WEBVTT 00:00:11.759 --> 00:00:13.359 Good morning, family. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:17.280 Don't worry. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:25.440 Even if I am preaching, I'm preaching it under the tutelage of Pastor Doug. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:39.840 And we'll be concluding with what Pastor Doug gave me this Wednesday from his notes. 00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:53.280 And also I have to remember what my wife, dear Santhy, dear wife Santi, he she keeps telling me, you have to project your voice. 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:55.200 All right. 00:00:55.920 --> 00:00:57.679 So I have to remember. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:01:01.280 And she says, for the benefit of Marge. 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:06.480 So wonderful. 00:01:06.719 --> 00:01:08.640 So I will remember that. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.079 And it is so overwhelming. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:20.159 And as uh Walter said, it doesn't matter how many times you come here, it feels like the first time. 00:01:22.879 --> 00:01:42.079 And it's a great honor to have an opportunity to stand once again before you to testify to the veracity of the scripture and the testimony that it does, it gives to the deity of Jesus Christ our Savior. 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:52.560 And we do that in utmost confidence in his sovereignty. 00:01:54.959 --> 00:02:00.319 And this journey started about January 16th of 2022. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:03.599 And we are almost at the end. 00:02:04.400 --> 00:02:06.159 Four more sermons. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:11.840 And we will conclude this journey through Matthew. 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:20.080 So two years, ten months, hence, we can tell stories of our journey through Matthew. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:39.520 And what uh this reminds me is in the Hobbit, they take a journey and they come back and write the write the story of all their exploits. 00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:44.080 I think we have no smaller story to tell. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:03:01.280 Going through Matthew and witnessing the witness of Matthew and all the that prophets have told about Jesus Christ and everything that came true and came to fulfillment in Jesus Christ our Savior. 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:06.560 This morning's text of uh scripture comes from Matthew. 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:11.360 This is nothing significant on the first glance. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:24.000 This is the portion we are we are all familiar with, and we do not see any memory verses that stand out of this scripture, and we may not have heard this portion preached from that often. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:32.000 This seems like a rather routine portion which talks about the burial of Jesus Christ. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:44.800 And here we come across several characters in this portion of scripture, and all four Gospels narrated this event to a different level of detail. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:04:12.080 Understanding of these characters that appear in this portion will get us to see how wonderfully God uses all these characters and events that appear to, you know what, things do appear to go out of control, but God uses all this to testify to the deity of His Son Jesus Christ. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:26.480 All these characters that appear here, they do not know how these events are unfolding according to God's eternal redemptive plan. 00:04:26.639 --> 00:04:38.879 But everything that happens and everyone that is involved is used by God so beautifully to bring about God's redemptive purpose to fruition through the death of his son Jesus Christ. 00:04:39.199 --> 00:04:50.560 And in Apostles' Creed, there is a portion that says, I believe in Jesus Christ, and it goes on to say he suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. 00:04:51.600 --> 00:05:05.759 Looking at the burial of Jesus Christ, we see the events that have been brought about so wonderfully and supernaturally, and we'll stand and we will stand amazed at the precise way things came together. 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:16.000 Generally, we who are of Christian faith are aware of the significance of the cross of Christ. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:18.560 To a true Christian, cross is everything. 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:32.079 In Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan portrays pilgrim's exuberance when he comes to the foot of the cross, where he is loosed from the burden that is encumbering him from his back. 00:05:34.480 --> 00:05:44.079 And in the past few weeks, we've been studying the elements of the cross described by Matthew, and we are sort of ready for the resurrection. 00:05:44.480 --> 00:05:56.560 And we cannot wait to get to chapter 28 and see Jesus risen from the dead. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:03.759 The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a single greatest miracle the world will ever know. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:17.600 Because it is that miracle of resurrection which demonstrated his accomplished work on the cross which redeems us and his power over death which brings us to glory. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:41.839 And rightly so we extol the miracle of resurrection, and we extol the glory in the crucifixion, where our sins were born by the Lord Jesus Christ to free us from its sins, guilt, and penalty. