicity. The earliest Jewish argument presupposes the empty tomb doesn't when they discovered that the tomb was empty. What are they saying not the tomb is not empty. They said the disciples of, and stolen the body.

They substantiate the fact that the tomb was empty by the argument of the present if they could have shown that the tomb was not empty.

That would've been far easier than coming up with this notion of the disciples going out to steal the body and the fact of the tomb was not venerated as a shrine indicates of the tomb was empty. Voted to become a shrine needed a body needed bones. Nobody, no bones, no shrine is actually very, very difficult to object to the empty tomb on historical grounds.

Those who object to it, do so for other reasons. I want to ask you do you really want to do that you say. The reason the tomb was empty, is not because Jesus had risen from the dead, but because the disciples stole the body.

First of all, why would they steal the body. Secondly, where were they put it. And thirdly, having put it there. Why would they hit the streets with Allied and get themselves killed for. I'll gladly take that one in a court of law. I'd be glad to to to deal with gnosis on the actually don't believe that the women were at the wrong tomb take that one as well nicer seminars that only it was that idea was that Jesus not really dead. Once he got in the cold tomb he revived had a bowl of cereal and then when hit the Jerusalem streets. I say to you as I draw this to a close, that those kind of alternative explanations are more incredible than the idea of the resurrection itself. They demand more from a man or a woman than faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The reason you do not believe is because you will not believe. Two questions were through. Question number one is this information reliable is this information reliable to that's a question that you need to ask my out here on the wing and a prayer. My some kind of religious professional representative of the Christian mythology society. Having myself disengage my brain, somewhere in the earlier part of my life and determined that on the base of all of this trumped up nonsense.

I will give my life to studying the Bible into seeking every opportunity to tell others about it. Well of course you can conclude safely that that is the case that I am a crazy person under and we can let that pass, but there are others whom you may respect and whose testimony you may find more difficult to set aside in that way you see it you have a belief in the miraculous in relationship to this. You either believe in a psychological medical whereby normal men and women who were going about the routine of the days became conspirators and liars who were prepared to die for the subterfuge that they hoisted on the world. That's a psychological miracle that I can get my head around all you are embracing a biological miracle in relationship to the death of Jesus.

Your assumption is that when they did the soldiers in doing the bidding of their headquarters came to break the legs of the individuals who were on the cross is when the when they failed to break the legs of Christ that he did that, somehow, because they didn't understand the difference between life, the man who took the spear and plunged it into the side of Christ was simply being masochistic when appointed by what he was doing was giving the determination in the separation of Claude and serum what it happened up here was that this life had already gone the two thieves. Their legs would be broken. The platform in which they were managing to sustain their chest cavity for a moment or two would eventually get out from underneath them and they would be the chest cavity would be collapsed and the loss of oxygen etc. would would increase the and hasten the time of the death, but when they come to the sender cross he's already gone, so they say there's no need to break the legacy or look I'll show you is already gone and he's gonna not know you say that's not the case. So you're either gonna walk out on the base of a biological miracle you and walk on the base of a psychological miracle. Are you going to walk out on the basis of if you like a theological matter that the best explanation of the facts points to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. My final question is this is this information relevant is irrelevant.

Why take this time on this morning to talk in this way. Why not simply talk about one or two things nice things in the world. When I give you a word of encouragement and thought about love and peace and happiness in family I love, love, peace, happiness and family. I just can always get them together in the one box but that's not what I've been given to talk about. At least not this morning. You need to determine as I do.

Is this information relevant and without a literal resurrection. The Christian faith is worthless without a literal resurrection wrench in the Christian faith is worthless at best.

And Jesus is just a prophet when you do, you couldn't put your faith in him as a Messiah that would be that to say that the resurrection is a symbol is equally stupid and you'll find that propounded from pulpits all around us here this morning and the chagrin Valley congregations will come in they will know was being sent to they don't understand the people in the position which I've been entrusted with actually do not themselves believe in a literal resurrection of Jesus Christ to believe that if there was a resurrection at all. It was a resurrection into place in the minds of the disciples in the somehow result or another. As a result of this psychological transformation of the experience they went out and lived and died on the strength of I put it to you is that not a most ridiculous proposition because the facts remain the facts. Jesus was dead.

So what you*what you submit.

I have no use for a myth Christian myth that says on the strength of a dead Galilean carpenter. I'm supposed to live my life.

