Final Cost / Last Sermon
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
What causes major change? It’s often a smaller trigger. “The last straw” breaks the camels back, sets a mind to change lifelong habits, or sets in motion the machinations of war.
In Israel, it was 1,400 innocent people.
In WW II it was one bombing mission that brought the entire US into the war.
In WW I it was the assassination of ONE PERSON! Archduke Ferdinand. This is why we have since outlawed Archdukes!
One event, one death, can change the world.
Today we’ll take a look at the one death that more than any other thing changed not just the world but more. Last week we considered the crucifixion. Today, we’ll learn from the burial of Jesus.
Pray
42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Jesus’ life and teaching were more influential than any other person in history. His death simultaneously more unjust and necessary than any other. With a life and death so pivotal, what can we say about His burial?
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Jesus was the most precious seed. We would expect to see much fruit from Him. There are three most important facts that early believers agreed were the core of the Gospel - or Good News - of Jesus. Paul appears to quote what is likely the earliest recorded creed or statement in the New Testament:
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
He was buried...
He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures
That three point confession likely dates to within a few years of Jesus’ death. Paul reminds his readers, and us, that these are the foundational elements of our belief.
To examine how that one death has changed the word, let’s look at three sets of audiences that witnessed His burial. And how they could respond.
I’ll start of with the named and specific examples then work towards the broader and more general.
The Least And The Greatest.
The Least And The Greatest.
Mark records one member of the council who would have sat in during much of the trial and discussion about Jesus. He would have heard the debates, listened to the evidence. He would have likely given his wisdom in how they should proceed.
Joseph was sincerely seeking God’s Kingdom. But cultural pressures seemed to have kept him from being a public follower of Jesus. When it says he ‘took courage and went to Pilate’ to ask for the body, I don’t think he was fearful of Pilate, but of his own peoples response to his actions.
I don’t think they were popular. But we do know he wasn’t alone. John records this about Jesus’ burial:
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
These two were among the ruling class. Socially, religiously, educationally - they were the top of the heap. When it came to honoring Jesus, what would they do?
But there is another group. They couldn’t hardly be more different. Women, not men. Marginal Galilean's, not of metropolitan Jerusalem. Under educated, not highly educated. Powerless, not influential.
Sure, those who would not likely see major ramifications of their actions could help in Jesus’ burial, but what of those with so much to loose and little standing?
Was the choice harder for these - the least? When bucking the system and ignoring those in control can cause major hardship, what would they do?
We can reflect on that question - What would I do? Do I lean into Jesus or hide away? Does His death encourage me to die to my old self and sin or do I continue as though it never happened?
What will I do?
The Near And The Far Off.
The Near And The Far Off.
The Bible at times speaks of the gentiles or other nations as those who are far off, and the people of Israel or the nation as those who are near. When using this language, they are usually spoken of together and there is a contrast between how judgment, blessing, or the future will unfold.
At the day of Jesus’ burial, The near and the far off must consider who Jesus was, and what His death meant.
The Far Off
“The Centurion” - Seeing how Jesus died, ‘surely this man was the Son of God.’ He would have been privy to Jesus activities during that week.
Pilate, who condemned Jesus, heard many claims about Jesus that would have made him stop to consider who He was. From his own interaction with Him, to the frantic behavior of the scribes and Pharisees, to his own wife warning him to have nothing to do with ‘that righteous man’. And now the suddenness of His death. This is what we know he knew.
The Near
Those Pharisees wanted the legs of those crucified broken that they would die sooner (to not burry on the Sabath). But Jesus was already dead.
Who many prophecies were fulfilled? Would they ever consider the truth?
The Chief Priest. Afraid of Jesus rising from the dead.
Seal the stone that His body wouldn’t be robbed.
Each of these had first person experiences with Jesus. Each engaged with who Jesus claimed to be. Even in His death, Jesus proclaimed His identity. How would they respond? Would they believe?
We are all here likely not Jewish. But whether Jewish or not, we are all confronted with how far Jesus was willing to go to pay for our sins, buy back those actively rebelling, redeem the lost. Jew of gentile. Searching for truth or committed to following Jesus. The death and burial of the one who was fully God and fully man - who had everything but gave it all up for you. We all have the same question to consider: Will you believe? And will that belief result in response?
The Living And The Dead.
The Living And The Dead.
I really wanted to use the KJV for this heading. When using this phrase, it says “the quick and the dead.” I don’t know why that makes me so amused? I’m sure it was a common expression then, but I have troubles not thinking about zombies - they aren’t dead. How so? Well, I guess they are LIKE dead, but they are quicker!
Jesus’ death was His final proclamation of His commitment and ability to remedy sin.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
The message of the Good News of Jesus is that He has provided that way to return from our rebellion.
Jesus suffered death for our guilt of sin. For who did He suffer?
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
I want to express what this passage might be saying, then expand it to what it certainly says.
If we take the direct meaning of this passage, some believe this teaches that when Jesus’ body died, His living soul proclaimed the message of redemption through own death to some set of 'spirits’ who had died long ago. Are these the people before the flood? The details of this view are not certain, just as this interpretation of this passage is not certain. Did Jesus preach to the dead?
Let me say this. Regardless of how you interpret this last passage, the answer to the question is YES. Down just a bit in 1 Peter we find this.
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
At the least, Peter is making clear that we are all dead in sin, and that Jesus death is the means for salvation. That Jesus death is good news for those who are spiritually dead, because through Him we might experience the same new life His resurrection promises.
In His death and burial, Jesus DID preach to the dead.
But that message of new life and hope is also for those who have been made new in Him. Are we who have recieved His gift of forgiveness and salvation to continue to walk around in the guilt of our former lives? Peter encourages his readers to leave that behind. To be self controlled and sober minded as we mirror Jesus example, loving one another, serving one another, encouraging one another.
The message of Jesus death is life. Life to the rebel who needs forgiveness. Life to the redeemed believer who needs a pattern to follow. But we don’t do any of it on our own. If we are to follow Jesus, we must lean on the power and the presence of God in our lives.
Will we listen?
The perfect Son of God, letting all things go and embracing death and the judgement of sin. Not just in theory, not in argument. Real nails, true torment, actual death. We all run from it, morn from it, destine to it. But we don’t choose it. Jesus chose it. Because it was His creation to redeem. His image bearers to save. And His death was the necessary means to accomplish it.
We will see the countless numbers of people through history who have chosen to follow Jesus. I pray you are one of them. We can see that the world was transformed by Jesus and His church.
But this morning, I ask you to consider how Jesus’ death impacts you? Don’t let the idea be too familiar, or too unimaginable. Don’t let it sit in the dissolving soup of theory - Jesus didn’t die so we could ponder Him. He died so we must grapple with Him. That we must answer those questions, live with the answers.
Jesus died for my sins. So what will I do about it?
As we sing:
Thank Jesus for His gift of Himself
Ask Him how He would have you respond
If you have question about following Jesus, please come see me during song or after service
Pray