The burial of Jesus (3 things)

• 1^st – The New Covenant… vs. 31-37
  • 1^st – The Jewish leaders wanted to take down the bodies from the cross… vs. 31-34
    • Friday was a High Sabbath Day – the beginning of the feast of unleavened bread…
      • The ‘special’ Sabbath would start at sundown – and no more work could be done…
        • So they asked Pilate to break the legs of the condemned….
        • Unable to push up on broken legs – the men would die within minutes…
        • So with a large mallet the soldiers broke the femur bones of the two thieves…
      • When the soldiers came to Jesus – He was already dead…
        • To make sure – one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear…
        • Blood and water immediately flowed out of the wound…
        • The trauma of the crucifixion had over worked Jesus heart…
        • In effect Jesus’ heart formed a ‘blister’ – a water sack from over exertion…
        • And in the end Jesus literally died of a broken heart!
    • When Moses established the Old Covenant with Israel – sealed in blood and water…
      • Hebrews 9:19 – “After Moses had given the people all of God’s laws, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, and sprinkled both the book of God’s laws and all the people…”
      • But the Old Covenant had a problem – us – we could not keep the Law…
      • Like a mirror – that shows you what you look like – but cannot make you beautiful…
      • The only thing the Law can do is points out all our failures – show us we are sinners!
      • The Laws of God are good – but they cannot make us want to do good!
        
      • I could tell you all day long to read your Bible – go to church – be GOOD…
      • You might even agree that what I am saying is true – the LAWS are right…
      • But no matter how many LAWS I gave – I could not make you follow them…
      • It all comes down to the heart – you are going to do what you want to!
    • Jesus sealed a New and better Covenant in His BLOOD and WATER…
      • The New Covenant of GRACE – the free gift of salvation – Ephesians 2:8-9
      • No longer based on what we have to do – but what God did for us!
      • God gave us the incredible gift of forgiveness and heaven – through Jesus!
      • And now though the power of His Spirit – we can have a change our heart!
      • Jesus changes our desires so we do not want to do the things that are wrong…
      • Instead we want to do those things that please the Lord!
  • 2^nd – Written so we could believe… vs. 35-37
    • These things were recorded for us so that we would believe…
      • Quoting from Exodus 12:46 – not a bone of the Passover Lamb was to be broken…
      • I Peter 1:19 – “[We are redeemed] with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
      • We are to believe that through the Cross – the Blood of Jesus – we are saved…
      • Believe we are forgiven – death has PASSES over us – we are given new life…
      • NOT because of anything we have done – but because of what Jesus did for us!
    • Zechariah 12:10 – ‘They will look on Him whom they pierced…’
      • Believe that all we need to do to be saved – is look to the one whom was pierced…
      • Salvation is as simple as a choice – look to Jesus and spend eternity in heaven…
      • Or choose to look away – and spend eternity separated from God in hell!

• 2^nd – Taking a stand… vs.  38-40
  • 1^st – Joseph of Arimathea is mentioned in all 4 Gospels… vs. 38
    • He was from the town of Arimathea (hill) in Judea (uncertain of the location today)…
      • A member of the Sanhedrin – ruling counsel of Israel (congress) – influential…
      • He was a wealthy man – he had his own tomb carved out of solid rock – rich…
      • But we are also told Joseph was a ‘secret’ disciple of Jesus…
    • Joseph believed in Jesus – but he had so much stuff – he feared what he would loose…
      • I fear many of us are like Joseph – we are SECRET disciples of Jesus…
      • We believe in Jesus – but when we are in the world – we hide our faith…
      • We try to blend in because we are afraid of what will happen if we take a stand!
      • It is far easier to blend into the world – than to stand for Jesus…
      • But if we seek to please the world – follow the crowd – go with the flow…
      • We are choosing this world rather than Jesus – it means we reject Jesus!
      • James 4:4 – “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
    • When we stand for Jesus – the world will stand against us…
      • They crucified Jesus – they are not going to roll out the red carpet for us!
      • John 15:18 – “If the world hates you – you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”
      • Do not take it personally – and do not be angry with the people in the world…
      • It is not us they have a problem with – they do not like who we stand for – Jesus…
      • The world hates Jesus because He convicts the world of sin and righteousness!
        
  • 2^nd – Taking courage – Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus…
    • It would have been a great risk for Joseph to publicly stand for Jesus…
    • It would have endangered his position – his fortune – even his life…
    • Joseph did not stand up at Jesus’ trial – but he did stand now at His burial…
    • It is never too late to choose to stand for Jesus – there is always a 2^nd chance!
    • If you are here this morning – and you know you have not been standing for Jesus…
    • Maybe among friends/family – you were quiet when they asked about the Bible…
    • Or you went along to someplace you knew you should not have gone…
    • Or when others asked you about church – or Jesus – you backed down…
    • It is never too late to choose to stand – there is always a SECOND chance in Christ…
    • Do not just sit quietly on the side – make sure everyone knows – you follow Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Joseph and Nicodemus – wrapped the body of Jesus… vs. 39
    • Because Joseph had stood for Jesus – so did Nicodemus…
      • The example of Joseph did not go unnoticed – it made Nicodemus bold as well!
      • Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews – also rich – who believed in Jesus – John 3
      • He had come to Jesus as NIGHT – so NOT to be seen – asking how to be saved…
      • Jesus had given him the famous words – John 3:16!
    • Now – because of the boldness of Joseph – Nicodemus stood up for Christ as well!
      • So often we just go along with what everyone else is doing…
      • Even if we know it is wrong – we assume we are just one person – what can we do…
      • It only takes one to be bold – then others who sitting – will stand for Jesus too!
      • When we are willing to go to Bible studies – we will find others follow…
      • When we stand up for Jesus around family / friends – it gives other boldness too!

