Vindication

Isaiah 53: 9

Reflecting on the profound insights of Isaiah chapter 53, Pastor Colin delves into an exploration of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as prophesied hundreds of years before by Isaiah. This chapter poignantly captures the world’s rejection of Jesus contrasted with the ultimate triumph and exaltation that He experiences.

In this sermon, Pastor Colin emphasizes the significant role of Jesus’ burial, standing between His crucifixion and resurrection, and presents it as the pivotal moment that transitions Jesus from suffering to glory. Underscoring verses 1 to 8 of Isaiah 53, Pastor Colin reveals the ignoble treatment of Jesus – His wounds, punishment, and sorrow. Yet, he reassures us that Jesus’ story does not end in desolation but culminates in the exaltation and rejoicing of an entire community of believers. The sermon challenges us to openly declare our faith, mirroring the courage of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, who stepped forward to honor Jesus with His burial. Pastor Colin invites us to acknowledge Jesus, not only in our hearts but equally on the public front, by actively devoting our resources and lives to His service.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,060 You are listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,060 –> 00:00:13,360 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website openthebible.org. 3 00:00:13,360 –> 00:00:17,719 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,719 –> 00:00:18,920 Here is Pastor Colin… 5 00:00:18,920 –> 00:00:21,139 Well please open your Bible. 6 00:00:21,139 –> 00:00:29,959 Let Isaiah 53, this marvelous chapter that describes in detail the life, death and resurrection 7 00:00:30,160 –> 00:00:31,680 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 00:00:31,680 –> 00:00:38,560 And Isaiah was writing hundreds of years before our Lord Jesus came into the world. 9 00:00:38,560 –> 00:00:41,759 He begins with the life of Jesus. 10 00:00:41,759 –> 00:00:43,880 The Son of God came into the world. 11 00:00:43,880 –> 00:00:50,360 He taught the Word of God, He did the works of God, and the overwhelming response to the 12 00:00:50,360 –> 00:00:55,080 Lord Jesus when He came into the world was the response of unbelief. 13 00:00:55,080 –> 00:00:56,599 That’s verse 1, 14 00:00:56,599 –> 00:01:00,560 therefore He has believed what He has heard from us. 15 00:01:00,560 –> 00:01:07,480 Verse 3, He was despised and we esteemed Him not. 16 00:01:07,480 –> 00:01:11,199 Then Isaiah tells us about the death of Jesus. 17 00:01:11,199 –> 00:01:17,199 We looked last week at the description in verse 8 of the arrest, of the trial and of 18 00:01:17,199 –> 00:01:20,400 the sentencing of the Lord Jesus Christ. 19 00:01:20,400 –> 00:01:26,160 Isaiah says verse 8 by oppression and judgment He was taken away. 20 00:01:26,199 –> 00:01:34,980 As for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living. 21 00:01:34,980 –> 00:01:42,199 And we saw in verse 7 that Jesus submitted to all that He suffered freely. 22 00:01:42,199 –> 00:01:50,019 At any time He could have called on legions of angels but He did not do that, He endured 23 00:01:50,019 –> 00:01:55,919 the cross because there He became our substitute, there He was taking our place. 24 00:01:55,940 –> 00:02:03,059 He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities and the punishment 25 00:02:03,059 –> 00:02:07,919 that brought us peace was upon Him. 26 00:02:07,919 –> 00:02:15,699 So looking back at what we’ve covered in verses 1-8 the focus has been on the life and the 27 00:02:15,699 –> 00:02:18,539 death of the Lord Jesus Christ. 28 00:02:18,539 –> 00:02:27,860 Here we see Jesus despised, Jesus rejected, Jesus oppressed and afflicted, here we see 29 00:02:27,860 –> 00:02:36,000 Him pierced, and crushed, and punished, and wounded, and cut off. 30 00:02:36,000 –> 00:02:43,360 But now if we look forward to what’s ahead at the end of the chapter, I want you to notice 31 00:02:43,440 –> 00:02:50,320 the verses 10 through 12 focus on the resurrection, the ascension and even the Second Coming of 32 00:02:50,320 –> 00:02:52,119 our Lord Jesus Christ. 