"Triumph From Grave Clothes”

In Jesus Holy Name Easter 2019

Text: John 19:38-40 Redeemer

“Triumph From Grave Clothes”

Easter is a wonderful celebration. I’m so glad you are here this morning to enjoy the experience the joy of Easter worship.

How many of you have Will or trust. Does it include “A power of Attorney?” What about Advance directive for medical decisions decisions? hospitals will want to know. But I wonder how many of you have written down what you want to wear in your casket! Today is about a man buried in grave clothes but didn’t need them anymore.

Easter is about a man who died then physically rose from death. His name was Jesus. When God entered human time and history with His birth in Bethlehem, He who had been beyond time chose to become bound by time. He was imprisoned in human flesh, restricted by weary prone muscles and eyelids. The Son of God left His throne in heaven so that by His death He would destroy the power of the devil who holds the power of death over the human race. (Hebrews 2:14) His death and His resurrection from death and the grave is the story of Easter. You may have not decided on you personal grave clothes , but

we know how Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea clothed Jesus when they took him down from the cross and placed Him in His tomb. John tells us “clean linen cloths mixed with an extravagant amount of spices—about 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes. (Such an amount was usually only used for kings. Following Jewish burial customs, they bound the body in strips of linen, with a separate cloth used for the head.

For a moment let’s return to Friday evening. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy and pious man, a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, who had become a follower of Jesus, asked to claim the body of Jesus for burial. Joseph was aided by a wealthy Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus. Carefully and with much effort they removed the nails from the Master’s hands and feet and lowered him to the ground. Along with a group of women who had remained close by through it all, Joseph and Nicodemus hastily prepared Christ’s body for burial.

They had to act quickly. The Jewish Sabbath began on Friday evening and they would need to have him in the tomb with the tomb sealed before the Sabbath began. They were risking their lives in performing this act of love and honor. It is significant that they laid him in a borrowed grave. The tomb belonged to this same Joseph of Arimathea. The act was done. Christ now lay in the tomb. These devoted friends went back to their homes to grieve and await the dawning of the first day of the week

Joseph and Nicodemus were reluctant to be public followers of Jesus but now Nicodemus was not afraid to ask Pilate for the body of Jesus . Pilate had given permission. Nicodemus brought the linen and spices. Joseph gave the tomb. Grave clothes admits that their hope that Jesus would be the Messiah became lost hope with sad tears remaining. For them it was a tragic end.

How quickly things changed. The people who only a week earlier had called Him King now saw him die on a cross with two other thieves. John, Nicodemus and Joseph on that Friday did not know what we know. Grave clothes, a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers, a large stone sealing the tomb these items could not keep a resurrected glorified body locked in the dark tomb. But His enemies tried, Theywanted no rumors of a resurrection.

We don’t know what happened in the tomb on Saturday. The scriptures are silent but we know That John and his fellow disciples were still in Jerusalem. They should have left town. We know they were worried that the same men who came for Jesus might also come for those who followed Him. The Pharisees were happy with one crucifixion why not more? Were the disciples waiting for a Sunday surprise? I don’t think so.

Maybe everyone was too depressed to leave. Jesus was John’s friend He agreed to take care of Mary the mother of Jesus. He was the one close to Jesus in the upper room. He was at the foot of the cross. He had to stay. Friends don’t abandon friends. Because John lingers on Saturday He was around for a miracle on Sunday.

Very early on Sunday morning Peter and John were given the news that the body of Jesus was missing Mary thought the enemies of Jesus had robed the tomb. Instantly the two disciples run to the tomb. Peter got there first what did He see? Strips of linen lying undisturbed as if a body had just passed through leaving them deflated like a ballon without air, undisturbed like a body just passed through, which of course it had. The burial shroud is still visible in Turin Italy. the burial shroud is still visible of the Italian city of Turin. We are told that John saw and believed. He remembered the long ago promise of Jesus. “I am going to Jerusalem There I will be arrested and crucified but on the third day I will rise from death.