• 3^rd – The garden Tomb… vs. 41-42
  • 1^st – Jesus’ body had to be buried on the day of His death… vs. 41-42
    • They wrapped Him in a linen cloth – with 50kg of fragrant spices (take away the smell)
      • Then they put Jesus is Joseph’s tomb – in a garden – close by Golgotha…
      • Then finished by placing a HUGE stone over the entrance to the grave…
    • It was a new tomb – no body had ever been put there – a rich man’s tomb…
      • In Jerusalem – north side of the city – there is a hill that looks like a skull…
      • Outside the old city walls – right next to the main road…
      • To the right of the hill there is a very old garden from Jesus’ time…
      • In that garden there is a tomb that has been cut right out of the rock…
      • This is where most believe Jesus was buried – in a rich mans grave…
      • Isaiah 53:9 – “He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man’s grave.”
  • 2^nd – The leaders demanded Pilate ‘seal’ Jesus’ tomb – Matthew 27:62-66…
    • Pilate was surprised to hear Jesus died so quickly – crucifixion is a slow death…
      • So Pilate verified with the soldiers – there was no doubt – Jesus was dead…
      • The reason the priests asked for a guard – Jesus’ words – ‘after 3 days I will rise’…
      • The chief priests picked up on – and remembered Jesus’ vague reference…
      • Matthew 12:40 – having been asked for a sign – Jesus gave them the sign of Jonah
      • 3 days and 3 nights in earth – speaking of His death and resurrection…
        
      • You may not know this – they would not tell you even if you asked…
      • But the world is terrified of the power of Jesus – they tremble at His Word…
      • The reason – they are convicted by Jesus’ righteousness of their sin…
      • And they know that one day there will be a judgment for sin – their judgment!
      • John 16:18 – “He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and of judgment.”
    • But the disciples missed Jesus’ blunt statements…
      • Luke 9:22 – “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”
      • Luke 18:33 – “They will scourge and kill Him. The third day He will rise again.”
      • Jesus made it very clear He would be crucified – and on the 3^rd day rise again!
      • But the disciples were so caught up in the circumstances – they forgot…
      • It would be easy to be hard on the disciples – but we are not much different…
      • We also have a tendency to forget the power of the Jesus’ Word…
      • More often we get caught up in our circumstances – and forget what Jesus’ said…
      • We see – no money – no work – sickness – mean people – hard marriages…
      • And completely forget the one who is greater than all our circumstances…
      • We look at the crucifixion – and forget that Jesus promised – the resurrection!
  • 3^rd – The religious leaders were determined to make sure Jesus stayed in the tomb…
    • Not that they believed Jesus would not rise from the dead…
      • They were afraid the disciples might come and steal the body…
        • If that happened – ‘the end would be worse than the beginning’…
        • They saw the danger in Jesus’ body ‘disappearing’ – people would believe…
        • But with Jesus in the tomb – He was a man – not the Messiah – NOT God…
      • So they made secure – the tomb so that it could not be opened…
        • 1^st – They placed a seal over the tomb so they would know if it was tampered…
        • 2^nd – placed Romans guards – between 4-16 hardened Romans soldiers…
        • They did everything they could to guarantee Jesus was not coming out…
    • But Jesus was resurrected – seen by MANY witnesses!
      • Peter – by the Sea of Galilee – John 21:14
      • By the twelve (the title for the Apostles – though only 11 remained) – Luke 24:36
      • The 500 – when Jesus went up to Galilee after His resurrection – Matthew 28:16
      • James – the brother of Jesus – a meeting recorded by Paul – I Corinthians 15…
      • Then by all the Apostles at Jesus’ ascension into heaven – Acts 1:14
    • The Gospel message – salvation – hinges on the death AND resurrection of Jesus…
      • The Gospel is God so loved the world – that HE – Jesus/God – gave His life…
      • But the Good news is not that Jesus died – everybody dies – it is the resurrection!
      • The grave could not hold Jesus – Romans guards could not keep Him…
      • The stone could not stop Him – we believe in a Risen GOD!
      • Through the Resurrection Jesus proved that there is life after death…
      • And by believing in Jesus – and only by faith in Jesus – we are forgiven – saved…
      • So that we have the right to be able to spend our eternity with Jesus in heaven!