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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - The Three Most Important Questions About Easter | April 20, 2025
- ♪ music ♪
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- [announcer] from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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- Of dallas, texas,
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- This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
- 00:00:10.033 --> 00:00:13.436
- Hi, i am robert jeffress, and the happy easter!
- 00:00:14.437 --> 00:00:17.574
- And welcome again to "pathway to victory."
- 00:00:17.574 --> 00:00:20.410
- The empty tomb stands at the very heart of christianity.
- 00:00:20.410 --> 00:00:24.614
- Without the resurrection,
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- Our faith would be meaningless and our hope misplaced.
- 00:00:26.049 --> 00:00:29.752
- Yet, for many people,
- 00:00:29.752 --> 00:00:31.187
- This miraculous event raises legitimate questions.
- 00:00:31.187 --> 00:00:34.557
- Is there actual evidence that jesus rose from the dead?
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- Why is this historical event so important,
- 00:00:38.328 --> 00:00:41.097
- And what practical difference does it make in my life today?
- 00:00:41.097 --> 00:00:45.435
- My message is titled
- 00:00:45.435 --> 00:00:46.903
- "the three most important questions about easter"
- 00:00:46.903 --> 00:00:50.240
- On today's special edition of "pathway to victory."
- 00:00:50.240 --> 00:00:54.878
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:00:54.878 --> 00:01:15.598
- ♪ there is blood that sights the blind ♪
- 00:01:15.598 --> 00:01:22.839
- ♪ and heals the sick ♪
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- ♪ and the lonely find ♪
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- ♪ it has the power to free the bound ♪
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- ♪ oh, as chains they fall upon the ground ♪
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- ♪ so pour it out to cleanse my soul ♪
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- ♪ let his liquid glory flow ♪
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- ♪ because he lives to make me whole ♪
- 00:02:01.211 --> 00:02:08.618
- ♪ i owe my life ♪
- 00:02:08.618 --> 00:02:12.488
- ♪ i owe my all ♪
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- ♪ so i come to tell you he saves ♪
- 00:02:16.893 --> 00:02:23.199
- ♪ to shout and to proclaim he's coming back for you ♪
- 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:32.742
- ♪ what can wash away my sins ♪
- 00:02:32.742 --> 00:02:39.082
- ♪ nothing but his blood, his cleansing blood ♪
- 00:02:39.082 --> 00:02:51.694
- ♪ there is a grave that tried to hide ♪
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- ♪ this precious blood that gave me life ♪
- 00:03:00.136 --> 00:03:07.710
- ♪ but in three days, he breathed again ♪
- 00:03:07.710 --> 00:03:15.184
- ♪ and rose to stand ♪
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- ♪ in my defense ♪
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- ♪ so i come to tell you he's alive ♪
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- ♪ to shout and to proclaim ♪ ♪ he's coming back for you ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back for you ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back, he's coming back ♪
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- ♪ in the twinkling of an eye ♪
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- ♪ when the trumpets sound ♪
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- ♪ he's coming back for you ♪
- 00:03:49.952 --> 00:04:03.199
- (applause)
- 00:04:03.199 --> 00:04:08.104
- [announcer] jesus is the most talked about person
- 00:04:09.038 --> 00:04:11.507
- In human history,
- 00:04:11.507 --> 00:04:12.742
- But we can't fully grasp who jesus is
- 00:04:12.742 --> 00:04:15.144
- Until we understand both his first and his second coming.
- 00:04:15.144 --> 00:04:18.948
- In his powerful new book
- 00:04:18.948 --> 00:04:20.450
- "jesus revealed in the end times,"
- 00:04:20.450 --> 00:04:22.752
- Dr. robert jeffress unveils
- 00:04:22.752 --> 00:04:24.420
- The glorious return of our savior.
- 00:04:24.420 --> 00:04:26.589
- Learn what his triumphant return means for your life today.
- 00:04:26.589 --> 00:04:30.693
- Request your copy of "jesus revealed in the end times"
- 00:04:30.693 --> 00:04:34.197
- When you give a generous gift
- 00:04:34.197 --> 00:04:35.698
- To support the ministry of "pathway to victory."
- 00:04:35.698 --> 00:04:39.802
- ♪ music ♪
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- The three most frequently attended church services
- 00:04:45.241 --> 00:04:49.078
- In the year are, can you guess them?
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- In third place, mother's day.
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- Now, moms, don't feel badly,
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- You're still ahead of father's day.
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- Number two most frequently attended service, christmas.
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- Number one, you guessed it, easter sunday.
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- I've always thought it was a little bit ironic
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- That the most frequently attended service of the church year
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- Is the sunday we celebrate the event in jesus' life
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- That most people have trouble believing really happened.
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- I mean, everybody believes jesus existed,
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- There's historical evidence for that outside of the bible.
