Sermon Central
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Csi: Easter
Contributed by Jerry Shirley on Apr 4, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Crucifixion Scene Investigation - link to PowerPoint with great CSI graphics included. Can be preached as 2 or 3 part series beginning Easter morning. Formatted text version also at web link.
CSI: Easter
Crucifixion Scene Investigation
Acts 3:14-15 [on screen]
See all our Easter sermons, PowerPoints, and much more at:
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/Special.html
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Turn to Matthew 26, then go to Acts [on screen…]
We certainly hear a lot about the top rated show in prime time. So popular because of the careful attention paid to clues/reconstructing of crime scenes. We can use our Bibles to do the same! [in chronological order using harmony of gospels.]
The Conspiracy
vv. 1-4
And there’s a movement today to rid the world of Jesus. Many detest how the movie has done—terrorists want to kill Jews and Christians in the name of their god…and many Americans would love for all the Christians to just disappear—one day they’ll get their wish!
The Accomplice
vv. 14-16
Satan has many willing to sell him their souls for some temporary reward, but like Judas, they will spend an eternity regretting it!
Early Deliberations [sequestered away in upper room]
Luke 22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
The disciples are a picture of us, and isn’t it just like us Christians to squabble over the trivial when there’s major things to do?! That discussion comes to an abrupt halt as Jesus washes their feet!
The Motive [establish]
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
We undermine our own reputation when we live w/ any other motive than love.
We can establish that Jesus had motive to do what He did…it was love!
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Was it Premeditated?
Mt. 26:36-39
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
This wasn’t a whim, Jesus had thought it out carefully and completely from the time His Father sent Him to save us. It was clear what He had to do from the time man fell in the garden of Eden. God was speaking to Satan when He said:
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
And Jesus knew what He had to do.
It was clear what He had to do:
When Abel made the first offering in Genesis 4:4
And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
And Jesus knew what He had to do.
It was clear:
When Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice, and there caught in the sharp clutches of a rugged tree was a ram as a substitute… And Jesus knew what He had to do.
It was clear what He had to do:
Each time a sacrificial lamb was offered for sins of God’s people—as the body of the spotless lamb was slain, as the blood was poured-- Jesus knew what He had to do.
When the psalmist wrote by inspiration in Psalm 22:1
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
Jesus knew what He had to do.
When Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 52:14
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:
…and Isaiah continued to say:
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
And Jesus knew what He had to do.
When the prophet said in Daniel 9:26 that in 434 years…
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off…
And Jesus knew what He had to do!
When another prophet said in Zech. 13:6
And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
And Jesus knew what He had to do!
He was born despite Satan’s attempts to end the line of Christ.
Gen. 13--Sarah nearly became part of king’s harem
Isaac, too, lied about rebekah and it nearly happened again!
Satan tried to annihilate God’s people in Egypt, Babylonian captivity, Herod’s orders to smite Hebrews born in Bethlehem 2 yrs. and under…He was born, God in the flesh, knowing what He had to do…