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:49.120 But between the crucifixion and resurrection, there is this burial of Jesus. 00:06:53.120 --> 00:07:05.439 At first glance, it only will seem like it is a necessary act with little or no consequence, because the natural progression after one's death is the burial. 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:13.759 Except for what happens here tells us a magnificent story. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:28.399 The burial of Jesus Christ is as supernatural and as miraculous in many ways as was his death and as will be his resurrection. 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:47.439 It is such a thrilling account of supernatural planning in every detail in the life of Christ, from his birth to his burial to his resurrection, everything is controlled by God the Father for the fulfillment of divine purpose and prophecy. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:08:03.360 It is marvelous and thrilling to see God giving evidence as to the deity of Christ even through his burial. 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:17.439 There are people, places, events, behaviors that are narrated in this short portion of scripture that become important in how God's providence in the burial of Jesus Christ fulfilled many of the prophecies. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:28.000 The constant refrain that we have heard so far that these things happened, that what was spoken by the prophet might come true or might be fulfilled. 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:35.360 And here in the burial account of Jesus Christ, many more of those prophecies were fulfilled. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:45.279 You know, before reading this morning's scripture portion, let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:50.080 Heavenly Father, we thank you. 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:58.960 We thank you for our Savior Jesus Christ and His death on the cross and his burial and his resurrection. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:19.200 Father, this portion of scripture that we will examine today, we will see today, Father, may it bring in us an utmost confidence in your sovereignty and in Father and Father and may it increase our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:21.600 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:28.320 Matthew 27, verses 57 through 66. 00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:30.080 Let's read. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:42.080 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:44.720 Then Pilate ordered that it be released. 00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:55.120 So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in clean, fine linen, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had cut into the rock. 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:59.039 He left after rolling a great stone against the entrance of the tomb. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:04.559 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there facing the tomb. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:19.600 The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, Sir, remember, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive, he said, After three days I will rise again. 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:25.440 So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. 00:10:25.679 --> 00:10:34.639 Otherwise his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people he has been raised from the dead, and the last deception will be worse than the first. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:38.080 Take guards, Pilate told them. 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:50.399 They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards. 00:10:54.799 --> 00:11:16.720 As I was saying, in any account of the scripture, we will never see an event describing and narrating the providence of God with any more certainty than we will see in this portion of the scripture and the scene that is described here. 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:24.480 The greatest illustration of the sovereignty of God and the providence of God is in the death of Jesus Christ. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:29.200 That's what we saw in the past few weeks. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:43.440 Jesus being tried by the Jewish Supreme Court Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and God using everything and everyone involved to see to it that this sacrificial lamb was put to death. 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:51.840 Sacrificial lamb being moved from within the camp to outside the camp and eventually sacrificed on the cross. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:12:01.120 And the events that unfolded at the crucifixion, the curtain of separation in the temple being torn, representing the access that has been granted. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:10.480 God used all of the human and satanic forces to kill his son to accomplish his redemptive purpose. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:12.480 God controlled every element. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:21.679 Every piece of that entire scene was controlled by God. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:32.320 So much so that Jesus even rode into the city on the very day that Daniel prophesied in chapter 9 and would that he would do it. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:38.320 Jesus rode into the city on the very day everyone else was selecting their Passover lamb. 00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:41.919 The true Passover lamb was coming into the city. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:49.360 He died on the very day that the Passover lambs were slaughtered. