It Can't End Like This... | Savage Jesus | Pastor Steven Furtick

[Applause] mark chapter 16 verse 1 when the Sabbath was passed Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome brought spices so that they might go and anoint him very early on the first day of the week when the Sun had risen they went to the tomb and they were saying to one another who will roll the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb who's gonna do it and looking up they saw that the stone had been rolled back it was very large and entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side dressed in a white robe and they were alarmed and he said to them don't freak out you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified he has risen he is not here see the place where they laid him but go tell his disciples in other words you can look but don't stay long because he is not here in this dead place he is not here he is risen so go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee and there you will see him just as he told you and they went out and fled from I wonder what you're running from today because sometimes when life disappoints our expectations we find ourselves hiding from the very places that we came to looking for God they fled from the tomb for trembling and astonishment had seized them and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid and on that note Mark's Gospel ends it's an anti climactic ending it's not how we would expect it to end but that's how it ends and there is an announcement for this Easter that I want to give to you in fact I want you to give it to your neighbor so pick one look them in the eyes and give them my sermon title for Easter 2018 tell them neighbor it can't end like this look at your other neighbor the one you were secretly hoping you'd get to talk to tell em it can't end like this father anoint your word and open our hearts to hear it in Jesus name Amen you may be seated I'm certainly no parenting expert but from what I can tell a large percentage of successful parenting revolves around timing and understanding when your kids are ready for certain things certain forms of discipline certain conversations the other day it became apparent to me that my oldest son Elijah was ready to watch the movie Rudy for the first time how many have never seen the movie Rudy we want to give an altar call right now that your soul might be spared from the flames of hell you are in danger I was saving Rudy for him for the moment that I thought he could he could fully appreciate the beauty of the story of trial of Dan Rudy Ruettiger it's based on a true story what does that mean absolutely nothing but the Hollywood version is great because this kid who wanted to play for Notre Dame hands up again if you've never seen the movie I should cancel this sermon and just show the I feel so bad for you it's a beautiful movie especially the ending it's the last five minutes that's gonna get you I'm just warning you don't watch it around anybody that you don't want to seem soft in front of because the last fun if you have a soul the last five minutes after Rudy has applied and reapplied to Notre Dame and sacrificed everything in the face of people who said he could never do it it's just the end the movies kind of slow but if you can make it to the end and I wanted Elijah to see Rudy because he's playing football and he's starting to understand that his genetics aren't necessarily on his side putting some things together so I say you're ready for Rudy and we watched Rudy now my wife denied if you're new to the church I share luck from our personal life maybe too much sometimes we don't fight a lot we don't fight that much over money we have fought over money but we don't fight much over money there was that one time with the yeah but but usually she tells me she got it on sale and I go with it and that's kept our our marriage happy so we don't fight over money and I have more shoes in my closet than she does let's be honest so we don't fight over money but we don't fight over parenting one thing we do fight over though we sometimes fight over movies because we like different kinds of endings she likes the ending where they end up together on a beach I like the movie where everybody's dead in the end I don't know what that says about me but no but before you think she's the the angel my wife this is one time I only questioned whether I should have married her one time it was too late by this point for me to reevaluate but it was the first time we watched Rudy together and you know Rudy wants to play for Notre Dame and they start him in the last game and Rudy runs out of the tunnel and it's such a beautiful moment and the first time we watched Rudy together of course I've seen it multiple times by this point with tears in my eyes because I have a heart I looked over at Holly to find her rolling her eyes and she said quote that's the stupidest story I've ever seen if you're clapping right now we got security I will take you out of the church there's a lot of people once you see now she said to me Rudy was the story of triumph of the human spirit to her it was a story of a kid who lacked self-awareness somebody needed to tell him and he needed to believe you or not you're not a football player Rudy you need to practice piano Rudy Holly's ideal ending of Rudy would be him playing the piano because he was better at that all along and gave up on his dreams because she is a soul crusher [Applause] sighs looking over at Elijah you know the last five