Welcome to Christ’s Community Church. I’m so glad that you’ve joined us in celebrating Easter this morning. Millions and millions of people all over the world are celebrating a Jewish carpenter named Jesus of Nazareth who rose from the dead, and yet, what’s really amazing is that Jesus only went public with his message for three years. He never traveled far from home, he never wrote a book, never recorded a speech, and yet over one-third of the world’s population is gathering together this weekend, singing songs, and lifting their hands in worship of this one man. And the thing that’s really, really amazing is that the only real explanation for why or how this could happen is what we celebrate at Easter. That’s what I want to share about this morning.

Today’s message is entitled “3 Days” and in just three short years, three times Jesus foretold of his death, three times proclaiming that he would rise again in three days. Probably the clearest, most specific, and most detailed statement of this is found in Mark chapter 10, where Jesus says in verse 33,

"The Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise” (Mark 10:33-34).

But you know, it was as if his words fell on deaf ears. His disciples didn’t understand. They couldn’t grasp the depth of meaning or appreciate the promise which they contained. And yet, Jesus repeatedly said, “I’m going to die, I’m going to be buried, but in three days, three days later I’ll rise again; conquering death like no one else ever has or ever will.” And this is something that he said over and over and over (Matthew 12:40, 27:63; Mark 9:31,10:34, 14:58; John 2:19).

On the days that followed Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem he spent a considerable amount of time alone with his disciples. In one of those times, probably the last of those times, he gave his disciples one of his most important teachings. He gave them a new command. The apostle John records this in chapter 13 where Jesus said,

"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:33-35).

Peter asked him in verse 36,

“Lord, where are you going?"

Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."

Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you” (John 13:36-37).

Jesus asked Peter and each of us this important question in verse 38,

“Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” (John 13:38).

You see, this is a question for every believer, because many of us are willing to make some form of sacrifice for God; but are we willing to follow him, to deny ourselves, turning from our selfish ways, and taking up our cross daily (Luke 9:23)? And so, Jesus asked, “Will you really lay down your life for me?”

Peter made great boasts, but in just a few short hours, three times he denied Jesus before the rooster crowed. Three times Pilate appealed for Jesus’ release. Three times the people shouted crucify him, crucify him, crucify him (Luke 23:21-23). Three years of ministry now at its end, three crosses, but on one of those crosses, Jesus’ cross, the requirements of the Law were fulfilled by the righteousness of God. There on the cross through Christ’s one act of righteousness, he offers us forgiveness, a right relationship with God, and new life for everyone who receives his gift. That’s the promise of the crucifixion, that God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). And so, number one, through Jesus we are forgiven.

1. We Are Forgiven

Jesus, the light of the world, was wrapped in our darkness. The mighty strength of God was bound in our weakness; the peacemaker was pierced, the Creator destroyed, the power that could save wasn’t spent on themselves; but instead the Son of the Living God suffered on the cross for you and I. And this is important for us to understand, because Jesus never did any wrong, he was born of a virgin named Mary, born without any sin, not having an earthly father; and as Jesus suffered on the cross he perfectly fulfilled the will of God for his life.

Jesus who loved everyone with an unconditional kind of love, who welcomed all to come follow him, performing miracle after miracle, healing blind eyes, deaf ears, mute lips, and raising the dead; it was Jesus who even though he did everything right was betrayed by one of his own. The Bible tells us that he was falsely accused, given a mock trial, and even though he had done no wrong, he was tried and condemned. They stripped him, beat him, tortured him, and mocked him saying, “Hail, King of the Jews.” Then they forced Jesus, now fighting to remain conscious, to carry his cross to the place of execution. It was there that he was lifted up on one of three crosses, suspended between heaven and earth, never speaking, never retaliating, just hanging there suffering for our sins, when his lips finally started to move.

Jesus begins praying and Luke records these words. The Bible says this in chapter 23, verse 34, Jesus said, say it aloud with me,

"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

An absolutely amazing prayer. In spite of his pain, he looks up to heaven and says, “Father, forgive them.” This prayer, these first words of Jesus on the cross, are very significant, because 700 years before this event, Isaiah prophesied that this would take place. Over 700 years before this day, these words were written by Isaiah in chapter 53, verse 12,

“He poured out his life unto death and was numbered with the transgressors…” (Isaiah 53:12).

He was counted as one of the transgressors, just as Luke tells us in verse 32 that,

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals — one on his right, the other on his left” (Luke 23:32-33).

And then Isaiah tells us that Jesus made intercession, which is just a big word that means he prayed. Isaiah said, “…He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). He prayed for the transgressors, for those who had offended him, those who rebelled against him, and Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.” This was a beacon call proclaiming freedom for the children of God as Jesus fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.

It was there on the cross that God confounded the wisdom of this world as the created order of things was momentarily disrupted as God’s crown of creation, the children of God, were redeemed in the most dramatic way. Hell’s finest hour was eclipsed by the dawning of grace as Jesus was crucified, spikes pounded into his wrist and feet, his heart punctured by a spear, and dying a criminal’s death. But it was out of the ugliness and agony of crucifixion, that God worked for the good of mankind, redeeming us and freeing us from the curse of the Law. Christ was the lamb that was slain so that man may die no more, he was the suffering servant before whom all will bow, and it was his finished work that is the fountain of all new beginnings. As he fulfilled this prophecy of Isaiah there was a separation, as he bore the sins of many his Father looked away, and Jesus was forsaken.

2. He Was Forsaken

The Bible describes this final moment in Matthew chapter 27 telling us that,

“From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:45-46).

