April 23, 2000
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Luke 24:1-6
As we know, Christ had his last supper with his disciples, and
when they were finished, they went out into the garden. The Jewish
religious leaders were looking for the opportunity to kill Christ
because he was a threat to their power and hold over the people.
They could not take Christ publicly because the people love him
and his message. So as Christ went to the garden with his disciples,
Judas went to the religious leaders to tell them where they could
take Christ without creating a public uproar.
I believe it is important to note that the last lesson Christ
taught his disciples was a lesson on humility,
serving one another.
They went out from the last supper to the mount of Olives, where
the Lord prayed while the disciples slept. In his prayer, he submitted
to his Heavenly Father, and an angel appeared, strengthening him
for what he was to go through. He then returned to where the disciples
were, and woke them up. Then Judas came with the religious leaders.
They came with swords as though they were capturing a thief. In
defense of Christ, Peter cut off one of the soldier's ear, and
the Lord put it back on. Even though Christ did that miracle for
his enemies to see, they still carried out their plans.
Note: Facts, even miraculous facts, WILL
NOT change the minds of unbelievers.
They took Christ to the high priest's house, and Peter followed
back out of sight. A young woman saw Peter and said that Peter
was a follower of Christ, a charge which Peter denied three times.
Note: Luke 33:32, Christ had told Peter that he would strengthen
others after he was converted. It was going to
take a traumatic experience to convert Peter. That traumatic experience
was Peter's denial of Christ, vv. 33, 34. Peter wept bitterly
over what he did, and he was never the same after that event.
What kind of a traumatic experience does it take for us to be
converted to where we can strengthen
one another?
Christ was then mocked and beaten. Blindfolded, his enemies wanted
him to "prophecy" who hit him.
The religious leaders asked him again if he was the Son of God.
Christ said that he was. And thus they condemned him to death
for blasphemy:
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone
thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man,
makest thyself God.
The religious leaders had to have Rome's permission before they
could kill the Saviour. Pilate represented Rome, but Pilate would
not accept their claim of blasphemy against Christ, so he did
not want to approve the death. So the religious leaders tried
to present Christ as a threat to Rome's power and authority. They
claimed Christ tried to set himself up as a king, and that he
was a tax protester who urged the people not to give tribute to
Caesar.
Pilate questioned Christ, and found no fault in him. But the religious
leaders wold not accept a "not guilty" verdict, so they
put more pressure on Pilate to crucify Christ. Pilate wanted a
way out of the mess he now found himself in, so he sent Christ
to Herod, who was Rome's ruler in Galilee, where Christ was from.
Herod had wanted to meet Christ, for he had heard about him for
some time. Herod hoped to see Christ do a miracle, 23:8. But we
know that would have done no good, for the miracle
of healing the ear did not change the mind of those determined
to put him to death.
Though Herod asked many questions of Christ, Christ did not answer
him. Herod found nothing in Christ worthy of death, but he did
not stop the crucifiction. He sent Christ back to Pilate, and
Herod and Pilate became friends, 23:12.
Note: Christ unites enemies -- they either unite
together against Christ or for Christ.
V. 18, Pilate again sought to release Christ, offering to beat
Christ. Tradition required a condemned criminal to be released
at the time of the feast. Since Christ had done no wrong, Pilate
hoped the crowd would chose Christ over the robber, Barabbas.
But no, they demanded Barabbas, and that Christ be put away from
them.
V. 24, so Pilate yielded to the pressure, and gave the sentence
against Christ demanded by the religious leaders.
Note that the world will tolerate anyone except
a faithful Christian. That is why the world chooses to have child
killers in the class rooms rather than the Ten Commandments on
the wall or prayers in the school. I AM NOT SAYING THOSE THINS
WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, but removing them
did not help the situation any.
V. 26, Christ was led away to be crucified, along with two other
criminals who were to be put to death for their crimes, and he
was crucified between those two criminals. And while on the cross,
one of the criminals repented and came to Christ, vv. 32-43
After Christ died, a follower of Christ, Joseph, asked for the
body of Jesus. He took the body, and buried it in h is own new
tomb.
Luke 24:1-9, the women went to the grave to prepare the body,
and anoint it further with spices to cover the smell of decay.
But Christ was not there -- he was risen from the dead.
AND TODAY WE COMMEMORATE THAT RESURRECTION. Today we should remember
what the resurrection means to God's people:
Romans 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it
was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed,
if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised
again for our justification. 5:1 Therefore being justified
by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein
we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Delivered...
(Barns')
Verse 25. Who was delivered. To death. God the
Father delivered Christ into the hands of his enemies. (Acts 2:23.)
It was God's plan to do that very thing, as we see in Romans 4.
Even Abraham understood God's plan to deliver the Messiah into
the hands of his enemies for his death, Romans 4:1-22.
For our offences. On account of our crimes. He was delivered up
to death in order to make expiation for our sins. (Expiation -
Compensation for a wrong. Another word is atonement,
atonement for our sins.)
And was raised again. From the dead.
For our justification. In order that we may be justified,
or brought into acceptance with God.
Justification pardons sin, and makes us accepted to the Father
in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 1:6.)Justification reconciles us to the
Father.
(Illustrations) Matthew 5:24 Leave there thy
gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to
thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 1 Corinthians
7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried,
or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away
his wife.
(Applied to us) Romans 5:10 For if, when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by
his life. Colossians 1:21 And you, that were
sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet
now hath he reconciled
(Applied to others) 2 Corinthians 5:18
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by
Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead,
be ye reconciled to God.
It was by Christ's death that he made atonement for our sins -
paid for our sins. (Atonement, Compensation for a wrong.)
Because of the crucifiction, God the Father can treat us as righteous.
What about the resurrection?
The resurrection completed Christ's work. Though atonement, or
payment, was made by his death, it was his resurrection that made
his work complete. Without the resurrection, there would have
been no atonement - the resurrection was the Father's stamp of
approval on the work of Christ. The literal, bodily resurrection
of Christ proved that he did all that the law required to be done
in order to pay the price for the sins of his people.
Without the resurrection, Christ's suffering and his death on
the cross would have been no good. His work would have been imperfect
if he had not been raised up from the dead.
Christ submitted to death as a sacrifice, and it was needful that
he should rise. It is through his resurrection that death is conquered
and our enemies subdued. It was through the resurrection that
Christ's work was complete.
Christ's resurrection proved that his work was accepted by the
Father. What he had done for the salvation of sinners was approved
by the Father when he rose from the dead.
Christ gave himself up for our justification by his death. Our
justification became sure when he rose from the dead.
Christ's resurrection is the fountainhead of
all out hopes, and of all our efforts to be saved:
2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hathabolished
death, and hath brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel:
Christ's resurrection gives us a real, active or living hope:
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us
again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,
and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time.
In other words, our hope is not in a dead man such as Mohamad,
but in a man who is living today just as much as you and I.
The fact that Christ was raised from the dead is the ground for
our hope that we also shall be raised from the dead, and accepted
by God in that day.
The fact that Christ was raised from the dead and that all who
love him will be raised also, becomes one of the most efficient
motives for us to seek to be justified and salvation. There is
no higher motive that can be presented to induce man to seek salvation
than the fact that he may be raised up from death and the grave,
and made immortal.
Only in Christ's resurrection can we find proof that man will
be raised one day. In Christ's resurrection, we have the pledge
that all his people will rise:
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more;
but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Does the hope of the resurrection live in you this morning?