Buried and Raised

In 1963 the body of fourteen-year-old Addie Mae Collins, one of four AfricanAmerican girls tragically murdered in an infamous church bombing by white racists, was buried in Birmingham, Alabama. For years family members kept returning to the grave to pray and leave flowers. In 1998 they made the decision to disinter the deceased for reburial at another cemetery.

When workers were sent to dig up the body, however, they returned with a shocking discovery: The grave was empty.

Understandably, family members were terribly distraught. Hampered by poorly kept records, cemetery officials scrambled to figure out what had happened. Several possibilities were raised, the primary one being that her tombstone had been erected in the wrong place.¹

Excerpt from: "The Case for Easter: A Journalist Investigates Evidence for the Resurrection" by Lee Strobel. Scribd.

Jesus’ Burial Validates His Death; Jesus’ Resurrection Verifies His Divinity.

Joseph of Arimathea Asks Pilate for the Body of Jesus - V.42-45

The Day Before the Jewish Sabbath- Friday

Member of the Sanhedrin- No all the Sanhedrin were in oposition to Jesus

He was a believer - Looking for the Kingdom of God

BOLDLY went to Pilate and asked for Jesus Body

Followed the Scriptures

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 “22 “If anyone is found guilty of an offense deserving the death penalty and is executed, and you hang his body on a tree, 23 you are not to leave his corpse on the tree overnight but are to bury him that day, for anyone hung on a tree is under God’s curse. You must not defile the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.”

Galatians 3:13 “13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

Pilate was shocked he was dead. Crucifixion would last days sometimes.

John 19:31–37 “31 Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken. 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.”

Joseph and Nicodemus

John 19:38–42 “38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. 39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.”

The were Wealthy -

75 Pounds of Myrrh and Aloes, Linen cloths Fragrant spices

THe Koran Ahmadiya Muslims contend that Jesus fled to India

19th Centry Karl Bahrdt and others Jesus only Fainted

Jesus was given a liquid that and passed our and was reseusated

1929- Swoon Theory D.H. Lawrence - Jesus Fled to Egyptand he fell in love with the prietess Isis

Jesus’ Body is Laid in the Tomb - V. 46-47

Isaiah 53:9 “9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully.”

The Women Find the Tomb Empty - V. 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was over - The First Day of the Week

The Lord’s Day

Acts 20:7 “7 On the first day of the week, we assembled to break bread. Paul spoke to them, and since he was about to depart the next day, he kept on talking until midnight.”

1 Corinthians 16:2 “2 On the first day of the week, each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come.”

Revelation 1:10 “10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet”

The Stone was rolled away -

1.5-2 ton- 20 men could not roll it away

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 27

how.” 66 They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.

The womens Testimony was not legally Binding

This would have been a great embarrassment for the early church

“Let the words of the Law be burned rather than delivered to women and Blessed is he wose children are male but woe to thoes who are femal

Matthew 28:11–15 “11 As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ 14 If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.”

Psalm 16:10 “10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay.”

Hosea 6:2 “2 He will revive us after two days, and on the third day he will raise us up so we can live in his presence.”

The empty tomb does not prove the resurrection of the Jesus but it secures the reality of the resurrection-

APPLICATION

Just as the angle told the women Go Tell!

Regardless of your position or situation in life all people everywhere are commanded to Repent and Believe the Good News.

Mark 1:15 “15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!””

a. The Thief:

Luke 23:42–43 “42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

b. The Centurion Soldier:

Mark 15:39 “39 When the centurion, who was standing opposite him, saw the way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!””

c. The Sanhedrin Member:

Mark 15:43 “43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body.”

John 19:38 “38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—

d. The Women:

Mark 16:1 “1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they could go and anoint him.”

Regardless of socio economic status if you believe the good news you should be working to serve God with what he has given you - Your passion in life, Your relationships, Your time, your talents, and your treasures.