David Hughes - Easter Prequel

silver and gold, silver and gold, I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold, no fame or fortune, no riches untold, I'd rather have Jesus than silver and gold, smile for me, if you're thankful for Jesus, can you smile for me, if you can smile for me, can you just smile for me, happy Easter church by the glades, say, open your eyes, lift your head high, know that your church is on the way, so fly, I'm still alive, I made it through another day, whatever I lost is not the end, there's no whatever here anymore, he'll do it again, he'll do it again, he'll do it again, let the church say amen, while we stand to our feet, church by the glades, everybody in the room, stand to your feet, you sing it out, say, melodies from heaven, rain down on me, melodies from heaven, rain down on me, it's your turn, say, hold me close, rain down on me, fill me with your passion, hold me close, rain down on me, now it's your turn, you say, rain, hey, on my cello say, rain, hey, if you hear me say, rain, hey, everybody say, rain, ladies, rain down on me, rain down on me, rain down on me, rain down on me, rain down on me, rain, What I need you to pray, pray, pray, pray, pray Melodies from heaven

Rain down on me You may be seated Church That's the problem with church these days. Church isn't supposed to be all this celebration and joy. It's time we get the hip-hop and the tick-tock out of the churches. If you leave church feeling good, then you didn't do it right. These young folks need a lesson in what church is really about. The concept of God was necessary in ancient times. Science disproved religion a century ago. Faith is nothing more than an illusion. There is no need for God. God is simply a crutch for weak-minded people. You're always so behind. Loser. You're nothing to me. Why do you try when you know when you look desperate and it's not that special? You forget how fit was bold. Maybe this future isn't for you because they feel sorry for you. You try when you know when you look desperate and it's not that special. You forget how fit was bold. Maybe this future isn't for you because they feel sorry for you. I know a Name that can silence roaring waves I know a Name that can silence roaring waves I know a Name that can silence roaring waves I know a Name that can silence roaring waves I know a Name that can silence roaring waves I know a Name that can silence roaring waves I call You Jesus I call You, I call You Healer Risen and reigning in power Something comes out of the grave Every time I call You Jesus I call You, I call You Savior

Worthy of glory forever Something comes out of the grave Every time I call Your Name I have a King With dominions over death He holds the keys In His holy nail-scarred hands He is the healer That has crushed the serpent's head I'm resurrected, great I am I call You Jesus I call You, I call You Healer Risen and reigning in power Something comes out of the grave ♪ Out of the grave ♪ ♪ Every time I call you Jesus ♪ ♪ I call you, I call you savior ♪ ♪ Worthy of glory forever ♪ ♪ Something comes out of the grave ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name ♪ ♪ Chains break, dry bones break ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name ♪ ♪ The gates of hell shake ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name ♪ ♪ Chains break, dry bones break ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name ♪ ♪ The gates of hell shake ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name, Jesus ♪ Come on, you sing.

♪ Oh, death is now your slave ♪ ♪ And where, O grave, your victory? ♪ ♪ Where, O death, is now your slave? ♪ ♪ And where, O grave, your victory? ♪ ♪ Your victory. ♪ ♪ Death is coming there, death is coming there. ♪ ♪ Death is coming there. ♪ ♪ Death is coming there. ♪ ♪ In the name of Jesus. ♪ ♪ Death is coming there. ♪ ♪ Death is coming there. ♪ ♪ Death is coming there. ♪ ♪ I call you, Jesus. ♪ ♪ I call you, I call you. ♪ ♪ I feel all your presence. ♪ ♪ I'm waiting in power. ♪ ♪ Something comes out of the grave. ♪ ♪ Something comes out of that grave. ♪ ♪ I call you, Jesus. ♪ ♪ I call you, I call you. ♪ ♪ Savior, worthy and glory forever. ♪ ♪ Something comes out of the grave. ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name. ♪ Come on, you sing it out. ♪ I call you, Jesus. ♪ ♪ I call you, I call you. ♪ ♪ Healer, risen and reigning in power. ♪ ♪ Something comes out of the grave. ♪ ♪ Every time I call you, Jesus. ♪ ♪ I call you, I call you. ♪

