The Light Shines in the Darkness

Join us for this engaging and informative episode of "That's a Good Question" as we seek to deepen our understanding of faith and theology. Don't miss the insights from Pastor Jon Delger and Pastor Aaron Lewis as they address these intriguing questions, including Zoe's (a ten-year-old), and provide thoughtful answers that will inspire and enlighten you.

Zoe's question about Judas' betrayal of Jesus sparks a discussion on the motivation behind Judas' actions, including his desire for instant gratification and the lure of money, while also examining the complex nature of human choices and free will.

Additionally, Jon and Aaron delve into other thought-provoking questions, such as the significance of Jesus' death on the cross by crucifixion, where Jesus was during the three days in the tomb, why Mary didn't initially recognize him after his resurrection, why the date of Easter changes every year, and other proofs or evidence of the resurrection that may not have been covered in the sermon. They also address the logistical challenge of how the women planned to wash Jesus' body in the sealed tomb.

Join us for this engaging and informative episode of "That's a Good Question" as we seek to deepen our understanding of faith and theology. Don't miss the insights from Pastor Jon Delger and Pastor Aaron Lewis as they address these intriguing questions, including Zoe's, and provide thoughtful answers that will inspire and enlighten you.

To find more gospel-centered resources head to https://www.resoundmedia.cc

Transcript

Thank you for joining us on that good question podcast where we answer your questions from last Sunday's sermon at Peace, we hope that these answers will encourage you and help you see the depth and beauty of the Gospel. Let's dive into this week's questions.
 Hey buddy, I'm Pastor John. I'm here with Pastor, Aaron with our will on campus past your Peace church. We are getting ready to follow up on Easter. Great questions coming in for dinner, it was awesome. By the way, I noticed, I think you've got some red on your face. Like I have some right in my face and it occurred to you, what, that might be from sunburn, on my almost a day in a greenhouse. And I saw that, I had like some sunburn going out of my face last night. Yeah, absolutely, my daughters actually made fun of me as I woke up this morning, so I asked myself why my cheeks were so red Rosie. Nice nice. That's awesome. Well, hey, this is that's a good question. The show is where we get to answer some questions about the Christian faith and about the sermon that was just priest on Sunday at the church. And, of course, this past Sunday was Easter. So it's a follow-up Easter and so excited to get to do that faster. I can do with us today but Pastor Ryan and Pastor, Aaron both preached, the sermon one of the main campus ones at the greenhouse across the street and
 All works out and answer some questions. Here we go.
 First question, why don't we celebrate Easter on a date? So it doesn't change every year like Christmas and a great question, one that I'd never thought of before, you know it, as I read eyes, I assumed it's it, you know, it's connected in with Passover, right? And so we have Passover, which changes depending upon the year and all that kind of stuff until it's at the tail end up of Passover. And so I think that's the main reason again. I don't know if you have any thoughts on it, operates on the lunar calendar, I believe her, I saw you go by the moon and that whole thing, and, however, that work I do, I don't know what the date is that stuff works. But, yeah, that's what works. The lunar calendar and then Easter moves out for that. So that's why it moves every year. I know it'd be nice. If it was the same every year, and that is exactly what we did.
 Show the day I am. So I guess this past Sunday at 3 proofs for the resurrection and you and Pastor I will share that that list of three actually starts out as a list of 10 3. So the number one question we got was, what are the other seven? What are the other proofs of the Resurrection? We got to get some of those you can share with us. Yeah, but I think one of the cool things is that we kind of still work them in at a much surface-level kind of idea. And so the original plan is we're going to go much more in-depth under some of those specific headings to Spur. Instant one of, the points that I made. I believe Passerine did this as well when we were talking about the tomb being empty. And I made a quick mention of women being the 1st or the 1st to give the testimony right in that.
