The Life of Christ (13)- Death & Burial

Wednesday Bible Study The Life of Christ (13)- Death & Burial

March 27, 2024

In what specific ways might helping a person mourn in the midst of pain be a better approach than telling someone to “cheer up” or to “keep a stiff upper lip”?

What types of situations cause grief?

Divorce, job-loss or passed over for a position, financial loss, death of loved-one, a “forced” move, retirement, miscarriage (this IS a death), abortion (past or present)

Stages (Westberg, G. E. (1971). Good Grief (p. 5). Fortress Press.)

Stage One We Are in a State of Shock

Stage Two We Express Emotion

Stage Three We Feel Depressed and Very Lonely

Stage Four We May Experience Physical Symptoms of Distress

Stage Five We May Become Panicky

Stage Six We Feel a Sense of Guilt about the Loss

Stage Seven We Are Filled with Anger and Resentment

Stage Eight We Resist Returning

Stage Nine Gradually Hope Comes Through

Stage Ten We Struggle to Affirm Reality

How to help?

Listen, pray, scriptures

What does mean? 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NLT) And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.

How have you been encouraged or discouraged by others in times of personal grief and loss?

Purpose of this lesson: To consider the mysterious triumph of the kingdom of heaven through the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross.

READ: Matthew 27:1-66

Watch Video

Crucifixion was the primary means of execution for those who were NOT citizens of the Roman Empire. It answers the question: “Who holds the power?”

Passover (when Jesus was crucified) was a rallying cry to the Jews to remember their deliverance from Egypt. So Romans, especially Potius Pilate, used it to re-assert that Rome was in charge — no one can deliver you.

The Jews sought to shift the blame of Jesus’ death to Rome.

Reaction: Jesus crucified at eye-level?

Reaction: Crucified through wrists and ankle bones. 6 hours on the cross. Others would take days to die.

During His crucifixion, Jesus quoted the words of Psalm 22. Read

Psalm 22:1–8 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my groaning. 2 O my God, I call by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. 3 Yet You are holy, Enthroned upon the praises of Israel. 4 In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You rescued them. 5 To You they cried out and were granted escape; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; They smack their lip, they wag their head, saying, 8 “Commit yourself to Yahweh; let Him rescue him; Let Him deliver him, because He delights in him.”

Psalm 22:11–18“Be not far from me, for distress is near; For there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. 13 They open wide their mouth at me, As a lion that tears and roars. 14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; 18 They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.”

What do these scriptures tell us about Jesus on the Cross?

Jesus’ death and even the words of His response were fore-ordained millennia before it happened.

Thoughts about Jesus’ burial in Joseph’s tomb even though Romans did not allow proper burial of those crucified. Isaiah 53:9

Isaiah 53:9 (LSB) So His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

Reaction: A body was placed in a front preparation chamber before being taken deeper to an inner chamber where for a year decay would reduce the body to bones which were then placed in an ossuary.

Joseph and Nicodemus ultimate honor to bury Jesus — could not be repaid.

Round stone - royalty dues to expense of crafting such a stone?

Probably square stone, but still rolled into place.

How did the disciples react in the hours after Jesus’ lifeless body was removed from the Cross? Although He had warned them multiple times of what was about to happen, they did not understand. Instead of being prepared, they were consumed with fear and doubt (Luke 24:36–38).

Luke 24:36–38 (LSB) Now while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But being startled and frightened, they were thinking that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

What can we learn from their example?

We need to listen closely to the Word of God AND the Holy Spirit — which means Bible reading and prayer.

Where did they succeed, and where did they fail?

John was there in support (others not so much).

John willingly received Jesus’ request to look after His mother.

How can WE keep our faith when all hope seems lost?

Hebrews 12:1–3 (LSB) Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting in heart.

Colossians 3:1–2 (LSB) Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Isaiah 40:28–31 (LSB) Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weary, And to him who lacks vigor He increases might. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And choice young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who hope [wait, are intertwined] in Yahweh Will gain new power; They will mount up with wings like eagles; They will run and not get tired; They will walk and not become weary.

1. What emotional reactions do you have to Matthew 27?

Question 1. This is a grim chapter. Jesus is killed. It appears that evil will triumph. Both the international authorities (the Romans) and the local authorities (the Jewish leaders) participate in Jesus’ death. You may discover that there is a sense of letdown as you finish the study. This is to be expected. We all need to look at the terrible reality of the death of Jesus at the hands of humankind. After you finish the study, encourage people to look forward to the last chapter, the resurrection.

