3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
Theme: Three crucial arguments establishing the God honoring way to celebrate Christmas, so you may properly do so.
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.
2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.
4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;
5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.
6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.
9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Theme: Four preliminary reasons why you should believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead so you may be saved.
1. The discovery of Mary establishes that the tomb is empty vv. 1-2
2. The discovery of the disciples eliminates that the body is stolen vv. 3-7
3. The testimony of John encourages that you believe in this event v. 8
4. The testimony of Scripture ensures that the resurrection must happen v. 9
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.
40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Theme: Three elements of devotion to Jesus Christ so you know what it costs to be His disciple.
Risk: Notice the request v.38
Expense: Observe the burial vv.39,41
Consider: Consider the business of caring for the body vv.40,42
John 19:31-37 (NASB)
31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;
33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.”
37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
Introduction:
Theme: Three features of Jesus’ death necessary to establish Christianity so you will be confident in your faith.
Background: The brutal end of crucifixion vv. 31-32
The Jewish Custom v. 31a
The Roman Crueltyvv. 31b-32
Called crurifragium
I. The proof of His death leads to the need for His resurrection vv. 33-34
II. The testimony of John to His death leads to belief in Him v. 35
III. The fulfillment of Scripture in His death leads to assurance of God’s plan of salvation vv. 36-37
a. Jesus is the Passover lamb of Exodus 12:46
b. Jesus is the prophesied Lord of Zechariah 12:10
23 The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.
24 They said therefore to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be;” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “They Divided My outer Garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”
25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”
29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.
Theme: Two examples of the central role Scripture plays in the crucifixion of Christ so you will live faithfully in times of trial.
I. Jesus fulfillment of Scripture in the crucifixion is a motivation for Christian confidence. – vv. 23-25a, 28-29
A. The soldiers’ activity fulfilled Psalm 22:18
B. Jesus’ thirst fulfilled Psalm 69:21
You can rest assured of God’s purposes in the midst of your most difficult trials.
II. Jesus’ obedience to Scripture in the crucifixion is a model for Christian living. – vv. 25b-27, 30
A. Honoring your father and mother is a command, not an option. – Exodus 20:12/Ephesians 6:2
B. Accomplishing redemption is the ultimate example of obedience. – Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12; Philippians 2:8, 1 Peter 2:21; 3:17-18
17 They took Jesus therefore; and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha;
18 where they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.
19 And Pilate wrote an inscription also, and put it on the cross. And it was written, “JESUS THE NAZARINE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
20 Therefore his inscription many of the Jews read, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and in Greek.
21 And so the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but the He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.'”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”
Theme: Five salient features of Christ’s crucifixion to observe so you will more fully enter into His suffering.
I. The Place of the crucifixion ensures its historicity – v. 17
II. The Punishment of the crucifixion elicits your sympathy for Christ – v. 18
III The Placard of the crucifixion energizes your faith in Christ – v. 19
IV The publicity of the crucifixion encourages your evangelism for Christ – v. 20
V The politics of the crucifixion emboldens your resolve for Christ – vv. 21-22
8 When Pilate therefore heard this statement, he was the more afraid;
9 and he entered in the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Pilate therefore said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You now know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?”
11 Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you form above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin.”
12 As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; every one who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”
13 When Pilate there heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”
15 They therefore cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
16 And so he then delivered Him up to them to be crucified.
Theme: Three issues revealed by the innocence of Jesus so you will more clearly see God’s purpose in His condemnation.
I. His person – vv 8-9
II Responsible parties – vv 10-11
III Conflicting powers – vv 12-15
Conclusion: And so he then delivered Him up to them to be crucified – v 16
18:39 “But you have a custom, that I should release someone for you at the Passover; do you wish then that I release for you the King of the Jews?”
40 Therefore they cried out again, saying, “Not this man, but Barabbas.” Now Barabbas was a Robber.
19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him.
2 And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and arrayed Him in a purple robe;
3 and they began to come up to Him, and say, “Hail King of the Jews!” and to give Him blows in the face.
4 And Pilate came out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no guild in Him.”
5 Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”
6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify, crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.”
7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God.”
Theme: Identifying four ironies of Jesus’ third Roman trial so you will worship Him for Who He truly is.
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”
31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,”
32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
Theme: Four crucial features of Jesus’ kingship you must understand so you will live as His loyal subjects.
(Due to an audio technical error, the first minute and a half had to be edited out. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
John 18: 15-18,25-27 (NASB)
15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,
16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
17 Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”
26 One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?”
27 Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Introduction:
Theme: Three important lessons learned from Peter’s denials of Christ so you will be prepared to confess Him in times of testing.
The Setting for the Denials: vv.15-16
The Record of the Denials: vv.17-18,25-27
The First Denial: vv.17-18
The Second Denial: v.25
The Third Denial: vv.25-27
Three Lessons Learned from the Denials
1.Who Denies Christ?
2.What are some ways people deny Christ?
3.What are some reasons why people deny Christ?
