Series: When Jesus Comes To Your Town [#10]
JESUS, AT HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE
Mark 15:42-47; John 19:38-42
Introductory Remarks (Shawn Drake):
We are here this morning at the Memorial Service Of Jesus Christ. I know that He is glad that each of you are here to honor and remember Him.
Song: Hymn 132 “There Is Power In The Blood”
Song: “That’s Why We Praise Him”
Obituary & Scripture (Chris St. Clair II):
Jesus Christ was born in a barn in Bethlehem, Judea. He died at the age of 33 on a cross at Golgotha. He was survived by His mother Mary, several ½ brothers and sister, 11 apostles, and many other followers.
He was preceded in death by His earthly father, Joseph; and 1 apostle, Judas Iscariot.
Interment, (burial) was at the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea on Friday. Pilate released the body for burial to Joseph upon confirmation of Jesus’ death.
Memorial services have been at many locations over the last 2000 years.
At this time we are going to take an offering in honor of Jesus Christ. This offering will be used by the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ for the ongoing ministries of Jesus Christ through this body of believers at Bel Aire Baptist Church.
Offertory Prayer
Offering
Song: ”Amazing Love”
Song: “Via Dolorosa” (Special Music-Chris St. Clair)
Message: “Jesus, At His Memorial Service”
Mark 15:42-47; John 19:38-42
Invitation
A Time Of Remembrance:
Lord’s Supper (Have 2 tables set up with 1 tray of juice and bread on each table. Have 1 of the pastoral staff, and 1 deacon behind each table. Usher 1 row at a time to come down to partake. Families come together.
JESUS, AT HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE
Mark 15:42-47; John 19:38-42
Introduction:
Today, as we continue in our Memorial Service for Jesus Christ, I would like to recall a very important conversation that Jesus had with one of the 2 men who buried Jesus’ body.
One of those men was Joseph of Arimathea. We don’t know much about Joseph except that he was from Arimathea, he was a member of the Sandhedrin, and he was a secret follower of Christ until he “came out” when he asked Pilate for the body of Jesus.
The second man who was helping Joseph bury Jesus was Nicodemus. Nicodemus was also a member of the Sanhedrin.
Go back with me 3 years before the death of Jesus to Jerusalem where Jesus had just cleansed the Temple for the 1st time.
John 3:1-21
Today many are like Nicodemus – they have the things of this world, but they are hungering for something better. The same great truths apply to them – they must be born again. Unless they are born again, they cannot be saved, they cannot see Heaven. If you are born once, you will die twice; but if you are born twice, you will die once. The second death has no power over the Christian.
The New Birth Is Not…
1. Reformation. There are some who say: “You should turn over a new leaf. You should quit your evil life and join the church.” This isn’t enough. Suppose I owed a certain store $100.00 and I told them that I would continue to trade with them, but that from now on I would pay cash for everything. My cash would provide for future provision, but it would not settle the old debt. So it is, that you can quit your sin today, and if you never committed another sin there is still an old account against you. The only way to settle this debt is through the blood of Christ. You can come to Him and His righteousness will be put to your account. Then you can truly say, “The old account was settled.” Reformation never brings about the new birth, but birth will bring about reformation. When a person has been born again, they will immediately seek to straighten out their life.
2. A loud profession. There is a difference between “profession” and “possession.” Judas mad a loud profession, but he never possessed eternal life. Many people today make loud professions, but this doesn’t mean that they have been born again. You can fool men with a loud profession, but you cannot fool God. God looks at the heart.
3. Joining a local church. Every saved person ought to be an active member of a local church, but being a member of a local church will not save anyone.
Reformation – Church membership and profession, good works and baptism, culture and morality – does not save. These things do not constitute salvation; they are the results of it.
The New Birth Is…
1. A divine change. A Man must be born of the Spirit – and that means that he must be born from above. It must be a change that comes from God and not man. We are not able of ourselves to create this change, but when we repent of our sins and put our faith in Christ, God sends the change into our lives. God must create the desire, and He must bring about the change.
2. A mysterious change. Jesus is telling us that the new birth is a mystery which we can never fully understand. There are mysteries all around us, and we accept them although we cannot explain them. We cannot explain what the wind looks like, but we accept that there is wind. We may not fully understand this mystery which is called the new birth, but we can know this: that we are sinful, that we are lost without Christ, and that He can save us. We cannot understand the change, but, thank God, we can experience it.
3. An absolute change. Salvation changes all things. We have new hopes, new ideals, and new joys. The things which we once loved, we now hate, and things which we once hated, we now love.
The New Birth Is Necessary…
1. Because we are all sinful.
2. Because we are all lost.
The New Birth Is Gained…
1. When God convicts the lost person of their sinfulness.
2. When a person confesses with their mouths and believes in their heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God raised from the dead.
The New Birth Results In…
1. The Holy Spirit dwelling within us at the moment of new birth.
2. A transformed life.
3. The inheriting of eternal life.
Conclusion:
Obviously, Nicodemus had come to understand that all of his religious work and knowledge wasn’t going to take care of his eternal life in Heaven. He had to be born again.
Today, you must be born again!
