Luke 23:48-24:13

Intro:

Why did Luke write Luke?

Luke 1:1–4 ESV

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

He wants Theophlis to know the real Jesus

The REAl Jesus:

Fulfilled prophecy

lived and taught faithfully and righteously

Made claims to be God and did things only God can do

what he did and taught were verified by witnesses

I want to take little detour over to the book of John to to show you that not only was Jesus crucified and he REALLY died.

John 19:31–37 (ESV)

Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

Why the Legs were broken

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.

John himself was standing at the cross and saw this take place.

For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

These are old testament scriptures quoted to show that even in his death, Jesus was fulfilling the prophesies about the Savior.

Buried - Faithfulness in the Darkness

There is no question that this is the lowest point in the story. Most of the followers, including many of Jesus closest friends have run and hid in dispare.

Jesus had said “It is finished” and from a human perspective it very much felt finished, but praise God that there is a difference between finishing a task and completing the work!

At this low point, there are still those who are faithful and I want to start our time today to look at those moments of faithfulness in the the darkness

The Faithful Grieved

Luke 23:48–49 ESV

And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.

It is not wrong to grieve even when we know “it will all be ok”.

Jesus did it John 11:35

John 11:35 ESV

Jesus wept.

We don’t know for sure if ANY of the people present believed Jesus would rise from the dead but no matter, it was not a lack of faith for them to grieve

We live on the other side of the cross and resurrection. That should help us to endure grief but it does not eliminate it…YET

It’s ok to grieve loss.

1. We should not rush ourselves to be over it

2. We should be patient and supportive of others in their time of grief

3. It is ok right be grieved by the cross.

It was my sin that nailed him there

Injustice was done

unimaginable pain was suffered

The Faithful Sacrificed

Luke 23:50–53 ESV

Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.

He sacrificed position and possession

He was part the highest possible group in jewish culture. This was a stand against them.

John 19:38–39 ESV

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. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

By doing this his connection to Jesus was secret no longer and his position as a leader was in jeopardy

Having a family tomb was expensive.

It would have been a mark against his family forever that he buried an executed criminal in the family tomb

Jospeh willingly laid all that aside

The Faithful Honored Jesus

Luke 23:53–56 ESV

Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

1st century jewish burial practices

They did not want his body to be on the cross over night

Deuteronomy 21:22–23 ESV

“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance.

They wanted him to be buried in a tomb with honor not left to rot, thrown into a mass grave or garbage dump

He was wrapped in A burial shroud and placed in a tomb

After the body of a person had decomposed, the bones would be collected and placed in an ossuary.

They did not want to disobey God by breaking the Sabbath

According to the Jewish law, work had to be completed in advance of the Sabbath, which began at sundown.

Luke Jesus is Laid in the Tomb / 23:50–56 / 237

Sabbath began at sundown on Friday. Sabbath ended at sundown on Saturday.

So they did not complete the traditional burial process which involved covering the body in scented spices to cover the smells of decomposition.

I want to pause for a moment

The Burial is very important to the Gospel story

I have often thought of it as an after thought but it is anything but.

Paul includes it when he preaches

Acts 13:29 ESV

And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

He includes it in his ultimate summery of the whole gospel “That he was buried”

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

No one argued the reality of the burial

Luke as a Dr. would have been particularly interested in this

Burial further verifies the reality of Jesus humanity and that he TRUELY Died.

We now move from the darkness to the dawn

Risen - faith becomes sight

Luke 24:1–3 ESV

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Who knows what was going through their minds

I assume they were very much in the physical world mind-set.

Luke 24:4–8 ESV

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words,

Jesus done told them

Luke 9:22 ESV

saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Luke 18:31–33 ESV

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

I want to make not of this: When angels spoke to the woman, they utilized Jesus own words to verify their message. The ladies needed a messaged from God. They already had the messaged they needed. SO DO YOU

Luke 24:9–12 ESV

and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

In the Graeco-Roman world of the first century, the testimony of women was considered unreliable and could not be used to settle legal disputes. For this reason, the mention of women being the first eyewitnesses of the empty tomb suggests that Luke is faithfully reporting the early church’s recollection of this event. It also shows the vital role of women in Jesus’ ministry.

So What?

1. Men and women are equally important, reliable, valuable, believable, worthy of respect, worthy of honor

2. Without the Life, Death, Burial, AND Resurrection of Jesus, there is no christianity.

1 cor 15:14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain

There is evidence for ALL of these things. If you have any questions or doubts check out these two resources: “The Case For Christ” “The Case for Easter”

3. “Remember how He told you” - How do we not forget the gospel?

Remember how he told you:

  ■ We will be rejected and insulted on account of our faith—but we are also blessed (6:22–23).

■ We are children of God, enjoying his generous rewards, as we love our enemies in the way that he did, and does (6:35).

■ We are called to lose our lives for the sake of the gospel—and we will save our eternal lives in so doing (9:24).

■ Greatness is found in being “the least” (9:48).

■ God gives us the Holy Spirit (11:13).

■ Blessing is found in obedience to God’s word (11:28).

■ We have nothing to fear in death, for we are known and valued by the One who has power over our eternal destiny (12:4–7).

■ If we stand publicly for Jesus today, he will stand and affirm us as his subjects on the final day (12:8).

■ We have no need to be anxious, for all the riches of God’s kingdom have been given to us (12:32).

■ Jesus is coming back (12:40)—and we won’t miss it (17:22–24).

■ The Son of Man’s return will bring justice for his people (18:7–8).

■ Whatever you give up to follow Christ—and following Christ will mean giving much up—you will receive far more in this life, and infinitely more in the next (18:29–30).  

our minds are like a tire with a slow leak - it leaks truth and we have to keep filling it

“Sometimes we are perplexed and frightened when the answer to our problem is right in front of us.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.