A Shroud and a Stone

Recovery church we love the Gospel. The apostle Paul says that the gospel is first importance. There are many things that we could be doing there many things that we as a church could be doing. People of all kinds of ideas and sometimes email me or speak to me about things that we tell the church should be doing.

But this is of first and of crucial importance.

The gospel we stand and read the word of God to me as Paul articulates it in first Corinthians 15 versus three and four read with me, for I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was very that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. Thank you. Please be seated that the gospel that's what Paul says and again he says it is our first importance, and we be learning over these past few weeks as we been concluding the gospel according to Matthew that Christ died on the cross for our sins, that is, Jesus takes her place on the cross and that through his dad that is offered to you forgiveness of sins. We are taking about the worldliness of our Savior, who is worthy you are not worthy to enter heaven. I'm not worthy to enter heaven because we have this huge problem of failure of sin and know from heaven yes help comes not from ourselves, not from out on intuition, not from following your heart not by consulting with others, not by getting use into some kind of psychological state. No help comes from outside of us that the gospel that help comes from heaven to God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have ever lasting life by the gospel.

Please note, is not only that Christ died for our sins, that is crucial. But as we read. Not only did Christ died for our sins pulsates that he was very and in their continuing study of the gospel of Matthew, we come today to the burial of Jesus, something I think we glide over and perhaps minimize called this message are shrouded in the stone were going to a binder shrouded about going to read about our great stone of your Bible with you to the first verse gospel Matthew chapter 27. Why don't always emphasize the Bible because our thought today comes not from the traditional Galvin church, not from my own ideas, not from some calls but comes from the holy Scriptures, which are God's revelation to us so that when the Bible speaks God is speaking to hear what God has to say regarding the burial of his son Matthew 27 – 57. Remember last week or so. Christ dying on the cross we heard his words. My God, my God, why have you forgiven me notice Jesus was not speaking to himself we believe that God is triune, father, son and the Holy Spirit occasionally we hear someone and they're praying to God the father and their thanking the father than for dying on on the cross.

Not only is that wrong is heretical, God the father did not die on the cross, God the son died on the cross of the father sends the son to be the propitiation for our sins so we thought last week of Jesus dying on the cross – 57 when it was evening there came a rich man from automatically named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him and Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own tomb, which it cuts in the rock and doodled a great salon to the entrance of the term and went away. Mary Magdalena and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the term the next day that is after their preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said Sir, we remember that imposter said while he was still alive after three days I will rise therefore alter the tomb to be made secure until the third day, Lester's disciples go and steal him away until the people he is risen from the dead on the last fraud will be worse than the first. Pilate said to them, you have a God of soldiers. Go make it as secure as you can so they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard for an intriguing passage of Scripture is in the were saying this morning were learning this morning. The importance of the burial of Jesus by the gospel record makes a very clear first of all, the Jesus died on the cross we saw last week in verse 50 of Matthew 27 Jesus is on the cross he cried out with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. Don't think of Jesus as a victim caught in tragic events over which had no control. Absolutely not.

He knew his mission. The sun knew by the father sent him into this world is given the name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. Paul said that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, that is his primary mission. Yes, he healed people give and he gave brilliant teaching, but this was his mission to save sinners. The apostle Paul, the apostle John writes the reason the son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil numbing the risen God sends his son to destroy the works of our enemy, not on the cross as we saw last week, we see our Lord bowing his head bowing to the will of the father and voluntarily giving up his life for sinners like you and me. Jesus died on the cross.

Some people try to argue that Jesus did not actually die but went into a kind of sloughing on the cross that he was unconscious. That's clearly contradicted by the historical evidence. In Mark's gospel Pilate, the Roman procurator summons the centurion who was in charge of the execution of Jesus centurion is given the task along with his men of crucifying, of killing Jesus on the cross so Pilate summons the centurion understood Jody and conference to the Roman procurator Pilate that Jesus actually died on the cross to give Pilate there's a lot of kind of death certificate. No questions are. The prisoner was put to death over sought I was there. My man put him to death. Gospel record is true. There is no question that Jesus died on the cross that's essential to the gospel. Not only that Christ died for that. That he died for our sins crucial to the gospel is that Jesus was buried.

Jesus died on a Friday we call it Good Friday guarding to the Jews.

The burial had to be completed by sunset for that was the beginning of the Sabbath that was very important to the Jews. We all know to love one who had died by taking care of their body.

