This morning we’re in John 19-20. These chapters aren’t just foundational to the Christian faith… they are indispensable. These chapters establish the evidentiary base—the core facts—upon which our faith stands or falls. Those facts are best summarized by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, “For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.”
The significance of these gospel facts is also spelled out in 1 Corinthians 15:14-15, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised.”
First, The whole of Christianity Hinges on Jesus’ Death. Not just “that” Jesus died, but “how” he died and “why” he died. So how did Jesus die? In order for Jesus to be the Promised Christ, he would need to have died “according to the ancient Hebrew Scriptures.” Nobody has control over “how” they die—not even Jesus. But the manner of his death was to be confirmation that he was in fact the promised Son, sent from the Father. All of the gospel writers are careful to connect even the circumstances leading to his death, with the Old Testament.
Here is how John does it. John 19:28-30, “28 After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.”
John 19:31-37, “Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break his legs since they saw that he was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of his bones will be broken. 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the one they pierced.”
Isaiah 50:6. The Messiah would have his back, and face beaten. His beard pulled out. He’d be spat upon disgraced. Numbers 21:9 that Jesus would be lifted up, like the snake in desert, that all might look upon him and believe. Psalm 22:18 They would divide his garments among themselves. Psalm 22:16 They would pierce Jesus’ hands and feet. Psalm 22:7-8. They would shake their heads at Jesus, mock him, and exact words of their taunt would be, “He relies on the Lord; let him save him. Let the Lord rescue him, since he takes pleasure in him.” Psalm 22:15 Jesus’ strength would dry up and he would die in thirst. Psalm 31:5 The exact words Jesus would say in his death, “Into your hand I entrust my spirit; you have redeemed me Lord, God of truth. Amos 8:9 Upon his death the sun would be darkened as if night, at noon.
The “manner and how” Jesus’ death would need to be according to the Scriptures. It’s nearly impossible to read Psalm 22, Isaiah, especially chapters 50-57, and not be amazed how Jesus’ death could be so prophetically forecast.
In addition, the “why” of Jesus’ death would need to be according to the Scriptures—Namely, that Jesus would “die for our sins.” We saw how Caiaphas the High priest announced that better one man die for the people, to spare a nation. We saw how Pilate announces Jesus’ innocence. We saw how the righteous life of Jesus was substituted, that Barabbas, the revolutionary might be spared. But there is more. The statement in the Old Testament law, that anyone who died on a tree was cursed of God. Jesus took our curse upon his innocent self, in death.
Psalm 34:19-20 says that in death not one of Jesus bones would be broken. In Exodus 12:46—The substitutionary Passover Lamb, by which Israel’s sins were forgiven, was to never have its bones broken. Jesus is the Lamb of God, pure, spotless, unblemished, and unbroken who died at Passover. Sometimes we say over the communion elements “This is Jesus body broken for you.” We need to be careful in our liturgy. Jesus’ bones were never broken. His flesh was broken, but not his bones. So, both the “HOW” and the “WHY” of Jesus death happened according to the Scriptures. All of Christianity hinges on the how and why of his Death.
Second, The whole of Christianity Hinges on Jesus’ Burial. John 19:38-42, “After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away. 39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.”
Now incredibly, even Jesus’ burial was to have happened according to the Scriptures. Isaiah 53:12; 53:9 says about the Servant of the Lord: “And [he] was counted among the rebels.” “He was assigned a grave with the wicked, but he was with a rich man at his death, because he had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully.” So even though Jesus was killed with common criminals, he was tended to by a rich man in his death.
Third, the whole of Christianity Hinges on Jesus’ Resurrection. John 20:1-10, “On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!” 3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.”
John 20:11-18, “11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.”
John 20:19-23, “19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said,[c] “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
John 20:24-29, “24 But Thomas (called “Twin”[d]), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” 28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.””
John 20:30-31, “30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
Psalm 118:17–18, “I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done. The Lord disciplined me severely but did not give me over to death.” Psalm 16:9-11, “Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely. 10 For you will not abandon me to Sheol; you will not allow your faithful one to see decay. 11 You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy; at your right hand are eternal pleasures.” Job 19:23-27, “I wish that my words were written down, that they were recorded on a scroll 24 or were inscribed in stone forever by an iron stylus and lead! 25 But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the end he will stand on the dust. 26 Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh. 27 I will see him myself; my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me.”
Invitation…. What is your response to these gospel facts? ROMANS 6:1-11.