video on sermon current tab

MOTIVATE

This coming week is a total solar eclipse. The last time we had a total solar eclipse was August 21, 2017 and the next time will be Aug 23, 2044. Whether on the internet or some news circles, there are interesting stories and misleading conspiracies about astronomical events. Astronomical events have always caused speculation about the meaning of happenings on earth or somehow each one relates to mysterious secret raptures. Whether it is changing constellations, colors of the moon, or comet appearances, people have made all sorts of hidden meaning and predictions.

Personally, I don’t believe we can predict the end times. But there is one unmistakable event in human history that’s meaning is not mysterious or hidden but proclaimed throughout the world for centuries. The death of Jesus Christ is a once for all event to express God’s undeniable love for the world.

One person said, Jesus was not handed over by Judas, for money; not handed over by Pilate, for fear; not handed over by the Jews, for envy; – [instead] Jesus was handed over by the Father, for love.[1]

As Rom 5:8 “God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

EXAMINE: Matthew 27-28

This is the 19^th and final sermon in this series on Matthew’s Gospel. Most of this message will be reading the passage…

^{Mt 27: 26} Pilate released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.

We know that Jesus was crucified, but we have a mostly tamed perspective; especially if you don’t have a church background hearing about crucifixion, but even still our understanding is veiled from its ferocity and barbarity.

Jesus came in love only to receive hate and harm. Jesus was undeserving of this treatment given by the Jews and the Romans, both created by God to adore Him not destroy Him (27:20).

• The Son of God whose hands created the world and molded dirt into humanity, were seized, bound, and led away (26:57; 27:2).
• The Son of God, who revealed truth and was God in the flesh was accused as lying and being demonic (26:60-65).
• The Son of God, who gives freedom and spoke words of life was condemned to death (26:66).
• The Son of God, who had power to call down angels was spit in face (cf. Num 12:14 spitting was shameful), struck, and slapped (26:67; 27:27-30).
• The Son of God, who created trees, was a carpenter, was forced to carry a cross and be crucified (27:31-32). 
• The Son of God suffered willingly and fulfilled the Father’s mission to reconcile us to God.

Crucifixion and the Cross

Matthew uses the word crucifixion 6x in this chapter (27:22, 23, 26, 31, 35, 38). The Bible gives only brief detail to what crucifixion means. Crucifixion was the most painful mode of execution reserved for the most despised criminals.[2]

Crucifixion was an expensive form of execution for its requirement of manpower and length of days. Romans performed this despite extra cost, in order to punish extreme criminals and make an extraordinary point to the public to not dissent.

Jews viewed crucifixion as being under God’s curse.[3] The ancient Roman philosopher Cicero asked that decent Roman citizens not even speak of the cross because it was too disgraceful a subject for the ears of decent people. The agony of crucifixion is due to the fact of its prolonged means of death. Those crucified would often hang on a cross for days, passing in and out of consciousness as their lungs struggled to breathe, while laboring under the weight of their dying body. Due to the fact that timber was so expensive, the wood of the cross was typically recycled wood, therefore layered with the blood and sweat of many others.

The crucifixion process started with the victim being stripped naked, humiliated, and then attached his hands and feet across a wooden beam to expose the victim’s bare back. A Lictor, a professional executioner, would wield a cat-o’-nine tails, which was a whip with tentacle-like straps having heavy scraps of iron or bone attached to the end of the straps. The intention of the Lictor was to tenderize the flesh of the shoulders, backs, buttocks, and legs of the victim. As skin, muscle, tendons and even bones were ripped from the victim, some would die from this scourging itself.

After this scourging, there was placed on Jesus’ head a crown of thorns, mocking Him to be king.  Long thorns would pierce into his forehead, ears, brow, and even skull.

All of this was done publicly, thereby bringing utter shame and making an utter spectacle of the victim. Sweaty, sun-baked, nailed naked to a cross, bloodied and body fluids oozing was an atrocious sight. The crowds gathering around this sight today would be like viewing an execution in front of a local mall. Females were mostly withheld from this form of execution but when such, they were turned to face the cross so the public did not have to view a woman’s facial expressions, as it was harsher to see females suffer. In fact, today we have the painful word – excruciating – which literally means “from the cross,” to describe the insufferable pain and unspeakable horror.

