Christ's Burial (Part 2)

Last week we focused on that phrase “descended into hell.” But tonight we’re going to look at “and buried” from a different angle.

1. God rested after He finished His work of creation (Genesis 2:1-3).

a. Finished...Rested

b. The Sabbath rest symbolizes God’s resting from His creative work.

2. God commanded His people observe the Sabbath by resting (Exodus 20:8-11).

a. Under the Old Covenant, God’s people had to refrain from working on the Sabbath.

3. We need rest; does God? If not, why did He?

a. Set a pattern for the week.

b. Set an example for humanity.

c. As a type of the future rest wrought through Christ. If every piece of the tabernace/temple pointed to Christ; and if Christ perfectly fulfilled all the other commandments and brought them to their end; then how did Christ fulfill this Sabbath requirement?

Jesus came to fulfill the law (Matt 5:17ff). Example: Jesus perfectly fulfilled the command to honor father and mother.

2. Jesus (God) rested after He finished His work of redemption.

a. It is finished (John 19:30). Cf he sat down at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19; Hebrews 10:12; Revelation 3:21).

1. Sabbath implications

a. Physical rest

b. Spiritual rest (“Free from the law, O happy condition! Jesus has bled and there is remission; cursed by the law and bruised by the fall, Christ hath redeemed us once for all.”) Nothing else is required for salvation. It is finished.

c. If Jesus’ “burial rest” fulfilled the meaning of God’s 7th day rest, that means God planned our salvation before we ever sinned. It truly was a plan from eternity past.