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:53.759 Every single detail was covered. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:58.000 And all by the free choice of men. 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.399 So they thought. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.000 All were against Jesus. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:06.879 Pilate, Herod, Jewish leaders, Gentiles, people of Israel, all were against Jesus. 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:09.120 To do what? 00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:19.840 To do whatever your hand will had predestined to take place. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:24.879 They just did what God laid out for them to do. 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:34.879 And they did it with their own independent choices within the framework of their sin, yet worked out the perfect plan of God. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:48.159 In our text, we see the person making this request can be seen in the verses 57 through 60, and his name is Joseph of Arimathea. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:52.399 He does not appear anywhere else in the Bible. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:15:00.960 Yet he is so important that Matthew identifies him, and Mark and Luke and John, all the gospel writers, identify him. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:07.039 A man named Joseph, a member of the council. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.639 This is the sonhedron. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:17.039 This is his only appearance in the scripture, and it is such a marvelous appearance. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:26.960 And there is enough detail given to us to tell us that this man is good and righteous in a true sense. 00:15:27.440 --> 00:15:32.000 His story is brief, but boy, what a story it is. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.919 This is a story of salvation. 00:15:36.559 --> 00:15:41.919 This is an unexpected, somewhat shocking testimony of faith in Jesus Christ. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:47.919 Set against the rejection of the whole nation and set against the hostility of the rest of the council. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:58.559 At least we see two out of the seventy-one on the council believed in Jesus, the other being Nicodemus. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.919 He's like the thief on the cross. 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:11.440 In the fact that he is saved, but he is unlike him. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:14.080 The thief is an outcast. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:25.919 The centurion is a gentile outcast, but he is but this Joseph of Arimathea is on the inside. 00:16:27.279 --> 00:16:32.080 He is a soul rescued from the elite leaders of Israel. 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:41.039 He is a lone dissenter, a good and righteous man, the Lou in the Gospel of Luke, he says. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:45.360 The good in the right sense of the spiritual goodness and righteous. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:20.880 In those days, the garbage was disposed of through incineration. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:32.880 The garbage was taken to a place in the valley of Hinnum and dumped and set on fire because of the constant supply of garbage, and the fire did not go out. 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:38.000 That place is called Gehenna in the Valley of Hinnum. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:45.920 In this context, Joseph of Arimathea becomes the first focal point of the burial of Christ. 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:50.240 From verse 57 through 60, we look at this. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:56.160 There are two key prophecies that must be fulfilled in the burial of Jesus. 00:17:56.319 --> 00:17:59.200 There are many, but we will look at these two. 00:18:01.759 --> 00:18:06.319 One is an Old Testament prophecy given by Isaiah. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:15.039 In verse 9 of Isaiah 53, it says, He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:29.519 And it goes on to say, the prophecy goes on to say, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:39.279 In Isaiah 53 and verse 9, and this whole chapter is devoted to the death of Christ on the cross. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:45.039 It talks about the fact that he was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:56.400 It talks about him being taken away unto judgment and so forth. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:19:01.200 It tells us that punishment for our peace was on him. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:06.319 And we are healed by his wounds and describes the meaning of his death. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:14.880 In verse 9, it says he was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death. 00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:29.279 Now the Holy Spirit, through the prophet Isaiah, says it was an assignment for him to be placed with criminals in a criminal grave, yet it didn't happen, but rather he was with a rich man at his death. 00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:41.039 Now that this strange and obscure prophecy would be very difficult to understand until one arrives at the burial scene of Jesus Christ. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:54.160 Keep it in mind that he was to have been buried or he was to be put in a grave for criminals, but instead he was buried with a rich man in his death. 