Finding Yourself In The Resurrection Story

Brad:
Welcome everyone to Go Mad with Doug and Brad and Jesse. Good to have you with us. And the three of us are back together. It's been uh Uh, you know, we we had this special interview with Dr. Mitch Glazer. Dad was on the last episode because Doug refused to let me know he changed the locks on me to the studio.

Doug:
May I quote Kermit the Frog? Yes Together again. Hey, it's great to be a good thing. Do I sound like Herman?

Brad:
Well, you sound like something. You you sound kind of like someone trying to imitate Yoda. I don't do this for a living.

No? I do love that you went with the voice though. Thank you.

Doug:
Oh my goodness, I can hear myself in the headphones.

Brad:
That's not good. Today is uh really kind of a cool episode, I think. We haven't done this yet, so I can't say for sure.

But um Doug and Jesse and I are each going to share just a little bit of one person that we see from the life of Jesus, from especially around the. Easter story, the resurrection. Um, because well, Easter's coming.

If you're listening to this right after Easter, don't turn it off because all of this is very practical, just everyday takeaway. August 4th yeah.

Doug:
And you're gonna get the same out of it that you're gonna be.

Brad:
We're gonna see a ton of downloads on August 4th. People are doing a calendar reminder right now. You know, it's actually I like talking about these characters just in a very uh just practical way because I I don't know about you guys, but I've been to different churches on Easter.

'Cause Doug, you remember when we were growing up, sometimes we would Uh people would say, hey, you could use our house over Easter. So we'd be at the Jersey Shore or something, and we'd be at these different churches. And it just seems like sometimes not But this is not knocking pastors because there's a lot of pastors that just hey they they're like, I know what I'm teaching on Easter.

It's Jesus. Yeah. But I think there's this feeling and and even you and me uh had this I think sometimes out on the Hopi Reservation when we were like, hey, what do we teach the youth this year on Easter?

And it's we've got to get creative. We how do we tell the story

Doug:
It's pretty crazy what what churches are doing. Really? Have you Oh, oh, I was just checking.

We were talking about this the other day. I was just checking it out. Um there is there were a lot of examples to how do we get as many people as we can.

And and uh one of the exam examples of many was a guy they called the Plexiglass Pastor. This guy sat behind plexiglass on the roof of their church for three days until They had a certain amount, the biggest amount that they wanted to commit to coming to the church. Is this real?

This is real. This is the real thing. People are I've not heard of that.

It it there's more like, you know there's so much craziness to be. Did that many show up? I I don't know.

I think it actually did. It's like there's a guy who's like, I I've got it, Pastor Steve. What if we have a guy?

In an Easter bunny suit, jump a motorcycle over like nine thousand colored eggs. That'll get 'em in. And it's really but it's smoked

Brad:
Because you see some of the flyers I've seen even for for some of the Easter happenings, it's like we I I I do get trying to one of the edges will have nine thousand dollars in it. I kept trying to get people into the church because you want them to hear the story. But I could tell you in this episode, I'm not expecting that there are any hot takes. We're not uh there the the Easter story and these people we're talking about are Really just they're real life individuals. And the one I'm going to share, can I just dive in?

Doug:
Yeah, just do I I want to say that I think that as you're listening to this you might find yourself in the Easter story. We would encourage you to go back, read the resurrection story, see see if you find yourself because this was a very interesting exercise. Brad about a week ago was like, Hey, go and see if you can find you in one of the characters in the Easter story. So join us as we do it and uh maybe try it for yourself.

Brad:
That's really good. That really good encouragement. Um I'm gonna dive in.

Mary. Mary not that we can't not say it that way because of Jimmy Stewart every time I hear the name Mary Magdalene, now I'm gonna stick to what we know from the Bible because there's a lot of well-reasoned thoughts about her life, who she was, maybe what she did before Jesus, but What we know from the Bible is Jesus cast seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. Very good reason to be thankful and praise the Lord for sure.

Um she remained with him at the foot of the cross, one of the few that was there. And she was the first to see the resurrected Jesus. And I'm gonna read a few verses from John 20 here, because it says early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

She came running along with Peter and John. You skip down to verse 11. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying because Jesus wasn't there.

