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INTRODUCTION

SLIDE 1 Turn with me to John 19.

I use this time at the beginning of the service to introduce the topic or theme for that evening’s message. This evening I want to do something a little different. We are finishing up Matthew 27 this evening. Our passage talks about the burial of Jesus and the guards at the tomb. The gospel of John includes some information that Matthew, Mark, and Luke omit.

31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36 These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” 37 and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” (John 19:31-37)

Now there are a couple of things going here, that were different from normal crucifixions.

First, the Jews asked Pilate to break the legs of the three men on the crosses so they would not be able to hold themselves up and they would suffocate to death. Why did the Jews asked Pilate to do that? Some think it was because they didn’t want the bodies to there on the Sabbath. However, the Jews had no problem with Roman crucifixions or the bodies of the crucified remaining on the Sabbath or any other day. So why was it important to them that Jesus and the two robbers’ bodies be removed before this particular Sabbath?

The Bible tells us plainly that this day was the “Preparation Day,” which was a “high Sabbath.” Each year, the Passover would be immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Passover was one day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread was seven days long.

The Jews observed seven different feasts. These feasts were assigned by God to held at specific days during a month of the year. For example, the Passover was to be held on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar. The Jewish calendar typically started in March or April. And so the 14th day of the first month may have been any day of the week, not necessarily on the Sabbath. When the Passover fell on a Sabbath, this was called a “high Sabbath.” This Sabbath was more important than others because it was the beginning of a feast. And that’s what was happening here. The Jewish Sabbath began on Friday at 6:00 pm, so something had to be done with these dead bodies because this was a special Sabbath day.

Second, we might assume that once a person was dead on the cross, that the family would take the body and bury it. But that’s not what normally happened. Even when the Romans would brake the prisoner's legs to hasten death they usually wouldn’t allow the body to be buried. Usually the body was left to rot on the cross and this was done as a deterrent to those who entered the city. Crucifixion was capital punishment and the sight of the crosses to those who came into the city was a grim reminder of the justice that awaited those who engaged in criminal activity. In this particular case, the bodies were allowed to be removed to please the Jews.

However, even then the removal of the bodies did not mean they would be buried. More often than not the bodies would be tossed into an area, like a landfill, outside of the city. Under these circumstances, it would take a miracle for Jesus to be buried, much less to rise from the grave. But that wasn’t God’s plan. Jesus himself had said he would be buried and rise on the third day. And so we’re told that the body of Jesus was given to a man named Joseph from the small town of Arimathea for burial.

Because of these two unusual events: the Jews asking for the bodies to be brought down from the cross and Joseph being given permission to bury the body of Jesus, the stage was set for the resurrection. God is at work even when we don’t see him.

SERMON

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The disciples must have been devastated. They had been inspired by his teachings had decided to follow him. It had not been an easy road, but they had willingly left families, homes, and jobs to follow Jesus. As they walked with him they had seen amazing things. They had seen him multiply a few loaves and fishes and feed the multitudes. They saw him walk on water, and calm an angry storm. They saw him straighten crooked limbs and give sight to the blind. He even raised the dead back to life again. Truly, he was the Messiah that God had promised would come.

The previous Sunday, when he entered Jerusalem, seemed to be a perfect climax to it all. To be in that crowded parade; to listen to their jubilant “Hosannas” and watch as they waved palm branches and threw flowers before him. Everything confirmed that they had followed the right man. But now he is dead. How could they have been so wrong? What would they do now? What do you do when your heart is filled with despair? What do you do when your world falls apart?

So what did happen at the cross that day and what lessons can we apply to our lives today?

As I’ve already mention, the Bible tells us that Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus. We don’t know much Joseph, but here’s what we do know. First of all, he was from Arimathea, a small town about twenty miles from Jerusalem. As towns go, Arimathea wasn’t very important, but Joseph himself evidently was. Mark tells us that Joseph was “a prominent member of the Council.” SLIDE 2

Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Mark 15:43)

The Council was the Sanhedrin, the supreme judicial authority of Israel. It was the council that had Jesus arrested, tried, and handed over to the Romans for execution. But Luke tells us he was against the decision of the Council. SLIDE 3

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. (Luke 23:50-51a)

SLIDE 4 Second, Matthew tells us that Joseph was rich. He was wealthy enough to own a brand new tomb in Jerusalem.

