The Reality: Jesus Died and was Buried
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Scripture Reading
Opening Prayer
Introduction
On July 4, 1776, a document was published which read: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
This document is know as the Declaration of Independence
I want you to ponder with me the concept of “self evident truths”
Explain “self evident truths”
Examples: Days are about 24 hours long, about 365.25 days per year
Other truths are not “self-evident”
They require evidence and explanation
Our text today is another “declaration of independence” of sorts
Independence from sin
Today we are going to see two truths about Jesus, things He really did and their implications, followed by one thing that He, or more accurately, His disciples, did not do.
The first is found in verses 57-61
Let’s look at those verses together...
Exposition
57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathea
All 4 gospels
Matthew only tells us that he was rich and that he was a disciple
Mark - Tells us that he was a member of the council and
Luke - tells us that he objected to the decision of the council to pursue the death of Jesus
58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.
In most Roman jurisdictions, the crucified were left on the cross, however, Jewish Law forbid this and petitions made by friends or family were usually granted. However, people convicted of “high treason” were never given permission
Pilate likely granted the request because of Jesus’ innocence and out of spite towards the Jewish leaders.
Other accounts tell us that Pilate checked to be sure that Jesus was dead, Matthew implies this.
This burial had to take place quickly due to the approaching sabbath
59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Joseph certainly had help (ex. short time, 75lbs. of spices, heavy stone, etc.)
61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.
Once again, women are the witnesses
The first point corresponds to the first two things that Jesus really did...
I. Jesus really died and was really buried.
I. Jesus really died and was really buried.
Application
Remember, Jesus dies to cover your sin, so resist sin
Remember, Jesus doesn’t just cleanse you from sin but He defeated it and therefor you are no longer a slave
Exposition 2
Now that we have seen the first two truths about Jesus, let us look at another truth…another thing that, in this case, really did not happen
This is found in verse 62-66. Let’s look at these verse now...
62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’
64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.”
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
The here is what did not happen
II. Jesus’ body really was not stolen from the grave
II. Jesus’ body really was not stolen from the grave
Application
At work, faith, conversations
Reasonable faith
Supported by the text rather than just logic
Google Christian debate...
Answers such as disciples didn’t lie
However, the text itself answers the challenges of the world
Primary challenges,
Jesus didn’t really die
Jesus didn’t really rise