Sermon nuggets Thurs Dec 18
Theme Jesus’ Burial
Matt 27:55-56 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.
56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The Burial Shows Compassion – as illustrated by The Women
As we looked at the two other Christians we saw the secret Christian for fear of others now show courage. We saw the hesitant Christian who believed and some knew it, but now showed commitment.
Since we talked about the preparation of the body by the followers, I also want to add the place that the woman held in the burial. I think these women illustrated Jesus point she loves much because she was forgiven much. This is especially true for Mary Magdalene as we know more details about her life. Jesus illustrated her love when she was the one weeping and wiping off the dirt from Jesus feet. She takes an expensive perfume and anoints his feet and kisses them.
Many think that was Mary of Magdalene, others question if it was as it is not clear. But either way she was possessed with 7 demons and like that woman who was forgiven much or Mary who was freed from horrible sin and possession there was completion to her faith. There was no turning back. These women showed compassion by following Jesus to the end, regardless of who knew it or what would be done to him or to them.
For the ones who wholly turn over their lives to Christ there is no turning back. There is outward worship and witness. There is a courage, a commitment that takes them to the end of completion and ultimately to glory.
Jesus had one mission in this life. It wasn't to be a great teacher, though He was a great teacher. It wasn't to be a great prophet, though He was a great prophet. It wasn't to be a great miracle worker, though He did work many great miracles. No my friend, Jesus came to this world to perform only one job...to die.
Believing in Jesus is the only way to be saved because it was Jesus who died
for our sins. There are no other ways to be saved, no other roads to God. There are no other plans of salvation!
There are many incredible mysteries in the Bible. There are many doctrinal issues that will never be fully understood until we are in Heaven. But God made the most important decision of this life very easy and simple to understand. He gave every one the same opportunity to have their sins washed away and be assured of an eternity in Heaven. That is why we celebrate Good Friday today. That is why we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ.
The most important decision you will make in this life is not who you will marry, or where you will live, or what kind of job you will have. The most important decision you will make in this life is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. For in the death and in the burial it is completed. It is finished. There is nothing else other than accepted it. Certainly we will speak of the resurrection of Christ, but in his death he bought your soul. If you haven’t prayed to received Christ to be your savior and forgive you of all your sins do so today.
The women showed compassion. The burial was not the end of their faith, but a continuance of their love.
Pastor Dale
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Burial shows Commitment John 19:39,40
Sermon nuggets Wed Dec 17
Theme- Jesus’ Burial
Verses- John 19:39,40 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
Burial shows Commitment as illustrated by Nicodemus.
I think Nicodemus represents the type of Christian who will generally be the hesitant believer. I think he came to saving faith in Christ, and did simple things here and there which indicated he was believer. But it was convenient to keep quiet in some circles and speak up with others. The Gospels repeatedly said there were also some priests and teachers of the law who followed Jesus. I wonder if Nicodemus was a follower out of convenience more than conviction.
This passage reminds us that he was at the cross. He took it upon himself to buy 75 pounds of spices an myrrh and aloes which is enough to bury a king. That was not common for the burial of typical people, but to Nicodemus Jesus was a king. This was symbolic of the Kingdom and the Kingship of Christ.
Even though Nicodemus and Joseph were from the Pharisees party they were willing to do what a good Pharisee was not willing to do. They were willing to touch a dead body-especially before a Sabbath for that would make them unclean. They would have to ceremonially purify themselves and endure a waiting period before they could participate in public worship.
Nicodemus’ commitment is shown by giving. There would be no return on the investments of a tomb or burial clothes, or spices. It was not something they’d get back on income tax breaks. Commitment and concern for others goes hand in hand.
The cross motivated Nicodemus from being an observing Christian to getting committed. It motivated him from being secret to being public. He watched Jesus on the cross commit his life for the salvation of others. He knew with the other miracles that Jesus could have come down, but didn’t. There were some things that this educated teacher did not understand, and it is true today. There are things the wisest and smartest and most trained teachers of our society both liberals and conservatives, both unsaved and saved do not understand. God is beyond our comprehension. Eventually one takes the facts and must exercise faith. That faith may be strong or weak, but there is a time when each person must take what he doesn’t know and give himself or herself to the control and authority of Jesus wherever that may lead.
For Nicodemus it seemed that it was the burial of the Lord and his chance to do the will and work of God Almighty.