 The fact that in that day and time and culture, a woman's testimony was not seen as valid evidence. And so, that's just kind of an example. We snuck them in there. Just real quick. Another one is discrepancies among the gospels, right? So you have the synoptic gospels and they all tell, the story in a little bit different way. And our world will get into some of that here as well. But the fact that they're what appears to be discrepancies among the gospel accounts are not actually discrepancies. It's the way in which different authors, communicated, emphasized different portions, use different words, or describe something differently. For example, one of my daughters would describe me as young, right? And as my wife tells me, I'm pushing forty and so it to me that doesn't feel too young anymore, but a lot of our view,
 Is out there. I'm still a baby you know, in their eyes and so one daughter May describe me as young while another daughter May point out the, the, the gray I had in my beard coming on the side that I clocked out, you know? And so a different perspective, both things are true, but you understand them differently. And so that's an example of another one and then we had, you know, the three that that we went through as well. So yeah, it was fun to be able to talk through those and discuss those. And I'm sure Pastor Ryan has some different takes as well beyond those same points. So, some of the body that you didn't miss out on him, just got worked in a more subtle way. They didn't get their own number, their own talking points, but they got worked in some way, so good. That's awesome. Then plan on getting into the tomb to wash uses bodies if they knew it was sealed. Great question. When I read that question, I had to think to myself what a minute. That's, that's a good one. Why did they think they were?
 Really get in you going to get them off yet I think. What's so interesting about that is actually in Mark 16. And again, this is an example of the difference. What appears to be a discrepancy is among the gospel accounts, write the women, as they're walking to the tomb. They're actually having that same discussion, like, what are we going to do? What do I get to the Doom guy, who's going to open this thing for us? So they were actually wondering that same exact question on their way to the tomb. Do you have any more thing the song for us? So they didn't have an answer that questions themselves, I guess, maybe they hoped that the guard or whoever the big muscle guy and maybe you could move this thing out of the way of them and they a great question. And I think that the answer is that they didn't know. They weren't sure what was going to happen the good news was the stone was rolled away.
 What? And I think too, if I remember, right? It did Matthew's account. There's this discussion that the chief priests are having in there. It's coming to mind. Jesus said he would resurrect, right? I can't remember exactly if those are the terms, but there were there worried that the disciples would come in and kind of do something, right? So they asked for it to be sealed for 3 days and so that's where it's like they're coming at the end of three days. Maybe they thought it was going to be or they didn't weren't sure about the timing, you know, all of those. And again, that's another example of the discrepancies are perceived discrepancy is among the gospels as well. Yeah, yeah. So right alongside that, in the narrative also is the scene where we see that when they get to the tomb that there is the face and cloth that is neatly folded up and sent aside from the burial clothes. So what's up with that? Why is the face cloth folded instead of 5?
 Yeah. Yeah. It's so I thought that was an incredibly interesting question as well, you know, and I'm not so sure that we really actually know why this is. I think one of the common thoughts is this idea of like, you know, I'm sitting down having a meal and I have a servant to that as actually waiting on me and if I if I'm finished I'm going to let you know, clean my beard everything out of the beard. And I'm going to be in a wad, it up and throw it down, and that will actually signify that I'm finna, and then he has to comment, you know, clean up and take care of stuff. But you know if if I'm sitting down actually fold a napkin that would indicate to the servant that I was actually going to be returning and so there's this kind of thought process that maybe that's what Jesus was doing on some of our translations actually translate that word as a napkin, right? And so that messy
 I'm still going to lean toward that understanding. Although there are lots of people who said that they didn't have that type of interaction with napkins you know, back in Jesus's Diamond. So they're more like in my house or we don't use napkins to just use the corner of the shirt. Absolutely what it can mean. This, you know, there are also over there worried about somebody coming at Steel in Jesus's body and all that kind of stuff. And the fact that the face cloth was folded up, put away it just entering that space. You like, wow, that's weird. Just the body is gone. Somebody came in here and took the body, why would they take time to fold up the face cloth and lay it neatly, you know, where his head was until, you know, I don't know, I don't know. I can, I can assume that it was, it felt different walking into that space with his body gone, and that cloth folder.