2. In what ways and by whom is Jesus mocked (vv. 27–44)?

Soldiers (before crucifixion) - stripped him, scarlet robe, crown of thorns, reed in hand, knelt down, said “Hail...”

Passersby (He is on the Cross) - insults, wagged their heads

Chief priests, scribes and elders (on Cross) -

Thieves crucified with Him: used same words (as Chief priests, etc.?)

Why do they mock Jesus?

Question 2. It is obvious that Jesus’ message has gotten through, and people now know what he teaches. Those who mock him demonstrate that they just do not believe him.

Jesus is mocked for saying that He is a king, that He can raise up the temple of God, that He is the Son of God and that He has come to save Israel. If He dies (and stays dead), then obviously all these statements are indeed false and Jesus will be shown to be a fake.

3. As death begins to engulf him, Jesus cries out to God (vv. 45–46). What do his cry and the overshadowing darkness reveal about his relationship to the Father during this torment?

Question 3. There is a disruption in the Trinity that has effects through all of creation. Jesus is quoting Psalm 22:1 which reads, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?”

4. Was it necessary for Jesus to feel that God had forsaken him? Why or why not?

Yes. He experienced what WE deserve.

5. As the centurion witnesses the strange events surrounding Jesus’ death, he exclaims, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (v. 54). What clues do the unusual events referred to in verses 45–56 provide for understanding the events of this chapter?

6. Observe the role Jesus’ followers play during the events of His crucifixion and burial (vv. 55–61). How do you think they felt?

Question 6. Most of Jesus’ followers were not present.

However, the women watched from a distance.

Joseph was also courageous in asking for the body of Jesus.

Some of the emotions they might have felt were sadness, responsibility, loyalty, love, care and pain.

7. Look over the entire chapter again. How is the character of each person revealed as they respond to Jesus in captivity and death?

It’s easy to “kick” a person when they are down. Human nature?

8. Observe the final measures the chief priests and Pharisees take to insure that their victory over Jesus is complete (vv. 62–66). How does the guarding of the tomb bring together the power of the Romans with the power of the Jews?

9. This chapter is filled with irony.

Satan’s triumph is actually his defeat.

Christ’s “defeat” is actually his triumph.

How should this challenge our views about the way God works in our lives?

10. Where in your life do you need hope?

Question 10. This question is not meant to be guilt-inducing. Sometimes we are in a situation of pain and suffering that we must give to God again and again. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have faith. It’s part of the process of finding hope in God.

What would it take for you to find that hope in God?

Ask God to give you the faith to face the pain that comes from living in a world that kills its Savior.

Now or Later

Saturday is the missing day in this last week of Jesus’ life. It is a day of waiting. In some traditions an Easter vigil is kept in the church. People pray and read Scripture throughout the night, watching for Jesus. Create your own Easter vigil time of prayer and waiting this week as you prepare for Easter.[1]

As Good Friday ended and Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb, His followers were likely consumed with one question: What’s next?

It is astounding to consider what can happen when we simply obey God during life’s most difficult moments.

· Paul followed God obediently during his second missionary journey, listening when the Holy Spirit prevented him from visiting the provinces of Asia and Bithynia. Having been redirected, Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia asking for help. He “decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there” (Acts 16:10). As a result, the gospel spread to Greece and churches were established in Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth.

· Philip, also known as “Philip the Evangelist,” was one of the early elders of the Jerusalem church. An angel of the Lord told Philip to walk down a certain road where he would encounter a high-ranking eunuch from Ethiopia. Philip shared the gospel with him, and as a result, the good news of Jesus spread to Africa (Acts 8:26–40).

The disciples could have interpreted Jesus’ teachings on the Sabbath to allow for fleeing Jerusalem, rather than resting, if their lives were in danger. After all, Jesus had said, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). However, their decision to obey Sabbath laws is part of the reason they stayed in Jerusalem and were able to visit the empty tomb and see the risen Jesus.

• Have there been any times in your life when simple obedience led to an answered prayer or an encounter with God?

• In what areas can you recommit to obey God wholeheartedly and believe for a miracle? [2]

[1]Bunch, C., ed. (2000). Jesus’ Final Week: 8 Studies for Individuals or Groups: With Notes for Leaders (pp. 35–38). IVP Connect: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press.

[2]© 2022 by The General Council of the Assemblies of God, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved.