A. SERMON SLIDES
Slide 1:
The Burial of Jesus
Mark 15:40-47
Slide 2:
Mark 15:40–47 (ESV)
There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.
And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 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. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.
Slide 3:
I. The supernatural and divinely orchestrated burial
II. The characters involved in His burial
Slide 4:
What does it mean that God is Sovereign?
Slide 5:
There are two ways God sovereignly accomplishes His will
1) The use of the miraculous
Slide 6:
There are two ways God sovereignly accomplishes His will
1) The use of the miraculous
2) The use of providence
Slide 7:
Acts 2:23 (ESV)
…this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
Slide 8:
Providence of God in this small section of scripture
1) Jesus died early enough to be buried before the Sabbath, therefore allowing for 3 days in the grave.
Slide 9:
Providence of God in this small section of scripture
1) Jesus died early enough to be buried before the Sabbath, therefore allowing for 3 days in the grave.
2) No bones were broken, Jesus is pierced
Slide 10:
Psalm 34:20 (ESV)
He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken.
Exodus 12:46 (ESV)
…and you shall not break any of its bones.
Slide 11:
Zechariah 12:10 (ESV)
“…when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
But he was pierced for our transgressions…
Slide 12:
Providence of God in this small section of scripture
1) Jesus died early enough to be buried before the Sabbath, therefore allowing for 3 days in the grave.
2) No bones were broken, Jesus is pierced
3) Joseph of Arimathea’s role
Slide 12:
Isaiah 53:9 (ESV)
And they made (prepared) his grave with the wicked
(but) and with a rich man in his death
Psalm 16:10 (ESV)
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption (decay).
Slide 13:
Characters:
Women, Roman Centurion, Joseph of Arimathea
Slide 14:
Women:
Mary from Magdala
Mary the mother of Jesus
Salome the mother of James and John
Slide 15:
All 4 Gospels attest to the truth that the only reason we have eyewitness testimony to the death, burial and resurrection is because of the women.
B. GROUP DISCUSSION
1) Read Mark 15:40-47. What meaning would you derive from this burial event included in all four Gospels?
2) Have you ever experienced a miracle? Talk to your group about it.
3) How would you explain Providence to someone? That God orchestrates events through humans (not just “sees” them in advance) and yet humans have free will and are responsible for their own actions. Can we understand this?
4) Societally-shunned women, a powerful pagan soldier, and a rich religious leader…all end up playing a part at Jesus’ burial. What does this say about Jesus and the “way” for which He gave His life to provide?
5) Prayer and praise