♪ Savior, worthy and glory forever. ♪ ♪ Something comes out of the grave. ♪ ♪ Every time I call your name. ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm living proof. ♪ ♪ Of what the mercy of God can do. ♪ ♪ If you knew me then, you'd believe me now. ♪ ♪ He turned my whole life upside down. ♪ ♪ Took the old and he made it new. ♪ ♪ That's just what the mercy of God can do. ♪ ♪ Now I'm alive to tell the story. ♪ ♪ How I've overcome. ♪ ♪ By his goodness and mercy. ♪ ♪ And the power of his blood. ♪ ♪ I'm so glad that my freedom. ♪ ♪ Wasn't based on what I've done. ♪ ♪ But his goodness and mercy. ♪ ♪ And the power of the blood. ♪ The power of my sin is blood, whoa. Was the cross made for me that my Savior carried? Oh, I've been made free by the mercy of God. Was the grave meant for me where my sin lay buried? Now I stand redeemed by the mercy of God. Was the cross made for me that my Savior carried? Oh, I've been made free by the mercy of God. Was the grave meant for me where my sin lay buried? Oh, I stand redeemed by the mercy of God. Now I'm alive to tell the story how I overcome by His goodness and mercy. And the power of His blood, I'm so glad that my freedom

wasn't made for what I've done. But His goodness and mercy and the power of the blood. It's goodness and mercy and the power of the blood. One can wash away my sin. Come on, lift it up. Sing. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. How gracious is the flow that makes me white as snow. Oh, how I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Come on, every voice. You sing, sing. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh, how I know. Nothing but the blood of Jesus. How gracious is the flow that makes me white as snow. Oh, how I know. Oh, how I know. Well, I don't always feel it. Yeah, but that's when I need it the most. So I'm going to keep on singing till my soul catches up with my song. There's times when my hands go up free and times that it costs. Oh, and there's days when the praise comes out easy and days that it takes all the strength I've got. Oh, I wrestle with the darkness. But I'm trying to reach for the light. Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest

And it breaks down the walls of my pride Cause faith isn't proving like gold Till it's been through the fire Oh, hey, hey My head, heart and hands are feeling heavy That's when I lift them just a little higher And I bring my heart, heart, heart there Been through hell, hallelujah Oh, oh, oh, oh And I bring my torn, tossed, torn self Story to tell, hallelujah Oh, oh, oh, oh Cause God, you've been patient God, you've been gracious Faithful, whatever I'm feeling, I'll face it I'll bring my heart, heart, heart there In Israel, hallelujah Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh I'll bring my heart, heart, heart there Been through hell, hallelujah Oh, oh, oh, oh And I bring my torn, tossed, torn self Story to tell, hallelujah

Oh, oh, oh, oh Cause God, you've been patient God, you've been gracious Faithful, whatever I'm feeling, I'll face it I'll bring my heart, heart, heart there In Israel, hallelujah Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh Thank you, thank you, Jesus. It was an early Sunday morning for three women, still in mourning, wondering who will roll the stone away for us as they walk towards the tomb of Jesus. But oh, when they arrive, they can't believe their eyes. They see an angel in the same spot where they saw their Savior lowered in the ground. But now their Savior's nowhere to be found, which begs the question, where's their Savior now? And the angel answered, he's alive. He is not here. He has risen today. Come into the tomb. See where his body lay.

And do you know why the stone was rolled away? Not to let Jesus out, but to give us a way in so we could bury all our sin and shame and leave our burdens in his grave. So for anyone that's holding on to faith, anyone that wants their life to change, you don't have to wait another day. Because today, the stone is rolled away. He rose out of the earth on a dark, cold day. And he lives forever in the sanctuary. He rose. He rose. Hallelujah. My heart will sing of the King who forgave me. He suffered to save me. His name, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. He's alive. Hallelujah. He's alive. Hallelujah. He's alive. ♪ Thank You Lord, thank You Jesus, thank You Lord ♪ ♪ The mighty triumph over this world ♪ ♪ Heroes rising up from the dark Lord ♪ ♪ Thank You Lord, thank You, thank You Lord ♪ ♪ Heroes, heroes, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Heroes, heroes, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ I know this day, oh please, what's my risen king?