The Jews certainly did that.

You can read that over and over again in the Old Testament have people cared for the loved one on there that those who were crucified normally get about a little maybe thrown into common grave may have been left for the animals to be devoured but is marvelous in the providence of God, this man that would never have done before.

In the Gospels is wonderful. My Ms. lovely mind when you left it made him go. Joseph of Arimathea I didn't something tremendously pray he risks his life by going to Pilate and asking for the body of Jesus.

This man Joe Ziv once to avoid any further indignities to the body of Jesus. So we read in verse 59.

Joseph took the body, wrapped it in the in the clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb of the Bible says this is a rich man but APPC had servants who helped him to take down the body from the cross.

Joseph would've had to lure the cross. I'm sure with great love and care.

Extract the nails from Jesus hands and feet. The body of Jesus had been spat on being bruised at admin last his body had been pierced with her spear. Obviously his hands and his feet were nailed crying of thorns had been thrust on his head is scarcely recognizable as a human being members other than the prophecy of Isaiah and here is our Savior. This wonderful man Joe Ziv from his little time to vitamin C he's there and he wraps Jesus in the clean linen shroud sheets and lays him in his own you to gently be taken nine on fixes hands and feet take from his had the thought in the car in late-term in the linen sheets you see that the burial of Jesus is in fulfillment of prophecy over and over again. Matthew, who knew his Old Testament Scripture writing particularly to the Jewish community, as it presents Jesus as the King loves the court the Old Testament to love. Start a fire to the Old Testament and he would have known the Scripture Isaiah had prophesied and they made his grave with the wicked one, which is maybe made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his dad although he had done no violence and there was no deceit in his mind has a prophecy, Isaiah 53 verse nine know it is fulfilled. The body of Jesus, is taking time from across the draft and the clean linen shroud and is foods in this new tomb that Arimathea. This rich man had prepared for his own body and prop probably for the body of his family give her thoughts of the humility of the Lord Jesus is Lord of glory is the creator of the heavens and they are is the grade no beginning and no end because he's the eternal God, and now he comes into time and space becomes from the light of heaven into the darkness. He is born baby in Bethlehem. This is God incarnate. Not only does it become a man, but reminds us in Philippians 2 he becomes a severance. Yes, he's the one who washes the feet of his disciples a very lonely times.

This is the heart of God. This is what God is like God incarnate the lives a perfect life. Not only does it become a man, he becomes a servant is to become a servant.

He becomes a region today only does it become a region. Today becomes a pigeon to death on a cross. The most horrible death you can imagine. Not only does it become a vision to the debt to that he allows, as we just read the lows. His body to be taken down from that old rugged cross, and to be wrapped in a shroud and puts in a grave Lord of glory. Watch what grace, what love for you and to me the theologian John Dick writes the shades of death have enveloped him in silence reigns in his lonely abode referring to our Lord being placed in the grave, Joseph is described as a rich man from Arimathea verse seven. So he lays the body in his own new tomb which it cuts in Iraq when he takes the Bible says there are six that heroes are great stone to the entrance of the tomb and then goes away. Now there's no question that Jesus died on the cross. There's no question that he was very Joseph had shroud Joseph of the great stone on the Lord is. He dies for our sins, he is very and the gospel records Matthew that we been studying at least five or six times in the month of our Lord, our Lord predicts his resurrection.

He said that the shepherd devoting himself is going to be struck down. The sheep are going to be scattered, and then he says in chapter 26 verse 32.

After I am raised up. I will go before you to Galilee.

He tells us is disciples several times.

Evil men are going to take me there going to kill me, but after three days I will rise again drummer in chapter 26 is this wonderful woman who has this expensive perfume and she anoints the body of Jesus, and she does it to prepare the Lord for burial.

You think that women also would have known that the Lord was going to be resurrected to give these women investors 55 and 56 that the cross looking on from a distance and then we need to be read in verse 61 regarding the burial Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there sitting opposite the tomb. These women at the burial and that the dawn of that first Easter Sunday.

These two women. Chapter 28 verse one after the Sabbath, or the dawn of the first of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. That is a woman who traveled with Jesus provide three years. They had minister to them. They had Sabbath in the lobby Jesus.

