Life-changing encounters Who has had the most influence on your life?Who has had the most influence on your life? Why was that?Why was that? Encounters with Jesus are ALWAYS life- changingEncounters with Jesus are ALWAYS life- changing

Evidence for the Resurrection Evidence: 3 things missing + 1 that remainedEvidence: 3 things missing + 1 that remained The stone that secured the entrance The soldiers that safeguarded the entrance The body sealed inside the entrance The linen grave-clothes remainedThe linen grave-clothes remained

Encounter #1 Mary Magdalene – who was she?Mary Magdalene – who was she? “Sinful woman”? – Luke 7 Seven demons – Luke 8:2 & Mark 16:9 “First” of the female disciples“First” of the female disciples First to meet JesusFirst to meet Jesus But not the last “In its favour as living truth there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world could fail to bring in a verdict that the resurrection story is true” – former Chief Justice Lord Darling

Encounter #1 Mary Magdalene – who was she?Mary Magdalene – who was she? “Sinful woman”? – Luke 7 Seven demons – Luke 8:2 & Mark 16:9 “First” of the female disciples“First” of the female disciples First to meet JesusFirst to meet Jesus But not the last Doesn’t recognise Jesus visually But when she hears His voice – immediate recognition The Resurrection gives hope for the futureThe Resurrection gives hope for the future Defeated | Desperate | Despairing | Doubting | Distraught Death is definitely not the end We can have ”life to the full” (John 10:10)

Encounter #2 Cleopas +1Cleopas +1 They didn’t recognise JesusThey didn’t recognise Jesus Vision blurred and hearing impaired Focus on the right things in life – the things God counts as important “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognising him” “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognising him” – Luke 24:13-16 (NIVUK)

Encounter #2 Cleopas +1Cleopas +1 They didn’t recognise JesusThey didn’t recognise Jesus They were disappointedThey were disappointed They were disbelievingThey were disbelieving Despite angels and eye-witness accounts Jesus opens up Scripture for them “…they were downcast” “…they were downcast” – Luke 24:17 (NIVUK) “…but we had hoped” “…but we had hoped” – Luke 24:21 (NIVUK) “…In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus” “…In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus” – Luke 24:22-24 (NIVUK)

Cleopas + 1 on the road They didn’t recognise JesusThey didn’t recognise Jesus They were disappointedThey were disappointed They were disbelievingThey were disbelieving Despite angels and eye-witness accounts Jesus opens up Scripture for them Take the opportunitiesTake the opportunities “…As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going further. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them” “…As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going further. But they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them” – Luke 24:28-29 (NIVUK)

Take the opportunity Duncan Bannatyne “And God said ‘okay’ and disappeared”

Take the opportunity Are we prepared to pay the price?Are we prepared to pay the price? Will we be “first in line”?Will we be “first in line”? Are our eyes and ears closed?Are our eyes and ears closed? Are we willing to let Him in?Are we willing to let Him in? Do we need prayer?Do we need prayer? Are we prepared to make Jesus Lord?Are we prepared to make Jesus Lord? “If the resurrection of Jesus did happen, then the implications are breathtaking. Everything the Bible says about Jesus is true: God can be known as Father, forgiveness is possible, heaven is attainable and death is just a short sleep before eternal joy…Whether or not the resurrection happened isn’t just a fact of history; it is a fact that changes our future” – J. John “The Life”