Oh, what is up Church by the Glaze? I'll begin the talk this way. My doctor is making me do cardio now. I gotta do cardio, I like to lift weights. But Dr. Chen said, Dave, you gotta add more cardio to your workout routine, take care of the heart. And so I'm doing it because Dr. Jessica is a very good doctor, so I'm doing it. So at my gym, there's a whole row at the athletic factor of elliptical machines. There's 13 of them, and they're all at the athletic factor of elliptical machines. There's 13, I counted how many. So I'm doing cardio on the elliptical, not my favorite thing, and I pick, because there's no one in the gym, it's quiet time, mid-afternoon. So I pick one, not on the very edge, but like if you're counting like machine number four. They're not really number, I'm there doing my thing, and a new guy walks in the gym. I kinda know most of the regular. A new guy walks in, he's gonna do cardio as well, awesome. But that guy, that guy picked the machine right next to me. There's like over a half dozen machines, nobody on. He picks, there's just two of us. Heck, that guy picks the one next to me, and that guy was one of those kind of guys. That guy, when he works out, he makes lots of weird noises and grunts and sweats profusely.

That guy is right, that guy, that guy, who's his guy? That guy right in my space, right in my personal space. God, the great God of heaven, the God who made the universe with a word, the God of the Bible, is that guy kind of God. He will get all up in your personal space if you allow him. But in beautiful and wonderful and powerful ways, our God is a highly relational God. I think you saw at the start of our presentation, thousands upon thousands of names. If you're a guest, we've been praying for you. Someone told us about you. We've been praying for you by name. I think God has orchestrated the events and environments of your life. I think God got all up in your chili to get you in this room right now to encounter you in a very real way. So how do we do this? What do we talk about? Because y'all, it's Easter celebration starting right now, this service. Easter is not just the most important miracle in the Bible. The resurrection of Christ is the most important event in human history. The empty tomb of Jesus Christ. When that happened, everything for everyone ever changes. Every man, woman, boy, or girl alive today or ever lived has possibility of heaven and forgiveness and relationship with God

because of the empty tomb of Jesus. Thank you. It's the greatest miracle. But it wasn't the first time he did it. It wasn't the first empty tomb that he vacated. In fact, I wanna do something a little different. I wanna take you to kind of the story before the story. I always cover the Easter story, but there's a story not dissimilar that occurs in John chapter 11. I love John chapter 11. If I had a time machine, could go back and pick a favorite miracle in the Bible, of course, it'd be the resurrection of Christ. That would be the one. But if I had a second choice, it'd be John chapter 11. I wanna do a study. Sadly, I can't do verse by verse because the story, the miracle described in John chapter 11, it's a long one. It's 44 verses. So I gotta hit the highlights. Like I'd probably start with this. I start with one of the great verses of the Bible. It is such a cool verse. I love when Jesus says, when Jesus promised in John chapter 11, verse 25, he said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though dead yet shall he live. So my promises are for you right now.

My promises are for your Monday morning and for your marriage and for your money management. But my promises go on forever. You live with me forever in heaven. He made that promise and because he throat punched death, he can do the same for you. I love that, I love that. I love this. Don't you, that guy, that guy, don't you get annoyed when that guy spoils it for you? That guy, you know, that always spoils the movie or you've been watching your favorite streaming show for six seasons. It's not just the, it's the series finale. It's the final one. And the guy in the next cubicle goes, oh, the one when so-and-so dies? Really? That guy, that guy who spoils that, I'm gonna be the guy, that guy, I'm gonna spoil the story. Where's it land? And the latter part, what does Jesus do? Well, his friend Lazarus has died. And it says in verse 43, this is so cool. And when he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, Lazarus, come out. Read the highlighted words. The dead man, good job, came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen cloth around his face.