 As opposed to everything just kind of scattered around 10:30 and then so those just going to get scattered but that he would take the face cloths and with his hands off of his own face for a folded up, set aside, that makes sense. Where is the thief? Somebody stealing? The body wouldn't do. That makes sense. Why didn't Mary recognize Jesus when she saw him? So, you know, she's crying. And she stands up and looks around, and she sees somebody and she says, you know, are you the gardener tell me where you laid him and then Jesus speaks and arranges for Mary and then she realizes that it's him. So what's this? What's the deal? So, how come, Mary, doesn't recognize it?
 Yeah, that again is another great question that we're just not certain of we can speculate right, you know, it says they showed up very early sum again, the gospel accounts for a while. It was still dark. So we don't exactly know the kind of conditions that all this took place. We know that Mary was weeping and crying, right? And then, what was even interesting about this is, she's weeping. She's crying. Somebody approaches, you know, the tendency is, is to turn away, right? So that you don't want people to see you crying turned away. And then went after Jesus's after Jesus, says Mary's name, it says that she turned back to him. And so, maybe, maybe there is something going on there.
 Yeah, there's some speculation but I'm not sure we really know why it so that would be a major shock and we actually have two other testimonies later. And at the very end of the gospels, like Jesus on the Emmaus Road, when some other people don't recognize Jesus right away some of that is probably Supernatural aspects of any Emmaus Road. Cuz they're sort of that moment where it's like all of a sudden, they do recognize him Jesus her to lift the veil and they do recognize him. But yeah, I think those are all kind of good reasons that you might not recognize him.
 Our next question. Why did Judas betray Jesus? I understand he wanted money for instant gratification, but why would he choose to betray him and what was his motivation? Great question. Question question, was it just for the money, or was there more to it?
 Yeah, and as I read this question? Is that motivation aspect to it? That I thought was so interesting. What was Judas's motivation? Because we know, I threw out Jesus' ministry. Judas was present and did not necessarily care about the ministry of Jesus. And so, when we think about the Betrayal of Judith, y'all this is the moment we think of often, but this is not the only betrayal that Judas had good moments in the gospel. You can tell Judas is not entirely on board that his Hearts kind of Elsewhere.
 And John 12:4 through 6 says, but Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, he who was about to betray him said this, why was this ointment not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor? He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief and had charge of the money bag, he used to help himself to it.
 He used to help himself to what was put into it. We see this all throughout the answer. The question for me, is, what is Judas? Is motivation in following Jesus. Rides are bigger than just this one moment, but it's like, why to spend this time? Like, what does Judas get out of being connected to this Jesus and his ministry, your question man, nothing but as you said, I think part of answering the question of why did he betray him? Is that his heart was not really there the whole time we have just sent kind of some glimpses and Peaks at that time to go kind of meta-perspective. Also, we can add that one of the reasons is that scripture prophesies, so that's going to happen. Scripture process of choosing to be betrayed for money. So juices flowing prophecy in that way. Great question, we got a special note here in the choir.
 It says that this question came from a 10-year-old young lady named Zoe. So thanks though. Excellent question appreciates. It's good stuff if you want to add to that.
 I think just to know and something that I found interesting around this, as well as talks about Satan actually entering the picture with Judas, right? And so, that's just another component of this, that that makes it all the more interesting. How does all of this work? And I don't always have the answers, you know, we have the scene also where Judas sort of throws down the money and runs away, and that's when he actually ends his own life. And so I think you could think they're well, that means that it wasn't really about the money. Added some may be true that but also that's kind of him sort of regretting at the last minute. So we took the money, he's excited about the money, but then he regrets it last minute, throws down the money, and then feels so much guilt that he actually ends his own life. So we can see sort of Judas has a ton of ups and downs, a ton of how he feels about this whole thing changes.
