The Burial of Jesus (3 things)

• 1^st – Taking a stand… vs.  50-54
  • We don’t know much about Joseph of Arimathea – mentioned in all 4 Gospels…
    • He was from the town of Arimathea (hill) in Judea (uncertain of the location today)…
    • He was 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…
    • He was a disciple of Jesus (not openly for fear of the religious leaders) – John 19:38
  • He had not agree to the death of Jesus…
    • He believed in Jesus – but he had so much stuff – he feared what he would loose…
    • He did not condemn Jesus – but neither did he stand up for Him…
    • If someone stood by and just watched when you were being attacked…
    • And he pointed out he did not attack – does that mean he was on your side…
    • It is not enough to stand by – a true friend stands up for you…
    • It is not enough not to oppose Jesus – we must take a stand for Jesus!
    • 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 – “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore 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.”
    • The world hates Jesus because He convicts the world of sin and righteousness…
    • If it were not for Jesus men could do whatever they wanted without consequence…
    • * John 3:19-20 – “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”
    • Like a light shining in the darkness – Jesus reveals the sin of men…
    • Because men LOVE sin they hate the light that reveals their sinfulness…
    • We have Jesus in us – so as the world hates the light – Jesus – they also hate us!
  • 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 laughed at the joke you knew was wrong…
      • 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 – quiet…
      • It is never too late to choose to stand – there is always a 2^nd chance in Christ…
      • Don’t just sit quietly on the side – make sure everyone knows – you follow Jesus!
  • Joseph & Nicodemus – John 19:39 – wrapped the body of Jesus…
    • 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!
      • When we stand up for Jesus – we will often find we are not alone…
      • It will give boldness to others – who are quietly on the side – to stand for Jesus!
      • When you are willing to go to Bible studies – you will find others follow…
      • When you stand up for Jesus around family / friends – it gives other boldness too!

The stone could not stop Him – we believe in a Risen GOD!

2^ND – The garden Tomb… vs. 54-56

According to Jewish custom – Jesus’ body had to be buried on the day of His death…

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 – Golgotha…

Outside the old city walls – near the top of Mt. Moriah – right next to the main road…

To the right of the hill there is a very old garden from Jesus’ time – John 19:41

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.”

All of which must have seemed very permanent – very final…

To anyone watching it must have seemed the end of Jesus – the end of the story…

But in truth it was only just the beginning – Sunday was coming…

The women from Galilee followed after – watched Jesus be put in the tomb…

Women who had been there throughout the ministry of Jesus – Luke 8:2-3…

Women who had been there at his Crucifixion – Mark 15:40…

These same women – only these women – now stood by Jesus tomb…

They wanted to know where Jesus tomb was – where He was buried…

After the Sabbath they would come back and finish preparing His body…

Why were they so faithful – why so loyal – they knew what they had been saved from…

These women were not saints – they had a history…

For example – Mary Magdalene (Jesus cast 7 demons out of her)…

Women who knew what Jesus had saved them from – loved Jesus all the more!

Luke 7:47 – “Her sins, and they are many, have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”

Who would be more thankful… a man forgiven that stole 1 peso…

Or a man forgiven who had stolen 1,000,000 pesos…

The one who is forgiven much – loves much more…

If we think we were pretty good people before Jesus – forgiven little – love a little…

If you feel like Jesus is just a small part of your life – take it or leave it…

If you wonder why you are not more sold out for the Lord…

Likely it is because you do not think you desperately need Jesus…

You think you are a pretty good person – even without Him…

There is no difference in the heaven – there are no greater or lesser sinners…

The person who only told a white lie – needs Jesus as much as the murderer!

But the one who has the greater sins is more likely to see their need for help…

If we realize we are desperate sinners – forgiven much – love a LOT…

Some of us have more ‘colorful’ pasts that remove any doubt we were sinners…

In truth were all hopelessly lost in sin – but we are just more obvious…

The more realize/embrace that – the more we will love/follow Jesus!

3^rd – Seal the tomb – Matthew 27:62-66…

The leaders demanded Pilate ‘seal’ Jesus’ tomb…

Pilate had been surprised to hear Jesus died so quickly – crucifixion is a slow death…

Pilate had already 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!

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 just another man – not the Messiah – NOT God

So they made secure – the tomb so that it could not be opened…

1^st – They placed a Roman seal over the tomb so you’d 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 – and there were 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 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!

By believing in Jesus – and only by faith in Jesus – we are forgiven – saved!

The Gospel is we get to go to heaven only because of Jesus’ death AND resurrection!

I Corinthians 15:4 – “[Jesus] was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

The grave could not hold Him – Romans guards could not keep Him…