GOLGOTHA TO GLORY part 2

We worship on Sundays because of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He is the head of the church…we honor him in doing this.

INTRODUCTION

Last week we finished with the somber note from Mark chapter number 15 with the centurion confessed, “truly this man was the son of God!” And even though that is an amazing revelation that we hope all of the world comes to, that’s not a great place to stop the account of Golgotha…

Jesus didn’t remain on the cross…

GOLGOTHA’S FINISH

LET’S READ ON IN JOHN’S ACCOUNT:

John 19:31–42 ESV

31 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. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 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. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” 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.

JESUS IS DEAD.

“This was far from the first or last time Roman soldiers crucified mass numbers of suspected insurrectionists. Over the span of centuries, the Romans repeated this practice with tens of thousands of rebels and slaves, spiking them to wooden beams in grotesque positions and leaving them to die. Suspended naked before the world, the cadavers of the crucified screamed a silent warning, declaring the inevitable demise of anyone who dared to defy the power of Rome. For dissidents and enslaved persons in particular, crucifixion loomed as a constant threat. Of the many thousands of victims who lived and died on the margins of the Roman social order, only the minutest fraction of names were recorded. Fewer still can be recalled today.

And yet, two thousand years after his death, the name of one crucified man is cherished around the globe.”

[Did the Resurrection Really Happen? / Timothy Paul Jones]

JESUS IS DEAD.

Death is FINAL and Death is IRREVERSIBLE…(pause) USUALLY!

Nothing changes this—nothing natural, that is.

But what of the supernatural?

Could God raise his Messiah from the dead?

We have record that his own disciples do not seem to expect that God will do so.

Death by crucifixion is too great an obstacle!

Jesus being crucified on the cross completely overturned all of the disciples preconceived messianic expectations.

There is NO WAY God’s true Messiah could die like that.

In Deut 21, God told the peopled that those who died on a tree like this are either blasphemers or traitors (Deut. 21:22–23)?

If Matthew had ended at chapter 27,

If Mark had ended at chapter 15,

If Luke had ended at chapter 23,

If John had ended at chapter 19,

there would be no hope of life...

DEAFENING SILENCE FALLS.

If the life of Jesus ended when they laid him in the grave,

then there’s no meaningful difference between him and all the other would-be messiahs executed by the Romans.

One church father, Augustine of Hippo told his congregation in the fifth century, “It is no great thing to believe that Christ died.

This is what matters to us, that we believe that he rose from the dead.”

If Jesus rises again…if He is alive, then it is UNDENIABLY CLEAR that heaven has made an appearance on earth, and that changes everything.

THE GLORIOUS RESURRECTION

Let’s look a John’s account this morning.

John 20:1–31 ESV

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

JESUS CHRIST IS THE MAIN ATTRACTION OF THIS ACCOUNT - OF ALL OF SCRIPTURE.

John 20:30–31 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

OF all the many people in view, John seems to tighten the lens on MARY in his account.

Notice the initial reaction of despair and confusion

She runs back to Peter and John to tell them

They take off to check it out

John makes it there first and looks in from the door but doesn’t go in.

Peter rushes in (as we would expect him too)

They discover the linen burial shrouds folded neatly on the place where Jesus body had laid

Then John goes in to see for himself

They saw. They believed what they saw. But they didn’t understand the Scripture connection yet - that He must rise from the DEAD.

They return to the other disciples

Mary stands outside the tomb weeping. Still wondering where the body of Jesus has been taken.

She sees TWO ANGELS seated where Jesus body had been. They weren’t there a moment ago - they are now.

THEY say, “why are you weeping?”

Still confused, she says, “they’ve taken my LORD’s body somewhere - I don’t know what’s going on.”

She turns around - and there is JESUS

She thinks he’s a gardener

He says, WOMAN, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?

She says, “did you take him away?”

He says, “MARY”

She turns to Him and calls him Teacher!

She likely was ready to lunge at him and embrace him and kiss his feet

He says, we can’t do that now - GO TELL THE OTHERS!

Mary’s first report was in confusion and dismay - even though the promise had been fulfilled.

Mary’s second report was with precision and assurance - I HAVE SEEN THE LORD…AND HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

NOTE:

Like Mary, you may have come to encounter God today - but like Mary you may mistake Him for something He isn’t.

