According to the Scriptures Luke 23:44-24:12

When a weary world receives good news, it rejoices. It pays attention and wants more. During the height of the global shutdown from the COVID-19 pandemic, actor John Krasinski started a YouTube show called Some Good News. The show exploded in popularity, with over seventy-two million views in two months. The premise of the show was short stories focusing on good things people were doing for others all over the world (Joey Reams, “Why Some Good News with John Krasinski Disappeared,” 

The good news of the gospel, when shared with others, can create a thrill of hope.

The Gospel is Christ dead, buried, and risen from the grave.

I. Christ Died vv. 44-49

When we pick up Luke’s story this morning, strange things are happening, as Jesus hangs on the Cross

He tells us that darkness has fallen across the whole land, until the sun’s light failed completely

The darkness of the day serves as a backdrop to the horror of the moment; it is a day of judgment and a day on which the wrath of God has fallen

This is further evidenced within the Temple, where the curtain is torn

The barrier dividing sinful man from holy God, reminding us of the separation of sin, is no more

All of these evidences point to a bald fact: Christ has died

In His final moments, He commits His spirit into the hands of His Father

He is not a helpless victim, caught up in political turmoil or intrigue; He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep

He is the Lord’s servant who has been obedient to the very ends of obedience

He takes His final breath and crosses from life to death

In this moment, the people standing by are moved by what they see:

A centurion recognizes Jesus’s innocence and praises God for Him

The crowd, who came to witness a spectacle, do not leave with a thrill, but in agony over what they have witnessed

His followers stand by and take all of these things into consideration

The death of Jesus ought to cause us to consider:

The price of our sin

The depth of His love for us

The power of His obedience to His Father’s design

During World War II, a US Army Transport Ship carrying 902 servicemen was struck by a German submarine. Panic and chaos quickly set in as men raced for lifeboats in the frigid waters off the coast of Greenland.

In the midst of pandemonium, four Army chaplains worked to calm the frightened men. One was a Jewish Rabbi, one was a Methodist, one was a Roman Catholic priest, and one was a Dutch Reformed minister.

On the deck of the ship, they worked to distribute life vests to soldiers escaping into the frigid waters. When they ran out, each minister simultaneously removed their jacket and gave them to the soldiers. They didn't call out for soldiers who were in their particular tradition. They simply gave their jackets to the next men in line. One survivor would later say, "It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven."

As the ship went down, survivors in nearby rafts could see the four chaplains--arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Their voices could also be heard offering prayers and singing hymns. Of the 902 men aboard, only 230 survived. Congress later conferred a posthumous Medal for Heroism, The Four Chaplains' Medal, upon the four chaplains.

Before boarding the Dorchester, the Dutch Reformed minister, Chaplain Poling asked his father to pray for him, "Not for my safe return, that wouldn't be fair. Just pray that I shall do my duty … never be a coward … and have the strength, courage and understanding of men. Just pray that I shall be adequate."

II. Christ was Buried vv. 50-56

When all is said and done, a few faithful followers remain

Joseph of Arimathea steps out of the shadows and into the light as a follower of Christ

The women who had come from Galilee stand by, ready to prepare His body for burial

In all of their actions, we see a common thread:

They understand that Jesus is dead; they do not anticipate a Resurrection or that a mistake has been made

This does not deter their faithfulness to Him

We ought to pause for a moment with them and consider the burial of Jesus:

It is a reminder of the reality of His death

It is the fulfillment of His incarnational humility; the Son of God was severed, body from soul. As His body lay in the ground, His soul descended into the grave for 3 days

It is the evidence that our sins have been completely buried; the old man died with Christ

It shows us that Jesus has already gone ahead of us to the place of our greatest fears

It provides a stark indicator of what is to come: Just as He really died, He will also truly live!

Finally, Matthew Henry points out that there may be more significance to Jesus’ burial in a garden tomb than we might see at first glance. He writes, “In the garden of Eden death and the grave first received their power, and now in a garden they are conquered, disarmed, and triumphed over. In a garden Christ began his passion, and from a garden he would rise, and begin his exaltation.”

Romans 6:8–9

[8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. [9] We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (ESV)

III. Christ is Risen vv. 1-12

What do they see at the tomb?

That morning, the women arrive and the stone has been rolled away

The tomb is empty; there is no body to be found

Two men are standing by in dazzling apparel; it is an overwhelming scene by all accounts

What do they hear at the tomb?

They hear a question: Why do you seek the living among the dead? That’s a pretty good question for us to answer as well. Why do we keep trying to leave Jesus in the grave?

They hear a proclamation: He is risen, just as He said.

His Words are completely true

He has the ultimate victory

He is Lord

How do they respond?

The women remember what Jesus said and they believe

They go and tell what they have seen and heard

Peter goes in to see for Himself and He believes

Peter marvels at what has happened

Many of you have followed and prayed for my daughter as she was given a unique opportunity to donate stem cells to a patient in need. A few weeks ago, she got this note:

“To My Amazingly Beautiful Donor:

I wanted to write you to thank you for donating your stem cells. I believe you are a true gift from God and He is using you to save my life. I hope you are doing well and please just know how grateful I am that you chose to do something so selfless. I am home and doing well.

May God bless you and all your future endeavors. I can’t wait to start living my life again with my husband, my two boys, and my family and friends thanks to you.

Sincerely,

Your Donor Recipient”

That story could be your story, because of Jesus!