On this cross, nails/spikes were driven into Jesus’ hands and feet – the most sensitive nerve centers on the human body. The ~200lb cross was then raised into the air and placed into a pre-dug hole in the ground. A placard was placed either above his head or around his neck listing his crime. For Jesus, it read, “King of the Jews.” Further mockery took place as the crowd hurled insults and spat into his face.

The victim endured countless spasms as he pulled with his arms and pushed with his legs to keep his chest cavity open for breathing, and then collapsed in exhaustion until the demand for oxygen demanded renewed contraction. The scourging /
the loss of blood / the shock from the pain / all produced agony going on for hours, ending at last by suffocation, cardiac arrest, or overall loss of blood. When there was reason to hasten death, the executors would small the victim’s legs to be broken so they couldn’t push up for oxygen any longer. Yet, in Jesus’ case, his heart collapsed – dying of a broken heart both physically and metaphorically.[4]

– – – – –

Jesus suffered for the sin of the world so that we may be forgiven.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned— every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Cor 5:21

– – – – –

Jesus’ body was wrapped in burial cloth and laid in a borrowed tomb, with a great stone sealing its entrance. (Mt 27:57-60)

Mt 28
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.

5 reasons we can trust the resurrection of Jesus.
(all start with “E”)

1. Execution. The fact that Jesus died on the cross is even secular historical record. Further, there is no historical record of a person surviving crucifixion. For those who suggest Jesus may have survived crucifixion, some evidence to hint at Jesus’s death on the cross is helpful to know:

A) Jesus was scourged by professional “Lictor.” This means He was whipped with tentacle-like straps having sharp objects attached at end. The entire back of His body would have become mutilated as skin, muscle, tendons, and perhaps even some portions of bones were ripped off the victim.

B) Jesus was mocked with a crown of thorns pressed into skull.

C) Jesus was crucified (excruciating) as nails/spikes driven into hands and feet into a wooden beam. Then lifted up on cross to hang in sun and the spits and insults of the crowd. In many cases if the victim was not dead, their legs would be broken so they could not press up to open the lungs for air. Death would result swiftly.

D) In Jesus’s case, His legs were not broken because the professional executioners determined He was already dead. The pressed a spear in his side in which blood and water flowed (Jn 19:34). One could say Jesus died of a broken heart.

E) Jesus was buried in a tomb sealed by Roman soldiers. Only dead persons are wrapped and buried.

F) The execution was initiated by Jewish leaders pride, Roman government oppression, but ultimately was fulfilled because of the divine hand of God to fulfill His promises.

G) Acts 2:23-24 “this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible to be held by it.”

> Jesus’ death = My sin debt forgiven.

2. Empty Tomb. Jesus’ tomb was empty on the 3^rd day.

A) Prophecies about resurrection. Prophecies from OT (Psalm 16:10; Ps 22; Jonah/Mat 12:40; Isa 25:8, 53:8-12; Hosea 6:2); Prophecies from Jesus (Mt 12:38-40; Mk 8:31, 9:31, 10:33-34; Jn 2:18-22).

B) Even the Romans and secular historians testify to the empty tomb. Romans suggested the disciples stole the body (Mt 28:11-15).
To counter the resurrection, one must produce the dead body of Jesus. Instead, we have the opposite – evidence of a very much alive body of Jesus. All that was in the tomb were folded grave clothes, suggesting an organized resurrection.

C) Every religious leader from Buddha, Confucius, to Mohammed or Joseph Smith are all enshrined in a tomb and a place of worship for their movement. Not Jesus’ tomb – it’s unexciting and empty!  

John 20:27 “Jesus said, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

> Jesus’ empty tomb was to let us see and explore; and invitation to discover the life of Jesus.