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- They can see he was a great teacher
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- Who taught some really nice things we ought to do.
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- They will even admit that he died on a roman cross,
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- Though most people can't explain exactly why.
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- But the resurrection? raised from the dead?
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- Most people will treat that like the legend of santa claus.
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- Oh, sure, one day a year it's fun
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- To pretend it really happened,
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- But nobody takes it seriously.
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- But i want you to look around you today.
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- There are thousands of people here who take it seriously.
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- They believe that the resurrection actually happened,
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- That it is a part of the great accomplishment
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- Of what god did for each one of us.
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- And the death and resurrection of christ,
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- Well, you can't separate one from the other,
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- Both are essential to our christian faith.
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- Now, i realize today we have a lot of ceos
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- With us in church, christmas and easter onlys,
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- And if that's true of you, i'm not here to berate you.
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- I want to welcome you. i'm glad you're here.
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- I'm glad in this increasingly secular society,
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- You thought it important enough to be here
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- On easter sunday morning.
- 00:06:50.867 --> 00:06:53.202
- But i also realize you may have some legitimate questions
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- About this resurrection business.
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- And so, today, not only to the convinced,
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- But those who are yet to be convinced,
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- I want to talk about three essential questions,
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- Ask and answer three essential questions
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- About the resurrection.
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- Number one, why is the resurrection important?
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- Secondly, how do we know that it really happened?
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- And thirdly, what does the resurrection mean to me?
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- First of all, question number one,
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- Why is the resurrection so important?
- 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.137
- One professing christian scholar said,
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- "i'd have no problem whatsoever
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- With archeologists finding the corpse of jesus.
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- For me, that would not discredit the christian faith
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- Or the christian tradition,"
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- To which the apostle paul says, "i beg to differ."
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- Paul wrote 1 corinthians chapter 15 to combat
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- The teaching of the sadducees.
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- Just what if the corpse of jesus is discovered one day?
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- 1 verse 13, paul says,
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- "if there is no resurrection of the dead,
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- Not even christ who's been raised."
- 00:08:04.173 --> 00:08:06.175
- Now, that makes sense.
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- If there's no such thing as a resurrection,
- 00:08:07.410 --> 00:08:09.745
- Then christ will not have been raised from the dead.
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- You may say, "well, if i learned that, i'd be disappointed.
- 00:08:12.648 --> 00:08:16.218
- But then, i was disappointed when i heard the truth
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- About santa claus, the easter bunny, and the tooth fairy,
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- But i got over it eventually.
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- No, it doesn't just stop there.
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- He says in verse 14, "for if christ has not been raised,
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- Then our preaching is in vain."
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- Every sermon you ever listened to,
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- Every sermon i ever preached was a waste of time.
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- It has no more authority than an aesop fable.
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- And not only that, he says, "if there's no resurrection,
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- Your faith is in vain."
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- That so-called faith that led you to christ
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- When you were a youngster perhaps,
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- That was just emotion.
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- That faith that sustained you through a difficult time
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- In your life, that was just your imagination.
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- That faith that gave you hope and assurance
- 00:09:01.964 --> 00:09:05.101
- When a loved one passed away, that was a sham.
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- It never really happened.
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- Do you believe that?
- 00:09:09.705 --> 00:09:11.474
- Do you believe your faith has been worthless?
- 00:09:11.474 --> 00:09:14.377
- It is if there is no resurrection.
- 00:09:14.377 --> 00:09:17.179
- In verse 15, he said,
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- "moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of god
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- Because we testified against god that he raised christ,
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- Whom he did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised."
- 00:09:27.456 --> 00:09:31.027
- He's saying every christian who has ever testified
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- Of the resurrection and the new life they have in christ,
- 00:09:34.897 --> 00:09:38.200
- Every one of them is a liar.
- 00:09:38.200 --> 00:09:40.102
- Now, think about that.
- 00:09:40.102 --> 00:09:41.404
- For 2,000 years, every christian is a liar.
- 00:09:41.404 --> 00:09:44.173
- The great church leaders, saint augustine, martin luther,
- 00:09:44.173 --> 00:09:47.576
- John calvin, liars every one of them.
- 00:09:47.576 --> 00:09:50.946
- And that leads to the second logical question,
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- How do we know that the resurrection really happened?
- 00:09:53.649 --> 00:09:57.687
- Let me quickly share with you five of the strongest pieces
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- Of evidence for the resurrection.
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- First of all, the transformation,
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- The immediate transformation of the disciples.
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- People forget this,
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- That by good friday when christ was nailed to the cross,
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- Most all of his disciples had left him.
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- They had abandoned him.
- 00:10:15.371 --> 00:10:16.872
- They were scared to death of being identified with him.
- 00:10:16.872 --> 00:10:20.042
- They were not expecting a resurrection.
- 00:10:20.042 --> 00:10:22.278
- They departed from christ quicker than rats off
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- A sinking ship.