33 00:02:52,119 –> 00:03:00,860 In these last verses we’re going to see Jesus satisfied Isaiah says, making many to be accounted 34 00:03:00,860 –> 00:03:07,919 righteous, dividing the spoils of His wonderful triumph and victory with His own people. 35 00:03:08,179 –> 00:03:16,179 So this chapter begins with the suffering and the humiliations of Jesus and it ends 36 00:03:16,179 –> 00:03:20,559 with the triumph and the exultation of Jesus. 37 00:03:20,559 –> 00:03:26,800 It begins with an entire community rejecting Jesus and it ends with an entire community 38 00:03:26,800 –> 00:03:29,600 rejoicing with Jesus. 39 00:03:29,600 –> 00:03:37,240 Verses 1 to 8 that we’ve been looking at are really a descent to the lowest place as Jesus’ 40 00:03:37,279 –> 00:03:41,619 name is despised and it’s rejected. 41 00:03:41,619 –> 00:03:48,580 But then verses 10 to 12 are a kind of ascent to the highest place as Jesus is honoured 42 00:03:48,580 –> 00:03:51,059 and he is exalted. 43 00:03:51,059 –> 00:03:57,339 And so between the two we have the verse 9 which we’re looking at today which clearly 44 00:03:57,339 –> 00:04:02,619 then is the turning point of the whole chapter. 45 00:04:02,699 –> 00:04:08,500 I want us to see today that the burial of Jesus, standing between his death and his 46 00:04:08,500 –> 00:04:16,559 resurrection as it does is indeed the turning point between the agony that he endured on 47 00:04:16,559 –> 00:04:23,880 the cross and the glory that is his in his resurrection life. 48 00:04:24,880 –> 00:04:31,320 Now, will you look then at verse 9 of Isaiah and chapter 53. 49 00:04:31,320 –> 00:04:33,200 Here we read these words. 50 00:04:34,500 –> 00:04:45,279 They made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done 51 00:04:45,279 –> 00:04:51,779 no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth. 52 00:04:52,619 –> 00:04:58,100 They made his grave with the wicked. 53 00:04:58,100 –> 00:05:04,160 Now, the they, of course, refers to those who despised Jesus. 54 00:05:04,160 –> 00:05:08,459 Those who rejected him, those who esteemed him not. 55 00:05:08,459 –> 00:05:14,519 And Isaiah says they made his grave with the wicked. 56 00:05:14,519 –> 00:05:20,200 Now, that is, they condemned Jesus to a criminal’s death. 57 00:05:21,100 –> 00:05:25,899 Do you remember that when Jesus died on the cross, he was between two thieves? 58 00:05:25,899 –> 00:05:31,559 He died in the company of the wicked. 59 00:05:31,559 –> 00:05:37,179 And the two thieves were not mischievous people, you know, who’d been stealing apples from 60 00:05:37,179 –> 00:05:39,119 an orchard or something like that. 61 00:05:39,119 –> 00:05:43,339 No, these men were receiving the death penalty. 62 00:05:43,339 –> 00:05:47,299 And so their crimes were certainly not misdemeanors. 63 00:05:47,299 –> 00:05:49,440 They were robbers. 64 00:05:49,440 –> 00:05:51,559 The Bible says. 65 00:05:51,559 –> 00:05:55,760 And from the fact that they were enduring the death penalty, it seems pretty clear that 66 00:05:55,760 –> 00:06:01,540 the robberies had involved aggravated violence. 67 00:06:01,540 –> 00:06:09,519 And you notice that Isaiah says here of Jesus he had done no violence, in contrast to the 68 00:06:09,519 –> 00:06:16,640 horrendous acts of those who were being crucified on his right and of his left. 69 00:06:16,640 –> 00:06:18,320 So make no mistake about it. 70 00:06:18,320 –> 00:06:25,600 These thieves who were crucified beside Jesus were wicked men. 71 00:06:25,600 –> 00:06:31,119 And by condemning them to the death penalty, the authorities were making it very clear 72 00:06:31,119 –> 00:06:43,100 there is no place in society for people who have acted as these men have done. 73 00:06:43,100 –> 00:06:54,980 Now, what would have happened to the bodies of these wicked men after they were crucified? 74 00:06:54,980 –> 00:07:03,399 And the answer to that question is most likely they would have been dumped in the Valley 75 00:07:03,399 –> 00:07:08,540 of Heman, which was outside Jerusalem. 76 00:07:08,540 –> 00:07:18,660 The Valley of Heman, an awful place, was a massive garbage dump with fires that continually 77 00:07:18,660 –> 00:07:19,660 smoldered. 78 00:07:19,660 –> 00:07:25,820 It was an awful place of death and of decay and of destruction. 