The death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christianity.

In recent years, there has been an increased effort by some to discount the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection.

However, remember this. Without Christ’s sacrifice, we are still dead in our sins. Without Christ’s resurrection, we do not have the power to live an overcoming life.



1. CHRIST’S BURIAL

a. Private Burial (Matthew 27:57–61)

The day of Christ’s crucifixion was drawing to a close. It sometimes took several days for those who were crucified to die. The Jewish leaders did not want these men to remain on the cross during the Sabbath, so the soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves to hasten their death (John 19:31–33). But Christ had died quickly, (Mark 15:44; John 19:33) so the soldiers did not need to break His legs.

b. In recent years many have claimed that Jesus did not die. They have suggested Jesus only fainted and that He revived in the coolness of the tomb. But Scripture is clear that He died.

i. Christ died as the sacrifice for our sins. Without Christ’s death there is no forgiveness (Hebrews 10:10). If Christ only fainted on the cross, He has not become our sacrifice, and we are still in our sins.

c. The Romans generally left the bodies of those they crucified on the cross to rot. But the Romans did allow friends and family who made request to the Roman magistrate to take the body from the cross for burial. Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body (Matthew 27:57,58).

i. After a quick preparation and burial, Joseph and Nicodemus rolled a large stone in front of the tomb (Matthew 27:59-60; John 19:42).[/i][/color] This was to keep grave robbers from entering the tomb and desecrating the body.

d. The tomb was guarded (Matthew 27:62–66)

i. The Jewish religious leaders were well aware of Jesus’ statements that He would rise after three days (see Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; John 2:19–21). They did not believe this would happen, but they wanted to prevent His disciples from stealing His body and claiming that Jesus’ words had come true. Along with the Roman authorities, they established a guard at the tomb (Matthew 27:62–66).
ii.The efforts of man could not keep Jesus in the grave and stop God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Neither can the efforts of man stop the spread of the gospel. They are no match for God’s power. The Church may be persecuted but nothing can stop it from growing (see Matthew 16:18).

2. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

a. Empty Tomb (Matthew 28:1–7)

i.Jesus’ burial had been done in haste. The women who came to the tomb early on the day after the Sabbath wanted to further prepare His body (Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56). But before they arrived, Jesus had already been raised from the dead.

b. Why was the stone rolled away?

i. The tomb was opened, not to let Jesus out—He had already been resurrected. The tomb was opened so His disciples could see He was no longer there.

ii. The message the angel gave to the women was one of hope (Matthew 28:6 “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay”) (niv).

3. ANOTHER MESSAGE

a. As the disciples looked in the tomb, there was another message for Christ’s followers. This message is often overlooked by people today.

John 20:3-7 “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. (4) Both were running but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (5) He bend over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. (6) Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself separate from the linen.”

b. A Jewish tradition.

i.When Jews were having a meal a cloth that we call a napkin was used. If a guest left the table during the meal he did one of two things with the cloth. (1) Either the guest just left the cloth as it fell. This indicated to the servants that the guest would not return. Or (2) The guest folded the cloth. This indicated that the guest would be returning.

c. The message is plain. Jesus is coming back again.

Remember the important message of the tomb.

• 1. Jesus was buried because he really did die.


• 2. Without the death of Jesus there is no sacrifice for sins.


• 3. Jesus rose from the dead and left the tomb, never to return to it because Jesus lives forevermore.


• 4. His eternal life means eternal life is available to those who believe.


• 5. The message of the folded cloth is Jesus is coming back again.