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- They didn't want to have anything to do with it.
- 00:10:26.449 --> 00:10:29.251
- Think about peter who was going to be the leader of the church.
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- He denied jesus three times within a couple of hours
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- On that thursday evening.
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- He was afraid of a little slave girl who said,
- 00:10:37.893 --> 00:10:40.496
- "aren't you a follower of jesus of nazareth?"
- 00:10:40.496 --> 00:10:43.699
- Now, how do you explain the difference three days
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- After the crucifixion,
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- When they were boldly willing to witness
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- And stand up and testify, even if it cost them their life?
- 00:10:50.906 --> 00:10:55.111
- How do you explain peter seven weeks later,
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- Standing on the steps of jerusalem of the temple,
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- Preaching to the crowd
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- That had just earlier crucified jesus?
- 00:11:02.651 --> 00:11:05.221
- Said, "you evil men, you nailed him to the cross,
- 00:11:05.221 --> 00:11:08.724
- But it was all according to the predetermined plan of god,
- 00:11:08.724 --> 00:11:12.194
- And god raised him up just as he said he would."
- 00:11:12.194 --> 00:11:15.731
- How did peter get the courage to do that?
- 00:11:15.731 --> 00:11:18.067
- How did the disciples have the courage to do it?
- 00:11:18.067 --> 00:11:21.270
- They had seen the resurrected christ.
- 00:11:21.270 --> 00:11:23.839
- That's what made the difference.
- 00:11:23.839 --> 00:11:26.242
- The transformation of the disciples.
- 00:11:26.242 --> 00:11:28.677
- Secondly, the conversion of the skeptics.
- 00:11:28.677 --> 00:11:32.481
- Think about people who were not just unbelievers,
- 00:11:32.481 --> 00:11:35.117
- But they were enemies of the gospel of jesus christ.
- 00:11:35.117 --> 00:11:38.287
- I mentioned two of them to you.
- 00:11:38.287 --> 00:11:40.122
- First of all, james.
- 00:11:40.122 --> 00:11:41.924
- Remember james, the half brother of jesus?
- 00:11:41.924 --> 00:11:44.426
- Now, you may be wondering, wait a minute, half brother,
- 00:11:44.426 --> 00:11:47.463
- How did james get to be a half brother of jesus?
- 00:11:47.463 --> 00:11:50.132
- Listen, jesus had many brothers and sisters,
- 00:11:50.132 --> 00:11:53.702
- But they were born the old fashioned way
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- With mary and joseph.
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- Jesus was virgin born.
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- They all shared the same mother, but had a different father.
- 00:11:59.875 --> 00:12:02.912
- The rest of his siblings had joseph.
- 00:12:02.912 --> 00:12:05.214
- Jesus had god the father.
- 00:12:05.214 --> 00:12:07.316
- But remember what happened during jesus' life, his family,
- 00:12:07.316 --> 00:12:11.987
- They were so concerned about jesus claiming
- 00:12:11.987 --> 00:12:14.590
- To be the messiah that they had a family intervention.
- 00:12:14.590 --> 00:12:18.360
- They called jesus in and said,
- 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.728
- "jesus, you got to quit doing this messiah stuff."
- 00:12:19.728 --> 00:12:22.631
- And james led the way.
- 00:12:22.631 --> 00:12:24.433
- Now, what happened to james after the resurrection?
- 00:12:24.433 --> 00:12:28.337
- He became the leader of the church of jerusalem.
- 00:12:28.337 --> 00:12:30.940
- He was stoned to death because of his faith.
- 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:33.442
- What made the difference?
- 00:12:33.442 --> 00:12:34.977
- Remember, paul said jesus appeared to whom?
- 00:12:34.977 --> 00:12:38.881
- James, james, his half brother, to say, "james, it is real."
- 00:12:38.881 --> 00:12:44.186
- People say, "well, just because they died for their faith
- 00:12:45.321 --> 00:12:48.557
- Doesn't mean it's real.
- 00:12:48.557 --> 00:12:50.359
- I mean, a lot of followers of false religions die
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- For their faith.
- 00:12:54.029 --> 00:12:55.464
- Hindus, muslims, others, they die for a lie."
- 00:12:55.464 --> 00:12:59.735
- The point is they think it's the truth.
- 00:12:59.735 --> 00:13:03.138
- Nobody willingly dies for a lie that they know is a lie.
- 00:13:03.138 --> 00:13:08.110
- You had the conversion of james.
- 00:13:08.110 --> 00:13:09.411
- Think about the apostle paul, another skeptic.
- 00:13:09.411 --> 00:13:12.214
- He was an enemy of the cross.
- 00:13:12.214 --> 00:13:14.350
- He was on his way to damascus as a zealot jew
- 00:13:14.350 --> 00:13:17.286
- To stamp out this new heresy called christianity.
