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Firm Foundations

Creation to Christ

Lesson 48 - Jesus was Crucified and Buried

Questions for the LFC Firm Foundations Coordinator may be emailed to firmfoundations@lenoxchurch.org

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REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. Jesus was God. Why then was it hard for Him to face the terrible suffering that was before Him? Because, although Jesus was God, He was also man, and the suffering which was before Him was more terrible than anyone had ever suffered.

2. Who was leading Judas and the Jewish leaders to arrest and kill Jesus? Satan.

3. Who are being guided by Satan even now? All those who refuse to believe God’s Word, agree with Him, and trust in Jesus, the Savior.

4. Had Jesus done anything wrong? Did He deserve to die? No! Jesus was perfect. He did not deserve to die.

5. What did the prophets say about the witnesses who would speak against Jesus? The prophets said that the witnesses would tell lies about Jesus.

6. What did Jesus say when they lied about Him? He didn’t answer.

7. What did Jesus answer when He was asked if He was the Sent One of God and the Son of God? He said that He was and that, sometime in the future, the Jewish leaders would see Jesus sitting at God’s right hand and coming back to earth again, showing everyone that He was equal to God.

8. Why did the high priest and the Jewish leaders say that Jesus must be killed? They said He had blasphemed, that is, He had spoken against God, because, although Jesus, according to them, was only a man, He had claimed to be God.

9. What things did they do to Jesus which were written beforehand by the prophets? They punched Him and spat on Him. 10. What other things did they do to Jesus before they crucified Him?

a. They scourged Him.

b. They put a purple robe on Him.

c. They put a crown of thorns on His head.

d. They hit Him on the head with a stick.

e. They mocked Him by pretending to worship Him.

11. Of what does the crown of thorns remind us? It reminds us of the curse which God put on the earth because of Adam’s sin.

Of all the events of history, the one we are going to study today is the most important. Nothing else has ever or will ever affect the lives of men and women as this one event. No one else but God knows what you are thinking at this moment.

This lesson is for you.

This lesson is for me.

This lesson is for the whole world.

Read very carefully.

We are going to study now what Jesus did for us so that we can be fully accepted by God and never go to everlasting punishment.

Golgotha was just outside the walls of Jerusalem.

LOCATE JERUSALEM ON THE MAP BELOW.

This drink was prepared by women of Jerusalem as an act of mercy to help deaden the pain of those who were being crucified.

- Note:

Myrrh was a sap from a low, scrubby tree.

Nails were driven through Jesus’ hands and feet into the wooden Cross. The Cross was then placed in an upright position.

- Recall:

Do you remember that Jesus told Nicodemus that, as Moses in the wilderness lifted up the serpent on a pole, even so Jesus, the Deliverer, had to be lifted up so that sinners could be saved from punishment? Jesus was nailed to the Cross and lifted up just as He said He would be.

Nearly a thousand years before, God had guided King David to write that the Deliverer’s hands and feet would be pierced.

- Note:

As far as we know, crucifixion was not even practiced in David’s time, which makes his prophecy even more amazing.

David also said that the Deliverer’s clothes would become the prize in a gambling game.

Psalm 34:20 is the record of the prophecy that says not one of Jesus' bones will be broken. “He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken." And in Zechariah 12:10 it is recorded " . . . then they will look on Me whom they pierced." John 19:34-37 records the fulfillment of this prophecy. “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.”And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Psalm 22:18 is the record of the prophecy that says His clothing would be gambled for. “”They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Mark 15:24 is the record of the fulfillment of this prophecy. “And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.”

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                       Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                                in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

Isaiah 50:6 Smitten and spat upon Mark 14:65

Isaiah 53:7 Silent when accused Mark 15:3-5

Isaiah 53:3 Rejected by Jews Mark 15:9-14

Psalm 69:4 Hated without a cause Mark 15:10

Psalm 34:20; Zec 12:10 Not one bone broken; look on Him whom they pierce John 19:34-37

Psalm 22:18 His clothing gambled for Mark 15:24

- Archeological Notes:

Crucifixion was mentioned in early writings, but until 1968, no remains of a person crucified with nails had been found. Then in that year a tomb was discovered, dating to the first century A.D. In the tomb were the bones of a man who had died from crucifixion. The following is a quote from Dr. N. Haas of the Hebrew University and the Hadassah Medical School: “Both the heel bones were found transfixed by a large iron nail. The shins were found intentionally broken. Death caused by crucifixion.”