As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white seated where Jesus' body had been. They asked her, woman, why are you crying? It seems like uh they I I there's a reason for all the questions, but because she's probably like, well, Jesus is gone.

They have taken my Lord away, she said, and I don't know where they have put him. At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn't realize it was him. He asked her, Woman, why are you crying?

Who is it you are looking for? Thinking he was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him. Jesus said to her, Mary.

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, Raboni, which means teacher. I love every time, seriously, b this is better than any Hollywood ending someone could come up with I picture this in my head. It hits me every time I read it.

It it really does. And I love how Spurgeon puts this. Jesus can preach a perfect sermon in one word.

That's good. Mary, the tone, the what she must have heard in that moment, and she immediately knew it was him. But he goes on to say, do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.

Go instead to my brothers and tell them. So Mary went to the disciples with the news, I have seen the Lord. Here's what I see in these verses.

Really straightforward. I see someone who had found their real identity in Christ. Uh David Guzick, a Bible commentator, says, Jesus didn't reveal himself to Mary by telling her who he was, but by telling her who she was to him.

He says Mary. He doesn't start with It's me. It is Mary.

And When each of us finds who Jesus says we are rather than what the world says we are, it changes everything. And early on in this episode, what we want to do is just let you know that whatever the world has said about you, whatever people who know you have said about you, if you've never Found who Jesus says you are. If you've never experienced a true relationship with Jesus, this Jesus who died on the cross, and yes, as we see here with Mary, Rose again.

The the proof here that's throughout scripture and throughout history and throughout archaeological evidence, Jesus is alive And he did that for you to free you from your sin. Today can be the day where, yes, you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and say, Jesus. I'm sorry for running my life my way.

Please, Jesus, come into my heart. I know you died for me. I know you died for my sin.

Please forgive me and help me live for you. If you will do that even right this moment, pause this program, talk to him. You can have that forever relationship with Jesus.

Mary Magdalene found who she was in Jesus and you can too. And when you do that, you get to experience what Mary experienced here, that even when your eyes fail you, even when your your everything around you looks wrong. When you listen to Jesus' voice, he will guide you.

Mary was seeing all of this devastation of Jesus has died and his body is gone and she hears his voice. If you know Jesus, listen to his voice, learn his voice more and more by spending time with him. And then in verse 17, the other thing that I saw here is go and tell.

He says, Mary, go and tell. Those orders remain unchanged today. That's right.

We have the best news. Ever this Easter season and beyond, go and tell your neighbors, your friends, your co-workers. Because you don't know how much time we have left.

Jesus said, go and tell the good news. I am alive, and he wants us to do the same. So that's what I see in Mary Magdalene.

I love Reading about her in this story, and I love the way it challenges me to be more passionate about the good news

Doug:
That's awesome. Yeah, I mean th this world, whether i i it's a family member that's got an issue with you or or something on social media or whatever. There's so many voices that are are criticizing and telling us and I think there are believers that even even uh that love Jesus but have never really found their identity in him. Um, like you were talking about, Brad, and and yeah, take a moment to realize how loved you are, that you're his masterpiece. Um

Brad:
And they will say we have this leadership center where which one of the key things we teach is identity in Christ. And when you see the lights go on, and because when you realize who you are in Christ It impacts everything you do, the way you see yourself and the world around you.

Doug:
All your decisions. Um I uh so I'm think I I didn't have to think very much

Brad:
Yeah, what's funny?

Doug:
You actually texted me back pretty quick.

Brad:
You're like, I've got someone, but it's not why you think. I know exactly who I am, and it and it's Thomas

Doug:
Um but yeah, not exact not uh you know everyone thinks of him as doubting Thomas. This poor guy, okay. Two thousand years later, and he's still doubting Thomas, ouch Uh yeah, he was kind of the eternal pessimist every time we see him.

Uh he's uh he's uh kind of being the Eeyore of the disciples. Uh finds the gray cloud and all the silver linings. He gets a bad rap, but the word shows a a courageous and intensely loyal disciple.

That's not why I'm saying I'm Thomas Uh but like before the those upper romantics, there was this with Thomas in John 11. Uh Jesus is going back to Juja Judea. Just just to give a a little bit of context here to tell you why I'm Thomas, I feel like, in the story.

Easter story. He's going back to Judea. A dangerous spot for him.

