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Journey to the Cross

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Bob Bradley

_________________________ 

 

Acts 2

 

25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

 

This is our final week of this study, "Journey to the Cross."  As our study ends, I hope that we understand that just because Jesus died on a cross, and they buried Him; that His story did not end.  Let this study be something that will go beyond Easter.  Let it continue for the rest of your life.  He Lives; I am alive.  Because He lives, we can live.

  

The Empty Tomb--The Journey Continues

 

Matthew 5

 

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

  

Day 37 - The Torn Curtain

Matthew 27:51-54

 

Mat. 27

 

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

 

Remember that He has been on the cross now for six hours, from nine o'clock in the morning until three o'clock in the afternoon.  It was a horrible death. 

 

Looking at crucifixion and all the things that went along with crucifixion, it was a horrible way to die.  Not only that, but the humiliation hanging before the tens of thousands of people that had walked by the cross and here he hangs.  He is between the heaven and the earth.  There He is with blood coming out of His face, back, and stomach.  If you would look at Him, you could not recognize who He was.  Yet, there He was. 

 

He was there because of me and He was there because of you.  He was not there because He did anything wrong.  He was not there because He committed some kind of heinous crime.  He was there that you and I might be able to have eternal life.  The penalty was up on you and me.  The penalty of death was passed down to you and me because of Adam's sin.  When Adam sinned, it was demanded that we die.  God already prepared a way for us to be able to be saved and to be able to be forgiven.  That is what He is doing here on the cross.

 

In verse 51, "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;"

 

As we have talked about last week and He prayed the prayer, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"  Then the last thing He said was, ‘Tetelestai’ or 'it is finished' the Bible said that He bowed His head and gave up the ghost.  He died. 

                                         

The next thing that happens here is "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;" 

 

Why is that significant? 

 

When you study the temple, the construction of the temple, and what went on in the temple, it was a big place.  It had different courts in it.  It had a court of the Gentiles, a court of the women, and a court of the Jews, as well as, an inner court and so forth.  It also had a place called the Holy of Holies.  It was in the center of the tabernacle. 

 

A big, thick curtain separated the most holy place from the outer courts.  The only person allowed to go into the Holy of Holies was the high priest.  He went behind the curtains once each year.  He would take the blood of bulls, goats and so forth and offer it upon the mercy seat that was there first for his sins and then for the sins of the people.  It did not forgive people's sins.  It did not take away people's sins.  It stayed the judgment that God had placed upon sin, which is death; it stopped that judgment for one year. 

 

On the day of atonement, the tenth day of October, every year the high priest had to go and do the same thing again; first for his sins and then for the sins of the people; over and over and over.  Not just anyone could do that.  He was the high priest; he was the only one that had the responsibility and the authority from Almighty God to go behind the veil and to make the offering for mankind's sin. 

 

Jesus dies and something happens.  Under the old covenant, not just anybody could go behind the veil.  Not anybody could go back there and go to the place where God met.  That is where the cherubim’s overshadowed the mercy seat with their wings.  Only one person could go in there.  The high priest was the only person that could go in there where God actually met. 

 

However, now when Jesus died; this big, thick veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place, it was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.  It tore in two because when Jesus died, He made a way, for us to access the throne of Almighty God.  We do not need an earthly high priest anymore to go offer offerings for you and me.  We have a high priest tonight that is sitting on the right hand of God.  That should excite us.  We have a new and living way.   He made that way when He died at Calvary.

 

It should alarm us, it should stir us to the point that we should want to get to the place, and where there is, a place that we go to that God will meet with us.  We should have a place somewhere that we can get down and get where we need to be with God; a place that God will meet with us. 

 

The reason that this is possible is that Jesus Christ died.  The thing that was separating us from having a personal relationship with God, the thing that was separating mankind from having a personal relationship with God, was law.  There had not been a way made for man to approach God, until Jesus died. 