I think it was the companionship of Nicodemus that helped Joseph cross the line to publicly identify with Christ. I think it was the encouragement of Joseph that also helpled motivate Nicodemus to take a further step. The good Samaritan was the lesson of loving your neighbor who was in need. Nicodemus saw that love acted out by Jesus Christ. The commitment by the good Samaritan cost him something. There is commitment by Nicodemus which costs him something. Position and riches didn’t mean the same anymore.
Nicodemus saw the original passion of Jesus Christ and was moved to get involved. But getting involved may cost something. He his discovered a new truth which Jesus passed on, Luke 14:33 “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
He was now free.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Jesus’ Burial
Verses- John 19:39,40 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
Burial shows Commitment as illustrated by Nicodemus.
I think Nicodemus represents the type of Christian who will generally be the hesitant believer. I think he came to saving faith in Christ, and did simple things here and there which indicated he was believer. But it was convenient to keep quiet in some circles and speak up with others. The Gospels repeatedly said there were also some priests and teachers of the law who followed Jesus. I wonder if Nicodemus was a follower out of convenience more than conviction.
This passage reminds us that he was at the cross. He took it upon himself to buy 75 pounds of spices an myrrh and aloes which is enough to bury a king. That was not common for the burial of typical people, but to Nicodemus Jesus was a king. This was symbolic of the Kingdom and the Kingship of Christ.
Even though Nicodemus and Joseph were from the Pharisees party they were willing to do what a good Pharisee was not willing to do. They were willing to touch a dead body-especially before a Sabbath for that would make them unclean. They would have to ceremonially purify themselves and endure a waiting period before they could participate in public worship.
Nicodemus’ commitment is shown by giving. There would be no return on the investments of a tomb or burial clothes, or spices. It was not something they’d get back on income tax breaks. Commitment and concern for others goes hand in hand.
The cross motivated Nicodemus from being an observing Christian to getting committed. It motivated him from being secret to being public. He watched Jesus on the cross commit his life for the salvation of others. He knew with the other miracles that Jesus could have come down, but didn’t. There were some things that this educated teacher did not understand, and it is true today. There are things the wisest and smartest and most trained teachers of our society both liberals and conservatives, both unsaved and saved do not understand. God is beyond our comprehension. Eventually one takes the facts and must exercise faith. That faith may be strong or weak, but there is a time when each person must take what he doesn’t know and give himself or herself to the control and authority of Jesus wherever that may lead.
For Nicodemus it seemed that it was the burial of the Lord and his chance to do the will and work of God Almighty.
I think it was the companionship of Nicodemus that helped Joseph cross the line to publicly identify with Christ. I think it was the encouragement of Joseph that also helpled motivate Nicodemus to take a further step. The good Samaritan was the lesson of loving your neighbor who was in need. Nicodemus saw that love acted out by Jesus Christ. The commitment by the good Samaritan cost him something. There is commitment by Nicodemus which costs him something. Position and riches didn’t mean the same anymore.
Nicodemus saw the original passion of Jesus Christ and was moved to get involved. But getting involved may cost something. He his discovered a new truth which Jesus passed on, Luke 14:33 “In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
He was now free.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Burial gives Courage John 19:38
Sermon nuggets Tues Dec 16
Verses- John 19:38 “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.”
The Burial Shows Courage as illustrated by Joseph
Joseph of Aramathea was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Arimathea was called the city of the Jews meaning that there were a great many Jewish people born and raised there. We know he was a wealthy man. Not only does Matthew reveal this to us, but to have his own hand hewn tomb in a garden also helps us know that he was a man of means. All the members of the Sanhedrin were wealthy compared to most of the other population. They were respected.
But one reason that Scriptures talk about Joseph is to show the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9 “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
Thousands of years before the Bible speaks of Jesus grave with the wicked. We know that two thieves were crucified on either side of Jesus. But instead of being taken from the cross and thrown on a heap, Joseph came on the scene by no accident. He came forward before Pilate asking for the body knowing that Jesus had no place to be buried. Jesus’ family would not have the money for a tomb. So he requested the body of Jesus and helped prepare the body to have buried in his own tomb. It was new. It was in a garden. It was the fulfillment that he was made his grave with the rich in his death.
The other thing that could be said about Joseph was that he was a secret disciple. I have heard it expressed often that people like to keep their religion private. Why? I think one reason might be to as not to offend others. People can get into arguments when they discuss religion and politics. When someone holds a minority opinion it is easier to keep quiet than to be excluded for your beliefs.