- 00:13:17.286 --> 00:13:20.723
- But acts 9 tells us that on the way to damascus,
- 00:13:20.723 --> 00:13:24.159
- He was confronted by the living christ who said,
- 00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:26.829
- "saul, saul, why do you persecute me?"
- 00:13:26.829 --> 00:13:30.132
- And that appearance of the risen christ
- 00:13:30.132 --> 00:13:32.968
- Is what changed paul forever and turned him,
- 00:13:32.968 --> 00:13:35.838
- Transformed him from being
- 00:13:35.838 --> 00:13:37.907
- A violent aggressor against the church
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- To being the greatest apologist ever for the veracity
- 00:13:40.409 --> 00:13:44.013
- Of the christian faith.
- 00:13:44.013 --> 00:13:45.614
- Thirdly, consider the radical changes in judaism.
- 00:13:45.614 --> 00:13:50.552
- That is an evidence for the truth of the resurrection.
- 00:13:50.552 --> 00:13:54.223
- What do i mean the changes in judaism?
- 00:13:54.223 --> 00:13:57.326
- Like for example, the sacrificial system.
- 00:13:57.326 --> 00:14:00.930
- They quit immediately offering sacrifices for their sins.
- 00:14:00.930 --> 00:14:04.833
- They changed their perspective of the mosaic law.
- 00:14:04.833 --> 00:14:07.703
- They had been depending on the mosaic law
- 00:14:07.703 --> 00:14:10.272
- For their salvation,
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- And now they called it the old covenant.
- 00:14:11.540 --> 00:14:14.143
- They not only did that,
- 00:14:14.143 --> 00:14:15.444
- They changed their day of worship overnight
- 00:14:15.444 --> 00:14:18.314
- From saturdays, the sabbath, to sunday,
- 00:14:18.314 --> 00:14:21.050
- The resurrection day.
- 00:14:21.050 --> 00:14:22.785
- How do you explain that radical transformation
- 00:14:22.785 --> 00:14:26.388
- Of so many devout jews?
- 00:14:26.388 --> 00:14:28.991
- One scholar says it this way,
- 00:14:28.991 --> 00:14:30.993
- "these changes to jewish social structures
- 00:14:30.993 --> 00:14:34.229
- Were not just minor adjustments,
- 00:14:34.229 --> 00:14:36.665
- They were social earthquakes,
- 00:14:36.665 --> 00:14:39.168
- And earthquakes don't happen without a cause."
- 00:14:39.168 --> 00:14:43.105
- There was an earthquake,
- 00:14:43.105 --> 00:14:44.473
- It's called the resurrection of jesus christ.
- 00:14:44.473 --> 00:14:47.676
- That's the only way you explain those radical changes.
- 00:14:47.676 --> 00:14:50.946
- Fourth, the ordinances of the lord's supper and baptism.
- 00:14:50.946 --> 00:14:55.250
- I bet you've never thought about this before,
- 00:14:55.250 --> 00:14:57.853
- But the quick institution of these religious rituals argues
- 00:14:57.853 --> 00:15:01.657
- For the resurrection.
- 00:15:01.657 --> 00:15:03.359
- You say, "well, how so?
- 00:15:03.359 --> 00:15:04.560
- Every religion has its own rituals."
- 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:06.762
- None like this one.
- 00:15:06.762 --> 00:15:08.397
- Think about what the lord's supper and baptism represent.
- 00:15:08.397 --> 00:15:12.668
- They represent the death and the resurrection of jesus.
- 00:15:12.668 --> 00:15:16.905
- When you eat this bread and drink the cup, you show what?
- 00:15:16.905 --> 00:15:21.610
- The lord's death until he comes.
- 00:15:21.610 --> 00:15:25.814
- Has it ever struck you as odd that we sit around
- 00:15:25.814 --> 00:15:29.718
- And celebrate the death, the torture,
- 00:15:29.718 --> 00:15:33.222
- The execution of the founder of our faith, jesus christ?
- 00:15:33.222 --> 00:15:37.893
- Lee strobel puts it this way.
- 00:15:37.893 --> 00:15:40.062
- He says, "imagine admirers of john f. kennedy said,
- 00:15:40.062 --> 00:15:45.000
- 'we want to get together once a week
- 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:48.937
- To pay tribute to president kennedy,
- 00:15:48.937 --> 00:15:51.807
- But we're not going to celebrate
- 00:15:51.807 --> 00:15:53.409
- His courageous confrontation with cuba,
- 00:15:53.409 --> 00:15:56.879
- Or his push for civil rights.
- 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:59.281
- Instead, we want to meet together once a week
- 00:15:59.281 --> 00:16:02.184
- To celebrate that date, november 22nd, 1963,
- 00:16:02.184 --> 00:16:06.488
- When kennedy had his head nearly blown off right here
- 00:16:07.589 --> 00:16:10.159
- On the streets of dallas.
