The Power of the Three

Sermon Title:

The Power of the Three: Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection

Key Text:
📖 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (NKJV)
“…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Introduction

There is something powerful about the number three.

• A three-strand cord is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12) - 
• Jonah was in the fish three days
• Jesus rose on the third day
• Daniel prayed three times a day 
• Satan tempts us in three way lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, Pride of life 
• Peter denied Jesus three times 
• Three parts of Man 
•  

God is saying:
👉 When I do something in threes, I’m finishing it, confirming it, and empowering it.

But the greatest “three” in history is:
Death. Burial. Resurrection.

Without all three… there is no gospel.

Key Point 1: The Death Was Necessary (Payment for Sin)

📖 Isaiah 53:5 - But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Jesus didn’t die as a victim—He died as a substitute.

Illustration:

A man was sentenced to death, but someone stepped forward and said,
“I’ll take his place.”
The judge accepted it—the guilty man walked free.

👉 That’s what Jesus did for us.

Jesus died by crucifixion, but medically and physically, His death was caused by a combination of:

👉 Extreme blood loss (hypovolemic shock)
👉 Asphyxiation (inability to breathe)
👉 Physical trauma and exhaustion

And ultimately…

👉 He willingly gave up His life

📖 John 19:30
“He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

Severe Beating and Scourging

📖 Matthew 27:26

Jesus was scourged with a Roman whip (cat-o’-nine-tails):

• Embedded with bone and metal
• Tore skin, muscle, possibly exposed organs

👉 This alone caused massive blood loss.

Illustration

Imagine someone already losing large amounts of blood before even reaching the place of execution.

Key Point 2: The Death Was Personal

📖 Romans 5:8 

He didn’t just die for the world—He died for you.

Short Story:

A preacher once said,
“If you were the only person on earth, Jesus still would have gone to the cross.”

👉 This wasn’t general—it was intentional.

👉 “The nails didn’t kill Him…
👉 The cross didn’t kill Him…
👉 The Romans didn’t kill Him…”

“MY SIN PUT HIM THERE…
BUT HIS LOVE KEPT HIM THERE!”

Key Point 3: The Burial Proved He Was Really Dead

📖 Matthew 27:59–60 . And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

 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.

The burial shuts down every argument that Jesus just “passed out.”

Illustration:

You don’t bury people who are alive.
The burial was Heaven’s way of saying:
👉 The sacrifice is complete.

Key Point 4: The Burial Represents Separation

Jesus was placed in a tomb—cut off, sealed, and silent.

Spiritual Insight:

Sometimes God will allow things in your life to be “buried.”

• Dreams buried
• Opportunities bu