 

When you and I pray today, we pray through and by the  name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus takes our petitions, if they are according to will of God, unto the throne of Almighty God.  That's Bible!  He is not a man as the high priest was, but He is God, He is the Son of Almighty God.  We are blessed today that there is a new way, a living way, that when Jesus died; we can approach personally, we can go behind the veil, there is nothing separating us, there is a way made that we can approach Almighty God. 

 

People like you and me that are no account and that are sinful can come and ask the Lord to save us and forgive us of our sins then He meets with us.  There is nothing like knowing that your prayers are heard.   There is nothing like knowing that heaven is listening when we are praying.  There is nothing like knowing that the spirit of Almighty God is bearing witness with our spirit, that lets us know that we are alive in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing like that. 

 

If we are saved, we are alive. 

 

The Bible says, "...the veil...was rent...from top to bottom...and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;” When He died things happened.  When He died, He did not die in vain.  When He died things changed.  A new and living way was made.  The Bible says, "...the earth...quake, and the rocks rent;"  Do you think the earth shook?  I will guarantee you this place shook.

 

The Bible says:

 

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

 

I have heard people say when Jesus died that many of the bodies of people that were asleep got up out of their graves, that didn't happen until He arose.  Take a look at what verse 53 says.  It would be impossible for these folks to rise before Jesus did because He is the first fruits.  You do not do the harvest before you have first fruits. 

 

If you know anything about farming, you know that there are some crops that come out early, some crops come on in the middle of the year, and some crops that come on late.  You have first fruits, you have harvest then you have gleanings.  That is the order of the resurrection.  Jesus is the first fruits, you and I are going to be part of the harvest and there is going to be some gleaning that is going to take place. 

 

It would not be possible for these folks to be raised from the dead until Jesus Christ rose from the dead because He is the resurrection and the life. 

 

 

The Bible says, "Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God."  These people saw what Jesus went through, but also they saw the earth, what was going on, and they recognized that this is the Son of God. 

 

It goes beyond just the things that happened like the rocks renting and the earthquakes that changed the centurion's mind.  He is a rough guy.  He is a Roman.  He probably knew nothing about the Jewish religion.  Not only what he saw changed his mind, but also Jesus' attitude toward those that were doing all these horrible things to Him. 

 

If someone mistreats us, we want to have a spirit of vengeance or we want to get back at  them.  Jesus did not do that.  He even prayed the prayer, "Father forgive them..." 

 

Even the thieves on the crosses beside of Him were saying all kinds of things against Him.  We know that one of them repented.  We know that he went to be with the Lord that day.  Even though these guys were doing all these things against Him, He didn't get mad, He didn't say a lot of things that should not be said. 

 

Many times when we get hurt, we cannot control our mouth.  Many times when we are going through persecutions and problems, when someone does us wrong, many times we do not show good Christian character.  When we are going through trials, if we would behave ourselves and act like Christian people; our actions are the best witness that we will have around those that are un-saved. 

 

When we lose control of our mouth and say all kinds of evil and bad things that we regret after we say them; people say, I want to apologize; that is great that you apologize but the damage is already done.  What is said, is said.  Many times even though the apology was made, the damage was already done.  I would to God that we would pattern our lives, when going through tribulations and sorrows; we would take Jesus Christ and what He did then pattern our actions and reactions after that.  People will then recognize there is something different about us. 

 

The un-saved, when they are going through problems and people mistreats them, they lose control of their mouth and say all kinds of things.  When they see people that go to church do that then they say that he is no different than I am--and we may not be.  When we are going through sickness, sorrows, problems, and troubles, we should pattern our lives, thought process, and speech after the Lord Jesus Christ instead of pattering it after satan.

 

Day 38 - Jesus Is Buried

Matthew 27:55-61

 

55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

 

The day was ending.  The Sabbath was nearing.  They were not going to leave them on the cross on the Sabbath day.  We know that the soldiers were commanded to break the legs of the prisoners so that they would die quicker.  We know that they broke the legs of the two prisoners that were there, and when they got to Jesus He was already dead.  They shoved the spear into His side then blood and water came out. 

