Jesus’ Witnesses
Mark 15:37-47
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
The Burial of Jesus
42 It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.
There are different people who testify to what happened to Jesus on the Cross and then what happened to His body after He dies and then what happened after Jesus is risen.
All of this testimony is important. Jesus dies. He must die in order to pay for sins. Jesus is put into a tomb. The tomb will be evidence that Jesus is no longer dead. The body is not in the tomb. No body was ever produced to prove that Jesus was still dead.
Different people participate in putting the story of Jesus’ death and Resurrection together! This story is the good news about Jesus Christ. He is alive!!
- Different Types of People
- The Centurion is first to confess
The nature of the circumstances around Jesus’ death convinces this man that Jesus is in fact the Son of God. What does he want to say to us? What part of the events of this day can he testify to?
Jesus’ words:
Father forgive them, those words are spoken to him! He has managed the nailing of Jesus on the Cross. And Jesus has spoken forgiveness over him.
He would say to you today that Jesus is motivated to forgive all who would recognize Who He is and turn from their sin to trust Him for forgiveness. Those who are first are examples. In this case, it should be noted that the first to confess is a Gentile.
- The women cared for Jesus’ needs
40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome. 41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.
In Jewish culture, women would not be allowed to testify in court. They are not in an honored position. Because of that they are able to serve Jesus. What do they do? They stay with Jesus when He is on the Cross. The Apostles do not, except for John.
Mary Magdalene:
The next two: one is the wife of Zebedee and one is the sister of Mary. Unless the wife of Zebedee is the sister of Mary.
Mary the mother of James and Joseph: Some see her as the sister of Mary (John 19:25) Matthew calls her the wife of Clopas as well.
Salome: Unger’s Bible Dictionary identifies her as the wife of Zebedee. Some modern critics think she is the sister of Mary the mother of Jesus. (John 19:25).
Not mentioned in Mark, but obviously here: Mary the Mother of Jesus.
Now, the significance of mentioning these women, especially by name, is that they will be the most direct witnesses to the death of Jesus, the burial of Jesus and the Resurrection of Jesus. They were there! Those who serve Jesus most faithfully end up with the greatest understanding of what is going on in His life. And they become the first witnesses of the Resurrected Christ.
- Joseph of Arimathea buries Jesus
Of course, when we say bury we mean has Jesus’ body set in a tomb that is above ground, cut into a hillside and covered with a large stone.
Jesus’ body needs to be managed quickly because sundown is coming and it is the Sabbath when they cannot lawfully work.
Joseph is a rich Jewish man. He boldly goes to Pilate to request the responsibility for Jesus’ body. Joseph is a secret disciple of Jesus, presumably along with Nicodemus, who participates in the burial of Jesus’ body.
John 19: 38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39 He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. 40 Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41 At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42 Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Different people, different people groups. Jesus’ death and Resurrection are for all people! And all people are called to testify of His good news.
- The Witness of Physical Evidence
- Jesus was dead
A spear was thrust into His side. Blood and water flowed out separated. He was dead. If He was not dead, the sword issue would certainly make sure that He was.
People who do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead have to deal with the evidence. Some claimed that Jesus did not die, but that while laying in the tomb He was revived and then appeared to His Disciples. That is harder to believe than Resurrection!
- Jesus body was placed in a tomb
After the Disciples and other witnesses claim that Jesus rose from the dead, no body was produced. That would be the easiest and most direct way to disprove the Resurrection.
- These witnesses claimed to see Jesus
The Greek word for witness is martyrion, from which we get the word martyr. These witnesses will suffer to prove the veracity of their testimony.
- God Himself Testifies
- Resurrection prophecies
Isaiah 53:
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
Matthew 16: 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
- Resurrection witness in Acts
Acts 2: 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’[e]
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
Acts 13: 26 “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “‘You are my son; today I have become your father.’
34 God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said,
“‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
“‘You will not let your holy one see decay.’
36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.
Acts 17: 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
- The earliest testimony
I Corinthians 15: 15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures
He was buried
He was raised the third day according to the Scriptures
He appeared (to Cephas)
He appeard (to the Twelve)
He appeared (to more thatn 500 at one time)
He appeared (to James)
He appeared to all the Apostles
He appeared (to me)
This is an early epistle. Written in the mid 50’s AD.
Paul refers to a creed. Creeds take time to formulate and be dispersed. The Creed is earlier than mid 50’s AD.
Paul says that “what He received” he passed on to them. When would Paul have received this creed? Paul visited Peter three years after his conversion.
Galatians 1: 15 But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
Then Paul went to Jerusalem 14 years later to make sure that he was communicating about Jesus in the same way as the Apostles. (Acts 11)
Galatians 2: 2 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain.
6 As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.
This indicates to me that what Paul received as the gospel He received from Peter either three years after he was converted, or fourteen years later. In any event, Paul’s gospel is Apostolic! And this puts the creed as the earliest bit of information that we have from the Apostles. The very earliest gospel testimony is:
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
0 Comments