In verse 9 of Isaiah is the prophetical conclusion of the New Testament Good Friday execution on Calvary. Actually, verse 9 is the Old Testament proclamation of the sixth word of the Cross, “It is Finished”. Isaiah saw the finished scene of Calvary. In verse 9 the Prophet saw the intended burial of the Christ as planned by man. Verse 9 is the last snap shot of what would happen seven hundred years later on the hill of Calvary.
But this text actually is a great reminder, it reminds us that God permits and God allows men to go only as far as He allows or permits. Pontius Pilot literally thought that he was in control of this affair, those Roman soldiers who were following the orders of the Governor even thought that they had some control over these bodies that they had been assigned on this day. These soldiers were carrying out what they assumed were the orders of the day. Execute three criminals, take them down from the cross and like Hitler did the Jews, bury them in some undignified public burial ground, or just dump their bodies in some cold and callous hole and be done with them. They may and probably did that with two of the bodies, but not with Christ’s body. Jesus who died with the criminals, died like a criminal, however, the prophet saw his burial would not be like or with them.
The text says in verse 9 (Darby), “And [men] appointed his grave with the wicked, but he was with the rich in his death, because he had done no violence, neither was there guile in his mouth.” This literally means He was assigned; He was scheduled to be buried “with” the criminals. Yet, there is a “Prophetical But”, there is a “Divine But”, there is a “Heavenly Conjunction”. The Prophet Isaiah foresees a Heavenly Hook-up. That is the work of a conjunction, it connects, it joins. We learned that in elementary school. A conjunction joins (hooks-up). God was going to insert a “Divine But”, a “Prophetical But”. I am glad I serve a God who sometimes will punctuate my life (your life) moments with a Divine But, He will deposit in our pilgrimage a Divine But. When the wheels of life are turning a certain way, and that way does not seem favorable, God will insert a “But”. When God places a “but” in our lives it can be the difference between:
Tragedy or Triumph
Failure or Victory
Overcome or Over Comer
Going under or Going over
Backward or Forward
Conquered or Conqueror
When Christ died on the cross and the thieves are finally dead also, the soldiers are perhaps making the move to take all of them to the burial site.
But God – He had a final word, a final say so, a final action. Verse 9b – But he was with the rich in His death.
Verse 41 in John 19, But there was a place where he had been crucified a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid.
This prophetical word also would teach us a great lesson about Discipleship as we lift up a couple observations out of Matthew. Because it is in Matthew how the prophecy is fulfilled, and it is fulfilled by two unlikely persons. But the lesson is a great principle about discipleship.
I. Real Discipleship Can Not Remain Hidden (A Secret)
It is really difficult to be a secret disciple, either the discipleship will destroy the secrecy or the secrecy will destroy the discipleship.
Joseph was a Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin; Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin as well, a Master Teacher of Israel.
Nicodemus knew well who Christ was, he admitted that in John chapter three. Joseph too had come to know who Christ was. My suggestion is that they had encountered their own private conjunction in their lives that had hooked them up to Jesus. They had apparently had their own insertion of a Holy “But”. These brothers had been secretly following, secretly serving, however, they could not hold it any longer. The old church used to sing a song that affirmed that, “I said I wasn’t going to tell anybody, but I could not keep it to myself”. Nicodemus and Joseph had come to know him as:
Lord!! Son of God!! Savior!!! The Redeemer!!! The Great I Am!!!
When it’s real, it’s difficult, no it’s impossible to keep it hidden.
II. Real Discipleship Will Give It’s Best For The Kingdom (King).
Nicodemus brought myrrh, aloes, spices, you can be sure that it cost him to do that. But I am sure he did not mind the price. I am sure he bought the best he could give.
Joseph gave him a Tomb that he probably had reserved for himself. A tomb that was for his own burial perhaps. Nicodemus and Joseph represented the wealthy, the rich, the affluent. Isaiah saw that, he was buried with the rich (by the rich).
Joseph loaned him a tomb, praise God. Christ would not need to purchase one of His own, His tomb was only temporary for sure.
In Mark’s Gospel, he refers to him (Joseph) not as rich but honorable. Honor is a riches that you can not place a monetary value to its worth.
It may not have been what he possessed that made him rich (honorable), it may have been what possessed him.
It may have not been what he owned – but who owned him.
It may have not been his treasure, but his testimony that really defined his riches.
Perhaps they were rich in:
Faith!! Fellowship!!! Hope!!! Assurance!!!
Thank God that they have a “But” in their lives. That is the message of our Gospel, but is in our
Message:
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found favour in the eyes of Jehovah.
Genesis 50:20 Ye indeed meant evil against me: God meant it for good, in order that he might do as [it is] this day, to save a great people alive.
Isaiah 40:31 but they that wait upon Jehovah shall renew [their] strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not tire; they shall walk, and not faint.
Romans 5:8 but God commends *his* love to us, in that, we being still sinners, Christ has died for us.
I Corinthians 15:10 But by God’s grace I am what I am; and his grace, which [was] towards me, has not been vain; but I have laboured more abundantly than they all, but not *I*, but the grace of God which [was] with me.
The word we proclaim, teach, exhort reminds us of the blessed “but” in the Word of God.
We also have not just a “but” in our message: Thank God for the “but” in our music that links us to Grace, Forgiveness, Faith.
I once was lost in sin, “but” Jesus took me in, and then a little light from heaven filled my soul. He bathed my heart in love and wrote my name above.
While we walk the pilgrim path, clouds will over spread the sky, “But, when traveling days are over, not a shadow, not a sigh.
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, very deeply stain within, sinking to rise no more. “But” the Master of the sea, hard my despairing cry, from the waters he lifted me, now safe and I.
What can wash away my sin, nothing “But” the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again, nothing “But” the blood of Jesus.
Guide me O thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land, I am weak, “But” thou are mighty, hold me with thy powerful hand.
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, “But” now am found, I was blind “But” now I see.
Thank God for the Buts!!
But now in Christ I have:
Peace
Love
Joy
Righteousness
Hope
Grace
Thank God for the Prophetical But!!