Why, without the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus. Christianity is worthless and that is why Paul with all of his intellect are useful forcibly enforce premiums 50 Jesus Christ is not a life. He says, and we those who have died are still in their sins.

Our faith is worthless. Our preaching is in vain.

Whole thing is a sham and a waste of time they see the flip side of that of course is that Jesus Christ is alive, then it is supremely relevant for here is a friendship like no other.

Here is forgiveness that can be found in North and here is our future.

That is all wrapped up in the fight that he is alive in the New York Times we had an article on Mark Rich, the man who was pardoned in the final hours of the Clinton presidency, and all of the hullabaloo that there's been about. And if you read the article was fairly extensive and talked about having begun and trading is a 19-year-old in he'd made all these millions and had got involved in all kinds of deals and much of it speculative and questionable, but I got right on in the article, and I began to imagine the unfolding of this young man this young Jewish man's life, how he eventually ends up with all of this money and as a result of what he's done has to be in exile from his friends and from his family. He's in alone man really is like the man in Ecclesiastes.

There was a man all along, who had neither friend nor brother.

He gets the news in his position of exile that one of his children, his 29-year-old daughter has died of leukemia.

He knew she was unwell.

Her death came and he could not return for the funeral because for them to return would mean that he be arrested and he couldn't risk that, and so therefore he had to remain away those who were present on that occasion, and they were quoted in the article said that when the news came to him quotes he was just shattered.

He just looks so depressed, he was in this beautiful office surrounded by gorgeous paintings and flying off to his summer home in Spain and he was not happy soul know how could he be absent the friendship that is to be found in Christ.

What would it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lost his own soul what any need French sodium what is required. Forgiveness sodium seek the fact of the empty tomb is grounded in the fact of a dying Savior is because of what happened in his death that he bore my sins that he took my place that the resurrection give significance to this business which give significance to the resurrection so both pieces hold together.

The reason that we should be so delighted that Jesus is alive today is because of the sacrifice that he made for sends the fight that he is alive, bears testimony to the fight that Jesus made a sacrifice that was accepted by the father that all of my guilt and all of my wanderings and all of my rebellion in all of this stuff that is been part of the chapters of my life that I have tried in vain to deal with to be dealt with. Because the tomb is empty because Jesus is alive because he is the only one who can take that delete key and press it in your life in such a way that it will never come back up again and no matter who comes in your room and turns on your life it will never be able to get to. Do not, I kind of forgiveness or are you here because you don't know forgiveness and you figured that on Easter Sunday is going to be at least a 15 pointer are you getting a 20 if it had been a 730 service but Alicia here 15 411 that's the way you think, because everybody was trying to earn their way into heaven by religious endeavors doesn't understand forgiveness therefore needs it is irrelevant yes because they give you a friend like no other friend is irrelevant yes because he grants forgiveness that can be found in no other place is irrelevant.

Yes, because it answers the question of your future in an article in magazine this week I read about dad Joan Vyas inserting herself into the Newport Jazz Festival in the 60s.

Apparently she didn't look like much it been raining her hair was be straggled all her head.

She was a slip of a girl.

She was in her bare feet and somebody said you know we had a letter saying so is and why we will adversely the fellas it was.

He's a good singer.

He said I will give up two of my songs. C surmise at all find it been raining C and she comes under the stage.

She sings she electrifies the crowd she sings to Negro spiritualists takes up a song you calling David I: Emmanuelle you calling David. I call him Immanuel. She sings this song and sets the whole place of a lights or forestall themselves without hardly any airplay or tall becomes our number one album from nowhere, from oblivion and this girl suddenly become something of the conscience of the 60s when she finally begins to weave her way through all of the fame all of his success. All of the opportunity and she begins to grab for the stuff that she assumed would be the answer to her future.

She finally writes these words, we are the orphans in an age of no if you doubt that the cry of the 60s is epidemic in the 21st century. You are living with your eyes close and your fingers in your ears in Dallas for youngsters came to me in the end of an address that I have given one of them, all dressed up in her running charms apologizing for being late. She had run 2 miles that was fine and in the course of conversation.

He told me that that day one of their friends had carried had been arrested for carrying a semiautomatic weapon into their high school.

Why had he taken the weapon I asked.

Well, they said, because some other boys had said they were going to kill him now.