Third, Joseph had an acquaintance named Nicodemus. You remember Nicodemus. He was also a member of the Sanhedrin Council. In John 3 we’re told that Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night. As a member of the Council, he probably went at night so that he wouldn’t be seen. And it was to Nicodemus, that Jesus said:

Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. (John 3:3)

So here was Nicodemus at the cross, helping Joseph of Arimathea to take care of the body of Christ. Both of these council members were secret disciples of Jesus.

There was a little boy who had adopted a stray dog. Someone asked, “What kind of dog is that?” He answered, “He’s a police dog.” The man said, “He doesn’t look like a police dog.” The boy answered, “That’s because he’s in the secret service.”

There are some Christians who seem to be in the secret service, following Jesus at a distance. They want to be his disciples, but like Joseph of Arimathea, they’re not sure they want everyone else to know. So they keep their faith secret.

Now, after his death, they do the only thing left to do – they bury his body. They unashamedly attended to the body of Jesus in public. They were no longer disciples of Jesus in secret. The task at hand was more important than hiding their faith in Jesus. They not only became publicly known as believers in Jesus at that time, their faith in Jesus has been on display for more than two-thousand years since.

After they carefully removed the body of Jesus from the cross, they tenderly moved him to a new tomb that belonged to Joseph. Once there they prepared his body for burial in the manner of the Jews. They wrapped him in linen cloth and spices. And finally, they placed his body in the tomb and rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and departed.

Joseph and Nicodemus weren’t the only ones at the tomb though. We’re told that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there.

Do you realize that Jesus acted differently toward women than the average Jewish man? He treated women with respect. He acknowledged the presence of women. He spoke to them in public. No rabbi or Pharisee would have done that! So these two women whose lives had been touched by Jesus were there. They had been with others at the cross, weeping as he died. And now they were there as he was being buried.

Enemies of Jesus were at the tomb as well. Matthew tells us how the chief priest and the Pharisees went to Pilate asking that the tomb of Jesus be guarded so that his body wouldn’t be stolen. They remembered the prophecy Jesus had given about rising from the dead after three days. It’s not that they thought it would happen, but that they wanted to make sure the disciples didn’t pretend it had happened. It’s interesting that the enemies of Jesus remembered that he had predicted his resurrection. And because his enemies remembered, they asked Pilate to guard the tomb.

James Stuart commented that the most pathetic sentence in human literature was that of Pilate to the priests when he said, “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” Stuart asks:

What would you say to a man who stands in the gray of dawn and says to the rising sun, “Stop! You cannot soar into the heavens today”? Or what would you say to a man who stands on the beach and draws a line in the sand and says to the tide, “Halt! You cannot cross this line”? You would say to each of them, “You are mad!” So what do you say to Roman soldiers who stand with spears in hand, guarding the tomb which holds the Lord of Life, trying to keep him from rising from the dead?“

Here are four lessons we should learn.

SLIDE 5 The first one is be realistic.

The Christian life can be an emotional roller coaster. For the disciples it was exactly that. For them, Palm Sunday was a mountain-top experience. Then came Friday and the cross. And then Sunday and the resurrection. Up and down, up and down, and up again.

There are some who believe that once we become a Christian our troubles will be over, and everything will be wonderful from then on. But as we mature in the faith, as we learn to be realistic about our lives, we can say with the apostle Paul, SLIDE 6

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. SLIDE 7 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. SLIDE 8 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13)

SLIDE 9 Here’s a second lesson, be patient.

Desperate circumstances sometimes can be quickly reversed. For the disciples it took only three days. On Friday they are in deep despair, but by Sunday night they’re on top of the mountain because of the resurrection. So sometimes things can be quickly reversed.

