Room With a View

Jesus’ Days in the Tomb and His Glorious Resurrection

I. The Horrific Crucifixion

17 And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, 18 where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 19 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:
JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. 21 Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”
22 Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. 24 They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:
“They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things. 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. 31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

John 19:17-37

Jesus’ Crucifixion was inhumane. Isaiah spoke of “His visage being marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men (52:14).” He was nearly unrecognizable, beaten beyond comprehension. He had lost so much blood that He could barely stand. His treatment was horrific, mocked, beaten, spat upon, and nearly killed before He ever reached the cross. He was forced to carry His cross, hung between two thieves. This reminds us of the words spoken of His death when He kept the supper of Passover with His disciples in the upper room:

19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Luke 22:19-20

The Lord’s Supper

• Would you now take your communion elements and prepare to take communion together?
  • Let us now take a moment for prayer and reflection.
    • I will first bless the elements (Pray prayer of blessing)
    • Now, let us all all take a moment to reflect on the blessing of Christ’s death prior to taking communion (Pause for a moment of silence)
  • The Bread
    • Now, please peel the top layer of plastic back to reveal the wafer underneath.
    • Please take the wafer in your hand
    • Just as Jesus blessed and broke the bread, please take and eat in remembrance of His body being broken for us.
  • The Juice
    • Please now peel back the second layer of plastic to reveal the juice.
    • Jesus took the cup after supper. Please take the cup and drink of the juice representing the new covenant in His blood, which was shed for you
  • Now let us rejoice in the Lord’s Supper for the great sacrifice He made for us!!!

II. The Temporary Entombment

38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. 39 And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom 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 tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

John 19:38-42

Jesus’ Views from the Room of His Tomb

• A View of the Limited Past
  • The Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden; The Sin of Man and the Noahic Flood; The Patriarchs; The Nation of Israel
  • The Inability of Man to Live Righteously
  • The Sacrificial System Dependent on Time Constraints
  • The Shedding of Blood Over and Over Again
  • No complete solution to the sin-problem of man

• A View of the Oppressed Present
  • Israel is under Roman Domination
  • The Jewish hierarchy is led by power-hungry, controlling men
  • The people are oppressed politically, spiritually, culturally, socially, limited by class, gender, and nationality
  • Jesus is crucified because He dared to speak out against this oppression and offer a better way
  • These were some of the darkest days in history

• A View of the Glorious Future
  • Jesus knew that on the third day, the world would wake up to a new and glorious change
  • Jesus knew that the constant sacrifice and atonement would be unnecessary because He died once for all sin
  • Jesus knew that the days of separation would be unnecessary, because all souls could come to Christ under this new spiritual regime.

III. The Glorious Resurrection

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Matthew 28:1-10

• Jesus was Alive!
  • Not only did He die once for all the sins of mankind
  • Not only did He level the path to salvation and freedom for all
  • Jesus rose again to give every person power over sin and death

IV. The Wondrous Opportunity

• Because of Christ…
  • If you are a Christian, you are saved today because of the work of Jesus Christ
  • If you are here or watching over Livestream, and you do not know Christ as your Savior, YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY because of the work of Jesus Christ

• Jesus had a room with a view when He was in the tomb
• Today, He has a room with a view in Heaven
  • He sees all of us here today or viewing in various locations
  • He knows our limitations; He knows our oppression; He knows our glorious opportunities

• Just like He rose on the first day of the week over 2000 years ago, He wants us to rise up today:
  • Forgiven of all our sins we have ever committed
  • Free from the oppression of our enemy, Satan, and the guilt he pours on us
  • Fulfilling our destiny with a glorious future ahead of us.

Photo from collection of Greg Sloop, taken in Israel in October 2019