79 00:07:25,820 –> 00:07:29,179 The stench there must have been absolutely awful. 80 00:07:29,179 –> 00:07:34,459 No one would ever, ever want to go there. 81 00:07:34,500 –> 00:07:43,880 The name of the Valley of Heman in Greek is Gehena, and that translates into English 82 00:07:43,899 –> 00:07:48,260 with our English word hell. 83 00:07:48,260 –> 00:07:53,019 Writing in the New Bible Dictionary, David Payne says, 84 00:07:53,019 –> 00:07:59,980 The Valley seems to have been used for burning the corpses of criminals and, indeed, refuse 85 00:08:00,059 –> 00:08:07,339 of any sort. Hence the name came to be used as a synonym for hell. 86 00:08:08,859 –> 00:08:18,359 So, the Valley of Heman, Gehenna, was the grave of the wicked and that is where the 87 00:08:18,359 –> 00:08:28,279 authorities thought Jesus belonged. Literally, they thought that he should go to Gehenna. 88 00:08:28,279 –> 00:08:44,599 But the body of Jesus was not dumped in Gehenna. Isaiah says, they made his grave with wicked, 89 00:08:44,840 –> 00:08:48,919 crucifying him between these two thieves, you see. But notice what happened. 90 00:08:50,200 –> 00:08:59,320 And with a rich man in his death. Now, Isaiah must have wondered when he wrote this 91 00:08:59,320 –> 00:09:06,200 under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who is this rich man? And how in the world does he get 92 00:09:06,200 –> 00:09:12,679 into the story? And the Gospels in the New Testament give us the answer. Each of the four 93 00:09:12,679 –> 00:09:21,080 Gospel writers record the story of the honored burial that was given to our Lord Jesus Christ. 94 00:09:21,960 –> 00:09:29,239 And the burial of Jesus is the turning point between the agony of Jesus’ death, where he’s 95 00:09:29,239 –> 00:09:35,400 rejected on the cross, and the glory of Jesus’ resurrection, where he is honored and adored 96 00:09:35,400 –> 00:09:43,559 by those who believe in him and worship him and I want us to see today two things from the burial 97 00:09:43,559 –> 00:09:51,640 of Jesus and then to make three applications directly for all of us today. Now the first 98 00:09:51,640 –> 00:09:58,200 thing I want us to learn from the burial of Jesus is that Jesus is honored on earth 99 00:09:58,200 –> 00:10:09,479 by those who love him. Notice what Isaiah says, they made his grave with a rich man in his death. 100 00:10:09,479 –> 00:10:19,719 And the Gospels tell us this story that after all the mocking and spitting and despising and 101 00:10:19,719 –> 00:10:27,320 rejecting of Jesus that went into the crucifixion, there was a rich man who came forward 102 00:10:28,919 –> 00:10:39,719 and gave Jesus an honored burial. Matthew tells us that it was evening, and when it was evening, 103 00:10:41,400 –> 00:10:50,039 there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph who also was a disciple of Jesus. 104 00:10:51,000 –> 00:10:59,239 Now, what do we know about this man Joseph of Arimathea? Well first we know that Joseph was 105 00:10:59,799 –> 00:11:06,760 a good man. Luke tells us that he was a good and a righteous man and Mark tells us that he 106 00:11:06,760 –> 00:11:14,200 was looking for the kingdom of God. So this is a good man. Second, we know that this good man 107 00:11:14,280 –> 00:11:21,880 was a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, the company of 70 members that 108 00:11:21,880 –> 00:11:28,919 ruled over the Jewish community. Mark tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was a respected 109 00:11:29,400 –> 00:11:36,520 member of the council. Respected. And Luke tells us very significantly that Joseph had 110 00:11:36,520 –> 00:11:42,200 not consented to their decision and their action, that is, their decision and action, 111 00:11:42,200 –> 00:11:47,320 to condemn Jesus to death. Joseph of Arimathea was there, he was a member of the council. 