3 Things For Easter

HoHum:

Paul Stuckey is a preacher in Dayton, Ohio. He tells the story of an eye catching ad in a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, newspaper’s classified section. Big, bold letters advertised “Used Tombstone.” The ad’s text read as follows: “Used tombstone for sale. Real bargain to someone named ‘Dingo’. For more information call...?” I have many questions about this. What happened to Dingo? Who has a name like Dingo in Milwaukee? Why is his tombstone no longer needed? The image of a used tombstone may at first seem grim and depressing. But thing again: a “used” tombstone means that its previous owner no longer has any need for it. It is an unnecessary item. Christ’s resurrection gives the same message: the tomb is empty! The stone that closed the grave is no longer needed! Jesus Christ is risen!

WBTU:

The was all by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge- Acts 2:23

Thesis: Today we are going to talk about the trial of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus

For instances:

The Trial of Jesus shows His Purpose

Jesus actually went through 6 trials. They arrested Him at night and they arrested Him secretly. They did this because he was so popular and they didn’t want an uprising in the city of Jerusalem. Then he went through 3 religious trials and then He went through 3 civil trials.

First He went to Annas, the last high priest. Then there was a trial before Caiaphas the current high priest. Then a trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court.

Then He went before Pilate, the civil ruler of Jerusalem. Then Herod, the ruler of Galilee. Then He was back to Pilate again.

Out of all of these trials, for the most part Jesus remained silent except for the charge of blaspheme. “But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” “He is worthy of death,” they answered.” Matthew 26:63-66, NIV.

“When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.” The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,” John 19:5-8, NIV.

See, Jesus never claimed to be a good man. He never claimed to be a moral leader. He never claimed to be a great teacher. He said, “I’m God. I’m the only way to heaven. No one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6).”

If we ever meet someone who claims to be God, we have 3 options.

Believe he’s an idiot. He’s deluded. The lights are on by nobody’s home.

Believe that he’s deceiver. Tell us something he is not to get something from us.

Believe that he is telling the truth.

No more of this stuff that he is just a good teacher or prophet. A good person would not say this unless it was the truth. We have to decide is Jesus deluded, a deceiver, or deity?

“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.” John 12:47, NIV.

This is why Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be put on trial so there would be no doubt about who He was. He knew that He would be proven guilty because He was the Son of God and put on the cross. It was all part of the plan.

The Death of Jesus shows His Passion

Before Jesus ever got to the cross he endured things that most victims of crucifixion did not endure. He was humiliated. He was slapped, crown of thorns in head, hit in the face many times. After this he was scourged. This whipping would kill some men.

Crucifixion was where they would nail a man to the cross. Nails would go through the wrists and feet. The death on the cross was a death of suffocation. When the soldier stuck a speak in Jesus’ side it says that water and blood came out. This indicates that the heart rips. Jesus died of a broken heart. It exploded.