John 19:38-42

THE ENTOMBMENT

Text: John 19:38-42

38

And after these things Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple ofJesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took away his body.

39

And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

40

So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.

41

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid.

42

There then because of the Jews-' Preparation (for the tomb was nigh at hand) they laid Jesus.

Queries

a.

Why the sudden bravery of Joseph and Nicodemus now?

b.

Of what significance is the hundred pounds of spices?

c.

Where was the tomb located?

Paraphrase (Harmony)

And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, there came a rich man named Joseph, who was a councilor, of honorable estate a good and righteous man (he had not consented to their counsel and deed), a man of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave.
And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been anywhile dead. And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph brought a linen cloth, and came therefore and, taking him down took away his body.
And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb wherein was never man yet laid. And Joseph took the body; wrapped in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, the mother of Joses sitting over against the sepulchre, And it was the day of the Preparation and the sabbath drew on. And the women, who had come with him out of Galilee, followed after and beheld the tomb, and now his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. And on the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

Summary

Friends of Jesus ask for His body and give it a tender and careful burial. His body is prepared in a kingly fashion and is buried in a rich man's tomb.

Comment

Here, for the first time, Joseph of Arimathaea come on the stage of gospel history. Hendriksen says, The Arimathaea from which he came was probably the ancient Ramathaim-zophim. fifteen miles straight east from Joppa. The Synoptics tell us a great deal about this man. Matthew 27:57 tells us that he was a rich man; Mark 15:43 states that he was a respected member of the council (Sanhedrin) and that he was looking for the kingdom of God (in other words, he was a devout man who believed the Old Testament prophets and was eagerly looking forward to the coming Messianic kingdom); Luke 23:50-51 informs us that he was a good and righteous man and one who had not consented with the rest of the council to their evil purposes and deeds respecting Jesus.

It is evident that Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin for Luke records that he could have given consent with them to the death of Jesus but he did not. Why he did not we are not told. It is probable that he deliberately absented himself from the midnight quorum called by Caiaphas to condemn Jesus. Up until now Joseph, like Nicodemus, was a secret disciple of Jesus. He believed but not enough to confess Christ openly and take the consequences. Why the boldness now? First, there would not be nearly as much danger from the opposition now that Jesus was dead and their blood-thirstiness had been satisfied. Second, Luke gives us the hint that this man's righteous indignation had been stirred up at the unjust and inhumane treatment the council had unleashed upon Jesus. Stalker, in his book, The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ, puts it this way, It was the excess of wickedness in his fellow-councilors, who at length went to a stage of violence and injustice which allowed him to hesitate no longer. We find it hard to agree with Hendriksen and Lenski that Joseph's boldness is a result of his knowledge of the atoning death of Jesus for him. It is inconceivable that Joseph, without the resurrection of Christ, should have such as grasp of the atoning efficiency of the death of Christ when even the disciples who had companied with Jesus for over three years did not then comprehend it!

Pilate, after assuring himself by the word of one of the soldiers that Jesus was dead, consented to allow Joseph and Nicodemus to take the body for burial. The boldness of Joseph had a contagion which was caught by Nicodemus. He brought a hundred pounds (about seventy-two pounds in our weights today) of burial spices. This was enough spices to bury a king. The spices were sprinkled profusely upon each strip of the linen bandaging as the body was wrapped limb by limb. The Jews did not embalm as the Egyptians. These spices would not hide the sickening odor of decaying flesh long. The body of Lazarus began to stink in four days (cf. John 11:39). Because this was Friday evening and the Sabbath would begin at sunset, most of the usual customs of Jewish burial were foregone. The dead body would not be carried to the upper chamber of a house where his relatives and neighbors could come and mourn and say good-bye for the last time. The dead body would not be carried to the tomb on the litter-type funeral bier. There would be no hired mourners or funeral procession; no hired flutists and no rending of the garments.