Usually a sign was put above the criminal to indicate what crime he had been found guilty of committing. But Jesus had committed no crime. Pilate could find nothing with which to charge Him. But he said that this nameplate had to be placed above Jesus’ head.

- Pilate did not believe that Jesus was the King of the Jews.

- Pilate may have done it to mock the Jews and their desire to be liberated from the control of the Romans and to have their own king.

The Jews did not want Pilate to put this title above Jesus’ head where everyone could read it.

- Consider:

The sign on the Cross would normally have listed the crime for which the person had been condemned. Jesus had not sinned—his sign or title read, “King of the Jews.” But think about it. Jesus was dying for sins: my sins, your sins, and the sins of the whole world. You and I are the ones who deserved to be on that Cross. He was taking our punishment. Quietly, before God, think of what your sign would read. What are the sins that you know separate you from God? Jesus was taking on Himself all the shame and the full punishment for every one of those sins as well as all the sins that we can’t even remember committing. He was paying the full price for us: He was paying the death penalty—for me, for you.

Through Isaiah the prophet, God said that the Deliverer would die in the company of evil men.

Isaiah 53:12 is a record of the prophecy that Jesus would die with the wicked. “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Mark 15:27 is a record of the fulfillment of this prophecy. “With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left.”

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                    Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                             in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

Isaiah 50:6 Smitten and spat upon Mark 14:65

Isaiah 53:7 Silent when accused Mark 15:3-5

Isaiah 53:3 Rejected by Jews Mark 15:9-14

Psalm 69:4 Hated without a cause Mark 15:10

Psalm 34:20; Zec 12:10 Not one bone broken; look on Him whom they pierce John 19:34-37

Psalm 22:18 His clothing gambled for Mark 15:24

Isaiah 53:12 Die with the wicked Mark 15:27

Even though they crucified Him, He planned to rise up again three days later.

- The Jews didn’t understand that Jesus meant His body.

- They thought that He was talking about the temple in Jerusalem. King David had written that the Deliverer’s enemies would mock Him and laugh at His sufferings. God knew exactly what was going to happen to His Son long before He came into the world.

Psalm 22:6-8 is the record of the prophecy that says Jesus would be mocked and insulted. “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, “He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!” Mark 15:29-32 is the record of the fulfillment of this prophecy. “And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.”

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                    Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                             in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

Isaiah 50:6 Smitten and spat upon Mark 14:65

Isaiah 53:7 Silent when accused Mark 15:3-5

Isaiah 53:3 Rejected by Jews Mark 15:9-14

Psalm 69:4 Hated without a cause Mark 15:10

Psalm 34:20; Zec 12:10 Not one bone broken; look on Him whom they pierce John 19:34-37

Psalm 22:18 His clothing gambled for Mark 15:24

Isaiah 53:12 Die with the wicked Mark 15:27

Psalm 22:6-8 Mocked and insulted Mark 15:29-32

We mentioned earlier that what we are studying today is the most important event in all history. This is the event of which God’s prophets spoke. Jesus is the one of whom they spoke and wrote; He is the Deliverer— His very name means “God saves.”

We said when we began that the Bible is God’s letter to us.

- This is the heart of the letter.

- This is God’s message to each one of us.

- This is the reason for the visit of God the Son to this earth.

Here is what God has done so that we can be delivered forever from Satan and sin and death:

God could never forgive us for our sin and accept us unless the punishment for our sin was completely paid.

- What is the punishment for sin? Death.

- This means not only physical death but eternal separation from God—in Hell. Therefore, the only way Jesus could deliver us was for Him to take our place before God and be punished for our sins.

Jesus was sinless.

Jesus did not have any of His own sins for which He must die.

- Jesus was perfect.

