Sermon for 3/7/2010
The Earthquake- Matthew 27:41-54
Introduction:
Story of me being in an earthquake.
What is an earthquake? An earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by the sudden breaking and movement of large sections of the earth's rocky outermost crust.
WBTU:
A. Darkness in the sky, curtain torn in tow, and now the earth is shaken.
B. Matthew is only gospel to record this earthquake.
B. This was a big earthquake. The centurion is vs. 54 is impressed by it. An aftershock would occur during the resurrection and this is called a violent earthquake (28:2).
A. This earthquake happened just to open the graves. More to it than that.
Thesis: What does this earthquake symbolize for the believer in Jesus Christ? 3 things this morning
For instances:
1. It is Calvary answering Sinai.
A. From Mt. Sinai God gave His law. (Exo 19:17-18) Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently.
C. (Exo 20:18 NIV) When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance (Exo 20:19 NIV) and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."
D. In this way God communicated the horror of sin and His hatred and intent to destroy it. But their sin permanently stained their lives, making it impossible for them to free themselves from its grip. The law that God gave revealed the sinfulness of man.
E. The terrors displayed on Sinai were a prophecy that Jesus Christ would do for us what we are helpless to do for ourselves. Christ endured the overwhelming weight of our sins and suffered those horrors of which the terrors of Sinai were but a picture.
F. (Gal 3:24-27 KJV) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
G. One earthquake answered another. Sinai was God’s firm voice of condemnation; Calvary, God’s gentle, fatherly voice of pardon and peace.
H. (John 1:17 NIV) For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
2. The Rock of Christ was split
1. Palestine has many earthquakes, but this was no ordinary earthquake. It mentions that the rocks split. One commentator theorized that every rock on the earth began to crack. I find this hard to believe. Buildings would experience structural problems.
2. From what I know, this is talking about the rocks around Calvary. Travelers to Palestine might notice the extraordinary tears and fissures in the rocks near the spot of Calvary. Now rocks do split during an earthquake, but not all of them. Beneath the feet of the people the rocks literally began to break open. The rocks began to crack, and people began to fall into the crevices. This is a miracle.
3. One of my favorite descriptions of God and Jesus Christ is the Rock. When everything else is shifting sand, Christ is strong, stable and unmoving. “I go to the Rock of my salvation, I go to the stone that the builders rejected, I run to the mountain and the mountain stands by me. When all the earth around me is sinking sand, on Christ the Solid Rock I stand. When I need a shelter when I need a friend, I go to the Rock.”
4. On this day, symbolically, Christ the Rock was rent or split or cracked. Two reasons:
A. That the rivers of living water may flow.
1. Talking about the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. (Psa 78:15 NIV) He (God) split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas
2. (1 Cor 10:4 NIV) and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
3. When Christ is rent, split (crucified), then the living waters flow. (John 4:10 NIV) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
4. (Exo 17:6 NIV) I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
B. That we may be hid in the clefts of the Rock
1. (Exo 33:18 NIV) Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."(Exo 33:19 NIV) And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (Exo 33:20 NIV) But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."(Exo 33:21 NIV) Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. (Exo 33:22 NIV) When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. (Exo 33:23 NIV) Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."
2. We can see that we are sheltered in the wounds of our Lord Jesus, the rent Rock. (1 Pet 2:24 NIV) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
3. This is what this old hymn is talking about: Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee; Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed, Be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure.
2. Hearts of stone will be taken away and hearts of flesh will be given
A. (Ezek 11:19 NIV) I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
B. Around the cross we have some who are for Christ and some who are against him. Those who are ignorant or uninvolved in this crucifixion are long gone. No, those who are against him stick around because of their great animosity. They didn’t have to stick around, because the Roman soldiers would make sure he died.
C. Several years ago one cable channel was televising executions. I remember one interview where the victims of the accused gathered around the TV screen and were so happy to see their tormentor executed.
D. During his 21 years on the bench at Fort Smith, Arkansas, Judge Parker sentenced 160 men to die and hanged 79 of them. It didn't take Parker long to get going. On May 10, 1875 -- only 8 days after he arrived at Fort Smith -- he opened his first term of court. Eighteen persons came before him charged with murder and 15 were convicted. Eight of them were sentenced to die on the gallows on September 3, 1875. One was killed trying to escape and a second had his sentence commuted to life in prison because of his youth.
The hanging of the remaining 6 became an extraordinary media event for its times. Newspapermen came from Little Rock, St. Louis and Kansas City. Many of the large Eastern and Northern daily newspapers sent reporters to cover the event. Even strangers from abroad filtered into the city a week before the execution. More than 5,000 persons saw the condemned men marched from jail to the gallows. Many times the hangings would be a circus, drinks would be served and food sold.
D. The government does have a right to protect its citizens (Romans 13) and I don’t want to debate capital punishment. However, rejoicing at another’s demise seems cruel and inhumane. (Prov 24:17 NIV) Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice,
D. As Christians we are not to be this way even to our worst enemies. Look at what Christ said: (Mat 5:44-45) but I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
E. Jesus himself said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do,” when he was on that cross. (Rom 12:19 NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.(Rom 12:20 NIV) On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."(Rom 12:21 NIV) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
F. The Ortiz family ministers to a small congregation in Ariel, about 40 miles north of Jerusalem. On the Feast of Purim gifts of food and drink are sent to friends. As if in celebration of the holiday, a gift basket was delivered to the Ortiz home. 15 year old Ami was home alone, and he tore into the package with the anticipation of some candy and some other sweet treat. He certainly did not anticipate the explosion that ripped into his young body. Hundreds of shards, including pieces of metal, safety pins, and screws, pierced him and left him in critical condition. He was blinded by the shrapnel imbedded in his eyes, and both eardrums were punctured, leaving him with a significant loss of hearing. Ami spent 5 months in the hospital, lost some toes through amputation, and endured nearly a year in a pressure suit to assist in his healing from his severe burns. When Ami was questioned by the reporter about his attitude toward those who did this evil to him, he replied: “I don’t feel hate. I don’t see a reason for it. It’s just not there. It wasn’t there from the beginning. I don’t even know how to explain it, but it’s just not there. No hate at all.”
G. How can Ami have no hate in his heart? Only through the cross of Christ.
H. Obi- Wan: “Luke! Don't give in to hate. That leads to the Dark Side.” This is what has happened to these dogs around the cross. Yes, their attitude changes somewhat from the darkness but not enough to change their hearts. One runs and gets Jesus vinegar to drink? Not much compassion there. The taunting stops but they don’t leave.
I. The Jews were known to have hearts that were hard and uncaring. (Zec 7:12 NIV) They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the LORD Almighty was very angry.
I. (Acts 2:36 NIV) “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."(Acts 2:37 NIV) When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" A crack in their stony hearts and the Lord gives them hearts of flesh.
Conclusion and invitation:
A. Matthew 24:7- Earthquakes in various places.
B. 7.0 on Richter scale in Haiti, 8.8 on Richter scale in Chili