He was almost killed. I think a peop a lot of people forget this. They know about the upper room and uh and and uh which is where a lot of people think that they were hiding um w after Jesus uh crucifixion Uh everyone knows about the upper room with until I see the the the uh the holes in your hands and put my finger in them and and my hand in your side, which is by the way a pretty rude request.

If you think about it, that's a lot of patience from Jesus. But Thomas says, hey, let us go. We will die with him too.

That's a little I mean it's kind of pessimistic or we're gonna die, but his words I think they really show love and devotion and courage. Um after he says it's following his lead, the rest of the disciples follow the Bethany. So can I get Instead of a doubting Thomas just once here, a daring Thomas.

Come on, how do you want to go out? Daring Thomas. There we go.

I hear nothing from Jesse. Okay, I'll move on. Daring Thomas.

Thank you. I like that. Look, he had plenty of times in his life that gave Jesus opportunity, shall we say, to be incredibly patient and gracious with him.

And boy is that my story. I am so Thomas. Um, this reminds me of me right here at the Last Supper in John 14.

Uh since Jesus has already told them he would be returning to the Father, he has made this clear. That's what's happening. I'm gonna die, I'm gonna return to the Father, uh, resurrect, return to the Father.

He says to the disciples, You know the place where I'm going. Just making that that assumption. After all this time together, Jesus expects they get it.

Thomas says to him, Lord, uh we don't know where you're going. Uh I'm pretty sure in that voice. So uh how can we know the way?

You can almost hear the Lord going, Really? Really? But no responds uh in uh patience with patience and love.

And again, that's not just Thomas, that's me. My spiritual history. Brad can vet uh can vet uh for me here.

Is uh pulling up the rear, say, and getting serious about the Lord much slower than even the rest of my family, my siblings. I love whole day men's. It you know, it took it even took something drastic, our son's deadly heart condition journey to recognize the incredible love and and importance of the body of Christ. I'm in my twenties before I get this.

I've been a believer for 10 years and I still hadn't gotten. I'm just kind of behind the curve a lot of times Uh it's what makes me so grateful for Jesus who shows me the same mercy and patience like he had with Thomas. So the next time we see him, it's in that famous scene where he says, unless I see the imprints in his hands, put my finger into them.

and my hand in his side I won't believe. Now remember, this is Thomas who has seen Jesus raise people from the dead, turn a wedding full of water into wine, who has commanded the w Jesus has seen Uh has seen Jesus command the weather, heal disease after disease, and yet he doubts Jesus even when he says, It's really me. I'm here in the flesh.

At this point, Jesus would have had every right to finally be like, you know, Thomas, that's it. I'm sick and tired of you not getting it. We've all had to deal with your negativity for years.

Now here I am right in front of you in the flesh, and you're still going to be like this. Maybe you just weren't cut out for discipleitude. But no, and I'll I'll wrap up with this here, but Uh, like he has so many times with me, Jesus meets Thomas at the point of his weakness in doubt.

Gently, lovingly, compassionately, he allows Thomas's kind of rude request Um and says, Go ahead. If this is what it takes, go ahead. Feel the wounds.

Look closely. I mean wow, this is the ultimate picture of our patient slow to anger savior, the one I have needed so many times. Um, he truly is, as King David said in Psalm 86, a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love.

And faithfulness. And like with Thomas, the Lord has given me many chances to praise him for his mercy and his patience with me. That's my story.

That's Thomas's story, and we're sticking with it.

Brad:
Man, I don't have much to add, only to say Yeah, 'cause that as you're sharing that, I I didn't know what all you're gonna share and it just really hits me, yes, that's me. So many times the you you look throughout the word of God. You look in the Old Testament with the Israelites who are like, we're free.

Now let's get into slavery again. Let's keep, you know, it's all these different things that You look at the the pattern that we see in the Bible of whether it's doubting or just forgetting who Jesus is and everything, and then I'm like, oh yeah. And I look in the mirror and it's like, yeah, that's you.

Um and And so that's just a great reminder of uh Jesus' patience with us and that yet he still is there and that we can trust him and we should believe because of who he is. And that he still gives us that proof. He still says, I am here for you and my track record is flawless.

Low to anger, thank the Lord. So Jesse, we've got uh we've shared about Mary Magdalene, we've shared about Thomas. Who who do you connect with?

