Resurrection Sunday, HE IS RISEN!!! (April 9, 2023)

In order to try and comprehend the magnitude of today, I want to first start at Friday morning around 3:00am …

 

Matthew 27:1-2 ~ “When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.”

Jesus was condemned by the Sanhedrin. They had met Thursday evening in a hastily called meeting to put Christ on trial for His life. They had secured the false witnesses and charges they sought. Now on Friday morning, they met to formulate the charges in such a way that the Romans would be forced to condemn Christ as a revolutionary. As soon as the charge was worded, they bound and led Christ away to deliver Him over to Pilate in an atmosphere of triumph.

Matthew 27:11-14 ~ “Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”

We find that Jesus is strong and straightforward with Pilate when charges are being read. In verse 11, one of the charges being brought against Christ is that He claimed to be a King, the King of the Jews. Pilate, somewhat surprised, reacted scornfully, asking Christ: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Christ strongly claimed that He was King by replying “You have said so.”

Jesus’ strong, controlled behavior: under severe accusation, Jesus was silent and purposed.

Isaiah 53:7 ~ “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

The religionists, fitfully aroused, accused and accused Jesus, yet He remained silent. Note His control and nobility.

• He knew there was no need to argue with a closed-minded person. He would not dignify their behavior by being drawn into argument with them.

• He was purposed to do God’s will by dying for the sins of the world. His hour to die had come. There was no need to argue, no need to try to escape death by argument. The depth of man’s depravity was to be demonstrated for now. He would be noble: silent, purposed in His behavior.

Jesus’ strong, enduring purpose: under repeated questioning He endured. Apparently Pilate wished to release Jesus

Matthew 27:18 ~ “For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.”

John 12:19 ~ “So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.””

He knew Jesus was innocent and to release Him would be a way to get at these contemptible religionists. Thus Pilate tried to get Jesus to answer the charges. He did not understand why Jesus would not answer, what Jesus was doing. All Jesus did was stand there, silent, portraying an image of strength, of some enduring purpose. But Pilate was unable to grasp its meaning.

Jesus makes and impact and Pilate was impressed, but still indecisive. He marvelled at Jesus’ claim to be King and at His silence. Yet he still lacked the courage to make the right decision. He still wavered under the pressure of the accusers and failed to release Jesus.

1 Corinthians 10:21 ~ “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”

James 1:8 ~ “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

The same crowd that we have on Palm Sunday that is crying out “Hosanna, Hosanna” is the same crowd that today is crying out to crucify Jesus.

Matthew 27:21-25 ~ “The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!””

It is important for us to look at the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus …

Matthew 27:32-44 ~ “As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.”

There are at least 17 abuses recorded in Matthew 27:26-38, but let’s look at just those found in 32-38:

• They forced Christ to carry the cross until He was exhausted (v.32). The condemned criminal’s carrying his own cross was the common practice. A centurion riding upon his stallion led the way. A herald followed, shouting out the criminal charges against the condemned. Immediately behind the herald was the condemned man bearing his cross and a small detachment of soldiers. The criminal had to carry his cross up and down through the streets of the city, taking a meandering route. The Romans did this as a living lesson to the citizens of a city that crime did not pay.

• They enlisted a Gentile to help with the cross of Christ (v.32). Christ broke under the weight of the cross. Christ bore the cross for us that He might enlist us in the service of God. Even as He bore the cross, we are now to bear the cross for Him. Simon literally bore the cross, symbolizing that we are to bear the cross for Christ spiritually.

• They escorted Christ to a terrible place for execution (v.33). The place was called Golgotha, the place of a skull. Why it was given this name is not known. But note that it was known as a place of death, of dead men’s bones. It was a rugged place which stirred thoughts of death, of corruptible and decaying flesh. It was a terrible place to die.

• They gave Christ vinegar mixed with gall (v.34). It was the custom to give the criminal spiked wine right before he was raised on the cross. The spiked wine was a strong, stupefying liquor used as a narcotic drink.