minutes of Rudy and I wanted to see I didn't want him to see that I was looking at him because I was hoping he had a soul hope and he took after me and he looks at me and goes you know it would be awesome Rudy's running out on the field he's about to get carried off on the shoulders after he goes in for one play and allowed to say if they did a different ending for Rudy where he goes in the game and screws up and ruins the whole season for the whole team I said go sit with your mom but uh a different ending a different ending I know you thought I forgot about mark 16 I didn't we've been in a series called savage Jesus in our church don't be shocked don't be frightened when we say savage we certainly don't have in mind the dictionary definition of savage in reference to the Son of God we just mean that he did whatever it took whether it's slipping tables in a temple or as you heard in that beautiful Easter open are spitting in blind eyes to get them open whatever he had to do even if he had to make a mess he always got the message across and so this study from Mark's Gospel has brought us all the way to chapter 16 last week we were in Chapter two I had to skip to the end for this occasion called Easter and it's kind of shocking it's kind of an alternate ending it's kind of what Elijah always wanted from Rudy because we don't see Jesus at all we don't see the appearance of the risen Christ we see that in Matthew's Gospel we see that in Luke's Gospel because there are four different gospel accounts it's the same story but just told four different ways from four different perspectives for four different audiences with four different major themes but one main character and when Mark gets ready to end his gospel there is no appearance of Jesus there is only an announcement now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen faith comes by hearing hearing the Word of God we walk by faith and not by sight and so Mark's Gospel ends in a most unsatisfactory manner if you're reading along in your own copy of the Bible you may see verse 9 10 11 and 12 but those were put there much later by 2nd century scribes the oldest manuscripts of the Greek New Testament after they had been transcribed for centuries took on some editions it was almost as if the ending and they went out and fled from the tomb trembling an astonishment had seized them and they said nothing to anyone for they were afraid whoever was copying it thought well it can't end like this come on we got to get Rudy out of the tunnel and we got to get Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene and we got to get the Emmaus Road that Luke writes about and we got to talk about how he appeared to the eleven and they didn't believe at first and we got to get the part where he told him they would have authority over demons and and we got to get verse 20 and they went out and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs that is the that is the Rudie resurrection with the eleven disciples carrying Jesus off on their shoulders to the mountain Galilee where he proclaimed and professed his authority but it ends in the original manuscript on a note of uncertainty it ends right there right there there there there there's a tendency for us sometimes to want to make faith something that it's not I wonder can I preach to you today like we're real people it may be that people outside of the faith sometimes get the wrong idea about the nature of faith and they think that faith is chiefly a matter of imagination so people who have faith have really good ability to suspend their disbelief and think about this world that doesn't really exist but faith for me is not a matter of imagination it's a matter of interpretation what I mean by that is for me faith is not a denial of reality but it is a deeper reality than the reality that I see that governs the way that I live this is the essence of faith in Mark's Gospel it is always a demonstration it is not always visible but just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't real and isn't it powerful and profound that the greatest demonstration of God's power came in the moment when Jesus wasn't there the greatest demonstration of God's power was his absence in the place where the women looked for him touch the person next to you and say it can't end like this it can't end like this and sometimes our faith leaves us at a place of frustration the atmosphere of this text in mark chapter 16 is an atmosphere of frustration specifically for these women and then I wanted to call this message hidden figures but I figured only one movie reference per Easter sermon and so I had remarkable restraint not to call the sermon hidden figures about Mary Magdalene and and Mary and and Salome looking for a baby named consider Salome they bought spices now remember Peter in the garden drew a sword because he had strength as long as he was in control of the outcome but if you look on Sunday morning Jesus has been dead now for three days according to the Jewish way of counting days and these women they didn't draw swords in the garden they had a different kind of strength these spice girls watch out had the kind of quiet strength that would enable them even in the midst of disappointment to still go to the place where their dream died and do the best they could with what they had notice who is missing in the text it's not only Jesus who's missing in the text he was expected to be in the grave and he wasn't there but where is Peter where is Peter waving his sword and talking so