1. Jesus died on the cross. They did not have to break the legs of Jesus, for He was already dead. When He said, "It is finished!" He committed His spirit to His Father.
It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and “They will look on the one they pierced.” (John 19:31-37NLT)
2. Jesus' body was laid in the tomb. Sabbath began at 6 pm on Friday. All the preparation for the Passover had to be done before 6 pm.
Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:38-42NLT)
3. Jesus laid in the tomb for three days. He was placed in the tomb before 6 pm on Friday, was there all day on Saturday, and was raised on Sunday, the first day of the week. In Jewish tradition, any part of a day equated to a whole day.
But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. (Luke 24:1-2NLT)
4. False theories cannot explain away the resurrection.
5. Christ did arise from the dead. He appeared to many witnesses. Christianity is the strongest religion ever. We serve a risen Savior!
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. (1 Corinthians 15:20NLT)
This concludes the sermon series "Journey 2016" by Rev. Greg Keller, Crossville First Church of the Nazarene, Crossville, TN.
No comments:
Post a Comment