 

When it was determined that they were dead, we are introduced to a man named Joseph of Arimathaea.  The Bible says two things about him that I want you to remember.  One thing is that he was rich.  The second thing was that he is the disciple of Jesus.  As you read about Joseph, he was not only a rich fellow, but he was one of the Sanhedrin, the governing council of the nation of Israel.  Not only that but as you read the whole context here, not only is Joseph here, but also Nicodemus.  He is the guy that came to Jesus by night and said Rabbi we know that you are a teacher come from God.  These guys were very influential people.  They were people that the town would know. 

 

When it is determined that they are dead, Joseph goes to Pilate and begs for the body of Jesus from Pilate.  When Pilate knows for sure that Jesus is dead then he gives Joseph of Arimathaea the authority to take down the body and put it in a tomb. 

 

He is already dead and the pain is already gone, but did you ever think about how much more damage happened to Him getting Him off the cross.  I do not know what all took place or how that they got Him off.  I do not know what they used to get His hands off the nails or His feet off there, but there was probably a whole lot more damage done getting Him off the cross. 

 

They took Him, since the Sabbath was drawing neigh, they were not permitted to do anything on the Sabbath day; Joseph and Nicodemus were going to start the embalming process.  When you turn over a few chapters, it mentions that they take a hundred pounds of spices and they begin the process.  They would use linen and they would wrap the body and put spices on it, they would wrap the body again, and they would put more spices on it, they would wrap the body and put more spices.  It was sweet smelling stuff.  It would preserve and help keep down odors.  They are putting Him in the tomb.  The Bible says that they are going to put Him in a tomb that Joseph owns.  The Bible says that it is a brand new tomb where no one has ever laid before.  When you read what it says in Psalms in and different places, about Jesus and His death; it is amazing about what the prophets said and what it said in the Psalms; it all came about exactly like He said it was going to.

 

This is not coincidence at all.  He is real and He is alive.  This story is a living story.

 

Joseph takes the body and they wrap it in cloth and put it in a new tomb.  The Bible mentions the women here.  Think about these women.  These women had to be heartbroken.  Not only was the mother of Jesus heartbroken, but as you read the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene was a woman that Jesus changed drastically. 

 

Do you remember what Jesus had done for her and the horrible shape that she was in?

 

We are all sinners, but thing is that Jesus had done a great work for her.  These women loved Jesus Christ.  They ministered unto Him.  What that means is that they cooked Him something to eat many times and took care of His physical needs as far as food and raiment.  They loved Him.  Here they are, their master is dead.  The One that had changed their lives and the hope that they had in this fellow as being the king of Israel, the one that was going to set them free all oppressions is dead now.  They roll the stone upon the tomb.  He is gone. 

 

I cannot imagine with all the things that Jesus Christ has done for these women how heartbroken they must have been.  I have lost friends and family that has went on and died.  I cannot imagine how much sorrow they must have been experiencing on this particular day.  They knew what kind of a fellow He was.  If He had been, a criminal then their love for Him and their sorrow may not have been quite as bad.  They knew that He did not do anything wrong.  They knew what kind of a man He was.  They knew what kind of a life that He lived and yet He is dead now.  The hope that they had of Him being the Messiah...there are some things that they did not understand yet.  All that hope was gone. 

 

This was Friday but Sunday was coming.  These women and the disciples; the fellow that they loved, they ate with, fished with, seen walk on water, seen raise the dead, He's gone, and they did not understand the part about Him dying and being raised from the dead.  They did not understand that. 

 

They knew He was dead and they were scared to death for their own lives.  As you go on and read you will find out here that they were scared also and the next time Jesus appears to them, they were in the upper room with the doors and windows locked for fear of the Jews.  They thought that they were going to come and get them next.  If they were going to come and kill Him then they are going to come to get them and kill them because they were His disciples.  Their hopes were dashed.

