Response to the Easter Message

Responses to Easter Message.

She grabbed a broom, pummeled the dog until it dropped the now extremely dead rabbit out of its mouth. She panicked. She did not know what else to do. She grabbed the rabbit, took it inside, gave it a bath, blow dried it to its original fluffiness, combed it until that rabbit was looking good, snuck into the neighbor's yard, and propped the rabbit back up in its cage.

An hour later she heard screams coming from next door. She asked her neighbor, "What's going on?" "Our rabbit! Our rabbit!" her neighbor cried. "He died two weeks ago. We buried him, and now he's back!"

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.. this is the greatest miracle in the Bible and the great hope of every Christian… We can’t get away from the Centrality of the teaching of the Resurrection — it was the core and peculiar to the Early Church - Just as much as it Continues to be today.... If Christ is not Risen from the dead… the whole Christian faith unravels… The passion of Christ or Holy Week begins with the Last Supper on Thursday.. and Ends with Resurrection on Sunday.

The Resurrection contrasts everything that took place during the passion or the sufferings of Christ… Out of Death comes Resurrection… out of the ashes of suffering comes life - John calls it abundant life… The Easter story is a story of contrasts, of Death and Resurrection - they are two ideas that are Juctspossed to each other....they are opposite sides of the poles… death is the opposite of life… and via-sarversa — life is the opposite of Death..

But here is the irony here in order for there there to be resurrection Jesus had to endure the Cross.

Not sure we really understand how Brutal Roman Crucifixion was...

If any of you have watched the movie The Passion of the Christ by

Mel Gibson… you may have just a taste of the brutality of Death of Christ may have been......The movie was so violent that it’s rated as Mature content…During the taping of the movie the Actor..who played Jesus… dislocated his arm at several times, He actually had a near death experience when taping the movie… Lightening actually struck the cross… It is quite a story…

Jesus died one of the most horrific deaths that you could imagine… Crucifixion was the method of Capital punishment in the Roman world....

In fact, the Romans themselves didn’t talk about it much.

We don’t have a lot in the literature. When it’s referred to, they even refer to it obliquely as the “extreme punishment.” There were a number of reasons for it… It was reserved for only the worst criminals or for those who had rebelled against the state or for slaves. You would not crucify someone who was of high social status or was considered a noble person, no matter what the crime. It was considered a really, really horrific death.

So the first purpose of crucifixion was torture and punishment.

1. One was for torture and punishment—

2. The second purpose was humiliation. To die in this manner, exposed to people, exposed to the elements, was considered an incredibly shameful thing. Crucifixion victims were usually left on the cross for days or weeks, allowed to be eaten by dogs or eaten by birds. It was meant to humiliate as much as possible. In the ancient world, to honor someone, you buried them. You buried them near their ancestors. That was considered a noble thing. So to leave a body exposed was the ultimate in humiliation, the ultimate in shaming.

So first, torture and punishment; second, humiliation.

The third purpose of crucifixion was a terror device—in other words, as a deterrent to others. Crucifixions were often done on major roads, at major crossroads, so that people could see what was happening. The idea was, you don’t want this to happen to you, so you need to stay in line. The Romans used it as a deterrent, as an instrument of terror.

T/S

Now if

Jesus ministry was a huge concern to the religious leaders of the day…Jesus had gathered quite a following - You have crowds of 3000 and 5000 gathering… with his popularity came a new threat… Jesus had the potential to stir up trouble for the Jewish leaders and possibly the Romans…What pushed the Religious leaders over the edge was the triumphal Entry into Jerusalem… As Jesus completes his ministry you have the Religious leaders plotting to secretly put Jesus away..

What pushed the Religious leaders over the edge was the triumphal Entry into Jerusalem…

Matthew 26:1–6 ESV

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,

There are basically three attitudes that exist when it comes the passion of Christ..… These attitudes are depicted in three groups of people… The first attitude is seen in the Religious leaders of the day.

The passion of Christ reveal three human attitudes towards Christ and the cross- attitude impacts our perspective. The first Attitude

T/S The first attitude...

The first attitude...

1. The Message of Easter is U

This is the beginning the week we call the Passion of the Christ.. Matthew tells us that Jesus had finished all these sayings…Jesus had spent about three years teaching and preaching.. Jesus tells his disciples that the proclaimation part of his message has been complete - Jesus tell his disciples that in two days he would be given over to the authorities for crucifixion…

The passion week begins with the first Completion…

Matthew tells us that Jesus had finished all these sayings…Jesus had spent about three years teaching and preaching.. and there is a completion of that work...

The proclaimation part of his message has been complete - Jesus tell his disciples that in two days he would be given over to the authorities for crucifixion…

He had finished the proclaimation part of his message now the actual laying down and sacrifice was to take place.… It is not coincidence that this happening at exact time of passover…

the actual laying down and sacrifice was to take place. Jesus tell his disciples that in two days he would be given over to the authorities for crucifixion…

It is not coincidence that this happening at exact time of passover…

This all took place at the t Jerusalem was filling up with pilgrims who came to celebrate Passover… Passover was the feast that The deliverance of Israel from Egypt --- where the blood of a lamb was placed on the doorposts and the first born of Israel were saved…

the feast of Passover and Jerusalem was filling up with pilgrims who came to celebrate… The deliverance of Israel from Egypt --- where the blood of a lamb was placed on the doorposts and the first born of Israel were saved…

Jerusalem was filling up with people to celebrate… The deliverance of Israel from Egypt --- where the blood of a lamb was placed on the doorposts and the first born of Israel were saved…

the Proclaimation was over and the next event was the betrayal that Jesus would be handed over to the authorities… by Judas.