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:14.640 In the second prophecy in the New Testament, given by Jesus Christ himself, and we find that one in the 12th chapter of Matthew and verse 40, he says it's a it's Jesus says, For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of great fish, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:22.640 Jesus here predicts that there will be three days between his death and resurrection. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:30.160 Not only that, but he will be in the earth for three days, he will be buried for three days. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:40.400 Now there he there calls them three days and three nights and three days and nights, and as Jewish colloquial expression was. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:51.359 So there are two major prophecies that are very explicit, very easily recognized, and must relate to the burial of Jesus Christ. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:58.160 He must be buried with the rich, and he must be buried for a period of three days. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:08.319 Now God uses Joseph of Arimathea to fulfill these prophecies as the human instrument. 00:21:10.400 --> 00:21:19.920 So Joseph then gives testimony to the deity of Christ through being used in the fulfill fulfillment of his this prophecy. 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:30.640 In verse 57, a rich man from Arimathya named Joseph came. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.720 Why did he come? 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:40.079 Well, it was in his heart to come. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:58.400 He had been a secret disciple, and having seen Jesus die, and having love for Jesus and affection for him, the one who is secret now is willing to take a stand for Jesus Christ in his death after Jesus died. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:08.400 Not even for a he is he was willing to take a stand, not even for a living Christ, but a dead Christ. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:12.240 He's going to sacrifice all his relationships. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.920 He's a member of Sanhedrin. 00:22:16.960 --> 00:22:20.480 He's going to forfeit that, his social status, his business. 00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:24.720 He will be cut off in every way. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:38.079 But his affection for the now dead Christ pulls his heart so much that he wants him to have a proper place of burial. 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:41.680 So a rich man comes just as Isaiah said. 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:53.599 And rich man is Joseph of Arimathea. 00:22:55.119 --> 00:23:03.279 When we look at the life of Jesus, it is a progression from humiliation to exaltation to glorification. 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:09.680 But when does this when does this transition from humiliation to exaltation happen? 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:21.279 Some may think that it happens at the resurrection, but we look at the scripture portion in Isaiah, he was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:29.759 And the prophecy goes on, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:44.400 Also, we see in the book of Acts, chapter 2, on the day of Pentecost, Peter says, For David says of him, I saw the Lord ever before me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:47.680 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices. 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:56.799 Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me in Hades and or allow your holy one to see decay. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:05.359 The body of Jesus remains substantially intact, even in the crucifixion, and now even in the burial. 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:32.880 Now, why would Pilate do that? 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:39.680 Given all the hostilities, one might think that Pilate would say, Leave the body there. 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:45.440 I want that to mock the Jews as long as possible. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:55.920 And I know it is the Passover and they want it taken down, but the fact that they want it taken down is a good reason to leave it up there for Pilate. 00:24:58.400 --> 00:25:01.839 He despised those who had intimidated him so much. 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:07.359 Is that important? 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:15.119 Yes, the Jews had come earlier and said, and get those bodies of the cross before the Sabbath. 00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:20.160 We don't want them hanging up there on Sabbath, which is the Passover. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:22.640 This is not any ordinary Passover. 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:26.319 This is a very high Sabbath. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.599 We want the bodies down. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:33.839 The Jews begged to have the bodies down. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:36.079 Joseph wanted the body down. 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:38.880 The Pilate said, Take it down. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:50.880 The reason it had to come down was Jesus had to be in the grave on Friday so he could be there Friday, Saturday, Sunday. 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:54.640 That's what the prophet said. 00:25:54.799 --> 00:25:57.599 That's what God wanted. 00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:06.880 And all these people acting on their own were really working out God's providential plan perfectly. 