Jesus said, take off the grave clothes and let him go. That last part fascinates me. I find that somewhat strange. Jesus just raised his brother from the dead. He's been dead, dead, dead for the better part of a week. He's been decaying. And Jesus speaks resurrection life into Lazarus. But then when Lazarus walks out, you're probably not familiar with the death ritual of the Jews in the first century. They didn't mummify, but they didn't wrap their dead. They didn't wrap their dead in cloths like a mummy. And so when Lazarus came out of the dead, he wasn't strutting. Like he's wrapped up from the crown of his head to the tip of his toes. So he's coming out like this. He's coming out like this. And so Jesus is unwrapping. I'm thinking, Jesus, you had resurrection power. Couldn't you change his clothes? Man, how hard is that? Could you just like snap your fingers and you hear Jesus' magic? And all of a sudden he goes from grave clothes to Armani suits, Gucci sandals. He says, you unwrap him, you unwrap him. I believe God puts every detail in your Bible for a purpose and a reason. I think maybe here's a way we can apply this.

You can be a Christian person. You can be a saved person. You can be touched by God with resurrection life. You can be saved yet still not walk in freedom. You can be saved and still in bondage. You can be saved and not strutting. You're taking little steps. See, we all have what? We all have habits and patterns and cycles that hold us back, that wrap us up. I'm imagining because his sisters and his friends began to unwrap him. It probably took some time to unwrap him. He's the mummy, took some time to unwrap him. It takes some time after you're saved to unwrap some of those habits and those attitudes and that dysfunction. So we're doing a series that starts after Easter, right after Easter at both campuses, both churches. It's called Breaking Bad. It's about breaking bad habits and bad cycles. Listen, it's not always something terrible. It's not like I need to break my crack cocaine addiction. Well, if you do, yes, we'll help you break that. But it's like, why do I keep gaining and losing the same 10 pounds? Why do I almost get the credit card paid off and then something else goes wrong or I see something I wanna buy? Why do I date the same kind of guy?

It never works out. The pastor, he's good looking, has abs, but he has no job, right? Why, how can we break those cycles in our life? And some of the cycles are generational. What if you come from family dysfunction? I don't believe in generational curses, but I believe in generational dysfunction. If you come from a family where no one ever got their degree or no one ever keeps a job or marriages never stay together, how do you break that? How do we get you free? So it took some time to unwrap Lazarus. I wanna ask this, if church is not your normal thing, if you're here for Easter, thank you for being here. If you're here and this is not your, you come once or twice a year, thank you, thrilled you're here. Well, what, think about coming back. It takes some time, give me four weeks. It's a four week series, give me four weeks to unwrap and unravel some of the dysfunction bondage we have in your life. Whether you're a Christian person, non-Christian person, these principles of the Bible are so practical and transferable, it's gonna help you get free. And who does not want more freedom in their life? So come back for Breaking Bad. I'm talking about four weeks, four weeks. Why is it good habits are hard to keep

and bad habits are so hard to break? Come back, let's get ourselves fully free, amen, amen? All right, so that's the end of the story. That's the end of the story. I've covered the middle of the story, verse 25. I think it's the best verse. By the way, quickly, I have some of those metal glasses we are giving away at every single service. You say, David, is that a bribe? Absolutely, it's a bribe. Is that a gimmick? Yes, it's a gimmick, it's a giveaway. But guess what? When Lazarus was head to toe and they had to unwrap him, where do you think they started? If I'm Lazarus, Lazarus, because it says everything's covered. You started unwrapping my hands. I'm like, thank you, that's great. My feet, thank you. his face is covered he's been dead for four days I want to see I want to see I want I want a vision I want to see the sky again I want to see the face of my family I want to see my friends vision is what leads to your freedom we're gonna show you how to see your life for what it could be in Christ so it's a giveaway with a purpose here we go all right to the rest of the story I'm taking too long taking too long here we go let's back up to the beginning it says here's where it starts now a man named Lazarus was sick he was from Bethany's right outside of Jerusalem two miles the village of Mary and her sister Martha so it's a family here we go the sisters sent word to Jesus he's in some distant place the one you you're gonna find that theme of love shows up time