- 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:11.727
- We're going to celebrate that and sing hymns about that.'"
- 00:16:11.727 --> 00:16:14.830
- Would that strike you as a little odd?
- 00:16:14.830 --> 00:16:17.766
- Why do we celebrate the torture
- 00:16:18.400 --> 00:16:20.636
- And execution of jesus christ?
- 00:16:20.636 --> 00:16:23.072
- Because the story doesn't stop there.
- 00:16:23.072 --> 00:16:25.641
- Three days later,
- 00:16:25.641 --> 00:16:27.242
- There was a resurrection that put the cross into perspective
- 00:16:27.242 --> 00:16:31.246
- And the fact that the early church started celebrating
- 00:16:31.246 --> 00:16:33.949
- The death and resurrection of jesus
- 00:16:33.949 --> 00:16:36.452
- Is a strong case for its veracity.
- 00:16:36.452 --> 00:16:39.421
- I've saved the best,
- 00:16:39.421 --> 00:16:40.923
- The strongest piece of evidence for last, the empty tomb.
- 00:16:40.923 --> 00:16:45.994
- Years ago, i was on a program,
- 00:16:46.628 --> 00:16:48.530
- Television program in canada featuring dr. paul meyer,
- 00:16:48.530 --> 00:16:53.502
- Not our paul meyer here in the metroplex,
- 00:16:53.502 --> 00:16:56.138
- But a harvard phd in archeology.
- 00:16:56.138 --> 00:17:00.075
- And during one of the commercials,
- 00:17:00.075 --> 00:17:01.743
- The interviewer asked dr. meyer,
- 00:17:01.743 --> 00:17:03.946
- "what is the strongest piece of evidence
- 00:17:03.946 --> 00:17:06.915
- For the resurrection?"
- 00:17:06.915 --> 00:17:08.217
- And without hesitating, he said, "that's easy.
- 00:17:08.217 --> 00:17:11.120
- It's the empty tomb."
- 00:17:11.120 --> 00:17:13.422
- Think about it.
- 00:17:13.789 --> 00:17:14.723
- For 2,000 years,
- 00:17:14.723 --> 00:17:16.291
- Nobody's been able to find the body of jesus.
- 00:17:16.291 --> 00:17:19.561
- Now, you know what skeptics say.
- 00:17:19.561 --> 00:17:20.929
- They say, "well, somebody stole the body."
- 00:17:20.929 --> 00:17:22.965
- But then you have to ask the question, who stole the body?
- 00:17:22.965 --> 00:17:26.435
- "who moved the stone?"
- 00:17:26.435 --> 00:17:27.536
- As frank morris wrote in his book.
- 00:17:27.536 --> 00:17:29.771
- The only explanation for the empty tomb
- 00:17:29.771 --> 00:17:32.141
- Is that god himself reached down
- 00:17:32.141 --> 00:17:35.077
- And rescued his son from the grave,
- 00:17:35.077 --> 00:17:37.279
- And he promises to do the same for us one day as well.
- 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:41.316
- "i will not abandon my holy one to sheol,
- 00:17:41.316 --> 00:17:43.619
- To the grave," god said.
- 00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:46.989
- And that leads to the third
- 00:17:46.989 --> 00:17:49.024
- And perhaps the most important question.
- 00:17:49.024 --> 00:17:51.560
- We've talked about why the resurrection is important
- 00:17:51.560 --> 00:17:53.996
- And how we know it happened.
- 00:17:53.996 --> 00:17:55.531
- What does the resurrection mean to me?
- 00:17:55.531 --> 00:17:58.767
- Well, first of all, it authenticates the bible,
- 00:17:58.767 --> 00:18:02.604
- Especially the teachings of jesus.
- 00:18:02.604 --> 00:18:05.107
- Romans 1 says, "jesus was declared to be the son of god
- 00:18:05.107 --> 00:18:08.977
- With power by his what?
- 00:18:08.977 --> 00:18:10.946
- His resurrection from the dead."
- 00:18:10.946 --> 00:18:13.215
- The resurrection of jesus proves
- 00:18:13.215 --> 00:18:15.350
- That he is who he said he was, the son of god,
- 00:18:15.350 --> 00:18:18.420
- And it means we must take seriously everything he taught.
- 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:22.891
- Secondly, it validates the death of jesus.
- 00:18:22.891 --> 00:18:26.895
- If jesus had remained in that tomb,
- 00:18:26.895 --> 00:18:28.964
- It would've meant when he died, he died for his own sins.
- 00:18:28.964 --> 00:18:33.001
- But the fact that he was raised from the dead
- 00:18:33.001 --> 00:18:35.971
- Was god's way of saying,
- 00:18:35.971 --> 00:18:37.406
- "i accept his payment on your behalf."