112 00:11:47,960 –> 00:11:56,359 But when all of them said yea, he was one who said nay. He did not consent 113 00:11:58,520 –> 00:12:05,239 to their decision to condemn Jesus. And then we’re told in the scripture 114 00:12:05,239 –> 00:12:11,799 that this man, Joseph, was in fact a secret disciple. John tells us that Joseph was 115 00:12:11,799 –> 00:12:18,359 a disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews. 116 00:12:20,679 –> 00:12:26,679 Now the Gospels also tell us that this man, Joseph, a good man who secretly was a disciple 117 00:12:26,679 –> 00:12:35,000 of Jesus, that he took the initiative to ask for the body of Jesus. Each of the four gospel 118 00:12:35,080 –> 00:12:43,400 writers tells us that Joseph went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. And remember that 119 00:12:43,400 –> 00:12:49,080 this man, Joseph, was a member of the Jewish ruling council. That would of course have given 120 00:12:49,080 –> 00:12:55,880 him access to Pontius Pilate and I expect that Pontius Pilate who must have been troubled 121 00:12:56,840 –> 00:13:01,960 by the fact that he had handed over someone who more than once he had pronounced to be innocent, 122 00:13:02,840 –> 00:13:10,919 he must have been happy to be able to release the body of Jesus into the hands of someone 123 00:13:10,919 –> 00:13:21,559 who would give an honored burial. So Joseph then was the one who took down the body 124 00:13:21,559 –> 00:13:31,400 of Jesus from the cross. Mark tells us that Joseph bought a linen shroud and taking him down 125 00:13:32,679 –> 00:13:41,080 wrapped him in the linen shroud. But of course in this Joseph did not act alone 126 00:13:41,080 –> 00:13:50,039 John tells us that Nicodemus also who earlier had come to Jesus by night came bringing a mixture of 127 00:13:50,119 –> 00:13:59,159 myrrh and aloes about 75 pounds in weight and so they that is Nicodemus and Joseph the two 128 00:13:59,159 –> 00:14:07,400 of them took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices as is the burial 129 00:14:07,400 –> 00:14:17,400 custom of the Jews. And then with the help of Nicodemus Joseph laid the body of Jesus 130 00:14:18,359 –> 00:14:28,440 in his own tomb. Matthew tells us specifically that this was his own new to whom which he had 131 00:14:28,440 –> 00:14:39,719 cut out of the rock. So Joseph had commissioned the hewing out of this tomb presumably 132 00:14:39,719 –> 00:14:47,719 he intended that it would be his own resting place and it was lavish i mean it really was 133 00:14:49,000 –> 00:14:55,479 John tells us that this tomb was in a garden so Joseph had picked a beautiful spot 134 00:14:55,479 –> 00:15:01,239 I mean this was a place that was suitable for the burial of a king 135 00:15:01,919 –> 00:15:05,320 and Joseph gave what he had intended for himself to Jesus 136 00:15:13,799 –> 00:15:19,960 in a world that despised and rejected Jesus mocked him and spat on him 137 00:15:21,640 –> 00:15:28,520 there was a rich man who esteemed him and loved him 138 00:15:29,400 –> 00:15:30,599 was not alone 139 00:15:34,520 –> 00:15:42,119 tells us when it was evening there came a rich man from arema thea named joseph who also 140 00:15:42,679 –> 00:15:50,840 was a disciple of jesus and he also refers back to others who took their stand with jesus 141 00:15:51,320 –> 00:15:59,880 on that day matthew specifically tells us about the women there were also many women there he says 142 00:15:59,880 –> 00:16:05,880 looking on from a distance who had followed jesus from galilee ministering to him among whom were 143 00:16:05,880 –> 00:16:13,080 mary magdalene and mary the mother of james and joseph and the mother of the sons of zebedee 144 00:16:13,080 –> 00:16:17,880 now think about it these women had stood at the foot of the cross 145 00:16:19,159 –> 00:16:26,599 as jesus suffered and died over a period of six hours they were there watching 146 00:16:27,880 –> 00:16:33,880 they were there waiting and they were there because they loved him 147 00:16:34,520 –> 00:16:42,440 and these women were not alone in honoring jesus Matthew also tells us about the centurion 148 00:16:43,000 –> 00:16:50,760 and about his soldiers when the centurion and those who were with him keeping watch over 149 00:16:50,760 –> 00:16:59,559 jesus saw the earthquake and what took place they were filled with awe and said truly this was 150 00:16:59,559 –> 00:17:08,040 the son of God now notice that the centurion was not alone in honoring the lord Jesus Christ 151 00:17:08,040 –> 00:17:13,640 Matthew says specifically the centurion and those who were with him 152 00:17:14,680 –> 