and time again in this toy but we got this family and Jesus loves this family loves Lazarus now stop there's all different kinds of families this is not your typical family it's not mom dad three kids golden doodle in a minivan you got three adult siblings there's no mention of spouses there's a mention of parents there's no kids it seems like there's a lot of things missing from this home but Jesus was present in this home Jesus was loved in this home Jesus was welcomed in this home Jesus was actually the centerpiece of this home we find out through the scripture this was his safe haven they built him a habitation you see the proximity of Jerusalem and Jesus would do ministry in Jerusalem he wouldn't stay there overnight why it was a dangerous place because of the political intensity he would lodge at the home of Mary Martha and Lazarus they loved him have you imagine putting not just him but all 12 disciples can you imagine you know feeding and taking care of and lodging 13 grown men they honored him financially they honored him they honored him publicly they honored him privately they honored him personally yet tragedy comes to this home centered around Jesus and Lazarus is sick and y'all it's not that he has the sniffles he is sick unto death so they send word to Jesus because Jesus loved Lazarus and Lazarus loved Jesus now the next verses are perplexing to me verse 5 shows up on your screen right now look in your Bible look on the screen when it says Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick he you would think you would think the next were me he ran he packed his bags he hurried he commandeered a camel he stayed he loved them but he stayed he stayed though he loved them he stayed though he's desperately sick y'all if you're new to the church I'm a positive person I'm optimistic to a fault my friends will tell you I love to preach the good news of the gospel there's so much good news in the Bible as I love to talk to you about the miracles of the Bible I like to talk about the answered prayers I like the testimonies of breakthroughs but there's somebody in the room and you're a little upset with God you're a bit mad with God because you asked God to step into your situation you asked God to be that guy and God was a no-show

in fact who's this sermon going to help I pray it helps everybody I mean last year I think 23,000 people came to an Easter service you guys did a great job inviting I hope God touches every individual in a personal way but the main two kinds of people I focused on as I wrote this talk was someone that you you needed God and you asked God sincerely to help you and God did not show up how and when you wanted second person is somebody's here you're not even sure you believe in God in fact you're pretty sure you don't believe in God you're not here because it's Easter you're here because you love your mom and your mom asked you to come that's wonderful and I'm thrilled you're here thank you for being here I got we had someone you don't you're not theistic at all but you believe give it up for these folks welcome you know if you don't believe in God so you're here because you love mom that's great but since you're here just go ahead and be open listen let's have a conversation but for the first person you're thinking what do I do when I ask God for help and he doesn't show up when I need him they loved him and this is a big thing they reach out to Jesus and he stays he delays he tarries for two more days why would you I'm so intrigued by that why would Jesus do this what was he doing whatever he was doing he kept doing the whatever and by the way whatever the whatever was the whatever is not intriguing enough they even made the story in fact I think about this I've had like three weeks get ready for this talk young preachers I've been thinking about the fact that you know what if John who authored the story if John the disciple was not with Jesus writing it down from Jesus point of view But what if God had placed him in the home of Mary Martha and Lazarus can you imagine recording that part of the story? during the days when Jesus stayed They're in a room and Lazarus is fading his fever is spiking The sisters are holding his weakening hands They're saying Lazarus hang in there Lazarus don't give up. I know Jesus has got the message by now and he loves you. We see him heal strangers He's coming for you. Hang in there

Jesus is a no-show What do you do when God does not show up how you this is strange Easter talk But there's somebody here's where you are God I needed you Hurry Jesus. I'm running out of time. Hurry Jesus. The divorce goes final next week. Hurry Jesus They took her to ICU and the doctor says it's critical. Hurry Jesus. They called in hospice. Hurry Jesus There's an eviction notice on the door. I Need you now God Jesus didn't show up. He didn't show up whatever he was doing. He kept doing the whatever And when he does show up when he does show up, he does show up. He shows up He misses the healing he misses the funeral. He misses the burial But God knows things we don't know The maker of the universe lives outside of time and space God has a reason Jesus knows the rest of the chapter, but Mary and Martha don't And by the way to his defense not everybody wanted to go back to Judea Judea Bethany near Jerusalem. It was a dangerous place His support was vocal his opposition was violent and so the twelve disciples he read the text they don't want to go They start going Lord. It's risky. I mean they promise to kill you if you go back there. They don't want to go So I think verse 7 Jesus I'm gonna go back and I need to touch my friend Lazarus Jesus knows he's probably already dead and then verse 11 He says this Lazarus sleeps I go to awake him verse 11 and then they respond verse 12 His disciples replied Lord if he He will get better I'm honored to have in the room He's gonna preach tomorrow at first Baptist you go here and you'll hear a way better sermon by the way pastor Judd Wilhite's in the house My friend from Vegas Judd and Laurie good to have you there Judd I have I have I like you I've read this story. It's my favorite stories hundreds of times Probably I have probably two dozen unique sermons on this great miracle. This is my favorite miracles in the Bible