loud have you ever noticed how sometimes the loudest people aren't the most loyal I noticed it at a Panthers game there was a lady in front of me she was so loud she was gone in the third quarter - because sometimes the people who are the loudest are not the most loyal that's a dating seminar it is Easter I'm giving you bonus material where's Vader this is what the women are trying to figure out because the men who should have been with them to help them move the stone away remember it's much easier to roll the stone that is at the mouth of this cave which we call a tomb but it's more like a cave and mark points out a detail he says it was a very heavy stone so we can't do this by ourselves and upon realizing that we've got the spices watch this but we don't have the strength to roll the stone away I think it's an indictment on the men I think it is an indictment on the eleven disciples I thought there were 12 Judas is dead it's this aura it's already a different thing for him he's already gone he couldn't hang on he couldn't face himself after it and and Peter well well Peter who's gonna preach in 50 days on the day of Pentecost it is so disappointed that he can't but potentially show his face or maybe he doesn't want to venture out into the darkness and risk greater disappointment I found out that the greater the faith the deeper the disappointment when you really believe in something and this is why some of you don't expect much out of life anymore it is your defense mechanism against disappointment because if you don't venture out you don't have to be vulnerable hope hope is very vulnerable faith is very fragile it puts you in a place where you're actually expecting something and as Peter stood there considering the cost of discipleship in the shadow of the cross it shot through his central nervous system that this was the end and he's not with the women neither is James neither is John for that matter or Bartholomew there were plenty of people who could have been with them but they weren't and so now the women they got their spices they're not talking much it's not a happy processional but they're on their way and on their way they realize hey wait a minute when we get there we can't do what we need to do to do what we came to do because we we have spices but we're not strong enough have you ever felt like there was something in your way now it could be depression it could be addiction it could be genetics it could be your history it could be your mental your mental conditioning have you ever felt like there was something in your way that no matter how great or how high your faith would rise or become there was something in your way some stone in your way I love what the Bible says because the women are walking and they're worried well you can't do it well you can't do it either well Mary you should have well don't tell me what I should have done Salome I'm not the one whose mom named her after deli meat you should have done it you should have thought where's Peter but instead of resenting who wasn't with them they asked the question who will roll the stone away I got good gospel news this Easter God is already working out what you're worried about God already has her a miracle in motion if you will take a step in faith the Bible says when they got there not only was the stone gone but there was a young man most theologians believe because of the synoptic gospel accounts that confirm the report that this was an angel who had not only rolled the stone away but sat down on it now the reason he sat down is not because he was tired this angel did CrossFit and had excellent cardiovascular conditioning no this angel came down rolled the stone and sat down because in Jewish custom when a teacher got ready to teach they sat in a seat of authority so the message is this what you thought you couldn't get through I'm already over what you thought you couldn't do has already been done and all power are there any Easter people in this section and authority belongs to Jesus and I believe stones still roll I believe God is working on what you're worried about why would you stay up late crying about see we don't understand a lot of times what's happening as we're walking what's happening as we're walking Matthew gives us a detail that mark omitted because he said that at some point while these women between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. in the darkness of despair doubt and disappointment this is the atmosphere of the text and in their great frustration because of their lack of strength and ability while they were walking God was working while they were walking God was working watch the second verse of the last chapter of Matthew it's a it's a different ending it's a little bit of a different detail that that we don't get in Mark's Gospel it says that behold there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat down on it the angel was already on the way while the women were walking to the tomb I dare you to look at somebody and say your angel is already on the way so don't stress out about it and don't you dare turn around and go back home because while you're worrying God is working got us some of his best work in the dark and just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not in progress get in like this you think God would let these women get all the way to the tomb and let a stone stand in their way God says when you do what you can do I will do what you cannot do I'll help you race those kids I'll help you stay married to that