EVIDENCES - THE BURIAL OF JESUS
(Note: About half of this sermon is by an author unknown to me. DJR)
Intro.
A. Heb. 11:1
1. Our faith is built on evidence. The evidence produces faith
in things which are not seen.
B. We are focusing our attention in this lesson on the burial of
Jesus.
C. Anytime we study the Scriptures, it builds our faith.
I. JESUS' BURIAL WAS A FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY. Isa. 53:9
A. Jesus' enemies planned for His grave to be with the wicked.
1. They "made" His grave with the wicked.
a. Franz Delitzsch paraphrases: "They assigned Him His
grave with criminals."
b. A.R. Fausset writes: "His grave was appointed or they
appointed Him his grave with the wicked John 19:31; it
was the Jews' intent that the bodies of Jesus & the two
thieves be taken away (evidently by the same ones who
would break their legs death would follow in
minutes) if buried at all, it would have been w/o honor."
B. As it turned out, Jesus' grave was in the tomb of a rich man.
1. Note that "the wicked" and "the rich" in Isa. 53:9 are not
two references to the same people.
a. "Rich" and "wicked" are not parallel (in fact, Joseph of
Arimathea was a righteous man).
b. The word "but" in the second line of 53:9 shows that
this is a contrast, not a repetition.
II. JESUS' BURIAL WAS A VINDICATION OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
A. To have no burial has always been a mark of shame and disgrace.
1. For example, those who followed the false prophets would
have no burial. Jer. 14:16
2. The same was true of those who would not repent. Jer. 16:4
B. Whereas the Jews intended to heap reproach upon Jesus by
disposing of His body like that of a vile criminal, God
provided for an honorable burial in a rich man's new tomb.
1. The reason: "He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in
His mouth." Isa. 53:9
a. Jesus had atoned for man's sins by dying as if He had
been a criminal.
b. After death, He was honored with a dignified burial.
C. By providentially providing for His burial, God showed that the
Jews were absolutely wrong in their assessment of Jesus.
III. JESUS' BURIAL WAS AN OCCASION FOR EXPRESSIONS OF LOVE AND
DEVOTION.
A. Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus before His burial with costly
perfumed oil. Mark 14:8
1. The disciples (especially Judas) condemned her for being
wasteful. Mark 14:4-5
2. Jesus said, "She has come beforehand to anoint My body for
burial." Mark 14:8
a. No doubt, she had listened to Jesus' prophecies about
His death and, as a result, did this great deed.
3. Jesus commended her and ordained that her deed would be a
memorial to her. Mark 14:9.
B. Joseph of Arimathea buried the body of Jesus. Notice the
details from each of the passages which mentions Joseph.
1. Matt. 27:57-61
a. He was a rich man.
b. He had become a disciple of Jesus.
c. He went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus.
d. He wrapped the body in a clean linen cloth.
e. He laid the body in his new tomb which he had hewn
out of the rock.
f. He rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb.
g. Notice, too, that the holy women saw where the body
was laid.
2. Mark 15:42-47
a. Joseph was a prominent council member.
b. He, too, was waiting for the kingdom of God.
c. He went in boldly ("took courage" NKJV) and asked
for the body of Jesus.
3. Luke 23:50-55
a. He was a good and just man.
b. He had not consented to the counsel and deed of the evil
Jews.
c. He laid the body in a tomb that was hewn out of the
rock where no one had ever been laid.
C. Nicodemus also helped in the burial of Jesus. John 19:38-42
1. This is the one who first came to Jesus at night. John 3:1-2
2. He once defended Jesus before the evil Jews. John 7:50-52
3. He brought about 100 pounds of spices (a mixture of myrrh
and aloes) to prepare the body for burial.
4. He and Joseph wound the body in linen strips with the
spices.
a. Lazarus was also buried in the same fashion. John
11:43-44
5. The place of burial was in a garden near where Jesus was
crucified.
IV. JESUS' BURIAL PROVIDES EVIDENCES REGARDING THE DEATH OF JESUS.
A. Evidences Regarding the Tomb. (See chart below).
1. He was buried in Joseph's own new tomb (no other bodies).
a. The body of Jesus could not have been mistaken for
some other.
b. The disciples did not go into a tomb filled with bodies
and move the bodies around and then declare that Jesus
had been raised.
2. It was hewn out of the rock (no other entrance).
a. They often used caves in which to bury people.
b. Caves sometimes have several entrances.
3. A large stone was placed in front (hard to remove).
a. Skeptics say that Jesus wasn't really dead, but He later
revived, and went about claiming that He had risen. This
is called "The Swoon Theory."
b. It was impossible for a person who had been scourged,
crucified, pierced in the side with a spear, and wrapped
in lined clothes to have revived; and then removed the
large stone.
4. The tomb was near the place of crucifixion (not some other
tomb).
a. Skeptics claim that the disciples of Jesus went to the
wrong tomb, found it empty, and proclaimed that Jesus
had risen.
b. It is ridiculous to think that the holy women, who were
so observant of what transpired late that Friday
afternoon, would have forgotten everything by the
following Sunday morning.
Concl.
A. Our faith is in Him who died, was buried, and arose
triumphantly on the third day.
1. When one honestly considers the evidence, he cannot help
but believe.
B. We hope to follow with a lesson entitled: "Evidences - The
resurrection of Christ."
Chart:
Evidences Regarding the Tomb
Joseph's own new tomb (no other bodies).
Hewn out of the rock (no other entrance).
A large stone in front (hard to remove).
Near the place of crucifixion (not some other tomb).