Sermons

Between Death and Burial (John 19:38-42)

Intro: Ever given consideration to period btwn/X’s death and burial?

• Cast as, “the most important funeral that ever took place in this world” [Ryle].
  • John describes event @/2 unlikely disciples, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
    • “Johnny come lately’s.”
      • Known for hurdles to jump, to believe.
      • Both making a full commitment, after X died.

 

• Risking: status, standing, possibly safely, all in the aftermath.

 

• Primary focus on Nicodemus.
  • Called by X, “the teacher of Israel” (cf. Jn. 3:10).
    • Then an unbeliever, scholar, heady skeptic, but curious @/X keeping a religious distance.

 

[Appl] Dangerous space to be when knowledge puffs up to being hardened. Nicodemus was inside this categorical bubble.

 

• Nicodemus steadily grew in his understanding of X as Messiah over the course of X’s 3-year ministry.

[KEY] Began w/Nic’s “secret” visit (cf. John 3).

• “The man came to Jesus by night…” (cf. John 3:2).
  • Nicodemus uncertainty w/X’s claims.
    • Undeniable teaching
    • Undeniable power.

  

• One of the most well-known, Gospel conversations ever recorded.
  • X exposes Nic’s ignorance of true conversion.
  • X exposes Nic’s ignorance of the necessity of true conversion.
    • While simultaneously sowing Gospel seed into Nicodemus’ heart.
    • What later converts him to believe.

 

• Phrases, “you must be born again” (Jn. 3:3) and “whosoever believes in him” (Jn. 3:16) forever etched inside our hearts flow from this single exchange.
  • The clear, wide open, only path to God.
  • Forgiveness, and eternal life.

 

• As powerful as this conversation was, Scripture is not clear that this was Nic’s conversion.
  • Nic could be counted as one of X’s disciples who remained a secret disciple [“a concealed disciple”].
    • Not openly confess him.
    • Fearing persecution.
      • Until after Jesus was crucified.

^ESV  John 12:42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; (Joh 12:42 ESV)

• Centurian stood watch while Jesus’ died.
  • Did not believe before Jesus breathed his last.
  • Then believed.

^ESV  Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (Mar 15:39 ESV)

 

[KEY] From outside looking in, Nic working through a process, taking steps toward faith.

“The work of the Spirit does not always go forward with the same speed in the hearts of men. In some cases, it may go forward very slowly indeed, and yet may be real and true” [Ryle].

 

• Conversion is instantaneous (cf. John 3:3; Titus 3:5 “the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Spirit”).
  • Still, the work of the Spirit is compared to the “effects of the wind blowing” (Jn. 3:8).
    • We know the Spirit’s power, though it is invisible.
    • Discerned by the Spirit’s aftereffects.

[Appl] Warning not to miscast others as graceless who move slowly toward Christ.

“Have we any grace in our hearts at all?… If [grace in someone] may grow slowly…but does it grow at all? Better a little grace than none! Better move slowly than stand still in sin and the world!” [Ryle].

 

• John 7:45-52 perhaps @/midpoint of Nic’s deliberation over whether he was ready to publicly identify as X’s disciple.
  • Feast of Tabernacles.
  • X speaking as Living Water (cf. Jn. 7:37-38).

^ESV  John 7:37-38 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’" (Joh 7:38 ESV) (Joh 7:37 ESV)

• Priest on 7^th
  • Hight Priest took golden pitcher to pool of Siloam.
  • Poured water to drench sacrifice on alter.  

 

• Stirring crowds pondering Messiah, made authorities nervous.

^ESV  John 7:40-46 When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet."

⁴¹ Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?

⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"

 

⁴³ So there was a division among the people over him.

⁴⁴ Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

⁴⁵ The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?"

⁴⁶ The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!" (Joh 7:40-46 ESV)

^ESV  John 7:47-52 The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?

⁴⁸ Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?

⁴⁹ But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."

                        ⁵⁰ Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,

⁵¹ "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?"

⁵² They replied, "Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." (Joh 7:47-52 ESV)

 

• 18 months since Nicodemus met w/X in “darkness.”
  • Before, unwilling to go public.
  • Now, sticking up for X, to get a fair shake.

 

“Slow work is sometimes the sures and most enduring. Nicodemus stood firm when Judas Iscariot fell away and went to his own place. No doubt it would be a pleasant thing, if everybody who was converted came out boldly, took up the cross and confessed Christ in the day of his conversion” [Ryle].

 

“…what a weak and feeble beginning a man may make in religion, and yet finally prove a strong Christian…We must not set down a man as having no grace, because his first steps toward God are timid and wavering” [Ryle].

 

“Never despise the day of small things” (cf. Zech. 4:10).