According to Henri Daniel-Rops, in his book Daily Life In The Time Of Jesus, the typical tomb was a kind of cave or excavation, a vault cut into a rock cliff, with a little vestibule before it. One had to bow one's head to go into the vault itself. Sometimes the same entrance would lead to several vaults: as many as eight have been found together. The body was laid upon a bench specially cut in the rock, and no doubt surrounded and covered with aromatic herbs, often a great many of them. The tombs of the poorer people were closed by being walled-up, but the grander tombs had a more solid kind of gate, which is still to be seen in Palestine: it is a great round, like millstone, set in a deep groove and held open by a wooden wedge; as soon as the wedge is taken away the heavy stone sinks into its place and guards the entrance from all comers, thieves or hyenas.

Just such a tomb became the burial place of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was located in the immediate area of His crucifixion, Calvary. It was a new tomb (no one else had ever been placed in it for burial); it belonged to a rich man and had been hewn out of solid rock located in a lovely garden. The tomb chamber was so low the women had to stoop to look in (John 20:11) and the stone rolled before the door was exceedingly heavy (Mark 16:4). For a discussion of the place of the crucifixion see our comments on John 19:12-22.

There are two important points to emphasize in the burial of Jesus. First, His burial in a rich man's tomb was a fulfillment of prophecy (cf.Isaiah 53:9). Second, Pilate and his soldiers were certain that Jesus was deadHe had not swooned or fainted. Blood and water gushed from His side, He had stopped breathingHe was dead and now Joseph and Nicodemus may take Him and bury Him.

Quiz

1.

Where was Arimathea probably located in Palestine?

2.

Name four things about the character of Joseph of Arimathea which are related to us by the gospel writers.

3.

Since Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin how could he have kept from voting at the sentencing of Jesus?

4.

Why was Joseph, formerly a secret disciple of Jesus, now so bold as to ask for His body for burial?

5.

What did Nicodemus contribute to the burial?

6.

Why would the usual customs of Jewish burial be foregone?

7.

What are two important points of emphasis connected with the burial of Jesus?

SPECIAL STUDY NO. THREE

WAS JESUS CRUCIFIED ON FRIDAY?
by SETH WILSON

When the question, Was Jesus crucified on Friday? is raised, it may be hard for you to find a clear and definite statement about it in the Bible. Good Christians may think He had to be in the tomb longer than the time from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning because of the expression three days and three nights in Matthew 12:40.

It doesn-'t matter too much on what day Jesus was crucified; but it does matter much how people use the Scriptures and how they trouble the church over such questions. Any view that denies that Jesus ate the Passover meal at the regular time is in direct conflict with plain statements of fact in three inspired books of the New Testament. Yet such a view is often taken by people who think that they are upholding the strict accuracy of Jesus-' words against centuries of false tradition.
This is merely a question of historic fact, not affecting our obedience to the commands of the Lord, and not essential to our reverent appreciation of Him. It should not be made a test of fellowship or source of contention. But as a matter of fact it makes all the better example for a study of how to get the truth of God's Word by considering all the facts and letting the passages which are definite and clear in meaning determine the interpretation of those which are not so sure.

What Does The Bible Say?

This is a Bible study. Get your Bible and read the passages cited. Space will not permit quoting them.
All the Gospels say that Jesus was crucified and buried on the day called the Preparation. Read Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14; John 19:31; John 19:42; and Matthew 27:60-62. The word translated Preparation was used as a name for the day which we call Friday in modern Greek.

John 19:14 says, It was the preparation of the passover. Some have thought that this means the day on which the Passover lamb was prepared; but it can mean simply Friday of Passover week. Comparison with all the facts will show that this is what it does mean. Beginning with the Passover sacrifice and supper, seven days of unleavened bread were observed; and the entire week was called the Passover (See Luke 22:1; John 2:23; John 18:39). Mark 15:42 explicitly states, It was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath. The same meaning is shown in John 19:31. The regular weekly Sabbath was Saturday.

But Which Sabbath?