• They crucified Christ (v.35). The crucifixion itself was the most horrible of deaths. The ancient writer, Tacitus, called it “a despicable death.” Cicero called it “the most cruel and horrifying death.” He simply said it was “incapable of description.” There was the pain of the driven spikes forced through the flesh of Jesus’ hands and feet or ankles. There was the weight of His body jolting and pulling against the spikes as the cross was lifted and rocked into place. There was the scorching sun and the unquenchable thirst gnawing away at His dry mouth and throat. There was the blood oozing from His scourged back, His thorn crowned brow, His feet, and His stick-beaten head. In addition, just imagine the aggravation of flies, gnats, and other insects. There was also the piercing of the spear thrust into His side. On and on the sufferings could be described. There has never been a more cruel form of execution than crucifixion upon a cross.

• They gambled for the clothes of Christ (v.35). Apparently, it was a custom for the executing soldiers to claim whatever they wished of the clothes of the crucified criminal. The soldiers stripped Christ and divided His clothes among themselves. His coat was valuable. It was seamless, one piece of cloth, woven from top to bottom just as the high Priest’s coat or cloak was. The soldiers, therefore, decided to gamble by casting lots for it.

• They sat down and stared at Christ (v.36). Death by crucifixion was usually slow, very slow. It sometimes took days for the sufferer to die from his agony. Hence, soldiers had to be posted to guard the sufferer to keep any friends from trying to save him from death.

• They shamed Christ and reproached His claim again (v.37). It was the custom for the charges against a crucified criminal to be written out on a board and nailed to the cross above his head. This served both as information and as a warning to the public.

• They added shame and reproach by crucifying Christ between two thieves (v.38). Perhaps this was a day set aside for execution. Or perhaps the Jewish leaders pressed Pilate to execute Jesus with other criminals. Such would add weight to their position that He was no more than a mere man, an imposter who deserved to die just as other criminals. Whatever the reason, the fact that the Son of God was executed right along with other criminals added to the shame and reproach He bore.

Matthew 27:45-50 “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.”

A supernatural darkness hung over the land from the sixth to the ninth hour, or according to our time from noon to 3 p.m. Think for a moment. Just imagine …

Who it was hanging on the cross …

• God’s only Son, the Sovereign Lord of all beings, both visible and invisible.

• The great architect and creator of the whole universe, of all nature.

What He was doing there on the cross …

• Bearing the sins of all men.

• Bearing the judgment and wrath of God against sin for all men.

• Dying the death of man for all men.

• Doing all that was necessary to free men from sin, death, and judgment so that they might live forever.

But this is not the end of the story of Jesus Christ …

Matthew 28:1-9 “1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”

When the women arrived at the tomb, they saw the dazzling angel sitting on the stone. Mark says they saw “a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment” (Mk. 16:5). Luke says “two men stood by them in shining garments” (Lu. 24:4). Apparently, many angels were all about the tomb and the surrounding area attending Christ, joying and rejoicing over what God had done. At the right time, one angel appeared to the women, then two. Note that they appeared as men, that is, as messengers of God.

The appeals of the resurrection are a message within themselves.

• Fear not. There are three reasons why the person who seeks after Christ should not fear.

• God knows the person who is seeking after the Messiah. He knows the movement of every heart. The person who seeks diligently shall find.

• Christ has been crucified to save every man.

• Christ has now risen from the dead and conquered death.

• Come, see: believe and live. Note that the angel reminded the women of the Lord’s words: “He is risen, as He said”. Note also that the women were told to “come, see the place.” They were eyewitnesses of His resurrection.

• Go quickly and tell the glorious news. Sharing the glorious news is essential. It is the greatest news of all history: Christ is risen. Notice the encouraging words the angel spoke, “He is going before you … you will see Him.” Note several things:

• The women obeyed. They became the very first witnesses for the risen Lord.

• The discouraged believers (disciples) were the first ones the women were to tell. The discouraged were to be encouraged and stirred to join the great force of witnesses.

• The witnessing was to be done quickly.

The first word that Jesus said to the women at the grave … “Greetings!” This word means to REJOICE!

We are to rejoice … Jesus is not in the grave, HE IS RISEN!!!