00:26:11.200 --> 00:26:29.359 So when Joseph had taken the body down, wrapped it in a clean in a clean linen cloth, laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock, and rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:32.079 And he left. 00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:38.240 And it was done. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.960 Was that important? 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:46.400 Yes, it is important. 00:26:47.279 --> 00:26:52.799 God worked out all these details to get Jesus into the grave before the day was over. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:58.960 So that he would be there part of the Friday to fulfill the prophecy. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:08.160 And so we see the providence of God working to proclaim the deity of Christ through the fulfillment of prophecy, even in his burial. 00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:11.359 Now, do you see this? 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:20.799 This insignificant portion of scripture, how meticulously it was planned by God. 00:27:35.839 --> 00:27:41.599 In verse 61, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were seated there facing the tomb. 00:27:42.240 --> 00:28:01.599 If Joseph of Arimathea was used to show the deity of Christ through fulfilled prophecy, there these women are used to show that it is the firsthand testimony to give firsthand testimony to the burial of Jesus Christ. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:18.640 And then we come to the third group of people God used in verse 62, who are the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they provide this in this testimony as forceful as any proof of his resurrection anywhere in the scripture. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:23.920 In verse 62, it says the next day which followed the preparation day. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:29.200 That's another way to say Saturday or Sabbath. 00:28:31.839 --> 00:28:33.839 This is Passover Day now. 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:37.359 The day of preparation is Friday. 00:28:40.559 --> 00:28:43.680 You cannot make it any other thing in Jewish chronology. 00:28:43.839 --> 00:28:45.759 It is always Friday. 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:52.480 It was the term for Friday because it was the day that they prepared for the Sabbath. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:29:01.440 All their meal planning and everything else had to be done for Sabbath because they could not do it on Sabbath. 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:05.200 It is the Sabbath. 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:30.480 Chief priests and Pharisees, they come together only once before one other place. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:35.440 That is in Matthew 21, verse 45, we see them coming together. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:38.240 It is an uncommon kind of combination. 00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:52.160 Chief priests were Sadducees, and the and the Pharisees were, of course, were their their theological enemies and opponents, as we have seen before. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.440 It wasn't enough to have him dead. 00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:05.279 And they get together in a small group and they come to Pilate. 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:15.839 Verse 63 saying, Sir, a term of dignity and honor. 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:25.519 Say, sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive, he said, After three days I will rise again. 00:30:26.079 --> 00:30:30.880 And they accomplished what they were set out to accomplish. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:37.759 And they put Jesus Christ to death. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:46.000 Now they want to take care of the business by addressing what they perceived to be another threat to their authority. 00:30:46.799 --> 00:30:56.640 If disciples were to hide the body and say that he rose from the dead according to what he had what he had claimed, then they will have another problem on their hand. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:31:04.799 Their hostility, hatred, and brutality extends even beyond Jesus' death. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:13.680 And the thing that they are concerned about is that he said, After three days, I will rise again. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:18.319 And when did he say that? 00:31:18.960 --> 00:31:23.680 Back in chapter 12 earlier, they wanted a sign. 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:29.200 And chapter 12, verse 38 to 41, we want a sign. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:32.160 We want to see you do your magic trick. 00:31:34.480 --> 00:31:36.000 We want to see a miracle. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:37.599 Do something for us. 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:45.680 And he says, Nothing will be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:55.119 As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of great fish, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:32:03.359 In other words, they understood that he was saying what he was, he they understood exactly what he was saying. 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.839 They knew what he was saying. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:17.119 He was saying, I'm going to go into the ground and be buried and rise and will be resurrected. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:20.400 Disciples didn't even understand it. 00:32:20.559 --> 00:32:25.680 Disciples thought he was talking mystically, spiritually, and figuratively. 