Revision as of 14:34, 5 December 2018

Objectives

Introduction

Main Body

Setting the Stage

In John 19 we see Christ, the ultimate servant, suffering and dying. The cross was simultaneously the most horrific and wonderful event up to this point in history. God Himself sacrificed His own life for His creation. However, this was only the beginning.

The Necessity of New Creation (19:38-42)

The stink of decay (V. 38-40)

• Verse 38, Romans typically left a crucified body on the cross to rot and decay and be consumed by scavenging animals. The Jews, however, removed the exposed bodies attempting to maintain the purity commanded in Deuternomy 21:22-23, “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God." The Jews sought to keep the land from defilement because frankly, dead bodies are disgusting, spread disease and generally unpleasant.
• Verse 39, No only are dead bodies disgusting, but they stink. The smell of death is a horrific smell. In May of 2008 a plane from the Canary Islands was forced to make an emergency landing because of a passengers odor. The odor, which eventually took the mans life, was caused from a flesh eating bacteria that was literally causing the man to decompose from the inside out. Death and decay are gross. In verse 39, we see Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus working to reduce the disgust of death by bringing spices to offset the smell of purification. (Note: the translation of 100 pounds is actually the wrong translation, the roman pound was only 11.5 ounces and therefore this was probably closer to 72 pounds). In John 12:3 Mary had taken a pound of perfume and anointed Jesus' feet and this had been worth a full year's wages. Now, while we don't know exactly if it was the same quality, we see Nicodemus lavishly placing 100 pounds on Jesus. Nicodemus is paying great honor to Jesus.
• In verse 40 we see two men, secret disciples, members of the Sanhedrin, following Jewish custom for preparing a body. The Jews are not embalming the body but rather trying to reduce the disgust of a decaying body.

The finality of death (V. 41-42)

• Verse 41, The broken, decayed body of Christ is placed in a new tomb. The tomb represented the beginning of the end. Jewish burial customs involved burial of the body immediately. In fact, many jews saw the decay of the flesh as having an atoning effect. A year after burial the remaining bones would be dug up and be placed in an ossuary, a bone box for reburial. ^[1]. The reference to the garden brings to mind a king motif. Jesus, the true dcvidic king is buried.
• Verse 42, The nearby tomb provided an easy to access location where these men could bestow this final honor on their teacher.

The condition of man

• Ephesians 2:1-3 states

  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the [a]course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.^[2]

  . The state of man is a state of death and decay. We live in a world drought with evil and despair, sons of disobedience, conducting ourselves in the lust of the flesh, and by our very nature, children of wrath. The term wrath is in the genitive and can be understood as a genitive of purpose. That is our destination. Because of the fall, our natural destination is wrath.
• In Colossians 2:13 we are called "dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses"
• The condition of man is that of death.

• After the crucifixion, Joseph and Nicodemus tried to hide the horror and stench of decay by perfuming and burying the body of Jesus. Similarly, we try to cover up the stench of our spiritual death and decay by doing some good things here and there. We tell ourselves that if we cover ourselves with good things then we can cover the death and decay present in our hearts. Is this enough? No! No amount of spice, balm, burial, or mourning can change the fact that a dead body is in a state of decay. What we need is not more good works to try and mask the stench of death, no what we need is new birth, only through new creation can we solve the ultimate problem.

We each must recognize that we (individually) are dead in our trespasses and sins!

The Excitement of New Creation (20:1-10)

Anticipation (V. 1-4)

• Verse 1 and 2, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb to finish the preparation of Jesus for burial and comes across a surprising fact. The tomb is empty, the body is missing. Mary assumed someone had come and stolen the body and immediately went to tell Peter and the beloved disciple, likely John, the terrible news. Jesus had predicted His resurrection numerous times, but this was more than they could believe.
• Verse 3 and 4, Peter and Joh, upon hearing the news takeoff for the tomb. It is not that they understand there resurrection yet, but rather that they want to see what exactly has occurred. Apparently, John was faster in the footrace.

Excitement (V. 5-7)

• Verse 5, John first the tomb, notices the grave clothes, probably did not want to defile himself, and so waits outside probably wondering what to do next.
• Verse 6, Peter, in his usual rash action charges full steam into the tomb noting the grave clothes.
• Verse 7, Peter also notices something peculiar, the handkerchief that had been wrapped on Christ's head is neatly folded. If this is a grave robbery, it is a peculiar one. First, why steal the body? Second, why remove the grave clothes, if you were to steal a dead decaying body wouldn't you want to leave the spices and perfume until you were done transporting the body. Third, why would robbers take the time to neatly fold the handkerchief? The excitement is building.

Fulfillment (V. 8-10)

• Verse 8, Finally, inverse 8, John enters the tomb surveys the situation and realizes that this is nothing short of fulfillment of prediction.

Psalm 16:10-11 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to [b]see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

1. He has risen.

• Verse 9 The disciples had been taught that Jesus would rise but they failed to grasp the true nature of this event. On many occasions Jesus had predicted his resurrection
  • Matthew 16:21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
  • Mark 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
  • Mark 9:31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”
  • Luke 9:22saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

Man's Opportunity

• Much earlier in the book of John, Jesus had presented Nicodemus with one of the most important facts. You must be born again. In fact Jesus said
  • John 3:3Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
  • John 3:7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
• The condition of man was that of dead in a state of decay. However, that is not the condition that God desires. No God desires for us to be a New Creation. Christ rose from he dead. First Corinthians 15:20 states "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
• We are not required to exist in our dead, decaying, putrid state, no we can become a new creation in Christ.

We each must accept Christ's offer to be born again as a new creation.

The Change in New Creation (20:11-18)

Confusion (V. 11-15)

• Verse 11, Mary Magdalene likely driven by grief apparently returned to the tomb and somehow managed to miss Peter and John or they didn't let her know what they were beginning to realize. In any case, Mary returned and looked into the tomb.
• Verse 12, Mary must have been surprised to see that here at the tomb were two angels.
• Verse 13, The angels ask an obvious question, but a question that gets to the point of the matter. Why are you weeping? Mary has not yet realized the significance of the events. Mary is still stuck on what she perceives to be the bigger problem, the state of decay of Jesus.
• Verse 14, Mary, not yet realizing it, is allowed to be the first to see the risen Christ. Don't underestimate the value of this fact.

  That a woman would be the first to see Him is an evidence of Jesus’ electing love as well as a mark of the narrative’s historicity. No Jewish author in the ancient world would have invented a story with a woman as the first witness to this most important event. Furthermore, Jesus may have introduced Himself to Mary first because she had so earnestly sought Him. ^[3]

• Verse 15, Still in confusion Mary does not understand what has happened.
• Why didn't Mary recognize Jesus? It may have been supernatural, she may have had tears inherent eyes, or perhaps it was because Mary was looking for the wrong thing. The last time Mary saw Jesus he was bruised, battered, and fairly recognizable as human. Even now she had come to the tomb expecting o find a rotting corpse. Mary was confused because she was stuck on the wrong thing. You may be sitting here today stuck on the fact that you are a sinner, you may be disgusted with your decaying putrid sin. Don't let confusion blind you to the new life that Jesus offers.

Transformation (V. 16-18)

• Verse 16, Jesus had previously in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." It is kinda cool that Mary finally recognizes Jesus at the sound of His voice.

New Life

• 1 Corinthians 1:42-45,

  So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.^[4]

Conclusion

1. ↑ Ferguson, Everett. Backgrounds of early Christianity. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2003. 243-245
2. ↑ NKJV
3. ↑ Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 342.
4. ↑ NKJV