It's the it's this incredible miracle right and this went away this verse Verse 12 fascinates me because it makes no sense It makes no sense, right? It Listen, you've got the flu and you sleep sleep is restorative But if you're definitely sick if you're critically sick, I found in my experience, but people before people die They go into a coma. They go to sleep then they die But put verse 12 back up if y'all can there is verse 12 disciples Lord if he sleeps he will get better You know where that came from this took a deep dive I had to look hard to find anything where this dumb idea came from that's weird because it's wrong It's not a biblical idea. It's not a Hebrew idea came from the Greeks The Greeks had a god named Asclepius Asclepius ever heard of Asclepius you probably haven't he's not a famous God. He's kind of junior varsity level He's not like Athena or Poseidon or Hades. He's the god of medicine and There was a common thought among the Greeks that if you worship this God offered up money Sacrifice to this God when you fell asleep. He give you a dream and in the dream was your remedy or your healing It's not a Jewish idea, but the disciples stay with me are not from Judea. They're from Galilee Galilee is not an urban center, but it's more diverse. It's called Galilee of the Gentiles So they mix up with people and somehow these disciples had integrated this non-biblical idea that if you fall asleep You'll get better and it came from the pagan Greeks now They we were called that mythology or silly superstition what they called it science There was the medical science of the day. I mean the Greeks were smart cookies, right? Mathematics philosophy the theater democracy all the same came the Greeks as they were scientific people This is a scientist that this God would visit you when you sleep. This was science Now if you're here and you have a scientific worldview you think I'm about to hate on science. No, I'm not. I Actually love science When I was a little bitty boy, I thought I'd be a scientist someday Then I found out probably not smart enough to be a scientist, but we have lots of scientists We have lots of people with PhDs in our churches different disciplines. I don't hate on science. I actually respect science. In fact I think you can easily reconcile the Bible and good science because they're

both truth science is evolving it is seeking truth the Bible is absolute God's Word it is truth I think truth never hates on truth so you be a person of science and reconcile that with a biblical worldview what's hard is when is bad science and one thing secular science does not do a very good job of in my just humble opinion over the years as acknowledging how much bad science has been throughout history there's things that scientists in every different generations have believed to be true and factual that we know now is it was bad science a geocentric view of the universe spontaneous generation during the time of the founding fathers right these brilliant men that wrote these incredible documents medical science was they'd put leeches on your head and they might they might bleed you yeah what David that was so long ago but science has come a long way all right do you know in the the 40s 50s even early 60s when they had cigarette commercials they would use as their advocates doctors and dentists talk about the health benefits of smoking we look back oh my gosh that is terrible that is bad science so what we believe right now is scientific dogma in a few generations might be bad science so stay with me here stay with me here for that person that you don't believe in God have no room you're not a theistic person let me see if I can have 90 seconds to me change your mind a little bit how about this so I have the great privilege I pastor not one church but two churches not one church but two churches so I pastor man this church that gives hell a really bad time for decades church by the glaze greatest church on the planet no offense Judd there was central central but and then I also pastor First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale the oldest story church in the city and we're seeing God do great things there it's a beautiful property it's large that's that's one of the many buildings that covers a city block and the building is so old it's built in stages of the decades but the oldest building was built in 1947 it's a beautiful structure right on the corner that's it now say you don't believe in God you know I understand on Broward Boulevard and we're looking at that beautiful campus and I asked you hey that building how did that building get