00:17:21,719 when the soldiers had nailed Jesus to the cross you remember Jesus prayed Father 153 00:17:22,680 –> 00:17:31,400 forgive them they know not what they do and here we see how that prayer was answered 154 00:17:33,319 –> 00:17:40,920 Before the day was done the centurion and those who were with him 155 00:17:41,959 –> 00:17:47,479 were confessing faith in Jesus as the son of God 156 00:17:47,800 –> 00:17:55,560 So we have the soldiers we have the women we have Joseph of Arimathea 157 00:17:56,599 –> 00:18:03,079 we have Nicodemus and they’re all honoring Jesus 158 00:18:04,920 –> 00:18:11,079 so let’s put this together the first eight verses of Isaiah chapter 53 159 00:18:11,079 –> 00:18:14,880 Isaiah and chapter 53 all focus on Jesus being 160 00:18:14,880 –> 00:18:19,439 despised and being rejected. Isaiah has been asking two questions 161 00:18:19,439 –> 00:18:23,599 at the beginning in verse one who believes who has believed what he has 162 00:18:23,599 –> 00:18:26,599 heard from us and then verse eight as we saw last 163 00:18:26,599 –> 00:18:30,959 time who cares who even considered 164 00:18:30,959 –> 00:18:34,719 that he was cut off out of the land of the living who cared 165 00:18:34,719 –> 00:18:38,959 who believes and who cares that’s verses 166 00:18:38,959 –> 00:18:41,959 1 through 8. 167 00:18:43,040 –> 00:18:48,719 But you see from verse 9 where we look at the burial of Jesus 168 00:18:48,719 –> 00:18:54,239 we see that Joseph of Arimathea would answer these questions by saying who 169 00:18:54,239 –> 00:19:00,400 cares who believes while I do. I believe in Jesus 170 00:19:00,479 –> 00:19:05,760 I care about him who believes who cares the women would 171 00:19:05,760 –> 00:19:10,239 have said we do we’re here at the foot of the cross 172 00:19:10,239 –> 00:19:17,119 because we love him and we believe in him 173 00:19:17,119 –> 00:19:20,479 Nicodemus who came to Jesus by night and then came 174 00:19:20,479 –> 00:19:24,319 out into the open when Jesus died he would have said 175 00:19:24,319 –> 00:19:32,400 I care about Jesus I believe in him I want to take my stand with him 176 00:19:32,400 –> 00:19:36,000 and even the centurion and those who were with him 177 00:19:36,000 –> 00:19:39,520 the soldiers who would have nailed him to the cross the soldiers 178 00:19:39,520 –> 00:19:44,800 for whom Jesus had prayed they would have said on that day 179 00:19:44,800 –> 00:19:51,760 we believe in him we believe that he is indeed the son 180 00:19:51,760 –> 00:19:57,359 of God now do you see that God’s 181 00:19:57,359 –> 00:20:06,400 answer to a world that hates his son is a community of people who honor 182 00:20:06,400 –> 00:20:12,319 his son and that community of those who love and honor his son 183 00:20:12,319 –> 00:20:18,400 was already emerging even at the cross 184 00:20:19,199 –> 00:20:22,199 now 185 00:20:22,880 –> 00:20:26,500 this is just one reason 186 00:20:26,500 –> 00:20:32,579 why our public gathering in person for worship 187 00:20:32,579 –> 00:20:37,479 every Sunday is of real importance 188 00:20:37,479 –> 00:20:42,160 Christians are rightly concerned about the degree to which the Lord Jesus 189 00:20:42,160 –> 00:20:47,079 Christ is despised in the world the world continues to despise and to reject 190 00:20:47,079 –> 00:20:53,800 Jesus but do you see that God’s answer to a world that hates his son is a 191 00:20:53,800 –> 00:21:00,579 community of people who love and honor his son and honoring Jesus is what we do 192 00:21:00,579 –> 00:21:07,040 together publicly every time we gather for worship 193 00:21:07,040 –> 00:21:10,699 that’s really important 194 00:21:10,699 –> 00:21:12,739 our world doesn’t believe in Jesus 195 00:21:12,979 –> 00:21:16,640 doesn’t care about him but every time we 196 00:21:16,640 –> 00:21:24,219 gather for worship we make an open and a public confession we do believe in him 197 00:21:24,219 –> 00:21:35,760 we do care about him we are here to honor and exalt our Lord Jesus 198 00:21:36,359 –> 00:21:44,680 so here’s what we learn from the burial of Jesus the Jesus is honored on earth 199 00:21:44,680 –> 00:21:53,359 by believers who love him and then secondly that he is honored in heaven by 200 00:21:53,359 –> 00:22:01,439 