What a wonderful day it is today, is it not? Just such a joy to be together, to celebrate. I feel like every Sunday is Easter for us. It's just such a joy to sing and to pray together and to just learn from God's Word and celebrate a risen Savior. Just nothing in the world like it, is there? Just such a joy. Well, hands down, the most important event in human history was the coming of Jesus Christ. So important, in fact, that we've actually structured all of time around the year of his arrival. And there are many people across many continents and even many religions who acknowledge and even revere Jesus of Nazareth. Many traditions extol and regard his life and his teachings. They will acknowledge him as a tremendous moral example. They will praise him for being a wise teacher. They will even admit him to be a prophet sent from God. And they'll pay tribute to his suffering death, seeing him in their eyes as a martyr. But is there more to Jesus? In Mark 10, 45, Jesus announces the purpose of his coming to earth. It wasn't just to offer some good teaching, although he did. It wasn't simply to help people, although he did. He said, the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and here it is, to give His life as a ransom for many. He would offer up His own life as a ransom to God for sinners. He would be crucified, and also, as He predicted, He would rise again. Everybody dies. Everybody. But the fact that Jesus died is not of any kind of surprise to anybody. In fact, even today, nearly everybody on the planet, even the person who is the farthest from God you could possibly imagine, nearly everybody will concede that a man named Jesus, born in Palestine in the first century, a man named Jesus who we know to be Jesus of Nazareth, they will concede that he died. However, it is what happened on the third day, Sunday. that changed everything. See, if Jesus died but did not rise, Paul said, we have no hope and we are of all people most to be pitied. If Christ died but did not rise, then millions of Christians have given up their lives for a dead martyr. However, if Jesus actually did die and rise from the grave, and that means that life as you know it, It's going to change forever. The Bible records in many places the resurrection of Jesus. All four Gospels account to this. Many witnesses. There's lots of places really that we could look this morning. But for our purposes today, we're going to look at one specific encounter. Two men walking along a road who encounter a mysterious stranger. So if you would, please turn your copy of scripture to Luke 24. Luke chapter 24. If you're using one of the Black Pew Bibles, it's page 885. So just grab those out of the pew in front of you if you'd like. Page 885. And again, all four gospels record the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And each one, if you were to look at all of them just stacked on top of each other, each one of these gospel narrative accounts presents the event from a different viewpoint, another vantage point, if you will, all with complementary information. But Luke records an event that no other gospel records. Early Sunday morning, several women, identified as Mary, another woman named Mary, so two Marys, and a woman named Salome, go to the tomb of Jesus and they discover that it is empty. An angel appears to them and tells them that Jesus is risen. And according to John chapter 20, Jesus appears then to Mary Magdalene and she thinks he's the gardener. So he's very plainly in front of her. She thinks that he's somebody else. But then she soon discovers as she talks to him that he is in fact the risen Lord. And then he sends her to the disciples to tell them that he is, in fact, alive. Now, if you were to look at all the accounts, there is a gap of time in the gospel narrative from the morning to the next recorded event, which is recorded in Matthew, Mark, and John, which is Jesus' appearing to the disciples close to dinnertime. So where was he for the rest of the day? Luke tells us where he was, and so we're gonna look at Luke chapter 24. We're gonna start in verse 13. That very day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, what is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk? And they stood still, looking sad. And one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there these days? And he said to them, What things? They said to him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty indeed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, besides all of this, it is now the third day since these things have happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early this morning or early in the morning. And when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of these who are with us went to the tomb and found it just as the woman had said, but him they did not see. And he said to them, Oh, foolish ones. and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken? Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke begins the account by saying, that very day, Now this is referring back to the beginning of chapter 24, verse 1, which records the first day of the week. In other words, Sunday. More specifically in our context for this purpose, Easter Sunday, today. He notes that on that day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus. Now we know that the them is referring to two of Jesus' disciples. Now these are not some of the twelve, but Jesus did have other followers, other disciples who were with him, and these were some of those men in that group. Now they had been in Jerusalem for the Passover. Many people would pilgrimage to Jerusalem to go and celebrate some of these festivals. And the main festival of the whole year, there were three big ones, but this was the biggest one of the year, Passover. But this Passover was different from any other year. Verse 14 records, and they were talking with each other. about all these things that had happened. And we're going to see in a minute the discussion as regards to the arrest and trial and death of Jesus of Nazareth. But look at verse 15. While they were talking and discussing together, the Bible says that Jesus himself drew