DON’T MAKE A GRAVE MISTAKE
Matthew 27:62 – 28:1-15 NKJV
Matthew 27:62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
INTRO. Surprised while burglarizing a house in Antwerp, Belgium, the thief fled out the back door, clambered over a nine-foot wall, dropped down the other side, and found himself in the city prison. Oops! The Book of Blunders, 1980
A young woman asked for an appointment with her pastor to talk with him about a besetting sin about which she was worried. When she saw him, she said, “Pastor, I have become aware of a sin in my life which I cannot control. Every time I am at church I begin to look around at the other women, and I realize that I am the prettiest one in the whole congregation. None of the others can compare with my beauty. What can I do about this sin?” The pastor replied, “Mary, that’s not a sin, why that’s just a mistake!”
Just ask the poor fellow whose grave at Boot Hill Cemetery in Arizona bears this epitaph: “Lynched by mistake.”
Matilda Kaye Crabtree, 14, of West Monroe, La., used to try to scare her father as a joke. Last week, she made a tragic miscalculation. She had planned to sleep over at a friend’s; instead she stayed home, hid in a closet and then made scary noises when her parents arrived. Her father grabbed a .357- caliber pistol. “Boo!” she shouted. His shot hit her in the neck. Her final words to him: “I love you, Daddy.” U.S. News & World, 11–21-94, p. 28
Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
However, I want to go in a different direction. I want to talk to you about the fact that Jesus was mistaken by so many people. Even the resurrection was mistaken by so many people. And their mistakes were GRAVE mistakes in that it cost them ETERNITY!
Consider the CROWDS that followed Jesus. For the most part, they just wanted what He could provide for them. If they needed healing or had a family member who needed healing, they sought Jesus out! If they were hungry, Jesus fed them. At least two times the NT records that Jesus fed great multitude of people. They were amazed at His teaching.
The CROWD loved Jesus for what He could do for them. Earlier in the Passion week that crowd lined the streets of Jerusalem, waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna.” (save now)
John 12:12 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!” 14 Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”
That passage is a direct fulfillment of Zechariah’s prophecy which was made over 550 years before this happened:
Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
Most of the Jewish CROWDS missed their Messiah. They made a grave mistake!
Consider CHIEF PRIESTS. Why did the chief priests, Annas and Caiaphas hate Jesus so much? They made the mistake of thinking He wanted to take over FINANCIAL EMPIRE. Annas and Caiaphas were Sadducees. Annas had been high priest from A.D. 6 to 15. The Romans had removed him from office yet he still wielded considerable power behind the scenes. Five of his sons succeeded him as high priest. He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas - the high priest who was in office at the time of Jesus ministry. Annas was still the one behind the scenes calling the shots, but notice the role of Caiaphas:
Matthew 26:3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.
Twice Jesus had gone to the Temple and had driven out the money changers with a whip.
John 2:13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
Matthew 21:12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
The chief priests, Caiaphas and Annas, both made a grave mistake.
Consider JUDAS. Judas is such a sad picture. He made a grave mistake. For three years he traveled with Jesus. He was trusted by the others. He was the treasurer of the group. Judas saw many of the miracles that Jesus performed. He helped distribute food to the multitude, he saw Jesus walk on the water, he witnessed Lazarus raised from the dead. And after Judas betrayed Jesus 30 pieces of silver, he had regrets and went back to the chief priests and tried to return the money, saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood.”
Matthew 27:4b And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!”
Matthew 27:5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Judas made a grave mistake, didn’t he?
Consider PILATE. The Jews had Pilate over a barrel. When Pilate first got to Jerusalem, he entered the city with all the pomp and circumstance of Rome. On all the standards (flags) carried into town as he arrived, there was a sculptured image of the Emperor. In Roman culture, the Emperor was not only the chief political ruler, he was god! The Romans believed in emperor worship. So, this was god on their flagpoles. Here Pilate comes parading into town with these idols on the standards. During the years before Pilate got there, the Romans had refrained from using these standards because they knew it offended the Jews. The previous governors had removed them, but not Pilate. The Jews in Caesarea had begged him not to enter the holy city, Jerusalem, with the idols. He refused! Well, a whole mob of Jews followed Pilate and kept insisting for 5 days that he remove the standards.