The text says he was a secret believer because he feared the Jews. He didn’t want them to know. That is true today. Some people who are Jewish don’t want their friends and relatives to know it if they are interested in Jesus Christ. Jews can be disowned by their families and thought to be traitors by their own people if they become Christians. In some countries in Asia and the Middle East they could lose their lives if families discovered they were believers in Jesus. But what about America?
There is social pressure to fit in. Joseph would have been disowned by his own people and his standing as a leader of the group that just condemned him would have also rejected Joseph. So he kept his faith quiet.
That is one main reason some Christians today don’t want to be public about their faith, because of pressures of friends, or social fear of what others might say or do. But there are others reasons. He might have known about the rich young ruler who was told to sell all that he had and give to the poor. Rich people don’t like to do that. That is easy for poor people. They don’t have much to lose. But if Jesus is Lord there is a different way in which we look at our possessions. We are aware that they do not belong to us but to the Lord.
Some might think they can’t be a good enough Christians and not a good enough witness so they don’t want others to know because their lives don’t live up to their profession. I was in a conversation recently with a man who was using all kinds of foul language until he discovered I was a pastor. It is amazing how quickly his conversation cleaned up. He told me he was a Christian and an active church man. But his tongue was still in the process apparently getting saved. Some want to keep faith a secret because they know they don’t live they way they want to-but who of us lives as we should?
There was an experiment done in psychology class in a High School of about 100 kids. They were put in groups of 10. They were instructed to tell which of three lines were the longest. 9 of the 10 kids were told to vote for the middle one. One person was the test subject and was not given any further instructions. When the instructor asked them to vote on the length of the lines each time 9 hands would go up and the person would look around and get a little embarrassed and slowly raise his hand repeatedly with the group. How many do you think voted for the obviously wrong answer? All of them.
Joseph wanted to fit in. He didn’t want to lose status, or maybe business. He feared what others would think if they knew he was a believer in Jesus.
But the cross changed his fear into courage. Joseph looked at the suffering savior and it gave him the courage that if Christ would so die as one who was innocent, then now he would come out in the open and let others think what they want. Truly this was the Son of God. He went and asked for the body.
Where are your fears? How can Jesus give you courage in your faith walk this coming year? When we see what He went through for your salvation may it be an encouragement to step forward and be counted in ways that are led by the Lord.
Pastor Dale
Verses- John 19:38 “Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.”
The Burial Shows Courage as illustrated by Joseph
Joseph of Aramathea was a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Arimathea was called the city of the Jews meaning that there were a great many Jewish people born and raised there. We know he was a wealthy man. Not only does Matthew reveal this to us, but to have his own hand hewn tomb in a garden also helps us know that he was a man of means. All the members of the Sanhedrin were wealthy compared to most of the other population. They were respected.
But one reason that Scriptures talk about Joseph is to show the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9 “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
Thousands of years before the Bible speaks of Jesus grave with the wicked. We know that two thieves were crucified on either side of Jesus. But instead of being taken from the cross and thrown on a heap, Joseph came on the scene by no accident. He came forward before Pilate asking for the body knowing that Jesus had no place to be buried. Jesus’ family would not have the money for a tomb. So he requested the body of Jesus and helped prepare the body to have buried in his own tomb. It was new. It was in a garden. It was the fulfillment that he was made his grave with the rich in his death.
The other thing that could be said about Joseph was that he was a secret disciple. I have heard it expressed often that people like to keep their religion private. Why? I think one reason might be to as not to offend others. People can get into arguments when they discuss religion and politics. When someone holds a minority opinion it is easier to keep quiet than to be excluded for your beliefs.
The text says he was a secret believer because he feared the Jews. He didn’t want them to know. That is true today. Some people who are Jewish don’t want their friends and relatives to know it if they are interested in Jesus Christ. Jews can be disowned by their families and thought to be traitors by their own people if they become Christians. In some countries in Asia and the Middle East they could lose their lives if families discovered they were believers in Jesus. But what about America?
There is social pressure to fit in. Joseph would have been disowned by his own people and his standing as a leader of the group that just condemned him would have also rejected Joseph. So he kept his faith quiet.