near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. A stranger, a man, comes and he catches up with them as they're walking, and he begins to walk alongside them. In the Greek, the pronoun here is emphasized, Jesus himself. Himself, Junir. Jesus, the same Jesus, in the flesh, he joins them on their walk. But Luke records that their eyes were kept from recognizing him. Obviously, this is a supernatural work. God has blinded them. He's allowed them not to recognize Him. But this is not an unfamiliar thing to us. This is certainly an elongated instance of this, but you know where it is when you're out in public and you see somebody, and because you're in a strange place or you're not used to seeing them in this place, you look at their face and you don't even recognize them at first. And after a few seconds of talking, you say, I know you, and come to find out it's someone you know really, really well. But in those moments, in those seconds, you just, you can't even make sense of them. This is similar to that, but just longer, and certainly divine. But as we'll see, this mysterious interchange has a purpose. Verse 17, he said to them, what is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk? And the Bible says, they stood still looking sad. Now Jesus knows all things. He's not asking because He's looking for information. He knows what's going on. He was there. He's the subject of all this, right? So He's not asking for that purpose. But as He often did, He would ask questions of people to get them to open up and to answer truthfully. He did this all the time. Just one instance in my mind is Matthew 16, when He goes to the disciples and He says, who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they give all kinds of answers. And he says, well, who do you say that I am? What's my identity? Who am I? It's not a question because he wants to know the answer for real. It's not a search for information. It's a probe. He wants to give them the opportunity to give their answer. And so these two disciples are standing there. They're looking sad. Certainly they are sad. Israel has been in upheaval for three years because of Jesus's ministry. Nothing in Israel had ever happened like this before. Nothing had ever happened like this in the history of the world. And the last week of that ministry, the last week in Jerusalem, was the most earth-shattering week in human history. Nothing like it ever since. And everybody knows about it. Everybody knows what's happened. Look at verse 18. One of them, a man named Cleopas, answered him, are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there these days? Where have you been? Have you been out in the woods somewhere? Do you not know? It's like asking someone, well, what happened on 9-11? 9-11, what are you talking about? Everybody knows what that is. Even people around the world, you say 9-11, they know what you're talking about. That's this kind of a thing. You don't know what happened? For real? And so they're asking, he's asking this question and Cleopas is the man, it's the only time he's ever named in the Bible is here. We don't know the identity of the second man. Some people have thought that it was actually Luke or one of the other disciples, certainly. But Cleopas answers and he's giving them, he's giving him an answer for what's happened the last couple of days. Now again, Jesus wants them to give the answer. It's essentially, not just who do you say that I am, what do you say has happened? From your perspective, what's gone on the last couple of days? Look at this with me, verse 19. He said to them what things they answered to him, or said to him, concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty indeed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests And the rulers have delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes. And besides all this, it is now the third day since these things have happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning when they did not find his body. They came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. And then he had some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found that just as a woman had said, but they did not see him. They did not see. So here the two disciples have recounted in brief the events that have happened, the events and the controversy surrounding the ministry and death of Jesus Christ. And this is the news from their perspective. This is how they see it. I want you to know just a couple of things in the account here. The first thing they do is they point to the subject of all the events. We're talking about a person right now. So all of this upheaval is all centered around one person. It's all about one person. They name him Jesus of Nazareth, by which whom they're talking to, by the way, and they refer to him as a man who was a prophet, a prophet. Many people acknowledge that Jesus was a prophet, that he spoke from God. Even the Pharisees acknowledged that. Other people that would meet him, even Pilate, would acknowledge this man. I've never heard anybody speak like this man in my life. Certainly this man is some kind of prophet they would all acknowledge. But they even go further and note his ministry. He notes mighty in deed and word before God and all the people. Now at this point in their recollection, already they've named perhaps the most astounding person in history just with that alone. They've named a prophet who is a powerful miracle worker, a wise teacher who is known and upheld by all the people and they say also by God. Remember several times in the Gospels, God speaks audibly from heaven. That's got to freak you out. When you're standing there looking at a man and all of a sudden a voice comes from heaven and says, this is my beloved son with whom I'm well pleased. Whose son? What are you talking about? What? So they already know that God is approving. So even here, even if we were to stop right here and go home, he's already one in a million, perhaps even one in a billion. No one else like him. But they proceed even further to the events of the Passover. Look at verse 20. Our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death. And they say, and they crucified him. They crucified him. Jesus