His answer was not to stay home. His answer was not to call the authorities. His answer was this day you kill me I'll kill you because who cares I was born without reason I prolong myself by chance and I die and the end is oblivion. Without a resurrected Christ that is the conclusion, it is legitimate for the child to conclude that's what got to tell and standing in a pawnshop of all places, you don't let it be known that your pastor was in a pawnshop. I went in a poncho because I don't have ever been in a pawnshop I was in Augusta and I said look at this place. I went in.

What are they doing here is our student and their there stood beside me. A mother and her son and she was buying him. She was putting the deposit down on a semiautomatic weapon so that he could have it to chatting with him in his car. Do you think they think they have a future. They do not. Why do they believe there is no future because you dad have no future either they don't like the latter you claim it's leaning against the wrong wall. They don't see anything in you that answers the deepest questions of their lives. You have never been able to address ran the issue.

Who am I why was I born is the reason for my existence and what happens when I die.

That's why they play what they play and you need to get yourself sorted forever.

You can speak to your kids.

But hey spending counter feed incentive wasting precious time and health placing value on the worthless and disregarding priceless well you can wheel and deal the best of them and steal it from the rest of them. You know the score. Their ethics are a bore and 86 proof anesthetic crutches prop you to the top where the smiles are all synthetic and the ulcers never stop. And when they take the final inventory euros will be the same sad story everywhere, no one will really care no one more lonely than this wretched, selfish man, can I have your autograph endorse your epitaph and did you see your children growing up today and did you hear the fragrance of their laughter as they ran around to play and did you smell the sweetness of those roses in your garden in the morning sunlight.

Light your eyes and brighten up your day do you qualified to be alive or is the limit of your senses. So is only to survive. Hey you better take care of business. Mr. business.

You can cite evil here neutral. You're either for Christ or you are opposed to Christ, you are neither putting your faith and trust in what Jesus said and did, or you're putting your faith and trust in what you've said.

I commend to you today are resurrected Christ. I commend to you his amazing the wonder of his sacrifice in order that we who are dead in our trespasses and in our sins, made me be made alive for ever and ever your listing to Truth for Life. The Bible teaching ministry a baluster bag. Alister will close with prayer in just a minute please keep listening now is Alister just said you're either for Christ or your opposed to him.

There's no neutral ground. If you'd like to commit to following Jesus today and to better understand God's plan of salvation. There is a short video.

We'd love to have you watch. It's called the story it's posted on our website you'll find it to be a great help. It's just a few minutes long. It's a beautifully animated feature that explains how trusting Jesus leads to eternal life, find it online@truthforlife.org/the story and then while you're on a website.

Feel free to explore all the Bible teaching available including Alister's complete library of studies in either books of the Bible or on topical issues. There are transcripts available for many messages so you can read along. It's all available for free thanks to listeners like you who give to help cover the production costs and we are so grateful to express our thanks for your financial gift today would love to send you a book written by Alister's longtime friend Sinclair Ferguson. The book is titled maturity.

Growing up and going on in the Christian life. This book was nearly 40 years in the making.

In fact, Sinclair revisited the first book he ever wrote published back in 1980 he draws on a lifetime of study. This book is an updated version of the earlier work and it contains insights that come now from a seasoned theologian, Sinclair drives deep into the Scriptures to guide us on our spiritual journey, he helps us identify dangers, overcome temptation and patiently stay the course. All the way to the end, no matter where you are in your Christian walk. Whether you've just come to faith or you been following the Lord for years you'll find remarkable riches of wisdom in this book requester copy of maturity you give online@truthful.org/donate or call 888-588-7884 if you'd prefer to mail your donation right to truthful a PO Box 39, 8000, Cleveland, OH 44139. Be sure to include a note requesting the book by Sinclair Ferguson now hears Alister to close our study with prayer father I pray that no one will go out of here misunderstanding the urgency of these affairs.

Pray that friends and neighbors who have encouraged others to join them may be able to soften up anything that seems harsh may be able to tighten up anything that seems inconclusive maybe willing to share their lives with those who are asking the kind of questions that demand careful attention and thoughtful response. Long Lord to see unbelieving men and women become the committed followers of Jesus Christ and may the grace of the Lord Jesus and the love of God, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit rest upon and remain with each one today and forever more about Lapine join us tomorrow for another message from encore 2020. Alister will be drawing insights from the life of Martin Luther, pointing us to the beautiful gift of grace that is ours in Christ Bible teaching a baluster bag is furnished by truth for like where the Learning is for Living