The first day of unleavened bread might be called a Sabbath, because it was a day of rest according to the law (Leviticus 23:7-8), and so was the seventh, or last, day. Some suggest that the Sabbath immediately following Jesus-' death was not Saturday, but the first day of unleavened bread, which could fall on any day of the week.

In the law (Leviticus 23:4; Leviticus 23:6), the seven days of unleavened bread were counted after the Passover meal, beginning Nisan 15. But all leaven was put out on the day the Passover was prepared, Nisan 14; so the day that the lamb was killed came in time to be called the first day of unleavened bread. (See Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7.)

But if either of these daysthe one just preceding the supper, or the one following itwas actually called a Sabbath, still neither of them could be the Sabbath day that followed the burial of Jesus. For Matthew 26:17-20; Mark 14:12-17 and Luke 22:7-16 all state with absolutely unmistakable clarity that Jesus was alive and eating the Passover supper in the evening following the first day of unleavened bread when the lamb was sacrificed. If the day following the supper was the day of rest (or special Sabbath) it was still not the day after Jesus was buried, because it was the day of crucifixion.

Therefore, we see that, if there was in that week any day called a Sabbath other than Saturday, it had to be one that was past by the time Jesus was buried, and not the day following His burial. The day of preparation, then, on which He was crucified, could not be any day other than the day before the regular weekly Sabbath which we call Saturday.
One good brother has suggested that the seventh day of unleavened bread was the Sabbath which drew on as Jesus was buried. That would mean that Jesus was subjected to six or seven days of trials, mockings, and delays between the time He was arrested and the day of crucifixion. The Gospels do not show any intention of indicating that. The trials before the priests and the Sanhedrin were at night and dawn (Luke 22:66); that before Pilate was early (John 18:28); all happened in quick succession.

Moreover, no account gives any hint of more than one Sabbath between the burial of Christ and His resurrection on the first day of the week. Just turn and read how clearly Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are recorded in Luke 23:54 to Luke 24:1. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also. beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre. The word Sabbath here is singular.

Properly Read, John Agrees

John's account agrees completely with these statements. John 13:1 does not say that the last supper was before the Passover, but that Jesus knew before the Passover that He must depart at this time. John 13:29 does not prove that the Passover meal was to come later. The disciples who supposed that Judas was sent to buy something for the feast may have had in mind the seven-day festival. Or if it was possible at that hour to buy provisions they might have been for the meal now beginning. (In John 13:2 the Greek does not say supper being ended, but supper being come.)

John 18:28 does not prove that the Pharisees had not eaten the Passover meal, because they called all seven days connected with it the Passover. Anyway, the Passover meal was eaten at night, and such defilement as they feared in Pilate's hall would end at sunset.

John 19:31 shows plainly that the preparation was the day before the Sabbath. Calling that Sabbath a high day does not make it other than a Saturday Sabbath. It only means that it was considered especially sacred because it came in Passover week.

Three Days And Three Nights

Since the history states so plainly the fact that Jesus was crucified on Friday, it is necessary to take the prophetic figure of speech about the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:40) as an inexact expression intended to agree with the statement which is made a dozen times, that Jesus arose on the third day. (See Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:23; Matthew 20:19; Matthew 27:63-64; Luke 9:22; Luke 18:33; Luke 24:7; Luke 24:21; Luke 24:46; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4; and Mark 9:31; Mark 10:34 in K. J. V.) After three days is used in Mark 8:31 (John 9:31 and John 10:34 in A.S.V.) to mean the same as on the third day. While those do not seem the same to us, it is evident that they did mean the same to the Jews. (See also 2 Chronicles 10:5; 2 Chronicles 10:12; Esther 4:16; Esther 5:1; Matthew 27:63-64.) Three days and three nights is just a fuller form for saying after three days; and both could mean in popular speech the same as on the third day. Any expression means just what it is used to mean. The facts of the record show with what meaning the expression was used by Jesus. We must not put into it a meaning that will deny or disregard the facts; but the facts must control our interpretation.