3. Eyewitnesses. There is ample testimony to the veracity and history of the resurrection.

A) His resurrection first testified by females. In the first century and prior, a woman’s testimony was not accepted as valid. Early Christians were mocked for the resurrection noticed first by Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Salome, Joanna and other women (Mt 28:1-10; Mk 16:1; Lk 24:10-11; Jn 20:1-2). This vital historical fact shows 1) the Scripture’s accuracy in simply stating what happened and not attempting to shape the narrative for its own theological ideology, and 2) Christianity would liberate the role of women to equal value of genders.

B) His resurrection testified by apostles and over five-hundred witnesses (1Cor 15:6). This list of witnesses includes the Gospel testimonies: Matthew, Mark (Peter), Luke, John, but also many others. Specifically, James – the brother of Jesus, was convinced that Jesus was the resurrected Son of God. Think about that – what would it take to convince you that your sibling was divine? The point is that the eyewitness testimony was legit and validated early and has continued for centuries.

C) His resurrection has been testified throughout history from the martyrs and writers of the first century to many who are persecuted today.
Most died for this sake. A person may die for a lie but not if they knew it was a lie. However, the apostles, among many others knew Jesus was resurrected, and these were murdered in excruciating ways for the sake of this truth.
Further, the Gospels do so much to tell the story as it happened. If I were a disciple writing story, I’d list myself as full of faith, full of courage & strength to do miracles… but the Bible shows the disciples were often full of selfishness, fear, doubt. This is how we know the Biblical writings are not fairy tales or redacted years later, or that we are missing “true gospels”.

D) 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born,
he appeared also to me.

> Jesus’ eyewitnesses challenge us to read deeply and share widely.

4. Early Creeds. Legends take generations to develop because they can be debunked quickly by first-hand accounts. However, early creedal statements, based on first generation eyewitnesses of the crucifixion and resurrection event, was used to catechize believers and future generations to affirm the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A) 1 Cor 15:3-8 / Php 2:6-10 / 1 Tim 3:16

B) All the NT books are from late 50’s to early 90’s.

C) Songs ancient and modern confess resurrection.

D) Creeds/Hymns/Catechisms are helpful tools to learn faith.

E) 1 Timothy 3:16 “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

> Jesus receives our singing in community.

5. Explanatory Power. The resurrection of Jesus has sustained centuries. Further, resurrection hope is our only human confidence. Is there life after death, or is the grave the final resting place? The Bible explains we were made to live forever in the presence of God. Yet, because of sin, death entered our existence. God provided victory over sin and death through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can live with the very same confidence that Jesus had while He walked on earth.
John 5:24 “Truly truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.”
John 11:25 “Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”
Romans 6:5 “united w/ him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united w/ him in a resurrection like his.”
1Cor 15:19-20, 22, 55-56 “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive… Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Additionally, our life’s purpose is guided by the gospel. The resurrection did not conclude God’s mission but was just getting started with a command to be fulfilled. Jesus expected the disciples to go tell others and make disciples of all nations. And this is God’s plan for over 2K years, without a “plan B”. Isn’t that wild? Couldn’t there have been an easier strategy for transforming the world? Yes, but then we would be robots and miss the relationship with God, community with others, and fulfilling life purpose. So, our life has explanatory power when we are living for something that matters for all eternity. We must be careful to not prioritize things on earth that will rust and rot but invest to store up treasure in heaven; only thing we can take into heaven is people!

Wolfhart Pannenberg, German scholar at Tubingen “The evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: First, it is a very unusual event. And second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live.”[5]

APPLY/THINK

 Closing your eyes doesn’t make the sun go away.

 The Lord is faithful, yesterday, now, and always.

---

[1] Adapted from Octavius Winslow, quoted in John Stott, Cross of Christ, 58–61.

[2] Much of the following information on crucifixion comes from Driscoll’s Death by Love pp 17-34, and sermon “The Cross: God Dies,” along with John Stott’s classic The Cross of Christ.

[3] Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:13.

[4] Alternate medical reasons for Jesus death are explored here: https://reasons.org/explore/blogs/voices/what-is-the-medical-cause-of-jesus-s-death

[5] Quoted in Erwin Lutzer, Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible. p. 113