was accused of blasphemy. Proclaiming that he was God and having equality with God. He was arrested, he was charged. They found him guilty by an illegal court. They weren't even supposed to be meeting at night to do this and yet they did. Fabricated charges against him. They condemned him to death and they crucified him. They nailed him to a cross until he died. And then the disciples get autobiographical a little bit in verse 21. And remember, they're sad at this point. So you have to read the account with that sadness. We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. We were hoping that he was going to be the one. We were with him for all this time and all of our hopes were pinned on him. We were hoping for a deliverer. We were hoping for a redeemer. The one to save us. But here's the problem. He was killed. And on the third day, it's been a while, it doesn't look like he's coming back. No one's ever been dead three days and then come back. They can't, it's impossible. So at this point, they're kind of wishy-washy. See, on one hand, they've heard and seen so much. Jesus told them He was the Son of God who's come to save them from their sins. He performed signs and wonders. He healed the sick. He fed the poor. He raised the dead. They saw Him do it. If Jesus wasn't the Messiah, I don't know who else could be. There's no other options at this point. So now already there's already stories spreading around that he's risen. Now we're hearing things from people. Something's going on today, we don't know what. Verse 22, many women in our company, they amazed us because they're telling us these things. They went to the tomb early in the morning and they didn't find his body. And they came back telling us that they had a vision of angels who said he was alive. So they're recounting the events of the morning. Now, I want to make a note here. In first century Jewish culture, the testimony of women was not even admissible in court. So their witness, culturally, at this point, was not valid. Surely if a story had been fabricated, if somebody was making this up, they would have wanted people to believe it, right? And if they had made up the story of Jesus rising from the grave, they would have picked two notable, prominent men to bear witness. I don't know, maybe like Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, the ones who actually went and purchased the tomb and purchased the spices, men like that. It's not them who find him or find the tomb, I should say. Instead, it's the disciples who are reporting the testimony of these women. Why? Well, because it's true. Because that's who God deems to find the grave open, is these women. And they allude to the events already recorded in John, where Peter and John, they visit the tomb, they run, and John actually runs ahead of Peter because he's so excited to find out what's going on. Verse 24, some of those who are with us went to the tomb and found it just as the woman had said, but him they did not see. So the women went, they came back and told us, we sent more guys, they came back and said the same thing, and it's all adding up, but we don't know what to do. Did Jesus rise? Is he the Messiah? Why did he, if so, if he died, why didn't he rise? Why can't we see him? Where is he? What's he doing? We don't know. They don't know. And then Jesus responds. Look at verse 25. He said to them, O foolish ones, foolish, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? He calls them foolish ones, slow of heart to believe. Now, in the context, it's not necessarily an insult. He's not calling them names, but he's rebuking them for not understanding what they should have understood. Earlier, back in Luke chapter 18, Jesus tells the disciples, let me read this to you, taking the twelve, he said to them, See, we're going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles, he will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon, and after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise. But then Luke records they understood none of this. The saying was hidden from them because they didn't grasp what he said. So he described in vivid detail what was going to happen to him. How in the world did Jesus of Nazareth control the events of his own future and know them? Well, he's God. He's God, that's how. But he tells them what's going to happen. They don't believe. When did he tell them this? Was it years ago? Was it months ago? No, when was it? It was a week ago. A week ago, he had told them as they're going to Jerusalem, by the way, blow by blow account, this is what's going to happen to me. And a week later, it happens and they go, we don't know what's going on. He told them in John 16, in a little while, you will not see me, but in a little while longer, you will see me. And they said, what are you talking about? What does this mean? But he says, when you see me again, your joy will be full. When you see me, you're going to be so full of joy, you're going to explode. They were supposed to be waiting for him. Don't you see? They were supposed to be waiting and being patient and looking forward to the expectant joy. Now at this point, and I want you to mark this, at this point, Jesus could have proved the resurrection by making himself known. You foolish ones and slow of heart to believe, here I am, and revealed himself and they would have been, wow, we believe it. He doesn't do that, does he? What does he do? He seizes on the opportunity to explain to them the Bible. He uses the Bible to prove his resurrection. Look at this. And beginning, verse 27, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, that's the Old Testament, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. He gave them a Bible lesson on the road to Emmaus. And this would have been the most thorough, clear, dynamic, insightful, passionate, life-changing Bible lesson they've ever heard. Luke records that he went through all the scriptures, all of them. Now, we don't know exactly what the texts were, we don't have that list, but we can take a pretty good guess. No doubt he would have included God's promise to send a Redeemer directly after the fall in Genesis 3, verse 15. Certainly he would have included