- 00:18:37.406 --> 00:18:41.276
- Romans 4:25 says,
- 00:18:41.276 --> 00:18:42.678
- "for jesus was delivered over to be crucified
- 00:18:42.678 --> 00:18:46.048
- For our transgressions,
- 00:18:46.048 --> 00:18:47.416
- He was raised for our justification."
- 00:18:47.416 --> 00:18:51.420
- The way we know we are justified,
- 00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:53.655
- Declared not guilty when we trust in christ,
- 00:18:53.655 --> 00:18:56.558
- Is the resurrection from the dead.
- 00:18:56.558 --> 00:18:58.994
- Somebody once said,
- 00:18:58.994 --> 00:19:00.462
- "easter is god's 'amen' to jesus' 'it is finished.'"
- 00:19:00.462 --> 00:19:05.801
- It is the exclamation point.
- 00:19:06.401 --> 00:19:08.337
- It is the proof that jesus did what he promised he would do.
- 00:19:08.337 --> 00:19:12.407
- And thirdly, the resurrection means to me
- 00:19:12.407 --> 00:19:16.278
- That it eliminates the fear of death.
- 00:19:16.278 --> 00:19:19.114
- The resurrection is important
- 00:19:19.114 --> 00:19:20.916
- Because it eliminates the fear of death.
- 00:19:20.916 --> 00:19:23.752
- The greatest problem we all face,
- 00:19:23.752 --> 00:19:25.921
- The greatest question is the one job articulated
- 00:19:25.921 --> 00:19:29.758
- In job 14:14 when he said,
- 00:19:29.758 --> 00:19:32.527
- "if a person dies, will he live again?"
- 00:19:32.527 --> 00:19:36.698
- Isn't that the bottom line question of the universe?
- 00:19:36.698 --> 00:19:40.302
- Is this life all that there is,
- 00:19:40.302 --> 00:19:43.171
- Or is there something better ahead?
- 00:19:43.171 --> 00:19:46.642
- If a person dies, will he live again?
- 00:19:47.476 --> 00:19:50.379
- If my father and mother die, will they live again?
- 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:55.784
- If my mate dies, will he or she live again?
- 00:19:56.718 --> 00:20:01.590
- If my child dies, will he or she live again?
- 00:20:02.524 --> 00:20:07.095
- If i die, when i die, will i live again?
- 00:20:07.963 --> 00:20:14.102
- The resurrection provides an answer to that question.
- 00:20:15.203 --> 00:20:19.541
- Jesus is the way to heaven.
- 00:20:19.541 --> 00:20:22.844
- Paul said in 1 corinthians 15, "as in adam all die,
- 00:20:22.844 --> 00:20:27.215
- So in christ all shall be made alive."
- 00:20:27.215 --> 00:20:31.787
- And he eliminates not only the power of death,
- 00:20:31.787 --> 00:20:34.189
- But even the fear of death.
- 00:20:34.189 --> 00:20:35.991
- Hebrews 2, verses 14 to 15 says
- 00:20:35.991 --> 00:20:38.727
- That jesus christ came to free those who through the fear
- 00:20:38.727 --> 00:20:42.964
- Of death are subject to slavery all of their lives.
- 00:20:42.964 --> 00:20:47.402
- We no longer have to fear death if we're a christian.
- 00:20:47.402 --> 00:20:50.605
- Because of the resurrection,
- 00:20:50.605 --> 00:20:51.940
- We know that death is simply a door,
- 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:55.277
- It's a passageway we go through
- 00:20:55.277 --> 00:20:57.112
- To experience the wonderful unending blessings of heaven.
- 00:20:57.112 --> 00:21:02.250
- The late preacher vance havner once said,
- 00:21:03.118 --> 00:21:05.287
- "the hope of dying is the only thing that keeps me alive."
- 00:21:05.287 --> 00:21:10.158
- That's true for all of us.
- 00:21:10.726 --> 00:21:11.660
- The only way to keep living
- 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:13.428
- Is to know that there's something better.
- 00:21:13.428 --> 00:21:16.565
- I think about the story of golf pro paul azinger.
- 00:21:16.565 --> 00:21:21.336
- You may remember this champion golfer
- 00:21:21.336 --> 00:21:23.672
- Was diagnosed with cancer when he was 33 years old.
- 00:21:23.672 --> 00:21:27.242
- He had just won a pga tournament
- 00:21:27.242 --> 00:21:29.678
- And 10 other tournament.
- 00:21:29.678 --> 00:21:31.613
- When he discovered he had cancer, he wrote this,
- 00:21:31.613 --> 00:21:34.683
- "a genuine feeling of fear came over me.
- 00:21:34.683 --> 00:21:37.919
- I could die from cancer.
- 00:21:37.919 --> 00:21:40.255
- Then another reality hit me even harder.