00:32:25.839 --> 00:32:31.200 They didn't understand that he was actually talking about a real death and a real resurrection. 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:41.599 But the Jews did not think about the mystical, spiritual, and physical thing because they did not believe that he was Messiah anyway. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:50.400 They thought he was just an imposter who was going to try to pull something off, which obviously he couldn't do. 00:32:50.960 --> 00:32:52.799 But it is in their mind. 00:32:52.960 --> 00:33:04.000 But the fact that he said he was going to do it, the disciples must have thought that he was supposed to do it, and they might even try to pull it off themselves. 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:11.039 Little did they know, all the disciples were hiding somewhere cowering through all this. 00:33:14.880 --> 00:33:23.759 So their concern was Jesus had said that he was going to be three days in the earth. 00:33:24.319 --> 00:33:32.319 And so in verse 64, they say, Command, therefore, and they're commanding Pilate to command. 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:54.480 And as we have examined when we saw the previous portion of scripture, he's intimidated by them for the fear that they will report him to Caesar if there is any other conflict. 00:33:54.799 --> 00:34:01.039 So they say, Command, therefore, that the grave be made secure until the third day. 00:34:02.160 --> 00:34:09.199 And you will notice that in the chapter 12 and 40th verse, it was three days and three nights. 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:16.880 In verse 63, it's after three days, and in verse 64, it is until the third day. 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:25.039 So that we all, so that we say all those phrases mean the same thing. 00:34:25.360 --> 00:34:34.159 Not three full 24 hour periods, according to Jewish colloquial expression, but part of three days. 00:34:34.400 --> 00:34:38.719 Any part of Friday, any part of Saturday, any part of Sunday. 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:54.320 And here is why, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away and say to the people he is risen from the dead. 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:59.199 See how everything is coming together? 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:09.599 Because all the objections that could be raised for the resurrection of Jesus are being addressed by whom? 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:14.320 By the Jewish leaders. 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:23.519 Now they are not afraid that he will arise because they did not believe in his deity. 00:35:23.760 --> 00:35:28.880 They are afraid that the disciples will fabricate a resurrection to keep the movement alive. 00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:31.599 That's what they are afraid of. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:35:38.719 You know, the irony of it is the disciples had no such thought. 00:35:40.320 --> 00:35:42.880 And disciples couldn't get their own heads together. 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:44.320 They are afraid. 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:47.039 They are hiding somewhere else. 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:52.400 Jesus told many times about the manner of his resurrection. 00:35:52.559 --> 00:36:01.440 In all the gospels we read about what he has said, the Jews, of course, thought he was claiming that and he couldn't pull that off. 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:13.599 But they were afraid that the disciples would have thought, just like they did, that he really meant what he was saying. 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:18.320 And so to keep their movement alive, they would come and steal the body. 00:36:28.239 --> 00:36:42.239 So to prevent that, they go to Pilate and say, We want a God, and we want that God put on the grave so that the disciples are unable to come and steal away the body, or else. 00:36:43.599 --> 00:36:56.079 At the end of verse 64, so give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third, until the third day. 00:36:56.239 --> 00:37:02.159 Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell people he has been raised from the dead. 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:06.239 And the last deception will be worse than the first. 00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:28.400 What they are saying to Pilate is this if you think Jesus' triumphal entry caused an uproar. 00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:40.400 And if you think that caused a problem, just watch what happens if the disciples are able to fabricate that he rose from the dead. 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:49.119 So they say, give us a guard so we can make sure that they don't steal his body. 00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:58.239 And in verse 65, Pilate says, Take guards, go and make it as secure as you know how. 00:37:59.119 --> 00:38:06.719 And in then verse 66, they went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards. 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:26.719 Now the grave was sealed with a Roman seal, and if anyone were to move the stone, then the mechanism by which the tomb was secured would be compromised, and that would cause the new movement, if there was any, to not to succeed. 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:34.159 Do you know what would have happened if there was no God or no seal? 00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:43.920 Nobody was watching the tomb, and all of a sudden they were they were trying to preach a message that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:47.039 And somebody would say, Don't give me that. 00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:49.519 It never happened. 