Thousand Oaks Baptist Church
The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ
(As taught in the Adult Sunday School Class on Easter Sunday, April 19, 2006)
Introduction:
This morning is the anniversary of a very special event. The world chooses to call it Easter. We have chosen to call it Resurrection Sunday and Victory Sunday, because on this day every year we celebrate the literal, bodily, victorious, glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from death and the grave. And Pastor Sjoerdsma will be preaching on the reactions of the resurrection of various NT people in his message this morning.
And so, rather than inadvertently stealing any of his thunder, what I’d like to do in our Sunday School class this morning is to give you an account of the events that immediately precede the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, for our SS class this morning, let’s consider the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
We need to start at the beginning – actually we need to start before the foundation of the world. Why is this? It’s because Revelation 13:8 declares that as the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, was slain – killed as the sacrifice for our sins - from before the foundation of the world.
You see, in the eternal plan of God, and in His omniscience, God knew ahead of time that Adam and Eve would disobey Him and believe Satan’s lies, rather than God’s truth, and would thereby plunge the entire race of men into sin and death and destruction. And so, even before God created the universe, before He created the earth and the sun and the moon and the stars, before He formed Adam from the dust of the newly created Earth – before any of this, God had already formed a plan to provide an eternal and infinite and completely satisfactory sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
What was this plan? This plan was that God the Son would leave Heaven, lay aside the independent exercise of His divine attributes, take upon Himself flesh without the fallen, sinful human nature, but instead with a sinless human nature (like Adam had before the Fall), in the womb of a Jewish virgin. And as a baby, the infinite, eternal Son of God was born into this world, grew up to be a man, and no sin was ever found in Him.
And about halfway through His thirty-third year of human life, after spending the previous 3½ years preaching, teaching, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, opening the ears of the deaf, giving speech to those who could not talk, casting out demons, making withered limbs whole, at least twice feeding the multitudes with just a few loaves of bread and some dried fish, raising the dead back to life, and training 12 disciples to become apostles – after all of this, one day Jesus and His disciples finally entered the city of Jerusalem at the beginning of that last fateful week in exact and direct fulfillment of the OT prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. Jesus rode into town on a young donkey, offering Himself to the leaders of the Jews as their King – their Messiah. And while the people of the city seemed to accept Him, the leaders in their envy and hate took counsel together to put Him to death.
Toward the end of that week, Jesus gathered in the evening with the twelve in the upper room to celebrate the Jewish Passover. Some have suggested with fairly good reasons that this was in the home of John Mark’s parents.
During that evening, as they ate the traditional Passover meal, a number of unusual things happened.
• First, the disciples began to argue with each other which of them was considered to be the greatest. Jesus stopped their contentions by declaring that they would all eat and drink with Him at His table in his kingdom, and that they would all sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Luke 22:14-30).
• Second, Jesus then arose and washed the feet of His disciples, for two reasons. First, it was as an example for the disciples, to serve one another. Second, it was to fulfill the prophecy that one of the disciples would lift up his heel against Jesus – would betray Him.
• The third unusual thing that happened at that meal was that Jesus then clearly pointed out the one who would betray Him – Judas Iscariot. Judas then left the upper room to betray Jesus to the Sanhedrin.
• Fourth, Jesus then commanded His disciples to love one another, once again foretold His impending death, and prophesied that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the sun came up the next morning.
• Fifth, Jesus instituted what we today variously call the Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. Judas had already departed, and only the eleven faithful disciples were left in the room.
• Sixth, the Apostle John records in chapter 14 of his Gospel account Jesus’ farewell address to His disciples there in the upper room. He told them that He was going to prepare a mansion for them in Heaven, that they would do greater works than He had done, that He would send the Holy Spirit to abide with them and to comfort them and to guide them into all truth and to bring all the things about Jesus into their remembrance.
• Seventh, Jesus gave His peace to His disciples and told them not to be troubled or afraid.
Then, late that night, after they had sung one last hymn, Jesus and the eleven left the upper room and crossed over the Brook Kidron into the Garden of Gethsemane. John recorded what happened on the way to the Garden in the 15th and 16th chapters of his Gospel record.
• John said that on the way, Jesus shared with His disciples the wonderful truths about the vine and the branches and how they desperately needed to abide in Him and to bear much fruit.
• He reiterated His love for them, and commanded them to abide in His love by obeying His commandments.
• He let them know that He had chosen and ordained them to go and to bring forth much fruit.