the story or the idea, the notion of the substitute sacrifice for Abraham in the place of his son Isaac in Genesis 22. He certainly would have included the bloody sacrifice at the Passover, because they were just at Passover in Exodus chapter 12, talking about the Passover lamb. No doubt he would have explained the atonement from Leviticus and Numbers, pictured as a bloody sacrifice of a spotless lamb. He would have talked about that. No doubt he would have talked about Moses' promise that God would send the people a greater prophet in Deuteronomy 18. He would have explained to them the Davidic covenant from 2 Samuel 7 of God setting up an eternal throne for an eternal king. Certainly he would have explained Isaiah 53. Suffering servant who gives his life for his people. He would have talked about the promised Messiah in Daniel chapter 9, which specifically notes that the Messiah is going to be cut off and killed. To say that they weren't expecting the Messiah to be killed, they don't know their Bible. Passage upon passage upon passage, all illustrating the reality that Jesus is the Redeemer. He is the substitute sacrifice. 1 Corinthians calls him the Passover Lamb of God. who takes away the sin of the world. He is the prophet. He is the great high priest. He is the eternal king sitting on the throne of David. He is the suffering servant. He is the Messiah who has come to free and find the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The scriptures bore witness to him from beginning to end. And even without seeing, they should have known that he would die and rise again. They should have known. That's why he says, foolish ones, slow of heart to believe. I've told you this before. I'm going to tell you again from the scriptures what's going to happen. How do they respond? Look at verse 28. So they drew near to the village which they were going. He acted as if he was going further, but they urged him strongly, saying, stay with us. For it is toward the evening, and the day is now far spent. So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. And they said to each other, did not our hearts burn within us while He was talking to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures? And they arose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon. And they told what happened on the road, how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread. These men didn't know who Jesus was at the moment, but their hearts were burning within them as he taught them. Ever feel that way before? When you're reading the scriptures and you just can't stop. It's insatiable and your heart just burns. They were drawn to the exposition of the word done by the author of the word. This is why exposition is so important. It's Jesus's method. Jesus is an expositor. After inviting him to stay with them at dinner, he assumes this is, in all other contexts, this would have been presumptuous if he was not the Lord of the feast. But at dinner, he assumes the role of host and offers the blessing and grabs the food and actually blesses it and offers it. And as soon as he does that, in that moment, they recognize him. They see him. This is the same Lord who broke the bread for the 5,000. This is the same Lord who announced the inauguration of the new covenant at the Last Supper. And this is going to be the same Lord who will preside over the marriage supper of the Lamb. Same Lord, and He broke bread with them in their house. He came to their home, and they saw Him. And they recognized Him. And then He was gone. And suddenly all these questions and fears and doubts and skepticism, did Jesus rise? All in a moment are gone because now they realize that Jesus is alive. He has risen indeed. And He's still alive even now, believers. This is not some archaic story. This is present reality. He is risen indeed. What do they do? What do they do? What do you do? They have to tell the other people. They gotta go. And so late at night, they throw caution to the wind, and they set out on foot for Jerusalem, which is seven miles away. It's like walking from here to the corners at night, all for a purpose, to go and tell others what they've seen. And so a couple hours later, they arrive, they meet up with the 11, and they're talking about their own post-resurrection experience. They get there, they walk into the party, and everybody else is talking about how he showed himself to them too. And suddenly it's all coming together. Look at verse 36. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, peace to you. But they were startled and frightened and thought that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your heart? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see that I have. And when he had said this, he showed them his hands. and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, they marveled. And he said to them, have you anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it before them." Well, believers, this appearance destroys the myth that Jesus appeared and manifested as a ghost, that he was somehow an illusion or a vision. One person can see a vision, they're delusional, but you get 12 guys in a room, and Paul records later on, there's actually 500 people who say they've seen him. Mass, mass viewings of him in many different places at many different times by many different people. Witness after witness after witness, and at first they're frightened, they think they see a ghost, but then he reasons with them. Touch my hands and see. Later he tells Thomas, put your finger in the nail print in my hand. Let me show you. Let me show you who I am. Can you touch a ghost? No. He's alive in the flesh, still is bodily. Now to prove this even further, As if this is not enough, to prove it further, he eats a piece of fish in front of them. Do ghosts and apparitions eat fish? No, of course not. A few days later in John 21, we read about Jesus cooking breakfast for the disciples on the beach. So not only does this ghost eat fish, he actually cooks breakfast for people. He's alive. He is risen. He's bodily. You can touch Him. They see Him. They hear Him. They feed Him food. Post-resurrection. He's there. He's with them. They've seen He's