- 00:21:40.255 --> 00:21:43.358
- I'm going to die eventually anyway,
- 00:21:43.358 --> 00:21:46.428
- Whether it's from cancer or something else,
- 00:21:46.428 --> 00:21:49.364
- It's just a question of when.
- 00:21:49.364 --> 00:21:52.000
- Everything i had accomplished in golf
- 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.169
- Became meaningless to me.
- 00:21:54.169 --> 00:21:56.505
- All i wanted to do was to live."
- 00:21:56.505 --> 00:22:00.175
- And then he recounts something a friend told him, he said,
- 00:22:00.175 --> 00:22:03.044
- "zinger, remember this,
- 00:22:03.044 --> 00:22:05.714
- We are not in the land of the living headed
- 00:22:05.714 --> 00:22:08.116
- To the land of the dying.
- 00:22:08.116 --> 00:22:10.452
- We are in the land of the dying headed to the land
- 00:22:10.452 --> 00:22:13.288
- Of the living."
- 00:22:13.288 --> 00:22:14.623
- Paul azinger recovered from his chemotherapy
- 00:22:15.557 --> 00:22:18.360
- And he actually returned to the pga tour,
- 00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:21.196
- But he said his about
- 00:22:21.196 --> 00:22:22.631
- With cancer changed his perspective about everything.
- 00:22:22.631 --> 00:22:26.768
- He said, "i've made a lot of money
- 00:22:26.768 --> 00:22:28.236
- Since i've been on the tours.
- 00:22:28.236 --> 00:22:29.504
- I've won a lot of tournaments,
- 00:22:29.504 --> 00:22:31.273
- But that happiness is always temporary.
- 00:22:31.273 --> 00:22:34.209
- The only way you will have true contentment
- 00:22:34.209 --> 00:22:37.245
- Is in a personal relationship with jesus christ.
- 00:22:37.245 --> 00:22:41.750
- I'm not saying that nothing ever bothers me
- 00:22:41.750 --> 00:22:44.719
- And i don't have problems,
- 00:22:44.719 --> 00:22:47.055
- But i feel like i found the answer
- 00:22:47.055 --> 00:22:50.091
- To the six foot hole in the ground."
- 00:22:50.859 --> 00:22:54.029
- Have you found the answer to the six foot hole?
- 00:22:55.030 --> 00:22:58.400
- Something we're all going to experience one day.
- 00:22:59.367 --> 00:23:01.470
- The only answer is jesus, the one who said,
- 00:23:02.337 --> 00:23:07.108
- "i am the resurrection and the life.
- 00:23:07.108 --> 00:23:11.146
- He who believes in me, though he were dead,
- 00:23:11.146 --> 00:23:15.350
- Yet shall he live again."
- 00:23:15.917 --> 00:23:18.153
- Aren't you glad we have a savior who conquered death once
- 00:23:19.287 --> 00:23:23.158
- -and for all? -(audience applauding)
- 00:23:23.959 --> 00:23:26.695
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:23:26.695 --> 00:23:31.399
- The empty tomb reminds us that death has been defeated
- 00:23:31.399 --> 00:23:34.936
- And we have the promise of eternal life
- 00:23:34.936 --> 00:23:37.372
- Through faith in christ.
- 00:23:37.372 --> 00:23:39.341
- I want to conclude this easter celebration
- 00:23:39.341 --> 00:23:41.743
- By sharing a note from karen in delaware.
- 00:23:41.743 --> 00:23:45.180
- She wrote, "i just started watching 'pathway to victory'
- 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:48.049
- On tv a few weeks ago.
- 00:23:48.049 --> 00:23:50.585
- I've been a christian since 1975,
- 00:23:50.585 --> 00:23:53.622
- But have learned more about grace, forgiveness,
- 00:23:53.622 --> 00:23:56.458
- And other biblical topics in the past few weeks
- 00:23:56.458 --> 00:24:00.128
- Than i've learned in 46 years because of your programs.
- 00:24:00.128 --> 00:24:04.232
- I'm growing in my faith and so, so grateful."
- 00:24:04.232 --> 00:24:08.503
- Well, that is such an encouragement
- 00:24:08.503 --> 00:24:10.772
- To hear how god is using this ministry
- 00:24:10.772 --> 00:24:13.508
- To touch lives like karen's.
- 00:24:13.508 --> 00:24:15.677
- And with every letter of thanks i receive,
- 00:24:15.677 --> 00:24:17.846
- I think about our pathway partners
- 00:24:17.846 --> 00:24:20.181
- And everyone who gives the "pathway to victory."
- 00:24:20.181 --> 00:24:23.451
- Your generosity enables me to proclaim
- 00:24:23.451 --> 00:24:26.121
- The life-changing message of christ's resurrection
- 00:24:26.121 --> 00:24:29.524
- To millions around the world.
- 00:24:29.524 --> 00:24:31.826
- Now, stay right there.