 

Many times in life, days get very dark.  Many times in life, we think that things will not get any better.  Many times in life, we think that this day is the darkest day and this day will never get any better.  These women and men probably thought the same thing here on this day when Jesus died.  They could not see Sunday morning yet.  They could not see that He was going to be raised from the dead.  They did not know that. 

 

You and I do not see tomorrow.  We cannot see what is going to happen next week or next month.   I cannot see that.  I know that Jesus is in control.  I know that whatever comes in our life, if our life is submitted unto Him, whatever comes to me has to come through Him first.  Since that is the case, then I can take encouragement in knowing that He is not ever going to leave me, He is never going to forsake me.  He will be there until the end.  That should give us encouragement.

 

Day 39 - The Women in the Garden

Matthew 28:1-10

 

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

 

This is about the women in the Garden.  This is on Sunday morning.  They had come back to the garden to finish embalming the body.  We know that as they are walking there, they are wondering how they are going to get the stone rolled away.  When they get there, they see that the stone rolled away.  They see two angels sitting there and they make the statement, "If you are looking for Jesus He is not here."  Mary turns around and sees someone that she supposes to be the Gardner she asks, "Where have you taken Him to?  If you will tell me, I'll come and get Him..."  Then we know that Jesus spoke the words unto Mary.  Mary then recognizes that it is the Lord and that He arose from the dead.  We know that she goes back and tells the disciples that He arose from the dead.

 

Day 40 - Jesus Appears to Thomas

John 20:24-31

 

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday morning.  We know that He appears to Mary and the others there.  We know that He ascends to the Father and makes the offering there in the heavens for you and me.  Then He comes back to earth.  He appears to the disciples when they are in the Upper Room on the same day that He arose from the dead.  We know that He appeared to Peter and Cleophas as they were traveling on the road to Amayus.  On the same day, He comes back and appears unto the disciples in the Upper Room where they were at. 

 

The Bible says that Thomas was not there.  When Thomas gets back, they tell him that Jesus has arose from the dead and they have seen Him.  Thomas makes this statement, "...unless I can see the nail prints in His hands and unless I can put my finger into the holes that is in His hands and thrust my hand into His side, I'm not going to believe that He is alive."  The Bible says that eight days later they were in the Upper Room the doors all being shut and Thomas being with them; the Lord appears unto them and says Peace be unto you.  The Lord says, come over here Thomas I want you to put your finger into the hole in my hand and I want you to thrust your hand into my side then He said be not faithless, but believing.  Thomas makes the statement, "My Lord and My God."  Jesus makes the statement "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." 

 

We are blessed today.  We know that Jesus Christ is alive today.  I have never seen Him.  I was not there when He was hanging on the cross.  I did not see the empty tomb.  I did not see the earthquake and all the things that happened.  However, by faith I know that He died at Calvary.  The Bible says that and I know that it is truth.  I know that He arose from the dead.  The Bible tells me that He did, I believe that by faith.  If we are saved today, we have the witness on the inside of us that we are serving a risen Savior.

 

Do we really believe that Jesus Christ is alive?

 

Do we really believe that He died, was buried, and rose again?

 

If you believe that, that is the gospel; that is all that you have to believe to be saved.  That is all it is: the death, the burial, and the resurrection.  If you believe that totally, and completely not just with your mind, but with your whole being, if you believe that then you can get saved and you are saved.  You are saved.  Jesus is alive. 

 

Thomas saw Him on this day.  I have never seen Him with my natural eye.  I am looking forward to seeing Him one day in the land that He went to prepare for you and me.  When we have our brand new bodies, I am looking forward to seeing Him one day.

 

Are we ready?

 

Do we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are ready?

 

Do I know that I am saved that if Jesus should come tonight, that if death should come to my house tonight, am I saved?

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