HE DIED
1. I once spoke with someone who writes obituaries.
2. This person said they never knew of a time when their paper failed to publish an obituary.
3. The paper they worked for always had at least one entry on the obituary page.
4. This writer also said that obituaries are sometimes re-written.
WHAT IF WE HAD LIVED IN FIRST CENTURY
A. Suppose that we were asked to write the Lord’s obituary.
B. What would we have said?
C. I know what some would have said.
D. According to Mt. 27:62 there were some Pharisees and Chief Priests.
E. After the Lord had been crucified these men came to see Pilate.
F. These men addressed this official in a courteous way.
G. They said “Sir.”
H. Here is what the verse says – READ Mt. 27:63.
I. Some of those in the first century saw Jesus as a deceiver.
J. Some thought the Lord was a person who was deceptive.
K. This type of charge is repeated in other parts of the Bible such as Jn. 7:12.
L. Some said that Jesus led people astray.
M. There were people who claimed Jesus was a fraud.
N. A certain segment of the first century population alleged that He was deceptive and deceitful.
2. When we read through the gospels we find that others also had a negative view of the Lord.
3. There were people who mocked Jesus.
4. There were people who said “hail king of the Jews” but they didn’t think Jesus was a king.
5. According to Mt. 27:27 there were some soldiers that were attached to the governor.
6. These military men took Jesus to the “whole band of soldiers” (27b).
7. The Lord was stripped of His clothing (verse 28) and a scarlet robe was placed upon Him.
A. The mockery that Jesus endured is described in verse 29.
B. READ verse 29.
C. In writing the Lord’s obituary some might have said Jesus was mocked.
D. Some might of said He was mocked because He was a deceiver.
E. This type of obituary might have ended with the words in Mt. 27:31 – READ
F. Jesus was lead to His death.
G. At a certain time and on a certain day Jesus of Nazareth was attached to a cross
H. This experience killed Him.
I. After the body was removed it was placed into a new tomb
J. Mt. 27:59-60 – READ
K. Some obituary writers may have written a record of the Lord’s life just as I described.
8. Another obituary writer might have had a different view of the Lord’s death.
A. Someone familiar with the Old Testament might have seen things a lot differently.
B. In Isa. 53 the prophet used the word our.
9. In verse 4 he said Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.
10. In the 5th verse of Isaiah 53 the prophet said, he was wounded for our transgressions.
11. He was bruised for our iniquities.
12. Paul used slightly different wording in Tit. 2:14.
13. He said that Jesus “gave Himself for us.”
14. SOME WOULD HAVE WRITTEN THAT JESUS WAS A DECEIVER WHO DESERVED TO BE HUNG ON A CROSS. OTHERS WOULD HAVE THAT JESUS DIED IN THE PLACE OF AND FOR OTHERS.
A. These descriptions are radically different from each other.
B. Yet, there are a few similarities in these different descriptions.
C. Both of the viewpoints I have expressed agree on one fact.
D. Jesus did die.
E. People may not have agreed on who Jesus was, but people conceded that the Lord was put to death.
F. The people who had different views of the Lord would have agreed on something else.
G. Jesus was willing to die.
15. According to Jn. 18:3 Judas had been given a detachment of soldiers.
16. This former disciple came searching for His Lord.
17. Judas had both soldiers and religious officials with him.
18. The group of men that came after Jesus had lanterns, torches, and weapons.
19. The Bible shows that Jesus met these men.
20. Instead of hiding or fleeing to another place, Jesus greeted this group of people.
21. Jn. 18:4-5 – READ
22. In the 6th verse it is said that these people fell backwards.
23. Some think this was a miracle.
24. Most agree that the people fell back because they were shocked.
25. If a group of people is looking for someone, soldiers are with them, and they are armed,
26. The person who is being sought rarely goes out and says, “Here I am.”
27. Jesus asked this group of people who they wanted a second time (verse 7) – READ
28. The gospels repeatedly show that Jesus willingly let these people take His life.
29. According to Matthew’s account (26:53), Jesus had access to more than 12 legions of angels.
30. He had a sufficient force at His disposal to save His life but He didn’t use it.
31. Another important reference is Jn. 10:17-18 – READ
32. People may not have agreed on who Jesus was, but two things are undisputed.
33. Jesus did die and He voluntarily gave up His life.
I. THERE ARE TIMES IN LIFE WHEN THERE IS SOME
TYPE OF FOLLOW UP.
A. We may see the doctor for a follow up visit.
B. In the media there are sometimes “follow-up” interviews.
C. What
if we had been a reporter in first century
D. If this had been our role we might have altered our obituary.
1. If we had said that Jesus was a schemer and deceiver we might have returned to our newspaper desk.
2. There were some people who thought Jesus was a deceiver but they changed their minds.
3. There were some people who came to believe that Jesus was who He claimed to be.
4. There was a time when the Lord’s brothers and sisters did not initially believe in Him (Acts 7:5).
5. A time came when the Lord’s earthly brothers and sisters changed their minds.
6. According to Acts 1:14 the Lord’s “brethren” had assembled with some other believers.
7. The Lord’s brothers and sisters were with other believers who were waiting and praying.
8. Those who believed in Jesus all along would have also been able to write a new obituary.
9. There was additional news.
10. Many knew that Jesus had entered into the world.
11. There may have been some who understood that He was going to die for the sins of the world.
12. The news did not stop here.
13. Jesus died but He then returned from the dead.
14. This fact was to be published.
15. If a person is said to have died but didn’t, that news needs to be retracted.
16. The truth needs to be printed.
17. The truth concerning Jesus was that He died but He was again alive.
18. The Lord had risen from the dead.
19. This information was something that heaven wanted people to publish (spread).
A. According to Mt. 28:7 an angel said to some disciples, “go. Go quickly.”
B. This angel said “Tell the others that Jesus has been raised from the dead.”
C. According to Mk. 16:6 disciples were told, “He is risen; He is not here.”
D. Luke’s account (24:5) is especially precious.
E. Angels said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
F. Mary Magdalene (Jn. 20:8) said, “I have seen Him.”
20. When we think about who the Lord is we are introduced to some very basic facts.
21. He was someone who died.
22. People knew this and the Lord’s death was discussed. This was a topic of conversation.
23. By itself this fact is not significant because people die every day.
24. Jesus died willingly. This is one of the things that makes Him unique.
25. Jesus died in our place. This separates Him from most everyone else who dies.
26. There have been occasions when someone has died in the place of another.
27. The Lord’s vicarious death was unique.
28. When human beings die to save someone the salvation is not eternal.
29. Some have died so others could live a few more years.
30. Jesus died so men can live forever with God.
31. I have had to write a few obituaries in my lifetime.
32. I have yet to find an occasion where doing this job has been very pleasant.
33. Even when a Christian dies there is pain associated with the loss.
34. Only the Lord’s obituary could have been written with joy.
35. Jesus came, He lived a perfect life, He left us an example, and He died for us.
36. He was raised from the dead and now lives and works to intercede for His people.
37. When we pick up the newspaper we can find a lot of pictures on the obituary page.
38. We may know some of those people or we may not.
39. The one entry that we do need to know about is the one that occurred 2,000 years ago.
40. Jesus died. He died for us.
41. He gave His life on our behalf.
42. Have we responded to His love?
43. If we know the facts of the gospel have we acted on them?