Who Stands to Gain
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Take Off -
For three years Jesus has been struggling against the establishment. Struggling to free people from the grips of a system that has grown out of control. The rulers and spiritual leaders no longer know the spirit of the law - only the letter of it. They use it as a weapon to control people and have the good things of life.
For three years the rulers have sought a way to kill Jesus to stop what He stands for. They want to bring an end to Him so the people wont leave them. They finally found a way and the finally found someone who was willing to turn Him over - all the better that it is one of His own disciples (say a bit about Judas I.). With this action there are people who will profit from this arrangement - both in a good way and in a bad way. People on both sides of the story. Let’s take a look at some of these people and how they will profit from this arrangement.
The Crucifixion Mark 15:22-41
The Crucifixion Mark 15:22-41
Who had an immediate profit from the crucifixion of Christ?
A. V-27 Two Robbers
27 They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right and one on His left.
What became of these two men?
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 “And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”
43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
B. V-39 The Centurion
39 When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
The Scripture doesn’t say that the Centurion was saved but he did the same thing the criminal did - he confessed Jesus as the Son of God before men.
32 “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
33 “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
Who else profited immediately from Christ’s crucifixion?
C. Barabbas
15 Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
What happens next?
The Burial Mark 15:42-49
The Burial Mark 15:42-49
Who profits at the time of the burial?
V-43 Joseph of Arimathea
43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; and he gathered up courage and went in before Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.
Joseph was waiting for the Kingdom of God - He just took a big step closer. Is he confessing Christ before men as the others?
V - 29-32 The Priests, Scribes and those who wanted Him dead.
29 Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes, were mocking Him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself.
32 “Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.
These people have finally gotten their way. They have killed Jesus. They have destroyed this movement that has threatened to undo everything they work so hard to keep in place. But, is what they wanted really what they need?
What happens next?
The Resurrection Mark 16:1-13
The Resurrection Mark 16:1-13
Who profits from the Resurrection of Jesus?
First of all Jesus profits from His resurrection!
6 And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
Jesus gets to live again. He gets to return to His Father in Heaven. Forty days later...
19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
The Ladies profit.
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome. They get to see the empty tomb. On the way there they wondered who would move the tomb so they could anoint the body of Jesus.
3 They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large.
Getting to see inside the tomb they experience first hand the truth that Jesus was no longer there. He had risen.
Land It.
I have mentioned a few of the people who profited from the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. These are not the only ones. People still profit from the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus today and will continue to until He returns. We profit because He defeated sin and death through His resurrection. We profit because He said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.”
Eternal life is not hard - simply believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. We like to add a lot of theology to salvation but when you boil it all down all you have to do is believe. All you have to do is confess Him before men so that He will confess you before the Father. All you have to do is call upon His name and you will be saved.
Look around the world - the times are getting scary. Time is running out to choose. If you don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior now is the time. Do it before time runs out. If you believe He is the resurrection and the life then what are you waiting for? He is waiting for you to invite Him into your life. He is waiting to give you eternal life - Do you believe this?