Sometimes we wonder why God allows us to find ourselves in desperate circumstances. The answer ought to be clear. God allows us to experience desperate things in life so that we’ll turn to him. Oftentimes it is only when we’re desperate or in despair, that we really recognize our need of God.

Why did God allow Moses to reach the shore of the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit? So that the people would turn to God for help. Then God parted the waters of the Red Sea and the children of Israel walked across on dry ground.

Why did God permit Joseph to spend two years in an Egyptian prison? So that he would depend completely on God. Then God gave him the meaning of Pharaoh’s dreams and soon he was the Prime Minister of Egypt.

Why did God allow Jonah to be thrown overboard into a stormy sea? So that he could send a special fish to rescue Jonah and vomit him up on the shore. Then Jonah could preach the message of God to the people of Nineveh.

Things may not be going well, but be patient.

SLIDE 10 Here is the third lesson, be faithful.

Even when God doesn’t immediately change your circumstances remain faithful. Keep believing and keep trusting. I think the ultimate test of faith is not what do we do when the problems are taken away. The ultimate test of faith in our lives is what do we do if the problems are not taken away. Maybe you have a situation filled with stress and tension, and there seems to be no solution to it. It’s easy to trust God when things are going well, can you trust God when things are going bad?

The Living Bible tells us in 1 Peter: SLIDE 11

So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here. These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

SLIDE 12 And the fourth lesson is God’s plan is better than all of our plans.

Becky Pepper tells the children’s story “Once Upon a Mountaintop.” It’s about three little trees growing on the top of a mountain. These trees were talking together one day. (In children’s stories trees can talk with one another.) One tree said to the others, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

One answered, “Well, when I look up at the heavens and see the stars sparkling in the sky, I think to myself, ‘I’d like to be a treasure chest that holds diamonds and precious stones.’ ”

The other one said, “Well, when I grow up, I want to be part of a giant ship that sails across the sea carrying kings and queens to important destinations.”

Then the one who asked the question in the first place said, “When I grow up I just want to stay right here. I want to grow tall and straight, pointing to the heavens so that everyone who comes up on the mountain will look at me and think of God.”

Over the years the trees grew and grew. Finally, men came and cut the trees and took them down from the mountain.

The first one was delighted to find that he was being taken to a carpenter’s shop. But he was devastated when he discovered that he was not going to be made into a treasure chest, but rather, into a feeding trough. And instead of holding precious stones, he would hold hay and feed for animals. And animals would come and slobber over him.

The second one was delighted to find that he was being taken to the seaside. But then he was devastated to discover that he was not going to be part of a giant ship, but just a tiny fishing boat. And his cargo would not be kings and queens taken to important places, but dead, smelly fish.

The third tree was disappointed that he was cut down at all. He had just wanted to stay on top of the mountain. He was even more disappointed when he was cut into beams that were placed in a stack of lumber and forgotten.

Years passed and one day two people came into the stable where the young feeding trough had now grown old and worn through years of use. The old feeding trough watched as the woman gave birth to a baby, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and then laid him in the feeding trough. And he thought to himself, “I am a treasure chest, because now I hold the most precious thing that has ever come into this world.”

More years passed, and one day the second tree was sailing across the Sea of Galilee. On board were strangers, mostly fishermen. Suddenly the winds came up and blew fiercely, and the waves began to beat against the little ship. Then one of the men stood up and said, “Peace, be still.” And the little ship suddenly realized that his task was not to carry kings, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Two more years passed and one day the third tree was yanked from the lumber pile, and placed on the shoulders of a man who had to carry it through jeering crowds toward a hill called Calvary. When they got there the beam was tossed to the ground, and the man was placed upon it. Then the tree felt the penetration of the nails driven through the man’s hands, and into its wood. And as the people gathered around cursing and mocking the man, the poor tree felt ugly and hated, too. But then the man was taken down and buried in a tomb, and on the third day raised from the dead. And the tree said, “Now I know that every time men look at me they’ll think of God.”

We can be realistic, and patient, and faithful because we know that God’s plan is better than all of our plans.