What Does This Mean to You?

John 19:28-20:20

John D. McArthur, Jr.

4/4/99

Easter `99

1229

Turn with me if you will to John 19:28-30. This is John's account of the last moments of the life of Christ, while he hung on the cross. "Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, `I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, `It is finished.' With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

What was finished? May I suggest it was more than the mortal life that died on that cross. Christ died and finished the great plan of salvation that God designed for us.

Everything in the Bible, from the disobedience of Adam and Eve to the destruction of the world by a flood, to Moses giving the 10 Commandments to Israel, to David's psalms of praise to the prophets cry, they all lead us to this moment when the very son of God died for our sins.

Isaiah said, "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

As a child, I could never understand why people celebrated the death of Jesus. Why would anyone be glad that anybody died? And when you think of the cruel and tortuous death Jesus suffered, how can we ever lift our heads and smile again?

The reason should be obvious: Jesus died on the cross so that we would not have to be punished for our sins. And remember, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That fact alone should make us all hang our heads in shame.

A boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon, when a bumblebee flew in the car window. The little boy, who was allergic to bee stings, was petrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it.

The boy grew frantic as it buzzed by him. Once again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee. "Do you see this?" he asked. "You don't need to be afraid anymore. I've taken the sting for you."

We do not need to fear death anymore. Christ has died and risen again. He has taken the sting from death.

When I grew up, I realized that the rejoicing at the death of Jesus, the celebrating of the cross, has nothing to do with anything we have done. "It is finished," Jesus said because he took the punishment for us. We rejoice because of his love to us.

But the story does not stop with the death of Jesus. Most stories do. When the main character dies, the story is over. But not the story of Jesus. Look further in the gospel of John. Look in chapter 20, verses 1 and 2:

"Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, `They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!'"

What a terrible and confusing event that must have been. He was not in the tomb. Jesus was not where he was suppose to be. He was not there!

For years I traveled over the same piece of land when I went home. From state route 235, by the Medway bowling lanes, I would turn right and head towards my parents house. I had driven that route many times from my teenage years on. It was always the same.

A few years ago, we were going to visit my parents and, as always, I turned right off 235 onto Medway Rd. Holly's eyes got big, she tensed up and said, "What are you doing?"

"Going home," I replied. "Why?"

"You just ran a red light!" she said.

"Light?" I asked. "What light?"

Later, I went back to that intersection and sure enough, the state department of highways had installed a traffic light at that intersection.

It took me by surprise. I thought I knew that road. I thought I knew what it was like. A traffic light there was not what I expected at all.

The women saw Jesus die. They saw him placed in the tomb. They watched the soldiers roll the stone in front of the tomb. They thought they knew what would happen next: They would get up early on Sunday morning and finish preparing the body for burial. Jesus was dead.

Josh McDowell has written, "After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, or it is the most fantastic feat of history."

The fact that the earthly body of Jesus is missing makes the easter story so unique. If Jesus is not dead we have no choice but to proclaim him Lord, do we? That is why, from the very beginning, man has tried to make excuses and deny his resurrection. It just can't happen that way.

The original excuse is found in Matthew 28: Someone stole the body, they said. The trouble is, Roman guards were watching the tomb. If the body was stolen, they would be killed. That was the law. And if they were so sure he was stolen, where's the body?

Another theory, started only a couple of centuries ago, is that Jesus did not die but fainted on the cross. After a few hours in the tomb, they say, he woke up and left. But remember, Jesus had nails driven in his hands and feet, a sword had pierced his side and he had been beaten with a whip and a crown of thorns rammed on his head. How could he just get up, remove the burial cloth that covered his body, move that huge stone and walk away?

Other people excuse the resurrection by saying everyone imagined they saw Jesus after his death. Now, the mind can play some tricks on people. The power of suggestion is great. But how could all the people that saw him see Jesus at the same time and hear him say and do the same things?

Finally, some argue that the women, and everyone else, simply went to the wrong tomb. If that is true, then why, after all these years has no one found the right tomb? Why didn't the soldiers say something 2,000 years ago? Why wasn't there an investigation at the time? There was: John 20:3-9 tells us that Peter and John ran to the graveyard to check out the accuracy of Mary's story.

The problem is, of course, Jesus is not there. What does that mean to you this morning? Your answer is not an idle, theoretical suggestion. He is not here. If that is so, where is he? Your answer makes all the difference in the world.

Finally, let us look at John 20:19 and 20. "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, `Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord."

He is risen! Now do you see why we can rejoice? Paul wrote, "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

On May 21, 1946 in Los Alamos, a young scientist was carrying out a necessary experiment in preparation for the atomic test to be conducted in the waters of the south pacific.

The scientist, Louis Slotin, had successfully performed such an experiment many times before. In his effort to determine the amount of U-235 necessary for a chain reaction - scientists call it critical mass - he would push two hemispheres of uranium together. Then, just as the mass became critical, he would push them apart with his screwdriver, instantly stopping the chain reaction.

But that day, just as the material became critical, the screwdriver slipped. The hemispheres of uranium came too close together. Instantly the room was filled with a dazzling blue haze. Young Louis Slotin, instead of ducking, tore the two hemispheres apart with his hands and interrupted the chain reaction.

By this daring act he saved the lives of the seven other people in the room. As he waited for the car that was to take him to the hospital, he said quietly to his companion, "You'll come through all right. But I haven't a chance."

Nine days later, he died a painful death.

Almost 2,000 years ago, the Son of the living God walked directly into sin's most concentrated radiation, allowed himself to be touched by its curse, and let it take his life. By that act he broke the chain reaction. He broke the power of sin.

That in itself, is an amazing story of love, sacrifice and grace. That in itself would be reason to celebrate. But there is more. Jesus has risen from the dead. You cannot separate the sacrifice of supreme love from the awesome power of God.

Very few people today doubt that a real human being named Jesus walked the dusty roads of Galilee so long ago. No one doubts that he had a following and taught many good things. Many will even allow that he performed miracles and claimed to be from God. And it is hard to dispute the events that led to his death. However, the resurrection changes everything.

You see, if Jesus is risen, we have no option but to worship him. If Jesus is alive that proves he is who he said he was and we have no excuse for not falling on our knees and praising him. If Jesus rose from that tomb then, like the centurion, we must say, "Surely he was the son of God."

Several years ago I read an article in a news magazine on the death of Jesus. These articles always pop up around Easter. Usually when I read articles like this, I become frustrated. More often than not, doubt, denial and disputes about the accuracy of the Bible and the reliability of scripture are discussed. But this article was different.

Even though I did not agree with all the details of the article, the last paragraph stood out in my mind. "The prophet Job said, `I know that my redeemer lives.' If that is so, everything else is only commentary."

He is risen. What does that mean to you?