SERMON NO. EIGHTEEN

BEHOLDING THE CRUCIFIED ONE

Luke 23:33-35 a

Introduction

I. SPECTACLE OF THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST. After the betrayal and arrest come the trials. He was shamed by His own (high priest). Herod plays with Him like a cat would a mouse. He mocks Him and allows Him to be smitten in the mouth. Then Jesus is returned to Pilate a second time. Pilate has Him scourged with a whip made of leather and bone until His back is a bleeding mass of raw flesh. Pilate wants to release Him. But the Jews cry Crucify Him, his blood be upon us and upon our children. Release unto us Barabbas the murderer. And, for political reasons, Pilate releases Him to be crucified.

And so the humiliated, tortured, betrayed, exhausted Son of God goes out bearing a 300 pound cross of wood. Through the streets of the city He goes, stumbling, dragging this cross along as the throngs cast stones and spit upon him. Up the long hill of Golgotha. There He is grabbed roughly by the soldiers and laid down upon the cross, BUT HE OFFERS NO RESISTANCE. The steel spikes are brutally driven into the quivering flesh of His hands and then His feet. The excruciating pain is relayed from the nerves to His brain. And what comes from his mouth? Agony and screams? NO! Hate and curses? NO! Wonder of wonders, His lips part to speak a blessingFather forgive them, for they know not what they do.

II. AND THE PEOPLE STOOD BEHOLDING. What did they behold in the crucified One? What did those around the cross see? They saw much the same thing as men and women see in the Crucifixion today. THE CRUCIFIXION WAS NECESSARY. IT WAS IN GOD'S PLAN FOR JESUS CONTINUALLY TAUGHT I MUST DIE. IT WAS A SPECTACLE OF LOVE FOR MAN TO BEHOLD. IT WAS A PLANNED SPECTACLE FOR IT WAS PROPHECIED. Luke 2:1-52.

Discussion

I.

THE ROMANS. They beheld Him through eyes of Indifference. Pilate made two tries to release Him and saw that politics demanded His death so he washed his hands of the whole matter. WHAT WAS ONE MORE DEAD JEW?? AFTER ALL PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY. He had many responsibilities of more importance than the squabbles of the Jews. HE JUST HAD OTHER THINGS TO DO MORE IMPORTANT THAN LISTENING TO THIS NAZARENE'S CLAIMS OR BEING TOUCHED BY HIS INNOCENCE. Notice the calloused indifference of the soldiers who methodically nailed him to the cross and then sat down to gamble over his garments. There are multitudes today who look at the Crucified One through eyes of indifference. THEY COULDN-'T CARE LESS THAT A MAN DIED SOME 2000 YEARS AGO. THEY ARE TOO BUSY WITH MORE IMPORTANT THINGS SUCH AS POLITICS, PTA, KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES. THEY HAVE SO CALLOUSED THEIR HEARTS AND THEIR EMOTIONS THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER TOUCHED WITH THE LOVE SHOWN IN THE CROSS.

They thought they saw Weakness. Pilate said, Don-'t you know I have the power of life and death over you. and still you say nothing in your own defense? This Nazarene had even taught the doctrines of weaklings according to them. WHO EVER HEARD OF TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK? GOING THE SECOND MILE? RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL? BUT A LOOK AT ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES SHOWS THIS TO BE THE GREATEST ACT OF COURAGE HISTORY HAS EVER WITNESSED. MY LORD WAS NO WEAKLING NOR COWARD! HE WAS A MAN OF ALL MEN. THOSE WHO STOOD WATCHING HIM WERE THE WEAK, SPINELESS, GROVELING COWARDS. THESE WERE AFRAID TO FACE UP TO THE DEMANDS AND CONSEQUENCES OF HIS TEACHINGS. THE WEAKLINGS CANNOT TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, AND WILL NOT GO THE OTHER MILE.

They thought they saw Foolishness. He claimed to be a King, but where was His kingdom? They scoffed at Him as a religious crackpot. He had claimed to be a God. but none of their gods had ever acted like He didHOW FOOLISH! WITH THEIR GODS IT WAS OPPOSITEMEN DIED FOR THEIR GODS. He claimed to be dying in the place of men. This the wise heathen philosophers could not accept as sensible. The Greek philosophers at Athens scoffed at Paul's preaching the gospel of the cross and resurrection. (Acts 17:1-34).