That is one main reason some Christians today don’t want to be public about their faith, because of pressures of friends, or social fear of what others might say or do. But there are others reasons. He might have known about the rich young ruler who was told to sell all that he had and give to the poor. Rich people don’t like to do that. That is easy for poor people. They don’t have much to lose. But if Jesus is Lord there is a different way in which we look at our possessions. We are aware that they do not belong to us but to the Lord.
Some might think they can’t be a good enough Christians and not a good enough witness so they don’t want others to know because their lives don’t live up to their profession. I was in a conversation recently with a man who was using all kinds of foul language until he discovered I was a pastor. It is amazing how quickly his conversation cleaned up. He told me he was a Christian and an active church man. But his tongue was still in the process apparently getting saved. Some want to keep faith a secret because they know they don’t live they way they want to-but who of us lives as we should?
There was an experiment done in psychology class in a High School of about 100 kids. They were put in groups of 10. They were instructed to tell which of three lines were the longest. 9 of the 10 kids were told to vote for the middle one. One person was the test subject and was not given any further instructions. When the instructor asked them to vote on the length of the lines each time 9 hands would go up and the person would look around and get a little embarrassed and slowly raise his hand repeatedly with the group. How many do you think voted for the obviously wrong answer? All of them.
Joseph wanted to fit in. He didn’t want to lose status, or maybe business. He feared what others would think if they knew he was a believer in Jesus.
But the cross changed his fear into courage. Joseph looked at the suffering savior and it gave him the courage that if Christ would so die as one who was innocent, then now he would come out in the open and let others think what they want. Truly this was the Son of God. He went and asked for the body.
Where are your fears? How can Jesus give you courage in your faith walk this coming year? When we see what He went through for your salvation may it be an encouragement to step forward and be counted in ways that are led by the Lord.
Pastor Dale
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Burial John 19:38-42
Sermon Nuggets Mon Dec 15
Theme- The Burial
Verses- John 19:38-42 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40 Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Bruial shows Completion
While the events of Christmas these days has us looking at the birth of Jesus, we come to the place in our devotions from the book of John which records His burial. I want to look at four responses to the burial. The people directly involved in the burial of Jesus Christ were Joseph of Arimathea whose courage was demonstrated, Nicodemus whose commitment was demonstrated, and the women whose compassion was demonstrated.
Matthew records the next day the chief priests and Pharisees showed concern at his burial in order to stop any rumors of the resurrection. They requested of Pilate that guards would be posted for three days around the tomb.
I have preformed services at many funerals in my ministry. Although many people may come to the funeral service, it is only a few people who usually attend a burial. The group around the grave includes immediate family, the pallbearers, other close family and friends, myself, and the people in charge of the burial like the funeral director, and the grave digger. Because of cemetery requirements a vault company provide the heavy vault and workers lower the casket into the ground and seal the tomb.
Sometimes there is a color guard if the person was in the military. The military personnel honors the departed for services rendered to our country. A gun salute, flag folding and presentation, along with the sound of taps is part of the ceremony.
I have been at burials where there were just me and the funeral director and the grave diggers. How burials are done is often cultural and according to religious beliefs. Due to the hot climate of Palestine, dead bodies decayed rapidly, so burial usually took place within a few hours after death. If someone died late in the day, burial took place the next day, but always within 24 hours after death.
When death occurred, the oldest son or nearest of kin closed the eyes of the dead and the mouth was closed and the jaws bound up. After the body was washed, it was usually wrapped in cloth. The wealthy used linen with spices placed between the folds.
For a body not to be buried was considered a great shame and a sign of God's judgment. Part of the practice for bodies of the crucified was to leave them up on crosses where birds would come and eat the remains. If there were relatives around they could take the body for a burial. If the crosses were needed the bodies would be removed and thrown in to a field for scavengers to devour the remains.
There is one thing about putting a body in a tomb. It marks the completion of death. It is the last of funeral ceremonies. It is the completion of formal ritual. Although grieving may follow for years, when the body is disposed of, things are completed.
Paul puts these events as the core of the gospel, 1 Cor 15:3-4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
When we practice the rite of baptism we symbolize our death to our old self, burial as we go under water and we are raised to new life as a person is lifted up from the water. Why do we make a point of the burial? It is the completion of the past. It is over.
Since the work of Jesus was now completed the use of his physical body was thought to be over, but there is more to come. When we are buried in baptism that past is over, it symbolizes the new life to come. “Old things are past away and behold all things become new.”