Three hours of darkness covered the land “from the sixth hour until the ninth hour” which in our culture would be from noon to 3 PM. What normally would be the brightest part of the day was interrupted as if someone had turned out the lights. Tertullian, an author, church leader, and Christian apologist who lived in the Roman province of Carthage, North Africa from 155-230 A.D. noted in his classic writings that historians mentioned a strange period of darkness that occurred on that day. And so, it’s certainly not unreasonable to assume that the sun’s light was blocked all around the world wherever it was daylight for those three hours. But Matthew also tells us that there were three other distinct miracles that occurred as Christ breathed his last. Verse 50 says,

“Then Jesus shouted out again and released his spirit.” Now, Matthew doesn’t tell us what Jesus said, but John does, John was there, and he tells us what Jesus said.
And so, we’re going to look at that in a few minutes, but Matthew says, “At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51, NLT).

Suddenly, at the very moment, the thick curtain in the Temple that symbolically separated man from God was ripped down the middle by the invisible hand of God. Now I don’t know if the priests who were there serving in the temple even had the courage to raise their eyes to look at the Ark of the Covenant with all of its glory exposed; but it was this powerful moment that dramatically changed our relationship with God. Hebrews chapter 10 tells us that,

“We can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place” (Hebrews 10:19-20, NLT).

And then, the next amazing miracle recorded in Matthew is this in verse 51,

“The earth shook and the rocks split” (Matthew 27:51).

This day was marked by strange weather patterns and geological disturbances as Jesus cried out with a victory cry that was felt in adjacent countries. We often approach the Easter story as if decorating a baby’s room with bunnies and pastel colors, but the reality of this day was like no other as the earth itself groaned and quaked in violent agony.

The next miracle Matthew tells us about is in verse 52 as,

“The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people” (Matthew 27:52-53).

Not all, but many believers were raised to life, meaning that they were revived like Lazarus, or the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Nain, and many others. Now whether or not this was a full and final resurrection and glorification we don’t know, but it’s not likely since the Scripture tells us that Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20). And so, it’s likely that those like Lazarus and these “holy people” lived ordinary lives for a period of time and then died again, their physical bodies awaiting the resurrection on the Last Day.

These were the great signs and miracles in and around Jerusalem on the day Jesus was forsaken. And Matthew tells us in verse 54,

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Matthew 27:54).

And so, number one, we are forgiven. Because number two becoming sin for us Jesus was forsaken. And then number three, Jesus tells us, “It is finished.”

3. It is Finished

We’re going to pick up the account of the crucifixion in John’s gospel now, because John was there at the foot of the cross with Jesus’ mother, and he gives us another important detail that we don’t want to miss. At this point Jesus had already asked John to take care of his mother (John 19:26-27). He had already lifted his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing” (Luke 23:34). And with a cry of torment, he had said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Now in chapter 19, John adds this detail in verse 28,

“Knowing that all was now completed…Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:28, 30).

These three words that Jesus said are so important to us. Everybody, would you say it out loud. Jesus said, “It is finished.” This phrase, “It is finished” is translated from one Greek power packed word, and it’s the word tetelestai (te-tel-les’-ty) and it’s a word that can be translated several ways. It can be translated “to end”, it can be translated “complete”, or “execute” or “to discharge a debt”. And so, Jesus was acknowledging that his charge had been completely executed, that he’d finished the work his Father had sent him to do, the debt had been paid in full, and knowing that all had been completed he said, “It is finished.”

But this is just day one, and day two is fast approaching. Up to this point, we’ve seen Jesus dying like a criminal and as evening approached, and day two was about to begin, the Bible tells us in Mark chapter 15,

Joseph of Arimathea, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, but learning that it was so, he gave permission to Joseph who took Jesus’ body down off the cross, wrapped it in linen, and placed it in his own tomb. Mark tells us, “Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid” (Mark 15:42-47).

Now looking to Luke, he tells us in chapter 24 that after three days,

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:1-3).

“While they were wondering about this” verse four tells us, “suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:4-5).

The angel said in verse six, “He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again” (Luke 24:6-7).

This weekend the church around the world celebrates a central truth of Christianity; that after three days God raised Jesus from the dead. He was buried before sunset Friday, his body laid in the tomb Saturday, and he rose again at sunrise on Sunday. This is the grand finale, this is the glory of God. The Lamb was slain so that man would die no more.  Christ was the suffering servant before whom all will bow.  His finished work is the fountain of all new beginnings. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

The Scriptures that we’ve read are historical, factual, and verifiable. The Bible says in Acts chapter 1 that,

“After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3).

It is finished. Jesus did everything that the Father sent him to do, but some of us haven’t, some of us still have unfinished business, and so do I. As a matter fact, as long as you have breath in your body you have unfinished business. You see, the Bible tells us that God still has plans for you, Jeremiah tells us that he has,

“Plan to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

And so, God has his good and perfect will planned out for you, Jesus finished his work 2000 years ago. It is finished, but you and I have some unfinished business. This is what the apostle Paul said in Acts chapter 20,

“If only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace” (Acts 20:24).

That’s what I’ve got to do, I’ve got some unfinished business, and I’d like you to consider what your unfinished business is. You see, if you still have breath in you, God’s not through with you yet. You’ve got some unfinished business.

Will you commit today to finishing well?

Will you commit to the decision and fight to the finish?

I love what the Bible says in second Corinthians,

“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it according to your means” (2 Corinthians 8:11).

You see, you don’t just hope to do it, but you finish the work, you take a step forward, maybe it’s just a baby step, but you step in that direction; because if God has called you to do something, you need to finish the work. Jesus finished the work for you and he called you to do the same. He paid the price, you’re forgiven, it is finished. Commit to finishing well.

 

Graphics, notes, and commentary from LifeChurch, Ministry Pass, Preaching Library, and PC Study Bible.  Scripture from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.