• He warned them that the world would hate them, just as it hated Him.
• He repeated His promise that he would send the Holy Spirit to comfort them, to bear witness of Jesus, to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, to guide them into all truth, and to declare unto them things to come.
• Jesus also continued to tell them that He was about to leave them and to be crucified.
Somewhere along the way – perhaps as they were at the entrance to the Garden of Gethsemane – Jesus prayed His great intercessory prayer for all of His disciples – for the eleven who were with Him that night, and for all who would believe on Him through their testimony, whether spoken or written. And that includes us.
Then they entered the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus intended to use these last minutes communing in prayer with His heavenly Father. He told eight of the disciples to sit down while He and Peter and James and John walked some yards farther into the Garden to find a place to pray. At a certain point, Jesus stopped and told the favored three disciples to watch and pray that they might not enter into temptation.
Then Jesus went on a little farther – about a stone’s throw - and kneeled down, with His face to the ground, and began to pray. In chapter 22 of his Gospel account, Luke recorded what happened next. Jesus prayed…
Luke 22:42 …Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
Mathew then picks up the thread of what happened in chapter 26 of his Gospel account…
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45 Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
John tells us that the name of the servant with the now missing ear was Malchus (John 18:10). And Luke – always the good physician – records that Jesus touched the servant’s ear and healed him right there on the spot (Luke 22:51).
Then the mob and the chief captain and the soldiers seized Jesus and bound Him and led Him first to Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest. Annas asked Jesus to betray the names of His disciples and to confess His teachings. Jesus answered that He had always taught in public, and that those who had heard Him needed to testify of His teachings. For this, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus and protested that Jesus’ answer was not proper. Jesus in turn chided the officer for his actions and words.
This was enough for Annas, and he immediately sent Jesus –still bound - to his son-in-law, Caiaphas, who was also the high priest that year. This was obviously pre-planned, because the rest of the chief priests and the elders of Israel and the scribes had already gathered in Caiaphas’ house in those early, pre-dawn hours. This constituted the whole council – the Sanhedrin. These were the legal rulers of Israel, but this time they were gathered illegally.
Still in those early hours before dawn, the council met for the predetermined purpose of condemning Jesus to death. To this end, they brought in false witnesses to bear negative testimony against Jesus, but their testimony didn’t agree.
Caiaphas finally got fed up with all of this and asked Jesus what He made of all of this false testimony. Jesus didn’t say a word. Then Caiaphas asked the one question Jesus could not remain silent to: “Are you the Christ, the Son of God?”
In chapter 26 of his Gospel account, Matthew records Jesus’ answer and the Sanhedrin’s response…
Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66 What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68 Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
Somewhere along the way, Peter had managed to enter to court of Caiaphas’ house with the help of one of the other disciples. And as Peter entered the door to the courtyard, the girl watching the door asked if Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples; Peter said he was not. In the courtyard, the servants and soldiers had lit a fire to keep warm – it was still dark and cold just before dawn. As Peter warmed himself by the fire, another woman recognized him and told everyone that Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples; once again, Peter denied the truth. And a rooster crowed.
A little while later, more of those standing around the fire came to Peter and confidently affirmed that Peter was one of Jesus’ disciples. This time, Peter began to swear and for the third time he denied that he knew Jesus. And the second rooster crowed. And Peter remembered that Jesus had said that before the rooster crowed twice, Peter would deny Him three times. And Peter ran from the courtyard, weeping bitterly.
And so morning dawned that day. And Luke records what happened in the 22nd chapter of his Gospel account.
Luke 22:66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
71 And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
In the meantime, Judas was having second thoughts. He may not have thought things would take this turn. He may have intended that Jesus would be arrested, would demonstrate His power, and would take up His authority and begin to rule as the King of the Jews. After all, Satan had entered this man’s heart, and had lied to him to get him to betray Jesus. Who knows for sure what Judas was thinking?
At any rate, Judas feebly decided to try to straighten things out, and he tried to return to thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and elders, maybe hoping to get Jesus released, maybe hoping to ease his extremely guilty conscience. But it didn’t work. Even though he confessed that he had betrayed innocent blood, the chief priests and elders refused to take back the blood money, and they refused to let Jesus go free. Hearing this, Judas threw the money at their feet and went out and attempted to hang himself. But he managed to get that wrong, too, and Acts 1 tells us that either the tree limb broke, or the rope gave way, and Judas fell some distance down to his death, landing on his head, and his body literally split open, and all of his innards gushed out. Whatever Satan had promised to Judas, Judas never received, because the devil is a liar.