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Burial
Verses- John 19:38-42 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away.
39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.
40 Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs.
41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.
42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Bruial shows Completion
While the events of Christmas these days has us looking at the birth of Jesus, we come to the place in our devotions from the book of John which records His burial. I want to look at four responses to the burial. The people directly involved in the burial of Jesus Christ were Joseph of Arimathea whose courage was demonstrated, Nicodemus whose commitment was demonstrated, and the women whose compassion was demonstrated.
Matthew records the next day the chief priests and Pharisees showed concern at his burial in order to stop any rumors of the resurrection. They requested of Pilate that guards would be posted for three days around the tomb.
I have preformed services at many funerals in my ministry. Although many people may come to the funeral service, it is only a few people who usually attend a burial. The group around the grave includes immediate family, the pallbearers, other close family and friends, myself, and the people in charge of the burial like the funeral director, and the grave digger. Because of cemetery requirements a vault company provide the heavy vault and workers lower the casket into the ground and seal the tomb.
Sometimes there is a color guard if the person was in the military. The military personnel honors the departed for services rendered to our country. A gun salute, flag folding and presentation, along with the sound of taps is part of the ceremony.
I have been at burials where there were just me and the funeral director and the grave diggers. How burials are done is often cultural and according to religious beliefs. Due to the hot climate of Palestine, dead bodies decayed rapidly, so burial usually took place within a few hours after death. If someone died late in the day, burial took place the next day, but always within 24 hours after death.
When death occurred, the oldest son or nearest of kin closed the eyes of the dead and the mouth was closed and the jaws bound up. After the body was washed, it was usually wrapped in cloth. The wealthy used linen with spices placed between the folds.
For a body not to be buried was considered a great shame and a sign of God's judgment. Part of the practice for bodies of the crucified was to leave them up on crosses where birds would come and eat the remains. If there were relatives around they could take the body for a burial. If the crosses were needed the bodies would be removed and thrown in to a field for scavengers to devour the remains.
There is one thing about putting a body in a tomb. It marks the completion of death. It is the last of funeral ceremonies. It is the completion of formal ritual. Although grieving may follow for years, when the body is disposed of, things are completed.
Paul puts these events as the core of the gospel, 1 Cor 15:3-4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
When we practice the rite of baptism we symbolize our death to our old self, burial as we go under water and we are raised to new life as a person is lifted up from the water. Why do we make a point of the burial? It is the completion of the past. It is over.
Since the work of Jesus was now completed the use of his physical body was thought to be over, but there is more to come. When we are buried in baptism that past is over, it symbolizes the new life to come. “Old things are past away and behold all things become new.”
Pastor Dale
Friday, December 12, 2008
John's responsibility John 19:35,36
Sermon nuggets Fri Dec 12
Theme- Jesus Death
Verses John 19:35, 36 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
John Explained his Responsibility
Some things were finished at the cross. One thing continues- it is the witness of what just happened. The man who saw it told his story. It is true. He testifies of what he had seen and heard for one purpose- that the world may believe.
Many tried to disprove the stories of Jesus. Many still attack the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. John would clearly say “incredible”. “I saw it happen. I was there. I stake my life on it.”
Jon Richard Moreland wrote : “Revealed”
They planned for Christ a cruel death: Steel pierced His hands, feet and side.
They mocked His last expiring breath, and though their hate was satisfied,
They wagged their heads and said “Lo, He would crush our temple and in three days,
Restore its beauty. Come and see. This boaster gone death’s quiet ways.
They did not know that on that hill eternal love was satisfied:
That Christ, who hung there, triumphed still. And only cruel death itself had died.”
The offer of the gospel is not an offer to politely accept or refuse, but a command to turn from sin and turn to Jesus Christ. It is to repent of sin by believing Jesus died to give you eternal life, and come follow Him.
John also had a part to play in this event more than taking care of Mary. God inspired him to write a written record that we might know that Jesus died for our sin out of love. It was to show these events were part of the plan of God. It was to present the parts that each played in the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is that we might believe that God’s word is true. He keeps his promises even from the prophets of old. After being presented with the story it was the purpose that we believe and follow Jesus.
J.B. Phillips tells of the 100s of people who had been converted in his world travels. What he discovered was not that people were quick to refute the claims of Jesus death, burial, resurrection. It was the fact they are ignorant of it and what it meant to them personally. Many who did know the story had never been presented the need to personally respond- to repent and commit their lives to Christ.