At the exact same time the Jewish leaders…assembled for an important meeting and that was what to do with this trouble maker Jesus.

There was this balance of power between the Roman’s and the Jewish leaders of the day… you have a Jewish Herod ruling over the Northern tribes of Israel… and Pontius Pilate ruling Judea in the south of Palestine...

The one thing the Romans would not stand was civil disorder. Let there be any rioting, and certainly...They saw any kind of disturbance as a threat… and if this happen Caiaphas the High priest and the other Jewish leaders would lose their positions. There is a huge motivation to get rid of Jesus.Jesus had predicted in 16:21 that His death would be at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law. … This exactly how it happenedWe are told that there is the meeting gathered at High priest in palace - this the court yard of Caiaphas the High priest There is something a little sinister about this meeting because they were meeting to come up with a scheme a plot to have Jesus killed…

They were crafting a plan to bait Jesus and to trick the Roman authorities.. into Killing Jesus who was an innocent man. This is what you might call premeditated murder…The irony here is that the Religious leaders who were saying that Jesus was being blasphemous..by calling himself the son of God… Were willing to break the six command of not murdering…

The Jewish historian Josephus has left us a description of Caiaphas and his family. The plot to destroy Jesus was nothing out of character for them. Caiaphas was adept at political and ecclesiastical maneuvering. He was a genius at keeping in with the Romans. When the Romans came to power in Palestine, the office of high priest changed from its lifelong status into something like an annual appointment. It was an obvious move: the Romans wanted to break the centre of Jewish power and influence. Yet Caiaphas managed to hold on to the job not for one year but for eighteen, from ad 18 to 36. He was a master of intrigue and duplicity. And now, at Passover time, we see him plotting to arrest Jesus and get him killed.a

There Scheme had a little hitch..One of the concerns of these leaders was the timing of the Passover… Passover Jerusalem would be jammed with many thousands of pilgrims, who would have their minds filled with nationalist fervor and longings. At that time the apprehension of a popular messianic figure could prove to be extremely dangerous. He wants Jesus done away with, but quietly.What was a game changer was the the betrayal of Judas. Judas led a band of soldiers and some of the priests and Pharisees to the spot that Jesus and the disciples frequented … Things moved quickly that night… Jesus is taken to Annais… the X Priest and declared guilty and then onto the council with the High priest Ciaphas…The religious leaders wanted a guilty verdict as quick as possible. We are told the Chief priest and the Elders were seek for false witness who would testify against Jesus --- but none came forward… Except for two men who said that Jesus said he would destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days…The high priest wanted Jesus to defend himself… We read that.. Jesus kept silent.... it wasn’t until the High Priest charged Jesus under oath that Jesus responds.Once the high priest charged Jesus under an oath by the living God, Jesus had to answer truthfully.

​ ESV63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Caiaphas insisted that Jesus answer if He was the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God (v. 63). Jesus answered in the affirmative, adding that in the future He would sit at the right hand of the Mighty One (cf. 25:31) and He would return on the clouds of heaven (cf. 24:30). Here was a clear statement of His deity, clearly understood as such by the high priest, who immediately tore his clothes, which he was forbidden to do by the Law (), and declared that Jesus had spoken blasphemy (). He said there was no further need of witnesses for the Lord’s lips had revealed His guilt.The people had only two choices. One was to acknowledge that Jesus spoke the truth, and fall down and worship Him as Messiah. The other was to reject Him as a blasphemer and put Him to death. They chose the latter, thus sealing their rejection of the One who came as their Messiah-King. The first option of who Killed Jesus? Was it the Religious leaders.?T/S If it wasn’t the Jews that kill Jesus who did it.

What pushed the Religious leaders over the edge was the triumphal Entry into Jerusalem… Jesus came into Jerusalem in Triumph - Type of celebration that Military leaders had when they came back from battle… Accept Christ didn’t come on a Stallion but on a donkey… Any many ways it was a humble entry… but the crowd responded with Messianic hope..... they threw down garments and palm branches and sang Hosannah to God in the highest.. What was needed now was a concrete plan to Kill Jesus.

Most of us like things to be in order and when we loose control we begin to feel threatened...

​ ESVThen the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.

Most of us like things to be in order and when we loose control we begin to feel threatened...

These Religious leaders were trying to keep things in Order and there was fear that Jesus would throw their world into Chaos.

Relationship with Rome.. their own positions of power and authority…

Relationship with Rome.. their own positions of power and authority…

The message of Christ was viewed as a threat because it confronted

The problem with loosing power is the sense of venerability…weakness or powerlessness.

disorganization

freedom

lawlessness

mismanagement

neglect

advantage

inability

weakness

helplessness

powerlessness

relinquishment

mentrenouncement

renouncement

Roget's

2. The Cross Unconcerned

Unconcerned

anxious

caring

dissatisfied

sad

concerned

feeling

interested

troubled

unhappy

nervous

ednervoussympatheticunnerved

dunhappyanxiousheavyheartedworried

anxious

sympathetic

heavyhearted

unnerved

worried

3. Uncertain

clear composed

methodical

ordered

organized

oriented

separated

systematic

understanding

God’s Attitude

4. Completion