In the meantime, Jesus was again bound and taken from the house of Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate questioned Jesus about His claim as the King of the Jews, and Jesus gave Pilate the appropriate answers. After hearing Jesus, Pilate told the chief priests and the multitudes, “I find no fault – no crime – in this man.”
The chief priests then accused Jesus all the more, but Jesus refused to respond to their accusations, and Pilate was amazed. Finally, when the priests mentioned that Jesus had stirred up the people of Judea, starting in Galilee, Pilate asked if Jesus was a Galilaean. Galilee was part of Herod’s jurisdiction. And since Herod happened to be in Jerusalem, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod.
Herod wanted very badly to see Jesus – actually to see Jesus do a miracle. And so Herod questioned Jesus very thoroughly, and the chief priests and scribes vehemently accused Jesus before Herod, but Jesus remained totally silent. Then Herod and his soldiers mocked Jesus, and finding nothing else to do with Him, Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate.
It looks to me as if from the first Pilate really didn’t want to condemn Jesus to death. And when Jesus was delivered to him the second time early that morning, Pilate did make some attempts to get Jesus set free – or at least to try to keep Him from being put to death. But as the morning wore on, Pilate’s determination to protect Jesus from death began to erode and crumble. We read about it in Mark chapter 15, Luke chapter 23, and Matthew chapter 27…
Mark 15:6 Now at that feast [Pilate] released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire [Pilate] to do as he had ever done unto them.
Luke 23:13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
Mat 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? …
Luke 23:18 And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.
2 And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,
3 And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands.
4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!
Mat 27:22 … What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Mark 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
Mark 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
Mark 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Luke 23:24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
25 And he released unto them [Barabbas] that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Mat 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
Luke 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
33a And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary,
Mat 27:33 … [also] called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Luke 23:33b …there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. …
John 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.
John 19:19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44 The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
Luke 23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
John 19:25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Mark 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
John 19:28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
John 19:29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, [he cried with a loud voice] [and] said, It is finished: …
Luke 23:46 … Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
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.
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.
Mark 15:41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Luke 23:50 … behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Mark 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
John 19:38 … He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
Luke 23:55 And the women also, [Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses (Mk. 15:47)] which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Mat 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
And that was that – or so they thought. But on the early morning of the third day after they had placed the dead body of Jesus in that stone-cold tomb, something wonderful happened. Because Jesus rose from the dead. He rose literally, not figuratively. He rose bodily, not just spiritually. The Jesus Who rose from the grave into newness of life was the same Jesus Who had been born in that manger 33½ years before, the same Jesus Who had walked the dusty roads of Galilee and Samaria and Judea with His disciples, the same Jesus Who had been nailed in agony to that old rugged cross and had died and had been placed absolutely dead into that tomb. This was the same Jesus, but now His body had the power of resurrection life in it, and He is still alive today, in Heaven, inviting sinners to come to Him in repentance and faith to be saved from Hell and saved unto Heaven.
This is that same Jesus – the Jesus Who was nailed to the Cross to bear our sins in His own body and died as the infinite, eternal sacrifice for our sins – the Lord of all – this is the One Whose verified resurrection we celebrate today.
If you have never yet received this crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and Lord, why not accept Him into your heart and life right now? If you would like to do that, why not bow your heart before the Lord right now, and pray this simple prayer, meaning it with all of your heart:
"Lord, I confess that I am a lost sinner. I confess that I can never earn my way to Heaven through my own good works. I know that I am on my way to Hell, without Jesus Christ. But right now, the best I know how, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord Jehovah, and I believe that He died in my place, taking the punishment for my sins upon Himself. And I believe that He rose literally and bodily from the grave three days later.
I am repenting of my sins, I am turning from my life of sin, and I personally receive Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord right now. Please come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and save me now! Thank You for saving me. The best I know how, I will now make You the Lord of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen!"
If you just prayed this prayer, repenting of your sins and asking Jesus Christ to save you, He has promised to do so immediately, and He already has, if you were sincere in your prayer.
If you would like help in knowing more about what you have just done, and would like help in beginning to live your new Christian life, please contact Pastor Glen Sjoerdsma at Thousand Oaks Baptist Church or the webmaster of this website. We’ll be more than happy to help you.
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