The Burial of Jesus… vs. 42-43, 46-47

• Taking a stand… vs.  42-43
  • We don’t know much about Joseph of Arimathea – he is 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 also a disciple of Jesus (not openly for fear of the religious leaders) – John 19:38
    • He had not consented to the death of Jesus – Luke 23:51…
      • 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 – friend…
      • If 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
    • 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 weren’t 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 came 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…
      • It is never too late to choose to stand for Jesus – there is always a 2^nd chance!
      • Joseph did not stand up at Jesus’ trial – but he did stand now at His burial…
      • 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 and friends – it gives other boldness too!

• The garden Tomb… vs. 46-47
  • 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 (megas) 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 – 777 meters 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…
  • Two women sat by the tomb…
    • Mary Magdalene (Jesus cast 7 demons out of her)
    • Mary the mother of James and Jose (perhaps the sister of Mary – John 19:25)
    • 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 sat by Jesus tomb…
    • Why were they so faithful – why so loyal – they knew what they had been saved from…
    • * Luke 7:47 – “I tell you, 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.”
    • Some of the greatest believers – were once the most deviant sinners!
    • 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
    • If we realize we’re sinners/ desperately need Jesus –forgiven much – love a LOT
      • Some of us have more ‘colorful’ pasts that remove any doubt we were sinners…
      • But in truth were all hopelessly lost in sin – all of us desperately needed Christ…
      • The more realize/embrace that – the more we will love/follow Jesus

Guarding the tomb… vs. 44-45 / Matthew 27:62-66

• On the next day – the chief priest went before Pilate…
  • They demanded for Pilate to ‘seal’ Jesus’ tomb… vs. 44-45
    • 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 religious leaders remembered what the disciples seemed to forget…
    • 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.”
    • The disciples missed Jesus the blunt statements of Jesus…
      • Mark 9:31 – “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
      • Mark 10:34 – “And they will mock [Jesus], and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And 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!
      • Like Peter – walking on water – we look at the wind and waves – and start to sink
      • We forget that Jesus is the one who can with one word – stop both wind and waves!

• Keeping Jesus in the Tomb…
  • 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 savior – NOT God
    • So they made secure – literally asphalted – 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…
    • 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!
      • 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 & resurrection!
    • The Church is founded on this message – on Jesus Christ!  – Matthew 16:18
      • We believe God became a man – to die – so we all could have life – heaven!
        • Matthew 1:23 – “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
        • John 1:1,14 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… the Word became human and lived here on earth among us.”
      • We believe Jesus rose from the grave!
        • I Corinthians 15:4 – “[Jesus] was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
        • Jesus – God almighty – died and was physically resurrected…
        • The grave could not hold Him – Romans guards could not keep Him…
        • The stone could not stop Him – we believe in a Risen GOD!
      • We believe salvation comes through faith alone – in Christ alone!
        • Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
        • We get to go to heaven – simply and only by faith in the finished work of Jesus!