John wants to present the most important event in all the history of mankind. Once you know about it, what will you do about it?
Jesus finished His part. The Jews finished their part. The Gentiles finished their part. John explained his part of telling the story. Continuing telling the story is also our part. It is the part of the Holy Spirit to take that story we continue to pass along and convince hearers of their need for a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
Pastor Dale
Theme- Jesus Death
Verses John 19:35, 36 The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."
John Explained his Responsibility
Some things were finished at the cross. One thing continues- it is the witness of what just happened. The man who saw it told his story. It is true. He testifies of what he had seen and heard for one purpose- that the world may believe.
Many tried to disprove the stories of Jesus. Many still attack the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. John would clearly say “incredible”. “I saw it happen. I was there. I stake my life on it.”
Jon Richard Moreland wrote : “Revealed”
They planned for Christ a cruel death: Steel pierced His hands, feet and side.
They mocked His last expiring breath, and though their hate was satisfied,
They wagged their heads and said “Lo, He would crush our temple and in three days,
Restore its beauty. Come and see. This boaster gone death’s quiet ways.
They did not know that on that hill eternal love was satisfied:
That Christ, who hung there, triumphed still. And only cruel death itself had died.”
The offer of the gospel is not an offer to politely accept or refuse, but a command to turn from sin and turn to Jesus Christ. It is to repent of sin by believing Jesus died to give you eternal life, and come follow Him.
John also had a part to play in this event more than taking care of Mary. God inspired him to write a written record that we might know that Jesus died for our sin out of love. It was to show these events were part of the plan of God. It was to present the parts that each played in the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is that we might believe that God’s word is true. He keeps his promises even from the prophets of old. After being presented with the story it was the purpose that we believe and follow Jesus.
J.B. Phillips tells of the 100s of people who had been converted in his world travels. What he discovered was not that people were quick to refute the claims of Jesus death, burial, resurrection. It was the fact they are ignorant of it and what it meant to them personally. Many who did know the story had never been presented the need to personally respond- to repent and commit their lives to Christ.
John wants to present the most important event in all the history of mankind. Once you know about it, what will you do about it?
Jesus finished His part. The Jews finished their part. The Gentiles finished their part. John explained his part of telling the story. Continuing telling the story is also our part. It is the part of the Holy Spirit to take that story we continue to pass along and convince hearers of their need for a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
Pastor Dale
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Gentiles Finished Responsibilities John 19:32-34
Sermon nuggets Thurs Dec 11
Theme- Jesus Death
Verses-John 19: 32-34 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
The Gentiles Finished their Responsibility
It has always amazed me that racial prejudice raises up it’s angry head causing people to hate one another. Many a Jew in our recent history has been not only the discriminated race in Nazi Germany, but in our own country. Children have had to run home and ask their parents why neighborhood Christian kids picked on them calling them Christ killers. They never hurt anyone.
Pick a country, pick a group of people, pick a nationality, pick a language group and pretty soon one group begins to rise up and show prejudice against another. This seems to be a successful plan of Satan.
There were not many times were Jews and Gentiles cooperated. They hated one another. There were not many times the Romans would cooperate with the sub-servant class of people. But the soldiers joined the taunting and the ridicule of Jesus.
Sin separates. Christ unites. Sin caused people within the same race and same family to divide- Cain killed Abel. Sin motivated the people together to build a tower unto God at Babel. From there the language confusion brought together those who could understand one another. But sin allowed those divisions to be causes for wars and jealousies, and prejudice.
When people have a common enemy they unite. When people have a common cause they unite. Since Jesus came on the scene of this earth there were Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor that united at Bethlehem. There were those in power who divided people according to their birth to get taxes to Rome, and those who divided among their own race so Herod would kill babies who might be a threat to his power.
When people gathered at Golgotha, they united Jews and Gentiles to hurl insults, mocking and abuse at this same Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that all of us who sin are part of the crucifixion of Jesus. All races are included also at Calvary.
I do not understand why people are quick to point their finger at others for killing jesus. It is easy to say Pontius Pilate killed him- the early Apostles’ creed acknowledges that. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. He represented the political and Gentile cultures. The Romans finished their part as Gentiles by casting lots for his robe, by nailing Him to the cross and piercing his side to show blood and water mingled down, a sign of his death. This too was to complete the greater plan of God.
