The Threat of the Resurrection

Jesus is Dead

It is Finished

Christ our Lord

Descended from Heaven to be born in a Manger

Passing through the birth canal of the woman

The ultimate fulfilment of God’s promises to save Mankind through the Seed of the Woman

The ultimate fulfilment of God’s blessing to all the Nations through the Seed of Abraham

The ultimate fulfilment of God’s established Kingdom through the Seed of David

Descension from Heaven - only seen through the destitution of Man

Who are we in relation to God?

Matthew 5:3 ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Highlights the distance He has gone for us

Understand what great inheritance we are promised!

Walked and taught with His creation

Submitted to the Will of the Father

Submitted to the Cross

Ever since the profession of Peter

Matthew 16:16 “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.””

Matthew 16:21 “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

What does this mean?

To Jews? To Rome? To the Disciples? To us?

The threat of the Risen Lord

Read Text

Joseph of Arimathea

First time mentioned - but mentioned in all four Gospels

Matthew - A rich Man, and a disciple of Christ

Mark - A prominent member of the Council (the Sanhedrin) / Waiting for the Kingdom of God

Luke - A good and righteous man, who had not consented to their plan to kill Jesus / Waiting for the Kingdom of God

John - A secret Disciple, for fear of the Jews

Consider the weight of this - A rich man from Arimathea (20 Miles NE), investing in Jerusalem), building a new family tomb, heavily establishing himself into the elite class of Jerusalem Jews

Starts watching Jesus from afar

Starts to incline his heart to the leadings of the Holy Spirit

Goes to the Governor - and asks to give Jesus a proper burial

Jesus has to be buried by sundown (Sabbath starts in about three hours, Crucified on the 6th hour, Died on the 9th Hour)

Pilate is amazed at how quickly He died - Asks the Centurion to go check - and is verified

(If He is to get a proper burial)

Romans couldn’t give a rip

Leave Him hang to falter to the elements

Cut Him down unto the Mount of Skulls

Jews need to get on with the Sabbath (The focus was getting Him executed before the Sabbath)

This is a joke to Matthew

“Matthew 27:62 “The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate”

Day of Preparation - the Day Jews would prepare for the Sabbath

The Day after the Day of Preparation is the Sabbath - Why not say that?

To Matthew - This is an embarrassment to the Sabbath - Why start Hollowing the Sabbath now?

Option for the Jews Deuteronomy 21:22–23 ““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.”

Communal Burial

Jo of Arimathea Risks everything to give Jesus a Proper Funeral - albeit quickly

Numbers 19:11 ““Whoever touches the dead body of any person shall be unclean seven days.”

Will not be able to participate in the Passover in the communion of the Sanhedrin

Associating with a Criminal as a Disciple

and where are the other disciples?

They have abandoned their Messiah - but nought for Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of James and Joseph, and the Mother of the Sons of Zebedee

Ladies are faithful, followed Jesus from Galilee and stayed close through His Crucifixion and burial

Dresses the Lord for Burial, Laid him in the Fresh Tomb (Mausoleum), and Rolled the Stone to Front Him

Remember Nicodemus - Came to Jesus by night, also by fear of the Jews

He risked it all as well

John 19:39–40 “Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.”

Secure the Grave

Jesus speaks from the grave

Cain Killed Abel

Genesis 4:10 “And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.”

Hebrews 11:4 “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.”

The Chief Priests and the Pharisees are petrified -

He said He was coming back in three days

Judgment causes 1 of 2 things to happen

Centurion - Matthew 27:54 “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!””

Chief Priests and the Pharisees - but what if?

What if the Lord Resurrects?

Centurion - probable participant in the beating and suffering of the Lord - fully vindicated, forgiven, saved from the Judgment

And the CP, and Phars - they are still in their sin, without atonement

What if the Lord Resurrects?

What does that mean for you?

What if He comes back in fire?

Purifying or condemning?

What if the Son Rises?