the Father who vindicated him look at the second half of this verse they made 201 00:22:01,439 –> 00:22:09,900 his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death although he had 202 00:22:09,900 –> 00:22:18,280 done no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth 203 00:22:18,280 –> 00:22:27,260 now remember who it is that is speaking here these are the words of God himself 204 00:22:27,300 –> 00:22:35,479 speaking through the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah and here God himself is 205 00:22:35,479 –> 00:22:46,160 vindicating his own son God the father is saying my son has done nothing wrong 206 00:22:46,160 –> 00:22:53,140 he substituted suffered as a substitute for the sins of others sins that he did 207 00:22:53,420 –> 00:23:04,540 commit he laid down his life for his friends my son did no violence there was 208 00:23:04,540 –> 00:23:16,160 no deceit in his mouth so my son will have an honored burial and I will raise 209 00:23:16,300 –> 00:23:26,300 my son on the third day to glory now what you have here then our two entirely 210 00:23:26,300 –> 00:23:37,579 different views of Jesus the world despises him consigns him to Gahanna 211 00:23:37,579 –> 00:23:45,920 God the father honors him and exalts him to the highest place in heaven and you 212 00:23:45,920 –> 00:23:51,119 see that very clearly in the message or sermon that Peter preached on the day of 213 00:23:51,119 –> 00:23:58,380 Pentecost in Acts in chapter 2 where he says very directly look this Jesus who 214 00:23:58,380 –> 00:24:06,439 you crucified God raised up loosening him from the pangs of death because it 215 00:24:06,439 –> 00:24:11,719 was impossible for death to keep its hold on him and you see this is why 216 00:24:11,739 –> 00:24:17,479 Peter says you have to repent you have to change your mind with regards to 217 00:24:17,479 –> 00:24:23,939 Jesus you have to turn right around because in your rejection of Jesus you 218 00:24:23,939 –> 00:24:30,400 are on a direct collision course with God himself God is committed to the 219 00:24:30,400 –> 00:24:36,680 exaltation of his own dearly beloved son so you can’t walk away from Jesus 220 00:24:36,680 –> 00:24:40,560 without consequence you just can’t 221 00:24:41,560 –> 00:24:49,219 Jesus is honored in heaven by the father who vindicated him and those who honor 222 00:24:49,219 –> 00:24:58,079 Jesus will be welcomed into heaven but those who resist him well they’re going 223 00:24:58,079 –> 00:25:04,060 to find that the father resists them so here’s what we’re learning from the 224 00:25:04,439 –> 00:25:12,959 burial of Jesus that Jesus is honored on earth by believers who love him and he 225 00:25:12,959 –> 00:25:23,579 is honored in heaven by the father who vindicated him now let’s come to some 226 00:25:23,579 –> 00:25:31,060 direct applications of all of this for ourselves today and I want to point out 227 00:25:31,140 –> 00:25:37,119 three applications from the burial of Jesus and the first is simply this 228 00:25:37,119 –> 00:25:44,540 don’t hide your faith in Jesus notice what we’re told here that Joseph of 229 00:25:44,540 –> 00:25:54,500 Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews here’s 230 00:25:54,500 –> 00:26:00,859 this man that he has faith in Jesus but it’s never been brought out into the 231 00:26:00,900 –> 00:26:06,599 open it’s a secret it’s a private thing for him that’s all it is 232 00:26:06,680 –> 00:26:14,880 Mark tells us that after the death of Jesus Joseph took courage he got 233 00:26:14,880 –> 00:26:21,920 courage and he went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus the death of 234 00:26:21,920 –> 00:26:30,619 Jesus put courage into this man here is a member of the ruling council that has 235 00:26:30,880 –> 00:26:35,439 condemned Jesus to death he’s not consented with the decision he voted 236 00:26:35,439 –> 00:26:42,719 against it but now he feels after the death of Jesus that he must come out 237 00:26:42,719 –> 00:26:48,939 into the open and he must identify himself fully as a disciple of the Lord 238 00:26:48,939 –> 00:26:57,520 Jesus Christ and Nicodemus did exactly the same early in the ministry of Jesus 239 00:26:57,520 –> 00:27:02,199 you might remember