He isn’t a generic God.

He isn’t here to fix your financial problem, enhance your already wonderful life or go along with your plan.

He is here…His voice…His Word is calling you to place your trust in Christ Alone.

THIS IS A NOT A GENERIC GOD WITH A GENERIC ACT FOR A GENERIC PEOPLE…!

This is the God of this Bible, the Creator of the Universe, who so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for the sins of the world - to rise on the third day so that we might not perish, but have everlasting life!

>>Let’s continue

That evening, Jesus would appear to THE DISCIPLES (minus Thomas) behind locked doors.

PEACE WITH YOU. Then He shows them the scars.

Then He commissions them again (John 20:21)

THEN TO THOMAS

Thomas may have been slow to believe, but he was not slow to grasp the implications of Christ’s resurrection. Jesus was not only his Lord but his God. The evidence was palpable, substantive, and clear. Thomas’s faith rested on solid rock!

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Is He Your Lord and Your God?

I believe in this Jewish Nazarene who was the Word of God with flesh on.

I believe that Jesus Christ, the Messiah came to this earth from Heaven on a rescue mission and drew his first breath of from between a virgin’s knees.

I believe that Jesus did no wrong, said no wrong, thought no wrong - by the standard of perfection and purity.

I believe in this wandering rabbi who was crucified on the cross, died on that cross, was taken down from that cross and placed in the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

I believe that Jesus Christ returned from the dead on the third day.

I believe this Messiah - truly man - but unlike any other - is also the second person of the Trinity - truly God!

I’m convinced by the Scripture that this God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - this God who crafted the cosmos in the beginning - will some day return to this earth; He will recreate the world; and the whole earth will be under His rule and filled with His glory!

I believe.

History Records.

Prophecy Foretells.

IT’S TRUE…IT’S ALL TRUE!

HE CAME, JUST LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD!

HE DIED, JUST LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD!

HE ROSE, JUST LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD!

HE IS COMING BACK!

OUR FOCUS IS ON JESUS THIS MORNING!

OUR FOCUS IS ON JESUS EVERY SUNDAY!

We exist to know Him, love Him, and obey Him - JESUS TOGETHER! and make disciple-making disciples for HIS Glory!

BUT JUST LIKE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE IN THE TEXT AS THE RESURRECTION UNFOLDS; THERE ARE SOME HERE TODAY WHO CAN IDENTIFY…

…With Mary; the disciples, maybe THOMAS, maybe Peter & John

MARY was singing your song. You may not admit it to those around you, but it seems like the relationships you care most about are slipping away or gone. You’re confused, a bit in despair because you seem to have no information and little control over so many elements.

DESPAIR MAY KEEP YOU FROM SEEING CHRIST CLEARLY!

Perhaps, like THE DISCIPLES, you are paralyzed with fear. If you could, you would hide yourself away in room to cut off the outside world and its clear and present danger.

UNHEALTHY FEAR MAY BE CLOUDING YOUR MIND AND AFFECTING YOUR JUDGMENT!

Maybe you’re not crippled with fear. You can walk with your head held high around your home, on the job, even at church this morning…but like THOMAS, your faith is shaken a bit…or a lot. You’re not about to throw in the towel, but you sure could use some encouragement from the LORD Himself. THOMAS has your number!

UNRESOLVED DOUBTS ARE WEAKENING YOUR FAITH TODAY!

I’m also aware of the folks online with a view and on-site in a pew who are ready to jump at the command to go. Like PETER AND JOHN, you’re ready to LIVE SENT…TO LIVE ON MISSION! You are ready to go! You want to check things out for yourself, you are built for mobility. You’re just waiting on something to happen before you take that leap of faith!

Christ is ENOUGH!

There IS GLORY in GOLGOTHA because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

There is GLORY FROM GOLGOTHA

Christ is the VICTOR for those tempted to despair.

2 Corinthians 4:7–10 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

The Risen Savior’s Perfect Love can cast out Unhealthy Fear

1 John 4:18 ESV

18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

The ROCK SOLID TRUTH OF HIS RESURRECTION ALONE can help you work through your unresolved doubts!

