Devotion & Surprise: Burial & Resurrection
Introduction
Certain topics on the news are repeated:
Corruption
Women in society
What does the Bible say about such subjects?
It does not shy away from the truth and the realities of human life
The crucifixion/Easter story sadly shows human nature at its worse
Corrupt religious leadership people
People looked up to – bribing Judas, twisting truth, bring false accusation that the very Son of God would suffer the death penalty
Corrupt leaders like Pilate
Prepared to condemn an innocent man to save his career
We see some surprising truths:
Women at the cross after the disciples had fled
Women sympathisers on the road to calvary
Women were the first to see the risen Lord Jesus Christ
Women that worshipped Jesus
Jesus treated with women with dignity and love – compared to how people treated women at the time
Joseph of Arimathea
Of all that were consenting to Jesus’ death – there was a secret believer
Overview:
The women
Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea (v50-53)
He was a religious leader
He was part of the highest [Jewish] court in the land
He was a prominent member of the council
He was a good and just man
He did not consent to the death of Jesus Christ
He was not perfect – he was fearful
He was a secret disciple of the Lord Jesus as he feared the Jews
Are there are secret believers amongst us?
Frightened about what others, family, colleagues might say?
What Joseph of Arimathea was about to do was very public
We have a baptism on 7th May – a public declaration of the salvation of God
He was a good and just man (v50)
The Bible says there is no-one good – all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
The centurion uses the same word of Jesus – "a righteous Man"
How can this be?
We are all sinners in the sight of God
Only Jesus Christ is perfect, spotless and without sin
He was utterly righteous – he obeyed the law fully and rightly
He was righteous by grace
He had the imputed righteousness of Christ
His sin had been nailed to the cross and he had received Jesus’ righteousness
He had righteousness imparted by God
The Spirit of God was living in him
There were those who were righteous – awaiting the righteousness of God
Luke 1:6 – John the Baptist’s parents
* God had a remnant among an apostate nation
Luke 2:25 – Simeon
Luke 2:37 – Anna
Example of Church in Skewen
How would God describe us this morning?
Would we say ‘I am just a sinner’?
Yet for those who trust in Jesus Christ – we trust in Jesus righteousness
We can only be just and good by the grace of God
He was a rich man
He had great wealth
1 Cor 1:26ff
The Bible says that not many who are rich are called
James tells us it is the poor who are called to be rich in grace
Riches tend to make you proud
Riches tend to have a hold over you
He was not going to serve his riches but gave up something precious to him – his tomb
He was fulfilling Scripture – Isa 53:9
He had gone to Pilate to ask for the body
None of His bones were broken but a spear placed in His side – as prophesied in the Psalms
He had given up His spirit
He loved Jesus Christ
Do you?
If you do, what are you prepared to do for Him?
1 Cor 15:58
What is your response to the one who died and rose again?
Take up your cross and follow Him
Believe in Him today
The Women (v55-56)
They were watching
They did not go to the wrong tomb – they observed where He had been laid
They were eye witnesses
They want to do something for Jesus
Within the 3-hour window before the Sabbath begins – they begin to prepare spices
They rest on the Sabbath day – because it was given as a blessing to man
They went on the first day of the week with their spices (24:1)
They order of events can be a bit confusing – you need to look at the other gospels
Mary Magdalene came first
Peter and John rush to the tomb
The women have an encounter with the angels whilst waiting for Peter and John to arrive
Jesus is risen
They are dedicated
They held onto Jesus
The men were unbelieving as their sorrow had clouded their minds
God was gracious – each one would come to believe
Jesus had overcome death and sin on the cross
He is raised with a glorified body
What is your response this morning?
Many people today do not believe the doctrine of the resurrection
Do you believe?
Do you believe in a God who cannot do the impossible?
With God all things are possible
Believe and follow Him
Closing Remarks
Luke 9:23
We must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Jesus
Die to self and gain everlasting life