he came to Jesus at night and that clearly indicates that he 240 00:27:02,199 –> 00:27:05,780 wanted to keep it all secret he didn’t want other people to know that he had an 241 00:27:05,780 –> 00:27:10,839 interest in Jesus and that he honored and esteemed him 242 00:27:10,839 –> 00:27:15,859 Nicodemus was drawn to Jesus but he wanted to keep it all private until 243 00:27:15,859 –> 00:27:25,000 Jesus died on the cross and then he felt that he too must come out into the open 244 00:27:25,880 –> 00:27:36,400 now I want to speak in this moment to the person who has considered Jesus you 245 00:27:36,400 –> 00:27:43,280 may have come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you’re drawn to him but you 246 00:27:43,300 –> 00:27:59,479 kept it all private Jesus stood with you openly on the cross he publicly bore 247 00:27:59,479 –> 00:28:10,439 your sin he identified himself openly with you as one of his people and now in 248 00:28:10,439 –> 00:28:18,560 the light of the cross you must identify yourself openly with him that’s 249 00:28:18,560 –> 00:28:27,079 why Peter said on the Day of Pentecost you repent and be baptized don’t hide 250 00:28:27,079 –> 00:28:32,619 your faith in Jesus it has to be more than simply a change of heart that 251 00:28:32,619 –> 00:28:39,760 remains private within you you have to confess your faith openly on the cross 252 00:28:40,660 –> 00:28:52,979 identified fully with you in baptism you identify yourself fully with him don’t 253 00:28:52,979 –> 00:29:05,760 hide your faith in Jesus and then we learn from this remarkable story that we 254 00:29:05,880 –> 00:29:13,859 must devote what we have to Jesus again look at what Joseph did he took the body 255 00:29:13,859 –> 00:29:22,959 and laid it in his own new tomb which he had cut in the rock now think about this 256 00:29:22,959 –> 00:29:30,260 here’s Joseph and he’s planned his own funeral he’s got it all organized he’s 257 00:29:30,260 –> 00:29:34,500 picked a spot for his own burial it’s in a beautiful garden 258 00:29:34,500 –> 00:29:43,180 garden and he has paid for a tomb to be hewn out of the rock would have been a 259 00:29:43,180 –> 00:29:52,239 very expensive project and Joseph no doubt had intended this lavish tomb for 260 00:29:52,239 –> 00:30:00,619 himself but he gave it to Jesus and of course that was the best thing he could 261 00:30:00,619 –> 00:30:10,119 possibly have done with it look at what you have and ask yourself the question 262 00:30:10,119 –> 00:30:20,479 how could this be used for Jesus do you have a home how could your home be used 263 00:30:20,479 –> 00:30:27,900 for Jesus do you have money how could your money 264 00:30:27,959 –> 00:30:38,160 be used for Jesus do you have gifts and talents how can your gifts and talents 265 00:30:38,160 –> 00:30:48,479 be used for Jesus do you have available time how can your available time be 266 00:30:48,540 –> 00:30:57,680 used for Jesus devote what you have to Jesus it comes directly out of the 267 00:30:57,680 –> 00:31:03,040 story that we’re looking at today. And then a third and last application just 268 00:31:03,040 –> 00:31:12,439 very briefly trust Jesus and follow his example. Now Isaiah says that Jesus had 269 00:31:12,640 –> 00:31:20,160 done no violence and there was no deceit in his mouth. And in the New Testament 270 00:31:20,160 –> 00:31:26,959 Peter picks up these words from the Prophet Isaiah and says he committed no 271 00:31:26,959 –> 00:31:37,079 sin neither was any deceit found in his mouth. Now I looked up the word deceit 272 00:31:37,140 –> 00:31:46,439 and to practice deceit is very simply to mislead another person. It is to pretend 273 00:31:46,439 –> 00:31:52,339 one thing in order to cover up another. We see that in our world all the time 274 00:31:52,339 –> 00:31:58,760 don’t we? Pretending one thing in order to cover up another. That’s what deceit 275 00:31:58,760 –> 00:32:06,459 is. So the Bible speaks about the deceitfulness of sin .In other words sin 276 00:32:07,040 –> 00:32:13,180 misleads. It deceives. It pretends one thing in order to cover up another. You 277 00:32:13,180 –> 00:32:20,839 see it, it promises much but they deliver something entirely different. And the 278 00:32:20,839 –> 00:32:27,079 