man I'll help you make it through another week I'll help you have this all the way that's easy it can end in frustration like in in in my frustration and it can end in failure either it can end in frustration they can't end in failure Rudy can't lose touch somebody say it can't end like this see when you know the director you have a pretty good sense of how the film is going to end god I wish somebody came to help me preach and not just look at me today when you know who made the movie when you know how it ends when Jesus sat down with Peter he said you're going to fail you're gonna deny me not once not twice but check out this King James English thrice by the time the rooster crows but don't worry about it Peter I've got a job for you to do on the other side of failure when the angel said I I'm gonna meet you in Galilee it was more than a geographical arrangement it was a statement of mission for many of you remember that Galilee was the place where Jesus did most of his miracles it was the place where he first called Peter it was the Sea of Galilee where Peter took Jesus all around to preach and heal and deliver so when the angel said your story can't in here turn around and go tell the disciples that I will meet them in Galilee he was saying in effect this can't end in a grave because there's something more that I want to do meet me in Galilee now that's good news all on its own you know that God is not through with you for you to know that if the devil could have killed you he would have by now for you to know that the testimony of your purpose is that very fact of your survival the fact that you're still here well that's a reason to celebrate I think this is my favorite Easter message I've ever studied because of two words go tell his disciples for seven please and Peter that hit me hard that the one who disappointed Jesus the most deeply was the one he singled out by name for redemption and it gives me this hope that maybe my name can go there too [Applause] I'm going back to Galilee because I don't believe this story ends at a gray they can't end like this go tell Peter to start practicing practice and what practicing his preaching tell him to get all of his fishing out of the system because I need him in 50 days I need him on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit comes I want the one who failed the greatest to be the trophy of my triumph and transformation and there is someone here who is standing over a grave of your own failure today not realizing that resurrection is an expectation that allows you to experience life not through the lens of your failure but through the lens of grace and that's a really beautiful truth for Peter but until it is personal for you you will stay stuck in what God has called you out of it can't end I know it can't end like this I know that my story can't end in failure because God has already promised me his grace for every failure that I would face in this life and Peter and Peter make sure you make sure PS tell Peter I want to put that in an Easter message one year PS tell Peter tell the one that snuck into church that really doesn't even want to be here I'll meet you in Galilee failure is not the end it's the hinge it's the hinge on which the doors of God's grace swing wide open for you to experience his forgiveness at a greater level don't you see it Peter he called you by name and the women responded in a surprising way you know I never could get over this I understand why they were so disappointed when he died but I never got why they were so surprised he told them this three times I'm going to die you're gonna mock me they're gonna scourge me they're gonna spit on me but after three days dot-dot-dot I view resurrection a little differently now I used to think resurrection was God's exclamation point you know it is finished He is risen but now I see it more like three dots now I see Easter as the ellipses of heaven now I see Easter those three days as three dots to see whether or not your story is going to end here in your fear because the final note of mark's gospel is feared they were afraid it's such a strange note to end on it's such a crazy way to end your gospel maybe there was more to the manuscript I don't know and it got lost that's one theory or maybe verse nine is up to us maybe maybe fear is not the end maybe it's an invitation see a Mark's Gospel usually when it talks about fear something comes after him in Mark's Gospel there's a pattern that emerges it is over and over again in Mark's Gospel so like in chapter 5 there's a woman who has an issue an issue of blood and nobody can make her better the Bible says that she spent all that she had but instead of getting better she got worse she shoved more stuff into her life she got busier and she just got broker she spent more time trying to be liked and she only felt more lonely and then she comes up in touches Jesus and everybody wants to know who did it cuz there was a big crowd around and they didn't know but she did so the Bible says that trembling she fell down in fear on her face before Jesus but it was at the end of the story because when mark says fear something follows it's not the answer somebody say it's not the end it's a new beginning and after her fear Jesus looked at her and said daughter your faith has healed you now go in peace because fear is not the end fear is the beginning right after this a man named Jairus has a little daughter who has died while Jesus is on his way to heal her the crowd says don't worry about it she's