This made Pilate so angry that he ordered them all to meet him in an amphitheater. When the Jews got there, Pilate had them surrounded by soldiers and told them that if they didn’t go back he would have them all killed on the spot. The Jews just stood there and said, “Go ahead, kill us all!”
Pilate was stuck. He had tried to scare them, and it backfired. He wasn’t the kind of guy who wanted to begin his rule by killing the subjects. He knew that wouldn’t set too well with Rome. He couldn’t kill defenseless men---so, he gave in and removed the images. He started out as a beaten man.
Rome had built into their system (the Pax Romana) the right for any subject people to appeal their case to the Emperor. So, when Pilate refused to remove the shields, the Jews sent a message to the Emperor. Tiberius sent a message back and told Pilate that he was to comply with their request. Once again, Pilate was beaten. The Jews had Pilate right where they wanted him. They could turn him into Rome and he would lose his job!
Pilate’s wife even warned him:
Matthew 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
But Pilate was a coward! He was afraid he would lose his job. He knew that Jesus was innocent, so he made a show before the people in:
Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”
Consider the SOLDIERS. They scourged Him, scorned Him, struck Him, spit upon Him, shamed Him, and then speared Him. But they made a grave mistake. The centurion at the cross somehow recognized that:
Matthew 27:54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
The CROWDS, the CHIEF PRIESTS, JUDAS, PILATE, and the SOLDIERS all thought it was over! Jesus Himself had cried out with a loud voice, “IT IS FINISHED!” They thought it was over, but they had made a grave mistake.
I don’t want any of you to make a grave mistake! Don’t mistake:
1. THE STORY FOR FICTION
It’s Not Just a Story. This is not just something that was made up by some Jewish tax collector. This was real! Jesus was a real person, come from God to pay the sin debt of everyone in the world.
Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking that:
2. THE SUFFERING WAS FUTILE
The suffering Jesus endured was not in vain. His death on the cross accomplished the satisfaction of God’s Law in that someone had to pay for sin! Jesus Christ was the perfect sacrificial Lamb who once and for all paid your sin debt and mine!
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Hebrews 10:10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
Hebrews 9:12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
3. THE SEPULCHRE WAS FINAL
Don’t make the grave mistake that it’s over here! The chief priests and the Pharisees were worried. Why? Because they saw some things they did NOT expect to see. They heard Jesus’ 7 sayings from the cross:
1) Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do
2) Today you will be with me in paradise
3) Behold your son: behold your mother
4) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
5) I thirst
6) Father, into your hands I commend my spirit
7) It is finished
They felt the earthquake and they saw the sky turn black in the middle of the day. They saw the torn veil in the holy place. They had reason to be worried. And fourth, don’t make a mistake about:
4. THE SOLDIERS FRIGHT
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the soldiers fright was make believe. Can you imagine the thoughts of the soldiers who were selected for grave detail? Why are we having to guard a dead man? Look at these verses:
Matthew 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
These were battle hardened soldiers. But what they saw could NOT be explained. They were afraid. Why because they could lose their lives if a prisoner escaped. Jesus rose from the dead! But look at what they cooked up with the chief priests:
Matthew 28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
5. THE SYMBOLS FOR FACTS
Don’t mistake the symbols of Easter for the facts of the Resurrection! Parents, make sure your children know it’s NOT about the eggs, and the rabbits, the baby chicks, the candy and ham! How in the world did ham become a part of the Easter celebration? Jesus wouldn’t be eating ham! Resurrection Sunday is about sin’s payment being made, death being conquered and Jesus is alive!
6. THE SALVATION BEING FANTASY
Well, this resurrection stuff is okay for you, Pastor, but I’m a little too sophisticated for these fairy tales. Could I tell you something? Jesus died for you! Even though you may not believe it now, He died for you!
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Don’t wait to turn to the Lord. Today is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians 6:2b Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
7. THE SAVIOR WILL ALWAYS BE THERE IN THE FUTURE
Don’t make the grave mistake that so many have made thinking that you can come to the Savior any time you want to…that He will always be there in the future. There are four dangers of living in sin:
1) YOU MIGHT DIE IN YOUR SINS
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
2) YOU MIGHT LOSE YOUR MENTAL FACULTIES
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
3) THE HOLY SPIRIT MAY STOP DRAWING YOU
Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,
Proverbs 1:28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
4) JESUS MAY COME BACK
Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Don’t make a grave mistake! Come to Jesus now, while you can!