00:38:51.119 --> 00:39:00.480 They just took his body and somebody took on his identity, and somebody who looked like him made a few appearances. 00:39:04.079 --> 00:39:14.639 And many people who set out to prove that this was the case became believers in Jesus Christ. 00:39:14.960 --> 00:39:33.119 Looking at the evidence, looking at, and we see that case for Christ in the least robot, investigative reporter in his book, he details the account and how he came to know Jesus Christ. 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:45.760 But the unbelieving world itself made sure that there is no other explanation for the absent body of Christ except a resurrection. 00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:54.480 If no seal and no God, the resurrection could have been explained as anything else like grave robbery. 00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:08.400 God is using chief priests, Pharisees, and a lot of pagan authorities in this process to testify without any doubt about his resurrection. 00:40:08.639 --> 00:40:31.840 Burial of Jesus Christ is important because God Himself is testifying and using all those who are involved to bring about his redemptive purposes and those unwilling and hateful actors, along with the faithful followers who are altogether testifying to the events that unfolded in the burial of Jesus Christ. 00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:52.320 If they would have tried to prevent some of these things that happen in their utter ignorance and hubris, they also serve to bring about the eternal purposes of God. 00:40:53.599 --> 00:41:01.199 Here, one thing we need to observe this Joseph of Arimathea, he was a secret follower of Christ. 00:41:02.800 --> 00:41:06.320 You know, I remember a story in my childhood. 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:12.880 My mother became a believer, and my father was not a believer then. 00:41:13.119 --> 00:41:17.519 And about eight years into their marriage, my father came to know Christ. 00:41:17.760 --> 00:41:26.559 And after that, I was, you know, just um to fit in with my friends. 00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:35.519 So I am my mother, and and he she testified to us about Christ and and uh um his work on the cross. 00:41:35.599 --> 00:42:01.519 Okay, I know that that that was true, but the thing is, you know, I was I wanted to be uh a secret thing because there is a stigma associated with being a Christian in in that society, and same thing here, you know, he was a secret believer now when he came face to face with crucified Christ, and all those things went away, and he risked everything. 00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:24.320 He goes to Pilate asking to give Jesus' body a proper burial, and when you come face to face with Christ, and it doesn't matter, everything will fade away, and that is exactly what happened in his life. 00:42:26.719 --> 00:42:28.960 Let's bring all this together as follows. 00:42:29.119 --> 00:42:33.840 As we see in this text, there was a dangerous request. 00:42:34.239 --> 00:42:35.920 A dangerous request. 00:42:36.239 --> 00:42:48.159 The Mishnah, the oral tradition of Jewish believers, sentenced the elder that rebels against the decision of the court to death by strangling. 00:42:49.599 --> 00:43:02.559 And Chris Ostom wrote that Joseph was a man of special courage, for he exposed himself to death, taking upon him the enmity of all by his affection for Jesus Christ. 00:43:03.840 --> 00:43:10.320 Through what he did, he testified to the deity of Christ by fulfilling major prophecies. 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:16.239 And the next one we see in this text is a devoted vigil. 00:43:17.280 --> 00:43:20.800 And Chrysostom celebrated these faithful women. 00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:25.119 Let us, and he says this, let us men unite imitate these women. 00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:27.840 Let us not forsake Jesus in times of trial. 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:39.840 These women exposed their lives so much for him even when he was dead, even as they had spent so much for him when he was alive. 00:43:43.360 --> 00:43:46.960 Through their vigil, they served as eyewitness testimonies. 00:43:47.280 --> 00:44:06.400 See if Joseph of Arimathea by what he did, he fulfilled the prophecies, and now Here, they're sir these women are serving as eyewitness testimonies to the resurrection of the Lord. 00:44:06.880 --> 00:44:10.400 All these disciples all his disciples were hiding somewhere else. 00:44:10.559 --> 00:44:18.480 And if a disciple were to give an eyewitness testimony, they could have ruled them out, ruled them out, saying, You are his disciple. 00:44:18.559 --> 00:44:20.159 You're fabricating a story. 00:44:20.400 --> 00:44:27.840 But these women served as eyewitness testimonies. 00:44:27.920 --> 00:44:32.000 Now, third one, third point, a destined purpose. 00:44:32.559 --> 00:44:39.920 In Isaiah 53 9, Jesus was assigned a grave with the wicked. 00:44:40.719 --> 00:44:48.079 Since the Romans intended to bury him among the crucified criminals, but he was with a rich man at his death. 00:44:49.360 --> 00:44:57.360 Because of Joseph's intervention, this fulfillment serves as confirmation that Jesus had done no violence. 00:44:57.440 --> 00:44:59.199 That's what the verse says. 00:45:00.239 --> 00:45:03.760 Had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. 00:45:05.519 --> 00:45:10.400 Even when things seemed to go out of control, they were not out of control at all. 00:45:10.639 --> 00:45:18.400 But everything is following God's perfect providential plan and his purpose. 00:45:19.679 --> 00:45:22.880 And that brings us to the fourth point: a deceptive plan. 00:45:23.440 --> 00:45:29.519 The leaders had misled Pilate and the people to ensure that Jesus was put to death. 