- When Jesus was baptized by John, God the Father said from Heaven that Jesus was His well-beloved Son with whom He was fully pleased.

Because Jesus was sinless, He was able to offer Himself to God as the offering for our sins.

- Recall:

From the time that man sinned, God said that, whenever a person offered a lamb or other animals to God, the animal had to be without fault. It must not be sick or injured.

Do you remember that, when Isaac lay bound on the altar and Abraham was just about to kill him, God told Abraham not to do it. Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a bush. Do you remember which part of the ram was caught in the bush? Yes, the ram was caught by its horns. God put the ram there so it could die in the place of Isaac. But why did God make sure that the ram was caught by the horns? Because if the ram had been injured, it would not have been a suitable offering instead of Isaac. It would not have been acceptable to God. God is perfect; therefore, any offering made to Him had to be without fault.

Because Jesus was without fault before God, He was able to offer Himself to God in our place. Just as the ram died in place of Isaac, so Jesus came into the world to take our place before God and to die instead of us.

Jesus was separated from God for our sins.

Consider Jesus’ sufferings:

- He had been betrayed by His own disciple, falsely arrested, falsely accused, tried without a just cause—rejected by the very people who should have received Him as their King and Lord.

- He was mercilessly beaten, scourged, and crucified.

- Now He hung there on the Cross, exhausted, bleeding, in agony. But none of these things moved Him so deeply as what He now faced to complete the punishment due for OUR sins.

Why was the light of the sun blotted out?

Why was there darkness for three hours?

It was because God turned His back on Jesus. God turned away from Jesus and left His beloved Son, Jesus, completely alone.

Why did God do such a terrible thing to Jesus?

- Jesus had always obeyed God.

- Jesus had never done anything wrong.

- He had obeyed all of the laws of God.

Why did God leave Him like this? Because God was punishing Jesus for my sins, for your sins, and for the sins of the whole world. During this time on the Cross, Jesus was separated from God, His Father, as the punishment for our sins. Jesus suffered the complete punishment for our sins so that God could freely (without any cost to us) forgive and accept as His children all those who agree with God and trust only in Jesus.

- Recall:

In the beginning, God told Adam that, if he ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he would die. Adam would be separated from God who had given him life. This meant that Adam’s body would die, and after death, he would be separated from God in the place of terrible punishment which God prepared for Satan and his angels. Sin must be paid for by separation from God.

- Compare:

This is why Jesus had to be separated from God. It was the only way He could pay for our sins.

The people around the Cross misunderstood what Jesus had said.

Jesus died and gave His life for us.

Jesus did all that was necessary for our deliverance from Satan, sin, and death.

Mark tells us that Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up His spirit, but Mark doesn’t tell us what Jesus said. But John, another of Jesus’ disciples, wrote what He said.

“...It is finished....”

- Consider:

What do you think Jesus meant? Did He mean that He was finished? No, He had said that He would rise again after three days.

- What then was finished?

The work that He came into the world to do was completely finished.

- Jesus came into the world to deliver sinners from Satan, sin, and death.

- He finished this work by being separated from God and by giving His blood and His life as the full payment for our sins.

Jesus paid to God all that was necessary for our sins. All those who agree with God and trust in Jesus and His death for them are forgiven by God of all their sins. God gives them the gift of everlasting life. There is no longer any need for anyone to be separated from God. Jesus Christ did for us what we could not do ourselves to bring us to God.

The work Jesus did for us by dying on the Cross for our sins is the only work that God will ever accept as payment for our sins. Jesus was separated from God for our sakes so that through Him, we can be in fellowship with God.

When we put our trust in what Jesus did for us on the Cross, we are united with God through Jesus Christ.

- Recall:

In the garden of Eden, God promised that He would send a Deliverer, and God kept His promise. Jesus finished the work which His Father had given Him to do for us. Adam’s sin separated all men from God. But the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross reunites with God forever all those who put their faith in Christ.

- Recall:

This thick curtain, or veil, had hung in front of the inner room in the tabernacle the Israelites built as God’s house in the wilderness. When the temple was built, this great curtain was hung in front of the inner room in the temple. God had told the Jews to put this curtain in front of the inner room so they would never forget that, because of sin, they were shut out of God’s presence.