risen. What is His message? What is His message? Look at verse 44. Then He said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you. that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead, that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things, and behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power on high." Notice the importance he places on understanding the scriptures. Again, understanding the word of God. This is the basics of the Christian faith. Out of all the things that Jesus could be doing and saying upon his return, he comes back from the dead. What's he going to do? What's he going to say? He spends his time with the disciples explaining the Bible. People knock Bible study and Bible exposition all the time. Well, that's not what Jesus did. Jesus fed people and he took care of people. Of course he did. But what was the most important thing that he did? What was the thing he came back from the dead to do for them? Exposit the scriptures. To affirm with a seal written in his own blood the veracity and the inerrancy and the authority of the Bible. Because He wrote it. These are His words to us. At the core of it, what is the message? Look at verse 46. And He says, This reminds me of 1 Corinthians 15 verses 3 and 4. Paul says, for I delivered to you as of first importance. People want to boil it down. What's the most important thing about the Christian life? What's the message? What's the goal? What's the center? What's the core? Here it is. The first importance that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he raised from the dead on the third day according to the scriptures. That's the gospel. It's the gospel. Jesus didn't die and rise to give you a better life. Jesus didn't die and rise to teach you how to be nice to people. Jesus didn't die and rise to solve the world's social problems. No, Jesus suffered and died to pay for your sins so that you might be reconciled to God, that you would have life in his name. That's why He came for you. That's why He died. That's why He rose to give you new life, if you would repent and believe. That's our message. That's His message. That repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations. What does that mean? It means the Bible says that every single person has rebelled against God. Every single person. Not a single one righteous, not even one. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We've wandered away and become like sheep who wander off into a dangerous pasture. But because of the holiness and the justice of God, he punishes sin to the fullest extent. But Jesus said that punishment would be an eternity in hell, quote, he said, where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. That's a terrifying reality for those who do not know the Lord. But Jesus, who is God in human flesh, who was the second person of the Trinity, came to earth, wrapped himself in a body, lived here a perfectly righteous life, flawless, sinless, and paid a ransom, a payment, for sin. He earned God's forgiveness by His own blood, by His own sacrifice. And the Bible says that anyone, all who would repent and believe, who would turn away from their sin, who would reject their sin and confess before God, all who would repent and believe and trust in Him would be saved. And because of Jesus, they would have their sins forgiven by God. Do you have sins that need to be forgiven? Examine yourself. Are you wrestling with guilt and with shame? Are you searching for an answer you can't find? Are you weighed down with burdens? Come to Jesus. Pour out all of your sins to Him in confession. Tell Him what you've done. Tell Him what you've done in your life. Lord, I've lived my life apart from You, away from You, in rebellion against You. Confess to Him. Tell Him. Be honest before God. The Bible says He will forgive you. He'll forgive you and He will restore you. And cling to Jesus. Trust Him. And obey Him. Learn of Him. Worship Him. And He will give you life. And the Bible says that one day, when you have died on earth, you will rise with Him in heaven. Let's pray. God, this is the most important message that there is. And Lord, we are Here, because we want to celebrate the resurrection. But Lord, my heart cannot bear the fact that there are those who don't know you yet. Who haven't given their lives to you. Who have not turned and confessed their sins to you and found new life and been reborn. that all they would see at the end of their life is death and judgment. May it never be, God, but that you would ignite the hearts of people, even in this room, that you would move in them, that their hearts would burn in their chest for you to confess their sins, to trust in Jesus Christ alone, and to find new life today. Father God, would you glorify yourself through saving people today? Let this be the day of their salvation, Lord. To not leave here, not sure of what's gonna happen. None of us are promised tomorrow, God. Would you save today? Glorify yourself. Set your gospel on fire. Use your word. Convict the hearts and redeem them. And Lord, if there's any doubt in those who do believe, if we are weary and weighed down with burdens and pain, ignite our hearts that we would trust you even more. That our faith would grow, Lord God. That you would be glorified as our most prized possession. That we would see you rightly. We would be astonished. and praise you and glorify your name. God, that we would be changed people even today. God, this day does not belong to the world. This day and every day is yours because you are the God of all time and creation and existence and breath in our lungs and atoms in our body. You are sovereign, you are Lord. And you've reached out your hand. to those who need you most. God, would you save? God, would you encourage? God, would you grow us to be conformed to the image of your son? Would you build us up and mature this body? Would you sanctify us that one day we would with you be glorified? God, this is the meditation and prayer of our heart. Thank you for extending the gift of salvation to all the nations, Lord. And I pray that you would glorify yourself even now to draw us to you. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.