- 00:24:31.826 --> 00:24:33.094
- I'll be back with more in just a moment.
- 00:24:33.094 --> 00:24:37.065
- [announcer] most teachings about bible prophecy focus
- 00:24:38.133 --> 00:24:40.602
- On wars, natural disasters, and economic turmoil.
- 00:24:40.602 --> 00:24:45.840
- But the end times shouldn't scare us.
- 00:24:45.840 --> 00:24:48.677
- They should bring us hope.
- 00:24:48.677 --> 00:24:50.946
- In his brand new book, "jesus revealed in the end times,"
- 00:24:50.946 --> 00:24:54.482
- Dr. robert jeffress takes a radically different approach
- 00:24:54.482 --> 00:24:57.118
- To prophecy, helping you see the end times through the
- 00:24:57.118 --> 00:25:00.722
- Lens of jesus christ.
- 00:25:00.722 --> 00:25:02.390
- In my new book, i share why the bible's prophecies about
- 00:25:02.390 --> 00:25:05.560
- The last days should fill us with joy and peace as we
- 00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:09.731
- Anticipate the return of our savior, jesus christ.
- 00:25:09.731 --> 00:25:13.735
- [announcer] request your copy of "jesus revealed in the end times"
- 00:25:13.735 --> 00:25:17.038
- Along with a set of encouragement cards
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- When you give a generous gift to support "pathway to victory,"
- 00:25:18.974 --> 00:25:22.510
- Or when you join our team of pathway partners.
- 00:25:22.510 --> 00:25:25.580
- And when you give $100 or more, you'll also receive
- 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:28.950
- The complete "jesus revealed in the end times" message
- 00:25:28.950 --> 00:25:32.187
- Series on dvd and audio disc, plus the personal and
- 00:25:32.187 --> 00:25:35.757
- Group study guide.
- 00:25:35.757 --> 00:25:37.158
- When jesus comes again, he will conquer his enemies
- 00:25:37.158 --> 00:25:41.429
- And our enemies.
- 00:25:41.429 --> 00:25:42.864
- He will conquer satan himself.
- 00:25:42.864 --> 00:25:45.333
- He will conquer sin and evil forever.
- 00:25:45.333 --> 00:25:48.637
- [announcer] thank you for supporting "pathway to victory."
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- Your partnership helps introduce hurting people to
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- The hope of jesus christ through television, radio,
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- 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.880
- Together we're sharing the life-transforming truth
- 00:25:58.880 --> 00:26:01.783
- About our coming king with people living in spiritual darkness.
- 00:26:01.783 --> 00:26:06.454
- ♪ music ♪
- 00:26:06.788 --> 00:26:08.390
- The resurrection of jesus christ changes everything.
- 00:26:08.390 --> 00:26:12.594
- Because jesus died and rose again,
- 00:26:12.594 --> 00:26:14.863
- We can face the future with confidence and hope,
- 00:26:14.863 --> 00:26:18.166
- Knowing that death is not the end.
- 00:26:18.166 --> 00:26:21.236
- Rather, it's a door we go through to experience
- 00:26:21.236 --> 00:26:24.105
- The wonderful and unending blessings of heaven.
- 00:26:24.105 --> 00:26:28.043
- Next time, we're going to discover another remarkable aspect
- 00:26:28.043 --> 00:26:31.446
- Of our relationship with christ,
- 00:26:31.446 --> 00:26:33.615
- His desire to be our eternal friend.
- 00:26:33.615 --> 00:26:37.252
- Jesus is more than just our savior,
- 00:26:37.252 --> 00:26:39.621
- He's a friend who will never leave us nor forsake us.
- 00:26:39.621 --> 00:26:43.525
- Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
- 00:26:43.525 --> 00:26:46.227
- On "pathway to victory."
- 00:26:46.227 --> 00:26:48.463
- Would you like to have a best friend?
- 00:26:49.297 --> 00:26:51.466
- Well, we have such a best friend,
- 00:26:51.466 --> 00:26:53.635
- Though few of us really know it.
- 00:26:53.635 --> 00:26:55.804
- He's a friend, proverbs 18:24 says,
- 00:26:55.804 --> 00:26:58.807
- "who sticks closer than a brother."
- 00:26:58.807 --> 00:27:01.943
- His name is jesus.
- 00:27:01.943 --> 00:27:04.546
- And throughout eternity,
- 00:27:04.546 --> 00:27:06.081
- We will have the distinct pleasure
- 00:27:06.081 --> 00:27:08.450
- Of knowing him forever and ever as our eternal friend.
- 00:27:08.450 --> 00:27:14.355
- [announcer] set your dvr and join us next time
- 00:27:14.355 --> 00:27:16.191
- For the message "jesus our friend" here
- 00:27:16.191 --> 00:27:19.194
- On "pathway to victory."
- 00:27:19.194 --> 00:27:19.194