HEAR WHAT MODERN UNBELIEVERS HAVE TO SAY. Dressed in the pious robes of ecclesiastical finery, giving the unsuspecting world the impression he is a follower of Christ, Bishop G. Bromley Oxnam, former head of the World Council of Churches says, We hear much of the substitutionary theory of the atonement. This theory to me is immoral. If Jesus paid it all or if He is the substitute for me, or if He is the sacrifice for all the sin of the world, then why discuss forgiveness? The books are closed. Another has paid the debt, borne the penalty, I owe nothing. I am absolved. I cannot see forgiveness as predicted upon the act of someone else. It is my sin. I must atone.
The theologians today do not see Jesus dying for our sins. They see him merely dying a tragic death for his misguided conviction that he had a special mission. IT WAS NO ACCIDENT IT WAS PLANNED BY GODREAD THE PROPHETS, AND SEE HOW GOD MOVES IN AND THOUGH ALL OF HISTORY!
If a prince or a king, passing by an execution, should take the condemned man's place and suffer in his place the deed would ring through all history, and be quoted as an amazing instance of heroic pity; and well deserved would be all the words of praise and admiration which would record and eulogize it. Yet, our Lord Jesus did this, and infinitely more for those who were not merely criminals, but enemies to His own throne and person. This is a wonder of wonders. But it meets with small praise. The most of men around us have heard of it, and treated it as of little import; as an idle tale; as a pious legend; as a venerable fable; as an unpractical myth. Even those who know, believe and admire are cold in their emotions with regard to the story of the atonement. Herein is love which ought to set our hearts on fire, and yet we scarcely maintain a smoldering spark of enthusiasm. So said Spurgeon.
We preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling block and unto Gentiles foolishness. For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. DO YOU STAND WITH THE GENTILES AS YOU BEHOLD THE CROSS???

II.

WHAT DID THE JEWS SEE AS THEY BEHELD HIM? To them His crucifixion was a stumbling block. What did they cry as they circled the cross? If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. He saved others, himself he cannot save. THEY STUMBLED AT THE IDEA OF A CRUCIFIED AND HUMILIATED JEWISH MESSIAH. They had made up their minds ages ago just what type of Saviour they would accept. THEY WANTED A SOCIAL REFORMER, A POLITICAL LIBERATOR WHO WOULD LEAVE THE RELIGIOUS STATUS QUO ALONE. NEEDLESS TO SAY THERE ARE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE TODAY WHO STUMBLE AT THE SAME THING. THEY LOOK AT THE CHURCH AS A FAILURE! THEY HAVE TRIED TO USE AND ABUSE THE CHURCH AS A SOCIAL REFORM MOVEMENT, TO LIBERATE AND CONTROL POLITICS, BUT THEY WON-'T HAVE IT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SOULS OF MEN!

They stumbled at His claims to be divine. I believe Jesus could have gotten by and perhaps even have been honored if He had claimed to be just another prophet. Many would allow Him this much today. But when He claimed to: forgive sins, come before Abraham, be the Messiah, and demanded rule over their hearts THEY CRIED BLASPHEMY. THEY COULD NOT ACCEPT ANY TEACHING THAT ASSOCIATED HIM WITH GOD.