there who is responsible for that building you say well there was a builder there was a general contractor now I would ask you ever see him ever meeting ever beholden with your eyes he's probably dead they built in 1947 but you would know intuitively logically that a building requires a builder the universe the universe multiplied millions upon millions of times more sophisticated and complicated than a building and science would say everything came from nothing nothing produced everything the universe came from nothing nothing produced everything those science never one time observed nothing producing anything not one time but you're believing that everything came from nothing science is based on scientific observation we've never seen nothing produce anything that's why I mean the greatest minds in science who began their careers as atheists as they explored their disciplines more and more became believers in God there's no way to explain the universe with this mathematical precision without a designer they began to push back on this idea that nothing is the origin of everything when nothing has ever produced anything you see science and God they fit together but the disciples here have bad science don't don't let bad science make you miss out on a good God I got to pick it up do you understand how this story really fits this story this story of Lazarus like like again if if if the resurrection of Jesus that's the big story that's if it's Hollywood if it's holly that's the blockbuster that's the movie that makes all the noise and splash right then what does Hollywood do now if they have a movie that gets really big what do they do afterwards like 25 sequels the run by how many Fast and Furious movies have there been 3,000 writers they run all the sequels and sequels and sequels and sequels and then if they run out of storylines for sequels what they do what they do a prequel John 11 is the prequel John look we think it happens within two weeks of the resurrection of Jesus from the empty tomb of Lazarus to the empty tomb of Jesus this is the first the last major event before the triumphant before we get to the end of the story Palm Sunday.

So this happens, boom, boom. It's the prequel, it's the prequel. It's the prophetic and historic foreshadowing what Jesus is gonna do. Well, quickly, I'll move along. I'll be out of time here soon. I love what Jesus finally says. His dense disciples, they don't understand what's going on. He's talking about sleep, and they're thinking he's being literal, he's being metaphorical. And so he says, verse 14, verse 14, so he plainly told them, Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I'm glad that I was not there. This is one of the coldest things Jesus ever says. Let me break it down. This is cold right here, y'all, this is cold. Let me get rid of just some of the extra words. That's what he's saying? Jesus is saying, Lazarus is dead, and I'm glad. That'd be the worst hallmark sympathy card of all time. Dear Mary and Martha, Lazarus is dead, and I'm glad. Now, stay with me. This is not Jesus being unkind or uncaring. This is Jesus being unfazed at death itself. At death itself. Scholars and philosophers and scientists and statesmen, we have no answer for death. Death is undefeated, death is the end game. Nobody gets out of this thing alive.

We're terrified of death. Jesus here is talking smack on death. This is Jesus trash-talking death. He died, all right, no big deal, I got death, and again, I gotta pick it up, almost done. When Jesus finally gets there, finally gets there, he's late, he's missed everything. One sister shows up, verse 21. Martha says, if you'd been here, my brother would not have died, but, I like this, but I know that even now, God will give you whatever. Do you see how this is a two-sided statement? I love honest faith, I love schizophrenic faith. This is beautifully bipolar belief, right? She believes, but she blames. If you'd have been here, she believes, but she blames. She's bitter, but she believes. She's broken, but she believes. She's bewildered, but she believes. It's been brutal, but she believes. You don't have to have perfect faith. And by the way, Mary doesn't even show up. When Mary shows up, she has an attitude. She's mad. Hey, bring your attitude to church. You're mad at God for something, you show up. You've had a bad week, you show up. You got fired, you show up. He made you mad. There are more fights that happened in the entire week

and the way in the car ride to church than any other time, I swear. You show up, you show up. And then I love where it goes from there. Let's jump down to verse 33. It's such powerful language. It says in verse 33, Jesus saw her, Mary, weeping with her bad attitude. Her bad attitude, and he saw her weeping. He was deeply moved. Wish I had time to unpack this. It's one of the strongest verbs. He's so impassioned. He's angry. He's not angry at Mary. He's not angry at Martha. He's angry at death. He knows in a half dozen verses, he's gonna save the day. In fact, he's so angry. It continues, verse 34. Where have you laid him? He asked. Come and see, Lord, they replied. And then the smallest verse in the Bible, verse 35. Loudly, Jesus. What? Judd, I've been trying to understand that my whole life. Because this is God. This is the unlimited, all-powerful maker of the universe. Jesus is fully God.