Bible also speaks about the deceitfulness of riches. In other words 279 00:32:27,079 –> 00:32:35,160 money misleads. It promises security. Oh if I have this amount of money I’m going 280 00:32:35,219 –> 00:32:39,599 to have security and I’m going to have happiness. But you see it cannot deliver 281 00:32:39,599 –> 00:32:48,719 on what it promises. It misleads. That’s why it takes great wisdom to be able to 282 00:32:48,719 –> 00:32:54,500 withstand the deceitfulness of sin. Sin’s almost promising you something but 283 00:32:54,500 –> 00:33:01,020 it won’t actually deliver. And it takes great wisdom to see through the 284 00:33:01,180 –> 00:33:09,579 deceitfulness of riches. But you see what Isaiah is saying here and what Peter 285 00:33:09,579 –> 00:33:17,579 says in the New Testament. There is no deceit whatever in Jesus he will never 286 00:33:17,579 –> 00:33:26,560 mislead. He never pretends one thing in order to cover up another. He will deliver 287 00:33:26,680 –> 00:33:36,560 on every word he has spoken and on every promise he has made. You can trust the 288 00:33:36,560 –> 00:33:46,900 Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no deceit in his mouth, but when we 289 00:33:46,900 –> 00:33:56,520 trust him, we must also follow him. And after quoting the words of Isaiah, Peter 290 00:33:56,520 –> 00:34:01,560 immediately applies the words of this verse that we’re looking at today to us. 291 00:34:01,560 –> 00:34:09,399 That’s why I want to end here today. Quoting Isaiah chapter 53, 292 00:34:09,399 –> 00:34:19,840 Peter goes on to say, “…whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him 293 00:34:19,840 –> 00:34:28,439 keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceit. Let him turn away from evil 294 00:34:28,439 –> 00:34:37,239 and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it.” And friends, there isn’t anyone 295 00:34:37,399 –> 00:34:44,699 in this service today that doesn’t want to love life and to see good days. We all 296 00:34:44,699 –> 00:34:51,120 want that. And here in the Bible the Apostle Peter is telling us how to go 297 00:34:51,120 –> 00:34:56,580 after it. Here’s how you go after loving life and 298 00:34:56,580 –> 00:35:06,000 seeing good days. You keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking 299 00:35:06,000 –> 00:35:18,280 deceit. In other words, you’re done with a double life. You’re done with pretending 300 00:35:18,280 –> 00:35:29,639 one thing in order to cover up another. You turn from evil and do good. You seek 301 00:35:30,399 –> 00:35:40,919 peace and you pursue it. Well, let’s pray together, shall we? 302 00:35:40,919 –> 00:35:49,100 Father. we thank you today that you have exalted your son, Jesus Christ. You have given him 303 00:35:49,100 –> 00:35:56,719 the name that is above every other name and in this world that despises and rejects your 304 00:35:56,959 –> 00:36:03,959 want to honor, love and serve him. Help us to take our stand openly with Jesus, especially 305 00:36:09,360 –> 00:36:16,360 when others are hostile toward him. Help us to see how we can devote what you have given 306 00:36:18,739 –> 00:36:25,739 to Christ and to the work of his kingdom. Help us to be done with pretending wonders 307 00:36:26,800 –> 00:36:33,800 and removing one thing in order to cover up another. Let us be done with deceit. And as 308 00:36:40,040 –> 00:36:47,040 we seek to honor you, grant that we may love life and see good days through Jesus Christ 309 00:36:47,760 –> 00:36:54,520 our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen. 310 00:36:54,520 –> 00:36:58,100 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 311 00:36:58,100 –> 00:37:05,100 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website, OpenTheBible.org.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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No chapter in the Bible shows more clearly why Jesus came into the world. No chapter explains more fully what Jesus accomplished. Isaiah 53 is an invitation to look at the Lord Jesus Christ. This chapter was written hundreds of years before the time of Jesus, but it describes in detail what happened in His

Colin Smith

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