You Gotta Be Dead

Sermon for 3/21/2010

Jesus Died- John 10:17-18

Introduction:

A male Sunday school teacher asked his Sunday school class, “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?” “No!” the children all answered. “If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?” Again, the answer was, “No!” “Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my wife, would that get me into Heaven?” Again, they all answered, “No!” “Well,” he continued,” then how can I get into Heaven?” A 5 year old boy shouted, “You gotta be dead!”

WBTU:

A. We have been looking for the past several weeks at the miracles around the cross.

B. This week we are going a different direction and we are looking at the death of Jesus. (Mark 15:37 NIV) With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. I’ve been there when the person has breathed their last. This is true for Jesus and for all of us until the Lord comes.

C. (Luke 23:46 NIV) Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

D. other two gospels add more: 1) (Mat 27:50) And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 2) (John 19:30 NIV) When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

E. Here is the order of this. Jesus said, “It is finished.” After this, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” After this, Jesus bowed his head, breathed his last and gave up his spirit.

F. This goes back to what Jesus said in (John 10:11 NIV) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

G. In connection with this, going down a few verses, this is a good theme verse for this morning: (John 10:17 NIV) The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again.(John 10:18 NIV) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Thesis: Jesus’ death is different. Let’s talk about that.

For instances:

1. No one takes it from me (John 10:18)

A. Wait a minute. Yes, they did. Jesus was executed by the state. No, Jesus had control all of the time. It would be a mistake to suppose that human forces were the final, determining factor in the death of Jesus. There are several times in the life of Jesus when He should have died. (John 7:30 NIV) At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

B. Jesus had control all of the time over his life. Jesus knew the time, the place and the circumstances when he would lay down his life but He always had control.

D. (Mat 26:51 NIV) With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.(Mat 26:52 NIV) "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.(Mat 26:53 NIV) Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

E. Plan A was for the Jews to accept Jesus as their king. Since they didn’t, God went to Plan B with the cross and then the church. Heresy!

E. William Barclay- Jesus was not helplessly caught up in a mess of circumstances from which he could not break free. It is quite clear that to the end he could have turned back and saved his life. He did not lose his life; he gave it. The Cross was not thrust upon him; he willingly accepted it- for us.

E. It is different for us. We have limited control over our lives. (Acts 17:26 NIV) From one man he made every nation of men that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

F. (Psa 139:16 NIV) All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

G. “It just wasn’t his time or it just was his time.” (Eccl 8:8 NIV) No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death.