HoHum:
Paul Stuckey is a preacher in Dayton, Ohio. He tells the story of an eye catching ad in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, newspaper’s classified section. Big, bold letters advertised “Used Tombstone.” The ad’s text read as follows: “Used tombstone for sale. Real bargain to someone named ‘Dingo’. For more information call...?” I have many questions about this. What happened to Dingo? Who has a name like Dingo in Milwaukee? Why is his tombstone no longer needed? The image of a used tombstone may at first seem grim and depressing. But thing again: a “used” tombstone means that its previous owner no longer has any need for it. It is an unnecessary item. Christ’s resurrection gives the same message: the tomb is empty! The stone that closed the grave is no longer needed! Jesus Christ is risen!
WBTU:
The was all by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge- Acts 2:23
Thesis: Today we are going to talk about the trial of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus
For instances:
The Trial of Jesus shows His Purpose
Jesus actually went through 6 trials. They arrested Him at night and they arrested Him secretly. They did this because he was so popular and they didn’t want an uprising in the city of Jerusalem. Then he went through 3 religious trials and then He went through 3 civil trials.
First He went to Annas, the last high priest. Then there was a trial before Caiaphas the current high priest. Then a trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court.
Then He went before Pilate, the civil ruler of Jerusalem. Then Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Then He was back to Pilate again.
Out of all of these trials, for the most part Jesus remained silent except for the charge of blaspheme. “But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.” Matthew 26:63-66, NIV.
“When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,” John 19:5-8, NIV.
See, Jesus never claimed to be a good man. He never claimed to be a moral leader. He never claimed to be a great teacher. He said, “I’m God. I’m the only way to heaven. No one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).”
If we ever meet someone who claims to be God, we have 3 options.
Believe he’s an idiot. He’s deluded. The lights are on by nobody’s home.
Believe that he’s deceiver. Tell us something he is not to get something from us.
Believe that he is telling the truth.
No more of this stuff that he is just a good teacher or prophet. A good person would not say this unless it was the truth. We have to decide is Jesus deluded, a deceiver, or deity?
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” John 12:47, NIV.
This is why Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be put on trial so there would be no doubt about who He was. He knew that He would be proven guilty because He was the Son of God and put on the cross. It was all part of the plan.
The Death of Jesus shows His Passion
Before Jesus ever got to the cross he endured things that most victims of crucifixion did not endure. He was humiliated. He was slapped, crown of thorns in head, hit in the face many times. After this he was scourged. This whipping would kill some men.
Crucifixion was where they would nail a man to the cross. Nails would go through the wrists and feet. The death on the cross was a death of suffocation. When the soldier stuck a speak in Jesus’ side it says that water and blood came out. This indicates that the heart rips. Jesus died of a broken heart. It exploded.
Why? Don’t remember the name Timothy McCarthy. He jumped in front of Hinkley and took a bullet for President Reagan and saved his life. What a hero!
At Calvary, President of the Universe took a bullet for all of us. He paid the price for us. He said, “I love you this much!” If we don’t think that God loves us, take a long look at cross.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, NIV. We can look at Creation and see God’s hand. We need to look at the cross and see God’s heart, His passion. This is why Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified.
Jesus hadn’t done anything wrong. He didn’t deserve to die. He didn’t deserve the penalty. What was He guilty of? Love in the first degree.
Rick Warren- “A few years ago, the top historians around the world gathered together and made a list of what they considered to be the 100 most significant events in the history of the world. There were things like the discovery of America, the invention of the airplane, the invention of the printing press and other things. Number 4 on the list was the life of Jesus Christ. When I saw that, I was not offended by that. You see, they had forgotten the most important part anyway. They had put the Life of Jesus Christ. If only Jesus had come and lived and then died like everybody else, that’s probably about the best you could say about Him- #4. There have been other good teachers, other moral philosophers, other unselfish martyrs. But what makes Jesus different is He not only died a martyr’s death on the cross but He came back to life.
Easter is not some memorial to a good religious teacher who lived 2,000 years ago. It’s a celebration of fact that He is alive today. We live and die; Christ died and lived!- John Stott
The resurrection of Jesus shows His Power
“and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God, by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 1:4, NIV.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s last and loudest announcement of “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Talked early about how God the Father and God the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from dead. Must understand that God the Son also displayed his power through the resurrection. “No-one takes it from me (my life), but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”” John 10:18
John Singleton Copley, one of the great legal minds in British history and 3 times High Chancellor of England, wrote, “I know pretty well what evidence is, and I tell you, such evidence as that for the resurrection has never broken down yet.”
The stone was rolled away from the tomb not so Jesus could come out, but so that his disciples could go in. The resurrection is the most established fact in history.
Pretend this is a courthouse and we will call some witnesses about Jesus Christ. Every one of us is jurors and we are going to take a verdict on Jesus. Because we cannot face Jesus, let’s call some witness. Fortunately we have historical records.
Peter. “Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” Matthew 16:16.
Martha. ““Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”” John 11:27, NIV.
Thomas. “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”” John 20:27, 28, NIV.
Judas. ““I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” Matthew 27:4, NIV.
Pilate. “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.” Luke 23:14, 15, NIV.
Thief on the cross. “But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”” Luke 23:40-42, NIV.
Soldier at the cross. “And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”” Mark 15:39, NIV.
Many witnesses to His resurrection today through the many who gather and worship Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
What is your judgement? ““What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. Matthew 27:22, NIV.
Today we sit in judgement of Jesus to decide whether He was who He says He was or not. But one day this will be reversed. Jesus Christ is going to sit in judgment of us. “Moreover, the Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,” John 5:22, NIV. What have we done with Jesus?