As another gospel writer included there was a Jewish prisoner recognizing his sin and asking forgiveness from the cross. Jesus grants him salvation, “Today you shall be with me in paradise”. Another man from a different race and culture looked upon the pierced Christ and came to a new revelation, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Did he also accept by faith Jesus Christ? Was this a head knowledge or a trust in Christ for personal salvation? The details are not clear, but there are recorded for a reason. Not only was the suffering of Jesus a combined effort from those representing different races, but the salvation of Jesus was also for Jew and Gentile.
Faith in Christ unites people of different races, genders, nationalities. We are people who lay aside our sin and repent of it. We realize we had a part in our hearts of the death of Christ, and we are given the wonderful opportunity to receive forgiveness and become part of a group of new brothers and sisters who speak different languages, have different customs and dress, who have different colors. We are people who unite with different gifts and abilities for one cause- to serve Jesus Christ and advance His Kingdom.
There were different tongues at the crucifixion of Christ. There will be different tongues expressing His glory when He returns. Going to the uttermost parts of world will bring hatred, so Satan is not quite done yet. But missionary activity will also bring salvation to a people God loves.
Christmas is the season when we see the greatest missionary coming to a foreign world to prepare the news. "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
I am glad this good news is for all people.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Jesus Death
Verses-John 19: 32-34 The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
33 But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
The Gentiles Finished their Responsibility
It has always amazed me that racial prejudice raises up it’s angry head causing people to hate one another. Many a Jew in our recent history has been not only the discriminated race in Nazi Germany, but in our own country. Children have had to run home and ask their parents why neighborhood Christian kids picked on them calling them Christ killers. They never hurt anyone.
Pick a country, pick a group of people, pick a nationality, pick a language group and pretty soon one group begins to rise up and show prejudice against another. This seems to be a successful plan of Satan.
There were not many times were Jews and Gentiles cooperated. They hated one another. There were not many times the Romans would cooperate with the sub-servant class of people. But the soldiers joined the taunting and the ridicule of Jesus.
Sin separates. Christ unites. Sin caused people within the same race and same family to divide- Cain killed Abel. Sin motivated the people together to build a tower unto God at Babel. From there the language confusion brought together those who could understand one another. But sin allowed those divisions to be causes for wars and jealousies, and prejudice.
When people have a common enemy they unite. When people have a common cause they unite. Since Jesus came on the scene of this earth there were Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor that united at Bethlehem. There were those in power who divided people according to their birth to get taxes to Rome, and those who divided among their own race so Herod would kill babies who might be a threat to his power.
When people gathered at Golgotha, they united Jews and Gentiles to hurl insults, mocking and abuse at this same Jesus. The Bible makes it clear that all of us who sin are part of the crucifixion of Jesus. All races are included also at Calvary.
I do not understand why people are quick to point their finger at others for killing jesus. It is easy to say Pontius Pilate killed him- the early Apostles’ creed acknowledges that. He suffered under Pontius Pilate. He represented the political and Gentile cultures. The Romans finished their part as Gentiles by casting lots for his robe, by nailing Him to the cross and piercing his side to show blood and water mingled down, a sign of his death. This too was to complete the greater plan of God.
As another gospel writer included there was a Jewish prisoner recognizing his sin and asking forgiveness from the cross. Jesus grants him salvation, “Today you shall be with me in paradise”. Another man from a different race and culture looked upon the pierced Christ and came to a new revelation, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Did he also accept by faith Jesus Christ? Was this a head knowledge or a trust in Christ for personal salvation? The details are not clear, but there are recorded for a reason. Not only was the suffering of Jesus a combined effort from those representing different races, but the salvation of Jesus was also for Jew and Gentile.
Faith in Christ unites people of different races, genders, nationalities. We are people who lay aside our sin and repent of it. We realize we had a part in our hearts of the death of Christ, and we are given the wonderful opportunity to receive forgiveness and become part of a group of new brothers and sisters who speak different languages, have different customs and dress, who have different colors. We are people who unite with different gifts and abilities for one cause- to serve Jesus Christ and advance His Kingdom.
There were different tongues at the crucifixion of Christ. There will be different tongues expressing His glory when He returns. Going to the uttermost parts of world will bring hatred, so Satan is not quite done yet. But missionary activity will also bring salvation to a people God loves.