MODERN THEOLOGIANS REBEL AT THE IDEA THAT GOD HAS ASSOCIATED HIMSELF WITH MAN OR HAS COME INTO THE REALM OF HISTORY. THEY SAY HE MUST BE WHOLLY TRANSCENDENTWHOLLY OTHER. THEY SAY WE LIMIT GOD'S POWER AND HOLINESS WHEN WE SAY THAT HE CAME IN THE FORM OF FLESH. TO THE CONTRARY, TO RELEGATE GOD ONLY TO THE REALM OF THE WHOLLY OTHER LIMITS HIS POWER AND HOLINESS. HOW COULD A GOD WHO HAD NO DESIRE TO BE TOUCHED WITH OUR INFIRMITIES, TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO US IN HISTORY, BE RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY AND LOVING???
They felt they were rid of One whose righteousness they could not stand. As long as He was alive, they could not live with themselves, their consciences cried out against them, AND MEN AND WOMEN TODAY REJECT JESUS IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO DO AS THEY PLEASE, HAVING PUT BLINDERS UPON THEIR OWN CONSCIENCES. NO ONE WANTS TO MEASURE HIMSELF BY THE PERFECT STANDARD. JESUS CHRIST. WHEN HIS PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS SHOWS US OUR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, WE TRY TO HIDE OURSELVES IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER. USUALLY BY COMPARING OURSELVES WITH OURSELVES.

They saw in the Crucified One their scapegoat. Their High Priest had said, It is expedient that one should die for the nation, lest the Romans come and take away our nation and our place. IS HE NOT BEING USED AS A SCAPEGOAT TODAY? SOME HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST BUT, UPON FINDING THEY CAN-'T HAVE HIM AND THE WORLD TOO, THEY FALL AWAY AND CRUCIFY AFRESH THE SON OF GOD, BY COUNTING THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHEREWITH THEY WERE SANCTIFIED AN UNHOLY THING. cf. also Hebrews 6:1-6. AND THEN WHAT DO THEY DO? THEY USE HIS CHURCH AND HIS SAINTS AS THEIR EXCUSE FOR BACKSLIDING. THEY HARP ON THE HYPOCRITES. OR THEY HARP ON THE IDEA THAT CHRISTIANS ARE TOO UNCOMPROMISING, TOO INTOLERANT, FORGETTING JESUS HIMSELF SAID THERE ARE ONLY TWO WAYSTWO CLASSES OF HUMANITY, SAVED AND LOST. WHERE DO YOU STAND TODAY AND BEHOLD THE CRUCIFIED ONE? ARE YOU WITH THE JEWS? IF YOU ARE A BACKSLIDER, YOU ARE WITH THEM.

III.

WHAT DO BELIEVERS BEHOLD? One of the thieves beheld the Son of God and in faith and trust committed His soul to Him. We see sin condemned in the flesh. Jesus came in the flesh and lived a sinless life in the flesh, tempted in all points like as we are and WON THE VICTORY OVER SIN AND BECAME THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS! He fulfilled the requirements of the law of God, even the sentence and penalty of the law which says, The soul that sinneth it shall die.

We see there the propitiation for our sin. WE BEHOLD JESUS AS HE SUFFERED THE AGONY OF THE SECOND DEATH FOR US. AND THEN WE READ AS HE HIMSELF REVEALS FROM HEAVEN TO JOHN IN THE BOOK OF REVELATIONTHAT SUCH AS ARE BELIEVERS, OVER THEM THE SECOND DEATH HATH NO POWER.

We see God manifesting Himself as being Just and the Justifier. God decreed in His law that sin must be punished. If He went back on His word, He would be a powerless, unjust God. BUT HOW CAN HE HAVE LOVE AND SAVE MEN AND STILL PUNISH SIN? HE ACCOMPLISHED IT ALL IN THE CROSS OF CALVARY WHERE HE PUNISHED SIN AND SAVED MAN THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!

We see sin as it was never shown before in all of its evilness. As a sinner man is a slave who must be redeemed, an enemy who must be reconciled, a dead corpse which must be resurrected and given new life, a captive whose powerful oppressors must be overthrown and a criminal who must be justified. WE SEE THE HOLY AND PERFECT HATE WHICH GOD HAS FOR SIN IN THE GIVING OF THE LIFE OF HIS SON.