 

“…he that says that no one is converted except he becomes a full-blown and established Christian in a single day, is no less under a delusion” [Ryle].

 

[TRANS] Now, to Christ’s funeral.

 

• Period in between X’s death and burial.
  • Died at 3:00 pm.
  • Buried by 6:00 pm.
    • 3 hours btwn/X taken off cross.
    • And taken to the tomb.

 

^ESV  John 19:38-42 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was 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 away his body.

³⁹ Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

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 because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (Joh 19:38-42 ESV)

 

[KEY] 3 people named.

 

• Joseph of Arimathea, Pilate, and Nicodemus.
  • Joseph, a rich man (cf. Matt. 27:57).
    • All gospels account for him.
    • Isaiah 53:9 predicts X buried in tomb of a rich man.

 

^ESV  Isaiah 53:9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. (Isa 53:9 ESV)

 

• Joseph, member of the Sanhedrin, but a believer.

 

^ESV  Matthew 27:57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. (Mat 27:57 ESV)

 

^ESV  Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mar 15:43 ESV)

 

• Pilate, Roman governor over Judea, presiding over Christ’s trial.

 

• • Other gospels do not mention him by name.
    • John names him three times in gospel.
    • Tells his testimony.

 

• This is the “teacher of Israel” (cf. Jn. 3:10); highly respected Rabbi.

 

• First came as “secret inquirer” then, “a timid advocate” and now “a bold volunteer.”

 

[Prop] Christ’s death, brought Nicodemus to life and why does this matter?

 

1. Fear over personal loss for identifying with Christ was gone (vv. 38-40).

 

[KEY] John saying Joseph “was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews” is a throwback to Joseph’s former self, we should include Nicodemus as likewise a new convert.

 

• Both Joseph and Nicodemus hid their faith (insipient faith) to keep religious favor.
  • X’s gruesome death dropped all pretense.
    • Both, operating out in the open.
      • Asking Pilate to “take away his body.”
      • To solemnize Jesus’ life and mission.

 

• Risky request.

 

[KEY] John notes how Nic. came to X “by night” but NOW:

 

“…came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight” (v. 39).

 

• Joseph and Nicodemus probably detached Jesus’ hands from the cross.
  • Pulling the nails (no way to know for sure).
  • Nicodemus bore the load of myrrh and aloes (Grk, ekatov: Estimate 100 pounds).

 

• Forethought in reverence, in care of X’s body.
  • Aroma to curb the stench; otherwise, would mean decay.
  • Antiseptic to preserve X’s lacerated body.

 

• Myrrh reminds of X’s birth thru childhood.
  • A King.
    • Worshiped by the three gifts of the Maji.
    • God, frankincense, myrrh.       

 

[KEY] Apostles fled and here are Joseph and Nicodemus out in public w/their Lord.

 

• Calvin: “Here we have a striking proof that Christ’s death was more quickening than His life. So great was the efficacy of that sweet savor which the death of Christ conveyed to the minds of these two men, that it quickly extinguished all the passions of the flesh.”

 

• “Nicodemus showed weak faith but strong love.”

 

 

 

1. Commitment to Christ as Messiah was permanent (vv. 41-42).

 

[KEY] “new tomb” (v. 41); in this newly hewn rock, they laid Jesus’ body, conveniently close by.

 

• Being the “day of Preparation” (v. 42); day before Sabbath.
  • Before the Law forbade work.
  • Meaning, they made quick work wrapping the body of the Lord.

 

• Jesus died at 3:00 pm, making need to be done by 6:00 pm.
  • Labor intensive.
  • Heavy, 100 pounds of myrrh/aloe along with linens, w/X’s body.

 

• “…they laid Jesus there” (v. 42).
  • To lay him inside this tomb was a memorial.
  • To their newly found faith.

 

[Conclusion] Nicodemus’ faith in the Lord was valid; not a sub-faith; a model faith.

 

“It is not those who make the most flaming profession of religion at first who endure the longest and prove the most steadfast. Judas Iscariot was an apostle when Nicodemus was just groping his way slowly into full light. Yet afterwards, when Nicodemus was boldly helping to bury his crucified Savior, Judas Iscariot had betrayed Him, and hanged himself!” [Ryle].

 

• As Nicodemus took the linens to wrap the Lord’s body,

 

• Judas Iscariot took a rope to wrap around his neck.

 

^ESV  Matthew 27:5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (Mat 27:5 ESV)

 

• We remember our Lord’s death because his death makes the ultimate statement as a commitment to our forgiveness.  
  • No price too high to pay, to save us from our sin.

 

• The highest and holiest funeral could not be higher.
  • Joseph and Nic. Identify w/X in this solemn moment.

 

• We too identify here w/Joseph and Nic bc/ we say with Paul:

^ESV  Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20 ESV)