Christmas is the season when we see the greatest missionary coming to a foreign world to prepare the news. "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”
I am glad this good news is for all people.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Jews Requirement John 19:31
Sermon nuggets Wed Dec 10
Theme- Jesus Death
Verses- John 19:31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
The Jews Finished their Requirements
All was accomplished by Christ on the cross, but not all was completed to fulfill the prophecies. The religious community needed to make a request.
Crucifixion by the cross was practiced by the Persians, Carthaginians, and the Romans. They let the birds eat the flesh of the dead criminals by leaving the bodies up on the crosses. But in Palestine the Jews were offended at that pagan custom since it went against their laws. Deut 21:22-23 “If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree,you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.”
Since nightfall brought the Sabbath it was especially important for them to fulfill the law so no work would be done by night fall. Interesting how scrupulously they kept the law while calling for an innocent man’s death. They are more concerned with the religious practices than with God. They wanted to be holy while killing the Son of God. They wanted to honor the Lord in their actions while they shouted blasephemies and unleashed hatred at Jesus. Yet it was the this very suffering and death which is the avenue to true holiness.
Breaking the legs of the executed was a way of speeding up the crucifixion. Since men could lift up their bodies from time to time to get their breath by pushing down on the nails with their feet it would give relief but also prolong their death. The breaking of the legs was an additionally cruel practice. When the soldier came and saw the two thieves still alive they took the large mallet and shattered their legs with a blow making it impossible to breath. With the additional shock and pain to the system death was very quick. But when they saw that Jesus was already dead they did not break his legs. But that was according to prophecy that not a bone of his would be broken. Number 9:12 tells us not a bone of the Passover lamb was to be broken. Ps 34:40 says not one of his bone were broken. If he lived any longer then he would have been a victim of this practice.
It was just at 3 O’clock that the hour could allow all the requirements through the non believers to be completed. God used the Jewish practice and the insistence on their part to fulfill Scripture. Believer, non-believer, Jew, Gentile, men and women fulfill the plan of God.
How often in your life can you look back and see the hand of God in details that you didn’t think about at the time? How often has He used events to open doors or close doors that were clearly His guidance and purpose? We see the truths even of Romans 8:28 in play."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." But God also uses those who do not love him to bring about His good and glory.
Pastor Dale
Theme- Jesus Death
Verses- John 19:31 Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
The Jews Finished their Requirements
All was accomplished by Christ on the cross, but not all was completed to fulfill the prophecies. The religious community needed to make a request.
Crucifixion by the cross was practiced by the Persians, Carthaginians, and the Romans. They let the birds eat the flesh of the dead criminals by leaving the bodies up on the crosses. But in Palestine the Jews were offended at that pagan custom since it went against their laws. Deut 21:22-23 “If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree,you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance.”
Since nightfall brought the Sabbath it was especially important for them to fulfill the law so no work would be done by night fall. Interesting how scrupulously they kept the law while calling for an innocent man’s death. They are more concerned with the religious practices than with God. They wanted to be holy while killing the Son of God. They wanted to honor the Lord in their actions while they shouted blasephemies and unleashed hatred at Jesus. Yet it was the this very suffering and death which is the avenue to true holiness.
Breaking the legs of the executed was a way of speeding up the crucifixion. Since men could lift up their bodies from time to time to get their breath by pushing down on the nails with their feet it would give relief but also prolong their death. The breaking of the legs was an additionally cruel practice. When the soldier came and saw the two thieves still alive they took the large mallet and shattered their legs with a blow making it impossible to breath. With the additional shock and pain to the system death was very quick. But when they saw that Jesus was already dead they did not break his legs. But that was according to prophecy that not a bone of his would be broken. Number 9:12 tells us not a bone of the Passover lamb was to be broken. Ps 34:40 says not one of his bone were broken. If he lived any longer then he would have been a victim of this practice.
It was just at 3 O’clock that the hour could allow all the requirements through the non believers to be completed. God used the Jewish practice and the insistence on their part to fulfill Scripture. Believer, non-believer, Jew, Gentile, men and women fulfill the plan of God.
How often in your life can you look back and see the hand of God in details that you didn’t think about at the time? How often has He used events to open doors or close doors that were clearly His guidance and purpose? We see the truths even of Romans 8:28 in play."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." But God also uses those who do not love him to bring about His good and glory.
Pastor Dale
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