We see the love and power of God manifested. The word of the cross may be foolishness to some. BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE BEING SAVED IT IS BOTH THE POWER AND THE WISDOM OF GOD. GOD'S INFINITE WISDOM KNEW THAT THE CROSS WOULD BE THE ONLY WAY TO DRAW MEN UNTO HIM IN SINCERE FAITH. And I, if I will be lifted up, will draw all men unto me. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friend. For the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts. for while we were yet weak, in due season Christ died for the ungodly. A man may decide many things in this life simply by human reason and knowledge. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SALVATION OF HIS SOUL, HE MUST HAVE A POWER THAT IS BEYOND HUMAN REASON. THAT POWER IS PROVIDED IN THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. IT IS GOD'S DIVINE SEAL. GOD, DESIRING TO SWEAR WITH AN OATH, COULD SWEAR BY NONE GREATER THAN HIMSELF, SO HE SEALED HIS PROMISE BY SIGNING HIS OATH IN HIS OWN BLOOD. THE BLOOD OF HIS SON UPON THE CROSS.

Conclusion

YOU SAY, I WANT SOME ASSURANCE. I WANT SOME AUTHORITY. I WANT SOME POWER BEHIND ANY PROMISES OF SALVATION. THERE IT IS IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. His death was sufficient for your sins. His resurrection is power for your new life. The entire New Testament says it is so. YOU MAY BECOME A NEW CREATURE. YOU MAY HAVE YOUR SINS BLOTTED OUT. YOU MAY HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT COME AND LIVE WITH YOU.

HOW DO YOU CONTACT THIS DEATH? By faith? YES, BUT MORE! For contacting His death comprehends all of our obedience. By simply repenting? YES, BUT MORE! By prayer? YES, BUT MORE! By making public confession of faith? YES, BUT MORE. IT IS FULL AND COMPLETE OBEDIENCE. Romans 6:1-23. We are baptized into his death; planted together with Him. Colossians 2:1-23. We are buried with Him in baptism. IT IS HERE THAT THE FINAL ACT IN OUR CONTACTING THE DEATH TAKES PLACE.

HOW DO YOU LOOK UPON THE CRUCIFIED ONE THIS EVENING? I pray with all my soul that you look with faith trusting and seeking to obey Him in all things. He has become the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Remember what He told Nicodemus. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life. John 3:13

YOU KNOW THE ACCOUNT OF THE ISRAELITES AND THE SERPENT OF BRONZE ON THE STAFF. THOSE BITTEN OF THE FIERY SERPENTS WERE CURED WHEN THEY LOOKED, IN FAITH AND OBEDIENCE, UPON THE BRONZE SERPENT LIFTED UP THERE IN THE WILDERNESS. BUT IF THEY DELAYED. PROCRASTINATED IN UNBELIEF, THEY DIED!
There was an old man converted at the age of 68. One day he sat crying as the minister was preaching on the text, No man liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Later, with tears streaming down his cheeks, he approached the preacher. The preacher asked him what was the matter. Oh, sir that textit is true! he replied.
I did not know the Lord until I was 68. I stopped at my son's home this morning and said, Come on son, and go with me to church this morning. and he laughed as he replied, No, Dad, I-'ve got plenty of time; I-'ll wait until I am 68 to get religion, like you did.
I walked on down the street until I came upon my grandchildren playing and said, Come on kids, let's go down to Bible School this morning. No, they replied, we are busy, Grandpa; we will wait until we are old to start going to Sunday School and church like you did.
Sir, he said to the preacher, I would give my right arm if I could live my life over.
Napoleon, the little general, paced the floor of his tent. Half of his troops had been destroyed and the battle yet raged. A messenger rushed in with the shout, Tidings, sire, You have won the victory.
Yes, replied Napoleon quietly, I have won the victory but another such victory would cost me my kingdom. YOU MAY HAVE WON THE VICTORY OVER THE SERMON: YOU MAY HAVE WON THE VICTORY OVER CONSCIENCE, OVER PRAYERS OF MOTHER, OVER PLEADINGS OF YOUR WIFE, BUT ANOTHER SUCH VICTORY MAY COST YOU YOUR ETERNAL SOUL!