John 11:25–26 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

He’s calling your name this morning (BY HIS SPIRIT - From the Text)…will you call on His?

Romans 10:13 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

John 1:12 ESV

12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

1 John 3:1 ESV

1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

HAVE YOU CALLED on HIS NAME?…

HAVE YOU RECEIVED Him as Lord & God?

CAN YOU BE CALLED A CHILD OF GOD?

If not, call out to him now; He will save you.

If so, join me in COMMUNION…

COMMUNION

PRAYER

As we consider your holiness, Lord, we tremble before you and close our mouths in holy fear.

You are not like us; you are the Lord. You owe us nothing; you are the Lord.

We deserve your righteous displeasure, rebuke, and curse. You are the Lord.

And yet, you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

You are unfailingly good to each one of us, and your mercy never ends.

We know that this amazing grace is found only in your Son Jesus.

He was punished so we could be forgiven;

treated as a blasphemer and traitor so we could be blessed as worshipers;

executed as a criminal so we could receive a son’s inheritance;

and crushed with pain so we could taste joy and pleasure forever.

SUCH GRACE!

and today, we are keenly reminded of JESUS CHRIST’S POWER OF DEATH ITSELF!

SUCH POWER!

This is the gospel.

This is our hope and joy and very life.

In Jesus’s name. Amen.

OPENING

Today, during our time of communion, we are doing as Jesus directed us to do...

we remember His work FOR US

and His work IN US.

Jesus came to display a righteousness that we could never earn.

His righteousness is given to us and made OURS — through faith in His work for us.

This is how we are saved... rescued!

These ELEMENTS are the gifts of God — for the people of God.

Through this table, we proclaim the Gospel:

Christ HAS died

Christ IS risen

Christ WILL come again

Let’s pray...

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, as we now celebrate this meal that you have prepared for us, these elements are visible reminders of OUR SIN AND the supreme sacrifice of your Son (his blood shed for us and for our salvation on a real cross).

So, Lord, as we meditate on the realities of our sin and your salvation, we ask for your help in fully confessing our sins in the silence as we prepare for this moment of worship.

(Silence)

If you are not in a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ this morning, let the church - not just those in the pews - BUT those that have been washed and cleansed by the blood of Jesus - let us demonstrate the Gospel to you this morning as we gather at the Lord’s Table.

THE BREAD

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 ESV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

As you taste the bread this morning, remember that as real as that bread is in your mouth, so real is the fact that the Son of God became a man and gave up His body for you so that you might have eternal life.

Father, thank you for sending Jesus Christ - the bread of life.

Lord, thank you for our hunger for righteousness - that’s a gift from you that we sense even now.

We bless you for the fact that Jesus Christ was robed in flesh - though truly God, also truly man - and suffered in His body for our sins.

Take…eat...

THE CUP

1 Corinthians 11:25 ESV

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

As you taste the fruit of the vine this morning, remember the sweetness of having your sins forgiven because Jesus poured out His blood for you.

Father, thank you for sending Jesus Christ - the lamb of God - to shed His precious blood as payment in full for our sin debt.

Lord, thank you for our thirst for righteousness - a gift from you that drives us to Jesus. He hung on Calvary’s cross, bled, and died - dying a death and bearing the wrath that we deserved…He the precious spotless lamb of God.

Thank you for the blood of Christ which this cup points us to this morning.

Take…drink...

1 Corinthians 11:26 ESV

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Father in heaven, we bow our heads now because Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

We bow in reverence and worship and adoration for the PERSON of Christ, the WORDS of Christ, and today for the CROSS of Christ.

Now fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit, so that our worship from this moment forward will bring true honor to you—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and genuine encouragement and strength to our souls.

As we FOLLOW YOU, let others see that we are being CHANGED BY YOU! Then Lord, lead us to someone this week that we can POINT TO YOU by sharing the Gospel.

We pray this in Jesus’s name. 

Amen.

——

“Christianity is true, not because it works for people in that pragmatic, utilitarian way, but because nearly two thousand years ago, outside of the center city of Jerusalem, the Son of God was crucified for our sins and was raised for our justification. This historical event may not fix our marriages, our relationships, or our messed-up lives the way we would like and in the timing we would like, but it saves us from the wrath of God to come.” (M. Horton)