Behind this curtain shone the Shekinah glory to show that God was there living with them. This was the place where the high priest came every year to sprinkle the blood of animals.

Who do you think ripped this curtain from the top down to the bottom? God Himself did!

But why did He do that?

- God did it to show that He was fully satisfied with the payment that Jesus made to Him for sinners.

- There was no longer a need for animal sacrifices to be made.

- Consider:

The high priest had entered the inner room every year to sprinkle the blood of animals before God. But the blood of animals never pleased God. The blood of animals could never pay for sin. But God forgave the sins of all who trusted in Him before Jesus died because He knew that His own Son would come and give His blood as a complete payment for all sin.

When Jesus died, God ripped the curtain to show everyone that He was completely satisfied and that there was no more need to offer the blood of animals. The way back to God was open because Jesus gave His blood as the complete payment for sin. God has promised that all who agree with Him and trust only in Jesus and His payment for their sins will be fully accepted by God, and they will never go to Hell.

A centurion was in charge of one hundred soldiers.

These were women who trusted in God’s Word and had accepted that Jesus was the promised Savior.

Even as Jesus was buried, prophecy was being fulfilled.

- Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man.

- Jesus was buried in the burial cave which belonged to Joseph.

Isaiah 53:9 is a record of the prophecy that Jesus would be buried with the rich. “And they made His grave with the wicked—but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.” Mark 15:43-46 is a record of the fulfillment of that prophecy. “Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.”

PROPHECY CHART:

WHAT GOD SAID WOULD HAPPEN TO THE DELIVERER:

Old Testament                                                                                    Prophecy Fulfilled

Prophecy                                                                                             in New Testament

Isaiah 9:7 David's descendant Matthew 1:1

Isaiah 7:14 Born of a virgin Matthew 1:18-25

Micah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem Matthew 2:1

Hosea 11:1 Flee into Egypt Matthew 2:14

Isaiah 11:2 Some of His characteristics Luke 2:52

Isaiah 53:4,5 Suffer for others John 10:11

Psalm 41:9 Betrayed by a friend Mark 14:10-11

Zec. 11:12,13 Sold for 30 pieces of silver Matthew 26:14-15

Psalm 27:12 Accused by false witnesses Mark 15:56-57

Isaiah 50:6 Smitten and spat upon Mark 14:65

Isaiah 53:7 Silent when accused Mark 15:3-5

Isaiah 53:3 Rejected by Jews Mark 15:9-14

Psalm 69:4 Hated without a cause Mark 15:10

Psalm 34:20; Zec 12:10 Not one bone broken; look on Him whom they pierce John 19:34-37

Psalm 22:18 His clothing gambled for Mark 15:24

Isaiah 53:12 Die with the wicked Mark 15:27

Psalm 22:6-8 Mocked and insulted Mark 15:29-32

Isaiah 53:9 Buried with the rich Mark 15:43-46

Consider Jesus Christ:

- He lived on earth without ever sinning.

- He completely fulfilled all of God’s righteous laws.

- He endured the horrible punishment you and I deserve.

- On the Cross He was separated from God because we deserve to be separated from God forever.

It is finished—He died in our place.

- The full payment has been made.

- Nothing more needs to be done or can be done to pay for our sins.

- The veil was torn.

- The way is open to God through Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS:

1. Where was Jesus crucified?

2. Why was Jesus crucified?

3. What did David write would happen to the hands and feet of the promised Deliverer?

4. Why did it become very dark for three hours while Jesus was on the Cross?

5. What did Jesus mean when He said, “It is finished”?

6. If Jesus didn’t have any sin, why was He crucified?

7. Why did God rip the curtain in the temple from top to bottom?

a.

b.

Suggested Daily Bible Readings:

Day 236: Esther, Chapters 9 and 10

Day 237: Ezra, Chapters 1 and 2

Day 238: Ezra, Chapters 3 and 4

Day 239: Ezra, Chapters 5 and 6

Day 240: Ezra, Chapters 7 and 8