Who you got? Who you got? Who you got?

Speaker 3
So one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible is John 21. Uh because a few reasons. One is if you took John twenty one out of the Bible, you would never know it's missing.

Because John twenty ends the book really nicely. And it's this epilogue that almost feels like it's been tacked on at the end. And because of that, it's almost as if John said I need I I have to like after the whole book is written, I have to say this.

And really the main point of the chapter is the restoration of Peter. Um If we didn't have the information, we'd go, oh, I I guess Peter just got along fine after that somehow. And and John gives us this insight into how Peter was restored.

not only to uh his leadership, but as a person, as a as a follower of Jesus. Um Jesus appears on the Sea of Galilee to his disciples as they're fishing. And this is after Peter has denied Jesus three times on the night of his betrayal when Jesus needed him the most.

Um how embarrassing as the leader of the disciples. Um Peter was called by Jesus. You are the, you know, you're the rock.

And you're the guy who crumbles under pressure. Uh w when it when the stakes are really high, when when it's really needed the most, uh you you completely failed. How embarrassing for the leader of the church.

How how crushing. And Peter doesn't, the Bible says he goes out and he weeps bitterly. He he do this is not a small thing to him.

He is crushed by his own sin, his own betrayal of Jesus. And Jesus visits him, Jesus visits him and his disciples on the Sea of Galilee as they're fishing. and he invites them to shore and he builds a charcoal fire, which was also present at the time of of Peter's betrayal of Jesus that night.

He was around a charcoal fire. And here it Jesus is almost recreating the scene. And instead of shaming him, and instead of bringing him down, and instead of pointing the finger and saying, I told you so.

I told you you would you would fail me and you and you didn't believe me. Um Just as Peter denied him three times, Jesus restores him three times and restores him patiently. deeply.

Um Jesus gets to the very heart. He doesn't beat around the bush. And he commissions him.

He doesn't say, okay, I forgive you, but you're benched. It's uh I fully forgive you, and I and the the plan I had for you has not changed. Um that is that is shocking.

That that is um if Jesus is really like that to make a post-resurrection appearance to the disciple who failed him the most to specifically and in a heartfelt way restore him. What must this Jesus be like for me? Uh so uh I mean obviously we can probably all think of times in our lives when we have greatly failed Jesus and he has He himself, while we were down, has come over and picked us up and dusted us off and kept us going while holding our hand.

Um But uh You know, we we get a window into what Peter's like in this chapter, but I think even more importantly, we get a window into uh the heart of God and the heart of Jesus Christ. for his stumbling sinning saints.

Doug:
I like that. His stumbling sinning saints. That's a good phrase right there.

Brad:
That's all of us. Man, it's good. As you're sharing that, Jesse, um it it is so powerful and so personal.

um to each one of us. I I I am very grateful that John included chapter twenty-one. I find myself just thinking even the boldness as you were sharing that my mind's going down a couple roads as far as the the courage of Peter to even be around the other disciples.

The fact that he was there with them when Jesus shows up on the shore It kind of speaks to the brotherhood and that they still were able to be around each other. That's interesting. I haven't thought about that much before, but I also am wondering If John was sitting there saying, and where were the rest of you at the foot of the cross?

I mean, I'm sure not, but but the the interaction of those disciples, it shows that They weren't calling each other out so much, most likely in that setting, as realizing they needed to be together. And because of that, Peter was there, able to be there for not just Jesus to restore him, but The other brothers in Christ to see him restore Peter. Oh, there's just so much in that scene.

Doug:
You know, as we uh as we wrap this episode, I we uh we just have one thing in common with uh each of these uh stories that we've put ourselves into here and that is the absolute awesomeness and goodness of our savior who uh we celebrate his resurrection. Um he is still a patient and loving and compassionate. uh savior and like Brad mentioned earlier if you have never celebrated the resurrection um especially celebrated it knowing it He Jesus came back to life so you can have new spiritual life when you believe what was on the cross, what was done on the cross was for you. Um, we pray that you'll do that today.

Brad:
Maybe he's calling your name today. Maybe he's calling your name your name.

Doug:
And hey, go see if you find yourself Yeah, it's kind of a it was a cool exercise. Go and see who you are in the Easter story. But until then, until next time, we would like to say go mad.