Strange Days In Jerusalem (Sermon 1) Series

Strange Days in Jerusalem

The Six Miracles of Calvary

Using the theme based on the book, The Six Miracles of Calvary, by William R. Nicholson

Series Begins 2/28/2010

SERIES INTRODUCTION

Luke 24:13-32 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

INTRODUCTION

• The cross was the intersection of all the great roads of history, theology, redemption!

• It is the place where time and eternity come together.

• It is where God and man intersect.

• It is where divine sovereignty and human responsibility collide.

• In such a place, under such circumstances, it is no wonder that strange and amazing things will occur!

• Travel with me to about 29 AD!

• Let us walk up near the cross and then let us walk the countryside around Jerusalem.

• We will see many things, but first we will not see anything at all for God will turn the lights out on earth!

• We will observe a miraculous expansion a room of the Temple as God removes a wall!

• All nature will convulse so strongly that rocks will split in half!

• Come with me into a grave where the neatest dead man the world has ever seen walks away, leaving His clothes folded behind Him!

• Walk with us through cemeteries where the lids have all been blown off!

• And then, just when think we have seen it all, join me in the streets of Jerusalem as we see dead men walking!

• Truly, these are strange days in Jerusalem!

Sermon 1: The Miracle of the Darkness

Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until

the ninth hour.

Luke 23:44-45 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth [Mt. and Mk. = “land”] until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

I. The Setting of this Darkness

A. The Events (a busy time leading up to this)