They cared for Jesus there that of the cross there, that of the burial in the lead of the tomb. John think they believe that Jesus would rise from it that they had heard them say it's the irony because the apostles are not there waiting for the resurrection that either they is that the opponents of Jesus versus 62 and 63 were so nervous after the death of Jesus, that they went so far as meeting Pilate and they said there 63 Sir, we remember how that the imposter said while he was still alive after three days I will rise again. So the opponents of Jesus. They hired the Lord give these prophecies I'm going to be killed but after three days I will rise again.

They remembered it. These women, the apostles, so they say in order to prevent his disciples coming and stealing the body we need to guard the tomb and tireless as well go ahead, get a God of soldiers to secure the term so the term mother great stone in front of it. The stone is sealed and secured by guards sent there by the opponents of Jesus to make sure that his disciples wouldn't comment still embodies Ellie's resurrected the fastening. These man these wicked men were so nervous about the possible resurrection of Jesus was no doubt that Jesus died and he was very and theirs were going to sing a couple of weeks as we going to chapter 28 that is no doubt that the tomb is going to be empty not think of this with me is with the burial of Jesus, but God uses on expected people, Joseph and Nicodemus are unlikely people to take care of the body of Jesus you if you are reading the gospel records about these 12 man okay Judas has gone to mint suicide but you got 11 men who had been with Jesus, who'd seen the medicals would listen to his teaching, who had heard them say he was going to be resurrected when you have thoughts that these men with the been there to bury him what your father. These men would've been there awaiting the resurrection, instead, in the providence of God, these two men, Joseph and Nicodemus take care of the body of Jesus. Prior to Matthew chapter 7 is no record of Joseph of Arimathea in the Gospels is described here. Verse 57 as a disciple of Jesus. John when he gives his account says secretly, for fear of the Jews. So Joseph is a secret disciple. He lives in the shadows as it were. These following Jesus, but he doesn't really want people to know, but now he's the man likely men. The secret disciple. He shows great courage and going to Pilate and asking for the body of Jesus and John Ricard regards this other man. Nicodemus brings a mixture of matter and all oasis to anoints the body of Jesus.

We take the body in this road and Nicodemus is there with a large quantity of alloys and Nicodemus we know who he is, is described in John three is the one who came to see Jesus by night, but up to this point. These men are secret disciples.

Both of them are members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high cutting so and Joseph laws. According to Mark 15 verse 34 was a respected member of the Council look in his account as a Joseph was a good and a righteous man. These well thought of as a rich man is in the community. He's respected. He's good is just about Nicodemus.

Nicodemus was highly educated. He was a ruler of the Jews near the Old Testament Scripture. He he taught the word of God to people.

He was a teacher in Israel. So here these two men highly educated and highly influential highly respected Israel and they are there. The burial of Jesus.

Luke reminds us that Joseph is man from Ottoman Thea had not consented to the decision and action of the Sanhedrin member. The Sanhedrin made the decision to deliver Jesus to be crucified.

Joseph, a farmer, Thea had not consented to that duty abstain. What did he do. We don't know, but he did not consent to the decision. These chief priests. These elders they hate Jesus, you can imagine the outrage and hitting that these two influential man. Joseph and Nicodemus had been involved with the burial of Jesus. We can think of Joseph and you think of Nicodemus you wonder what happens.

I was in these man who are following Jesus is awarded in the shadows secretly.

How is it that they are not a soul bold, the answer is the transforming power of the cross. Joseph is a disciple of Jesus must have heart of the teaching of Jesus. Luke says that after the death of the Lord Jesus.

Joseph was looking for the kingdom of God.

Wonderful get tired teaching from Jesus, presumably, directly or indirectly about the kingdom of God that there was this eternal kingdom and that the Lord Jesus Christ was the king of this eternal kingdom and is looking for its even after the death of Jesus he seemed to know that the day of Jesus was not the end and the cross of Christ. The transforming power of the cross of Christ brings this secret disciple into the open whenever themes this year is seek first the kingdom of God you seeking this man was, he was looking for was seeking the kingdom of God and those who are seeking the kingdom of God are transformed by the pilot of the cross did Nicodemus know about the kingdom of God absolutely had to edit from our Lord Jesus, the perfect teacher regarded in John three Jesus had explained to Nicodemus and Nicodemus had trouble with this. The Lord Jesus that explained to Nicodemus that you must be born again. That is a supernatural birth that must take place. Nicodemus and that is going to come from heaven help comes from heaven. It is a burst from above outside of yourself supernatural birth, the spirit, I did.

