ON EASTER, REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST (1)
Matthew 27:51-28:6; 2 Timothy 2:8
I. REMEMBER THE IMMEDIATE RESULT OF HIS DEATH.
1. The veil in the temple was rent; Matt. 27:51.
At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,
2. The resurrection of Old Testament Saints; Matt. 27:52,53.
and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead
after Jesus’ resurrection. They left the cemetery, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
3. The testimony of the Centurion; Matt. 27:54.
The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!"
II. REMEMBER THE PROOF OF HIS DEATH.
1. The bodies could not remain on the cross on the Sabbath; John 19:31; Deut. 21:23.
The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.
the body must never remain on the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone hanging on a tree is cursed of God. Do not defile the land the LORD your God is giving you as a special possession.
2. The soldiers broke the legs of the other men; John 19:32.
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus.
3. The soldiers saw that our Lord was already dead; John 19:33.
But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs.
III. REMEMBER THE PREPARATION FOR HIS BURIAL.
1.Joseph of Arimathaea received charge of Jesus’ body; Matt. 27:57-58.
As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who was one of Jesus’ followers, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him.
2.Joseph and Nicodemus prepared the body for burial; John 19:39; Matt. 27:59.
Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night, also came, bringing about seventy-five pounds of embalming ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth.
3. Joseph and Nicodemus buried Jesus in Joseph’s new tomb; Matt. 27:60; John 19:40A2.
He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left.
Together they wrapped Jesus’ body in a long linen cloth with the spices, as is the Jewish custom of burial.
IV. REMEMBER THE SAVIOUR’S SEALED TOMB.
I. The prophecy of Christ’s resurrection was remembered; Matt. 27:62,63.
The next day—on the first day of the Passover ceremonies—the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate.
They told him, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will be raised from the dead.’
2. The request was made for a guard for Christ’s tomb; Matt. 27:64.
So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he came back to life! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first."
3. The tomb of Christ was sealed and guarded; Matt. 27:65,66.
Pilate replied, "Take guards and secure it the best you can."
So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
V. REMEMBER THE PROPHECY CONCERNING CHRIST’S RESURRECTION.
1. He used Jonas as an example to reveal it; Matt. 12:40.
For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so I, the Son of Man, will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
2. He revealed the resurrection to the Jews; John 2:18-21.
"What right do you have to do these things?" the Jewish leaders demanded. "If you have this authority from God, show us a miraculous sign to prove it."
"All right," Jesus replied. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
"What!" they exclaimed. "It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can do it in three days?"
But by "this temple," Jesus meant his body.
3. He revealed the resurrection to His disciples; Matt. 20:17-19.
As Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him.
"When we get to Jerusalem," he said, "the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die.
Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, whipped, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead."
VI. REMEMBER THE EARLY EVENTS OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION DAY.
1. The women came with spices to anoint Jesus’ body; Mark 16:1.
The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus’ body.
2. The women wondered how they would remove the stone from the tomb; Mark 16:3.
On the way they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb.
3. The women found the stone removed and Jesus gone; Luke 24:2,3.
They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside.
So they went in, but they couldn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.
VII. REMEMBER HIS RESURRECTION WAS ANNOUNCED BY AN ANGEL.
1. The Angel came from Heaven and rolled the stone away; Matt. 28:2.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it.
2. The Angel knew the women sought Jesus; Matt. 28:5.
Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don’t be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
3. The Angel announced the Lord’s resurrection; Matt. 28:6.
He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.
2 Timothy 2:8
8 Never forget that Jesus Christ was a man born into King David’s family and that he was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.