He's not part-time God, somewhat God. He's all the way God. In Colossians chapter one, it says that Jesus made all things, seen and unseen, not to subdivide the Trinitarian God, but it wasn't God the Father or God the Spirit who made the universe. It was Jesus. Powerful. Now, the ancients had other powerful gods in their mythology. You know, Ra was powerful, the Egyptians. And of course, Zeus was powerful, the Greek god. And Odin was powerful. But they were all unkind, uncaring. They were mean, capricious. But our God weeps when people weep. He cries. And it's not like a little tiny, like. It's an ugly cry. And he knows he's about to raise Lazarus. If you hurt, you don't hurt alone. He hurts, he weeps, he cares. That verb deeply moved. He's angry. It's a rebuke. He shows up four of the times. Every time, it's a rebuke. It's a rebuke. Like, don't you dare. Cut that out. He's saying to death, how dare you? How dare you take my friend? How dare you break their hearts? I'm the Lord of life and death. Again, I know it's not Easter. Easter's the blockbuster. It's the prequel, but the prequel's pretty good. But my favorite fact, and I studied harder on

this sermon than anything I think in years. I went upon everything. I left more stuff on my kitchen table I couldn't bring, because I preached like a four-hour sermon. I studied all these great scholars and preachers and dead guys who wrote books, but the best thing I think I got was from my 10th grader, who said, how cool, Dad. How cool, Zane said. How cool, the guy that Jesus raised from the dead, this big miracle, is named Lazarus. Lazarus, or Lazar-us, because the Bible says, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised from the dead, you will be saved. We're the sequel. We're the sequel. Jesus didn't just love Mary and Martha and Lazarus. He loves us. And the Bible, again, this is history. It is science. It's mainly a love story. How many times does this show up? Read the whole chapter that Jesus loved them, and they loved Jesus. In spite of the love, He stayed. And why did He stay? And I don't know, but He shows up. He saves the day. But here the King of the universe weeps, because He loved them in the prequel. Then He beat death in the blockbuster. But we can be the sequel today. You can come to a prayer party, and when I shut up in just about 90 seconds, and give yourself by faith on Easter weekend to Jesus. It's a love story. I love that you say, see how much He loved him. See how much He loves us. Jesus left the glory of heaven to come to earth. See how much He loves us. He went from being the maker of the universe to being a helpless baby. See how much He loves us. He lived a normal life for 30 years, having to obey His parents, learn His skill, get sick, get hurt, be mistreated. See how much He loves us. He was born into a poor family with no influence whatsoever. See how much He loves us. He spent three years teaching and healing people. And while some people believed and followed, others sought to trap and destroy Him. See how much He loves us. He poured into 12 disciples, day and night, teaching them and training them so they could carry His message into the world. But they constantly argued, they bickered, jockeying for position, and they even denied and abandoned Him when He needed them most. See how much He loves us. And even though He never sinned, and only came to do God's will, He was betrayed, falsely accused, unjustly arrested, cruelly beaten, maliciously mocked, and sentenced to die a cruel and

painful death. See how much He loves us. He hung on a cross, giving His life for your sin. He refused to lash out. He refused to come down. He refused to fight back. Even though with one word, an angel army would have come to His defense. See how much He loves us. He cries out, why have you forsaken me? Have responded. It's either you for three days, or them for eternity. And He chose to stay. See how much He loves us. For three days, the baker, giver, and source of life tasted death. He was cut off from God, so He could be cut into love with the Father. See how much He loves us. And then on the third day, on Easter Sunday morning, He defeated death, once and for all. He arose again. He's reigning forever now, at the right hand of God, unmatched in glory, undefeated in victory. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart, you may be saved. See how much He loves us. I don't care what part of the gospel, the prequel, or the blockbuster, or the sequel. It's a love story God wants to write with you. So I'm gonna pray right now, and the prayer partners will take their place. If you want not a religion, but a relationship, a romance with God, come find one now. If you don't know for certain and sure that you are a saved person. I'm not talking about joining our church, or a denomination. Who cares? I want you to... Join the family of God. See how much he died on that cross for you. See how much he suffered for you. See how much he shouldered the sin of the world for you and me. Father God, we thank you for the Easter message. Everything after Easter, everything before Easter, you're in all of it, God. Thank you, Jesus, for how much you loved us. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.