00:45:29.679 --> 00:45:48.559 After his resurrection, they would spread an even worse lie to hide the fact that they were responsible for the that that to hide the fact that they were responsible for the crucifixion of the one whose messianic claims had been verified by his promised resurrection. 00:45:49.280 --> 00:46:05.599 The statement we remember, he said, they said, seems to imply that the chief priests and Pharisees had direct knowledge of Jesus' statement that after three days I will rise again. 00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:08.719 They are not ignorant of his teachings. 00:46:08.880 --> 00:46:14.320 In fact, they probably were watching very closely, more closely than his disciples themselves. 00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:26.639 This is evidently a reference to Jesus' statement that Son of Man will be in the earth for three days and three nights. 00:46:26.880 --> 00:46:29.119 Chapter 12, 1 verse 40. 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:32.880 A statement made to the scribes and Pharisees. 00:46:48.719 --> 00:46:53.440 And that brings us to the fifth point, a derisive permit. 00:46:55.199 --> 00:46:58.880 Pilate is no fan of all these Jewish leaders. 00:46:59.679 --> 00:47:03.119 In fact, there is so much bad blood between them. 00:47:03.519 --> 00:47:11.599 And now I come to Pilate, who did not like Jewish leadership and not particularly he was not a good man, as we have seen previously. 00:47:11.840 --> 00:47:23.920 The command, go and make it as secure as you know how seems like an ironic statement that implies that keeping the tomb sealed may be more difficult than the Jewish leaders assume, even with the Roman God. 00:47:24.719 --> 00:47:43.599 Perhaps the details of his wife's dream, mysteriously confirmed by supernatural phenomena that accompanied Jesus' death, seem to fit with Jesus' promise of resurrection, and Pilate suspects that a series of events is about to unfold that Jewish leaders will be able to, will not be able to thwart. 00:47:45.360 --> 00:47:56.880 Or perhaps Pilate is simply being condescending and implying that the Jewish leaders are inept and will botch their attempt at securing the tomb. 00:47:58.960 --> 00:48:02.960 And now that brings us to the fifth, sixth point, a defeated power. 00:48:03.199 --> 00:48:16.559 In Daniel 2nd chapter 44th, it says, In the days of those kings, the God of heavens will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. 00:48:16.719 --> 00:48:19.920 It will crush all the kingdoms and bring them to an end. 00:48:20.639 --> 00:48:24.320 But it's uh but but will itself endure forever. 00:48:24.960 --> 00:48:36.960 The imperial seal stamped on the clay or wax signified Rome's authority, but a higher power is arriving at the scene. 00:48:42.320 --> 00:49:17.119 There are many, many other prophecies that were fulfilled in the burial of Jesus Christ and in his crucifixion and everything, every detail was controlled by an Almighty God through the actions of independent independent actions of men with integrity, without integrity, with evil motives, with good motives, everybody, all the circumstances were used by God to bring about his redemptive plan together. 00:49:18.880 --> 00:49:20.800 How does this relate to you and me? 00:49:22.880 --> 00:49:30.000 And going through this life has many perplexing and disappointing moments that defy our understanding. 00:49:31.840 --> 00:49:35.920 Political, personal, societal, and economic problems. 00:49:38.239 --> 00:49:51.920 Don't we see in Romans 8th chapter, Apostle Paul starts that chapter by saying, There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus? 00:49:52.079 --> 00:50:03.679 And he goes on to verse 28, he says, We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to his purpose. 00:50:05.679 --> 00:50:10.480 Does this verse come to us with a new meaning now? 00:50:12.880 --> 00:50:15.679 Do we understand what it says? 00:50:16.079 --> 00:50:22.079 Even the burial of Christ was planned to such an excruciating detail by the Almighty God. 00:50:23.199 --> 00:50:39.360 And that must give us confidence that all things are controlled by God to work together to fulfill his eternal purpose for his own beloved and for his glory, which is to their good. 00:50:41.599 --> 00:50:50.320 The idea of God's sovereignty and God's providence is not some distant doctrine which is only reserved for theologians. 00:50:52.000 --> 00:50:55.920 It is when you cannot explain the trouble we are going through. 00:50:56.960 --> 00:51:13.440 Or that is when we need to understand the providential power of a sovereign God who takes every circumstance of the universe and controls it all for your good and for his glory and for his eternal purpose. 00:51:15.119 --> 00:51:17.599 That should be very comforting, isn't it? 00:51:18.880 --> 00:51:21.519 It doesn't matter what you're going through. 00:51:21.840 --> 00:51:29.039 And he demonstrated his ability to do it in the death and burial of Jesus Christ. 00:51:29.199 --> 00:51:34.880 And if the burial of Jesus Christ is this marvelous, the resurrection is coming. 00:51:35.920 --> 00:51:39.599 Consummating the exaltation of Jesus Christ. 00:51:42.480 --> 00:51:45.920 What a savior! What a God. 00:51:46.639 --> 00:51:48.480 Let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:51:52.639 --> 00:51:58.079 Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you for Savior Jesus Christ. 00:51:58.960 --> 00:52:09.039 Father, thank you, Father, as we heard this word, increase our faith that we may testify to the veracity of the scriptures. 00:52:10.480 --> 00:52:20.400 Father, to the redeeming power that you exercised on the cross in putting death to your Father, putting to death your Son Jesus Christ. 00:52:21.280 --> 00:52:29.119 Give us supreme confidence in your sovereignty and give us supreme confidence in our Savior, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:52:29.440 --> 00:52:30.079 Amen. 00:52:30.960 --> 00:52:31.599 Amen.