 Cool. Our next question. He really did Jesus specifically have to die on the cross by crucifixion? The writer says, I know we need a savior because of our sin and so he had to die, but did it have to be on a cross? Good questions. We know what scripture says about he who is hung on a tree, but there are multiple ways you can die by hanging on a tree. Or you could actually literally be hung by the neck. Only did the time. There's the cross. Why not another way of dying for Jesus going, again? I think this is all speculation. We obviously don't know the answer. I've I assume, you know, the Lord could work this out in any way that he chose to do that but I I go back to pass Ryan's message on Good Friday prayer where he's talking about this word excruciating and I think as the Roman Empire kind of perfected this kind of torturous way to
 They maximize the pain and maximize the length, and I think it's Jesus who steps into that space. I think that's just a window into how Grievous our sin is, or our Rebellion is against God. And so that's where my mind goes initially. Like it, it showcases, how sinful, and how rebellious we are kind of nauseous. That's a great point about how the cross is the Pinnacle of Technology by which to kill people, right? As I said, it's the worst way to torture somebody and get them to the end of their life. While experiencing the most pain, you do that out in the sermon best friend, does that in the sermon.
 Yeah, so you sort of think the man is by God's design. He waits sort of to that moment in history when the Roman developed this awful way of dying because it demonstrates just how bad sin is well yeah well so think of
 Just a public nature of the cross that he is well and people get to see him. There's not only the pain but also the shame that's with it and just people get to witness this awful thing. That happened was not over quickly, it's not over in private, it's public it's long. Yeah. And we got that moment also in the whole world goes dark and Jesus experiences. Not only the physical pain of death on the cross but also the spiritual pain of God. Wrath comes in, a can come in upon him and great question. Where was Jesus for the three days in the Tomb? So we do on Good Friday, he dies on the cross, we do on Easter Sunday morning, he raises from the dead, at what happened in the time between there immediately, my mind goes to Jesus on the cross, having a conversation with the, the thief, right? Where it tells the thief. You know, today, you will be with me in paradise and so that's where my mind goes immediately. Yeah, yeah.
 Brown's, he's a toad, a not, not later, but today, I will be with you. I, so, there's your answer has been. No, Jesus was in heaven. Now, that's opposite of what, I think many people think and I can see how they would think. Otherwise, some people, some people have thoughts throughout Christian history, that Jesus died and he went to hell and suffered for three days and then rose on Sunday. But that's, that's very much. Not what happened in the past is what you cited as the most important proof for that. So, Jesus suffered hell God's Wrath on the cross. He didn't just write up for her physically. He also suffered spiritually from his father's raft. All the wrath of God against all the sin of his people, he suffered on the cross, so, Jesus, and then to when Jesus says, it is finished hanging on the cross, he really means it. It's it is finished. It's over. He's not saying I need three more days to suffer and then it will be done. He says, it is finished a run right now, so Jesus suffers as he dies and then it's over. And so today,
 What's a diocese in Paradise? He's with his Father is in heaven for those 3 days before he is physically resurrected. One of the passages we could think about is in 1st Peter 3. There's a very I'm kind of tough to understandable passage that elusive the idea that Jesus preached has the good news to the dead, those in prison. And so some people speculate will, maybe Jesus took a short trip down to Hades and preached. Some kind of message that, hey, I've won on Victorious, and then and then ascended to the father. So that's maybe possible. And even in that case, it's he's going down in power write? So he's, he's not going to suffer further for a further justification, write the exam. He's going down to proclaim. The good news is, you know, that's what it is. And either way, it's not him going down to suffer. He's going down and victory. Awesome, awesome. Questions are buddy. I hope you had an awesome.
 Hope you have a great rest of this week. Have a great weekend, buddy.
 Thanks for listening to, that's a good question. If you want to discover more resources from Peace church had to our website at Peace church. CC. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave the reveal. It helps us to get more gospel-centered family-focused in Kingdom, Minded resources to more people.