already dead Jesus said nah she's just asleep don't be afraid gyruss because when I get there something is going to happen that is going to overrule and overturn the verdict of earthly principles she's gonna get up and the little girl got up because fear is not the end one night the disciples were in a great storm the wind was blowing so hard they thought surely we're going down this time no you can't die here there's something left for you to do the Bible says they were greatly afraid but fear was not the end the moment they felt the fear Jesus spoke the word peace be still I feel them speaking peace to somebody today fear is not the end it can't end like this it can't end like this God's got more for you to do he said meet me in Galilee dot dot dot Friday Saturday Sunday the stone is already roll God has already done what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature I know you're weak I know you're frustrated but frustration is not the end frustration is the hinge on which the door to surrender swings wide open to say I need you to do for me God what I can't do for myself it's not the end your failure is not the end God's gonna use the one who knows their need for grace to show others what His grace is capable of it can't end like this your story can end in this grave you are needed in Galilee Peter there's more for you to do it can't end like this it can't end in fear what if those women would have stayed silent we know that they didn't we know that they went and told the disciples and we know that the disciples first instinct was fear because the starting point of faith is always fear it's always scary to step out and trust God it's always risky to make yourself vulnerable well what if I come to God and what if it doesn't work and what if it ends on a cross see even if it ends on a cross it doesn't end on the cross [Applause] this is your third day I want you to bow your head and close your eyes stand to your feet right where you are this is a resurrection moment for somebody with no one moving I believe that God is calling someone out of your grave today our graves look like shame our graves look like religion our graves look like us trying to roll a heavy stone away that we can't push no matter how hard we try but the stone has already been rolled away the price has already been paid and the end game of Jesus Christ His grace God has brought you to this moment to receive His grace and right now it's my privilege to pray with you for every Peter for every Mary for every Salome who has been in a season of disappointment and you are realizing now your desperate need for God we're gonna pray a prayer right now and it is for those who need to experience the salvation and resurrection power of God so in this moment if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart god raised him from the dead I've got good news for you you will be saved even if you have to do it with your hands shaking like the women did as they went from the tomb even if you're staring at a stone or a life situation chains you can't break it's already been done even if you feel like you've wasted time God can redeem what's left and turn every mistake in your life into a miracle but it begins with faith it is by grace we are saved through faith this not of yourself it is a gift of God so that no one can boast and it starts with admitting that I am a sinner and I need a Savior and so right now in this moment if you are ready to come to God we're gonna pray out loud as a church family for the benefit of those who are coming to god are coming back to God with their heads bowed and our eyes closed if you pray this prayer from your heart God will hear you from heaven forgive your sins and give you a new heart and praying together as a church Heavenly Father I come to you a sinner in need of a savior and I thank you today for your son Jesus Christ I believe he died to forgive my sin and rose again to give me life I receive this new life make me a new creation this is my new beginning I'll follow you all the days of my life with your heads still bowed and your eyes still closed if you just prayed that prayer on the count of three I want you to shoot your hand in the air signifying this is my third day at every location one two three new beginnings all over the room new beginnings all over the room new beginnings all over the room come on let's thank God for it let's say God for resurrection power let's thank God for the blood of Jesus let's thank God for His grace les second for his victory let's thank him for his triumph come on let's thank him for cancelling the sin that spit against such bless taken for rolling thus clap those hands aya declare his victory in this place let me get right hey thanks for watching two things I want you to do first click our logo to subscribe to this channel so you don't miss a single video second you can click the give Now button to support the ministry and we'll be able to continue reaching people all over the world thanks again for watching

Channel: Elevation Church

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Keywords: Elevation Church, Pastor, Preacher, Steven Furtick, Steven Furtick sermons, Steven Furtick Easter, Steven Furtick Fear, Running, End, Like this, Disappointed, Determination, Experience, Faith, imagination, power, frustration, failure, success, grace, forgiveness, Fear, Surrender, Gospel, Sermon, Message, Teaching, Jesus, God, Easter, Resurrection

Id: Q5QJBe7VJYA

Length: 35min 5sec (2105 seconds)

Published: Mon Apr 02 2018