You don't experience Nicodemus that supernatural birth. You will not see you will not enter the kingdom of God. Nicodemus that highly. These words must've burned into his soul knew the Scriptures. He comes to Jesus by night and in the grace of God. He too is transformed by the cross. Another this unexpected man. Nicodemus is there, lovingly bringing alloys and murder for the burial of Jesus to unexpected disciples responding to the cross of Christ with profound cottage with profound love and care now openly identifying with Jesus. The transformation of these two men. Think also of these devoted women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary faithful, loyal clients service of Jesus where they are the cross, rather than on the burial of their first on that resurrection Sunday again. They'd been at the cross challenged over the last couple weeks have you been to the cross of Christ. What kind of faith do you have I would you define your Christianity by being good by coming to church by going through the ordinances or lead you to the finance that you've been to the cross and realize that Christ died for my sins was burning and on the third day he rose again. Some of you, relatively speaking, are secret disciples you're a follower of Jesus, but you're kind of in heightening this kind of incognito to you the truth be told, some of your own family. Don't know that your follower of Christ. Some of the people that you work with your office, a bank, the school store wherever God and the sovereign purposes, places you they really don't know that you are a follower of Christ people in your community is a well kind of private person like it might my faith in myself as I was Scripture. Once you are to be open, lay a follower of Christ, you are openly to confess that you are an authentic follower of Jesus Christ. This is the most important thing about your visit is your identity.

Why is it that you've kept your faith in Christ so secret. The first thing in the New Testament that happens when a person is saved by the grace of God know what happens here with assignment of being a follower of Christ openly confessing Christ is baptism. Baptism. So you say I'm not ready for that.

Not ready for that follower of Christ. Why wouldn't you openly confess your faith in Jesus Christ. Is it when I was baptized as a baby is not find the New Testament babies can openly confess their faith in Christ. This is for you as a responsible person is a is a student is in as an adult to say yes I am a follower of Jesus Christ. That's the most important thing about me.

I'm openly confessing my faith in Christ you to be a light for Christ stepping out does it word from the crowd.

Some of you like to be in the card.

When the boys this drifting along you're there. Yes, you are a believer in Jesus Christ.

But it is kind of go along with everyone. We take a stand for Christ you afraid to say that you belong to Jesus Christ is an example of these men who visit were being secret followers of Christ. But now transformed by the cross of Christ the life is change. They take that life in the hands as it were, and say we want to bury Jesus Christ the cross of Christ saves us the cross of Christ gives us cottage the cross of Christ transforms us. What about you when you can look at the Lamb of God is what Matthew's doing is presenting Jesus Christ as the Savior as they came as a Lord from we looked at. We'll examine matrix farms. We look to him and take courage, will you, Luke nine live Isaiah says look unto me, all the ends of the thing you will be saved, if you look to Jesus Christ. We save your sins will be forgiven. There is no doubt that our Lord Jesus died physically on the cross, but is no doubt that he was buried in the thought of this.

This week is something the fact that Jesus was buried in the grave removes the fear of the grave for us who are his followers you see how is that the Lord Jesus never asked you to go where he is not already been is with the means to follow Jesus. Jesus Christ has gone into dad's body was taken and put in the in the grave.

You say you said I don't want to think about. I want you to think about it, unless the Lord Jesus Christ comes all die. And when I die, my loved ones are going to put me in a grave I don't fear that is it will.

That's a terrible thought, no, it isn't because my Lord Jesus Christ has gone into the grave and the Scripture says all dad where is your staying all grave, where is your victory, our Lord Jesus Christ has gone into death itself was taken on the enemy slaying the dragon is aware that she triumphed over all of the principles of principalities of evil has taken on, dad died, my dad and my and magnificently the Lord Jesus says to his disciples in John 14 because I live, you show live. Also, my friend is no reason to fear that there's no reason to fear the grave as we'll see in a couple of weeks off from the grave he arose with a mighty triumph over his foes. He arose he arose hallelujah Christ arose he dies. Persons is granted.

He's raised again. That is a shroud that is a stolen and praise God. There is an empty tomb trust Christ.

Father, help us to do that we prepared our hearts for communion look to a magnificent Christ the wonder of is the burial of this resurrection and asked that you will die does not, as we break open our eyes some hero lost summer secret disciples give them courage as we look at Christ in the breaking of bread, helpless prey in Christ's name