It's Not That Complicated (Jesus Died, Then Rose From The Dead)

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four readings prior to the Message. The readings assigned for today are: Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133:1-5; 1 John 1:1-2:2 and John 20:19-31

Early on the morning of December 7, 1941, ......two airmen ... who had just taken their post at a radar lookout station ... several miles north of Pearl Harbor, ...... saw on the radar screen ......a large mass moving in from the sea ... toward the Hawaiian Islands.

The first airman ... was immediately startled by what he saw on the screen...... and prepared to follow procedures .... and phone in a warning ...to his superiors.

He believed that ... a very large force of what could be enemy planes .... was now headed their way.

He was believed that the evidence on the radar screen .... was unmistakable.

And that something bad ... was about ... to happen.

While the second airman remained skeptical, believing that what He saw ... was an optical illusion.

Well .... the first airman did as instructed ... and phoned in ... the alarm.

The officer who took the call at Pearl Harbor .... dismissed the report ......and chose not to believe what he had just heard, ......and abruptly hung up the phone ....and went back ... to business.

That same morning, .... a Captain patrolling the waters outside the harbor .... spotted what he believed to be ......an enemy submarine.

He had been alerted for some time .... about the possibility of enemy vessels .... breaching harbor security, ...... and he too followed established procedures .... and wired in a warning ...... that the enemy ... had been sighted.

Again, .... the message was disbelieved, ......this time by a base Commander, .... suggesting that the submarine sighting ......needed quote "more confirmation" .... before any defensive action ... would be taken.

At this point we can say, .... the rest ... is history.

Many lives were unnecessarily lost, ......all because several people either refused to believe what they saw, ...... just could not believe what they heard, ....... or were not about to be moved into action until more evidence ... was forthcoming.

The 20th chapter of John's Gospel.... describes the very same responses ...... to the resurrection evidence.

There was one who believed ... without seeing.

There was one who believed ... upon hearing.

There were those who believed ... upon seeing.

And There was one ... who would not believe ... unless both touching and seeing.

In the opening lines of John's remembrances.... we read:

BIBLE "Early on the first day of the week, .... while it was still dark.... two women found the tomb that Jesus had been buried in, empty, .... and ran to tell Peter and John what they had found." END (John 20:1-2)

Peter ran to the sight and is stunned by what he sees, ...... an empty tomb ... with strips of linen ...and a burial cloth lying ... where Jesus had been placed.

Finally, ... we are told ... that the other disciple, probably the Apostle John himself, ... and we are told he "also went inside. He saw and believed." (John 20:8)

The empty tomb ... and linen cloths ... were enough for John .... to declare his belief ... in the risen Christ.

No other evidence ... was required.

There are people who are able to take a stand .... without requiring more.... than what is presented.

John, ... therefore, is one who believes without having to see .... the risen Christ. (Pause)

Second, ... there are those who believe upon hearing.

Mary ... of Magdela ... stands outside the tomb ...crying.

As she weeps .... she notices angels in white .... seated where Jesus' body .... had been.

"They have taken my Lord away," ... she laments.

And at this she turns around and there is a man standing there, ...."but she did not realize that it was Jesus," (John 20:14)

John notes.

When Jesus simply says .... "Mary," .... she knows the voice ... and replies, .... "Rabboni!" (PAUSE)

(2nd Finger) ... There are those .... who believe .... upon hearing.

Mary ... of Magdala ... had spent so much time with Jesus ... that she knew ... his voice.

The voice of Jesus ... was all ... she needed.

Beloved ... do you know his voice?

Jesus is clear ... My sheep hear my voice. (John 10:27)

It does not say they could hear my voice ... or they should hear my voice.

Jesus is crystal clear ... my sheep ... my sheep (Slow) hear my voice.

Take time ... Make time ... to be with Jesus; ... the one you call your Savior and your Lord! (Long Pause)

Malcolm Muggeridge was a staunch Marxist .... before he came to know Jesus.