A collection of sermons on Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.

The Passion: A Collection of Sermons on Christ's Death, Burial, & Resurrection

Much of the significance of Christ as the Lamb is overshadowed by unbiblical teachings about Christ’s sacrifice by the apostate church.  Namely, the false teachings that Christ died on a Friday and was resurrected one and half days later on a Sunday morning.  Believers need to behold the Lamb from the lens of Scripture not tradition.  What does the Scripture say about the choosing of the Lamb.  The Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, the Passover Lamb.

Behold The Lamb: The Choosing Of The Lamb

In the fulness of time, God sent forth His Lamb in fulfillment of Abraham’s promise to Isaac, in Genesis 22:8 — “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”  Thus, when Jesus Christ appeared before John the Baptizer, almost two-thousand years later, John recognized the fulfillment of the type and declared, in John 1:29, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  This Lamb was chosen by God before the foundations of the world and then chose by humanity on the Great Sabbath, Nisan 10, AD 29.  Christ the Lamb was purchased for thirty pieces of silver, presented to the people as the Messiah and Lord, and then finally probed for blemishes and proven spotless and sinless.  After all of that, the Lamb was slaughtered as the Passover sacrifice.  Indeed as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.”

Behold The Lamb: The Slaughter Of The Lamb

On the night before Christ was slaughtered as the Passover Lamb, He was in the Garden praying for His disciples and His impending death.  In particular, Christ prayed for His glorification.  In John 17:5, He prayed, “Now, Father glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”   Looking past the cross, Christ desired to restore the glory which He shared with the Father before the Incarnation.  Ultimately, Christ’s glorification was achieved in His death and resurrection (Luke 24:26).

Behold The Lamb: The Glorification Of The Lamb

For Jesus to be Messiah, He must be divine and human.  The Messianic corroboration in Matthew 26:1-75 sets forth nine events that corroborate or verify Jesus’ Messiahship.  Each of these events serves as a fulfillment of messianic prophecy.  Individually, these events would not necessarily mean anything.  However, these nine events happened to just one person — Jesus — corroborating or verifying that He is divine and human — the God-man — and thus the Messiah.

The Messianic Corroboration - Matthew 26:1-75

With the Messiah’s identity corroborated, Matthew now records the Messianic condemnation in Matthew 27:1-31.  Jesus the Messiah will be condemned by the Sanhedrin, the statesmen, and the soldiers.  Amid the Messianic condemnations, Judas and the religious leaders will also be condemned, by their shame.  These condemnations are the rising action that leads to the climax of the Messianic cessation — Jesus’ death on the cross

The Messianic Condemnation - Matthew 27:1-32

The nine events of the Messianic corroboration (Matthew 26:1-75) and the three Messianic condemnations (Matthew 27:1-32) lead to the Messianic cessation in Matthew 27:33-66.  Indeed, Matthew’s gospel record, which began with the Messianic chronology, now arrives at the climax — the death of Jesus the Messiah.  Matthew presents four aspects of the Messianic cessation — the crucifixion, the death, the burial, and the guards.  Each aspect is deliberately chosen to provide evidence that Jesus the Messiah genuinely died.

The Messianic Cessation - Matthew 27:33-66

Everything Matthew has recorded, beginning with the Messianic chronology, has led to the Messianic culmination.   Matthew proved beyond any doubt that Jesus is the Son of Abraham and the Son of David.  As such, He is the prophesied Messianic King.  As the Messiah, He was divinely appointed to die to “save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).  However, death is not the end for the Messiah.  The Messiah has yet to reign as King as prophesied.  Therefore, Jesus must be raised from the dead.  
	If the Messianic cessation was the climax of Mathew’s gospel narrative, then the Messianic culmination is its resolution!  All of Matthew’s records are built towards Messiah’s death.  Now, the Messiah’s death is resolved with His resurrection.  Matthew sets forth two aspects of the Messianic culmination or resurrection — the confirmation of the resurrection and the circumvention of the resurrection.

The Messianic Culmination - Matthew 28:1-15

During His forty-day post-resurrection ministry, Jesus’ focus was the same as before His death — making disciples.  Now, as His ascension to Heaven draws near, Jesus gathers the eleven together and commissions them to continue what He started by making disciples.  Hence, Matthew closes his gospel record by focusing on the Messianic commission.  The Messianic commission, recorded in Matthew 28:16-20, is outlined in four parts — its location, authority, goal, and promise.

The Messianic Commission - Matthew 28:16-20

As contemplation is given to Easter in the Hebrew Scriptures, the threefold division of the Hebrew Scriptures will be followed.  Hence, consideration will be given to Easter in the Law, Easter in the Writings, and Easter in the Prophets.  Easter in the Law — the first five books of the Bible — focuses upon three prophecies — the Sacrifice of Isaac, the Feast of Passover, and the Feast of Firstfruits.

Christ's Passion In The Law - Assorted Scriptures

Christ’s Passion in the Hebrew Scriptures continues in the Writings.  Particularly, three prophetic texts found in the Writings foretell Jesus’ death and resurrection — the Psalms of Suffering, the Psalm of Distress, and the Psalm of Deliverance.

Christ's Passion in the Writings - Assorted Scriptures

Christ’s Passion in the Hebrew Scriptures continues in the Prophets.  Notably, two texts from the Prophets will be examined the foretell Jesus’ death and resurrection — the Humble King and the Suffering Servant.

The Passion In The Prophets - Assorted Scriptures

While hanging upon the cross, Jesus uttered seven words or statements.  His first two words are words of forgiveness and salvation.  Jesus’ word of forgiveness exemplifies radical forgiveness, extending grace even to His executioners.  This word embodies Jesus’ unparalleled grace and mercy, even toward those who unjustly persecuted Him.  It challenges believers to emulate His example of readiness to forgive the repentant who wronged them, regardless of the circumstances.  On the cross, Jesus’ words of forgiveness epitomize His divine love and serve as a timeless reminder of grace’s transformative power.
Jesus’ word of salvation reflects His boundless grace, offering immediate redemption to the contrite criminal.  It illustrates the accessibility of salvation to all who turn to Jesus in faith, regardless of their past.  Jesus’ word of salvation exemplifies His mercy and inclusivity, inviting all humanity into the hope of eternal life with Him. It is a testament to the transformative power of His love and the assurance of forgiveness for all who believe.

Words of Forgiveness and Salvation - Luke 23:33-34, 39-43

As the hours dragged on, Jesus directed His attention to His mother and the beloved disciple, John.  In John 19:26-27, believers witness a poignant exchange, encapsulating the depth of Jesus’ love and care for those closest to Him, even amid His suffering.  These words of relationship from the cross reveal Jesus’ heart and provide timeless lessons for believers about the importance of familial love, discipleship, and community in the Christian journey.  Amidst the darkness and despair of Calvary, Jesus uttered words that pierced the silence and revealed the depth of His humanity.  In John 19:28, believers encounter a moment of distress as Jesus speaks the distressing words, “I thirst.”  These simple words convey Jesus’ physical torment and His sacrificial mission’s spiritual and emotional weight.  This cry of distress from the cross invites believers to contemplate the full extent of Jesus’ suffering and reflect on His humanity’s significance in the redemptive narrative. Through His words of distress, Jesus invites believers to enter into His suffering, to empathize with His humanity, and to draw nearer to the heart of the Savior who willingly endured all for the sake of love.

Words of Relationship and Distress - John 19:26-28

Jesus proclaims in John 19:30, “It is finished!”  This word of fulfillment marks the completion of Jesus’ earthly mission and the satisfaction of God’s redemptive agenda.  With these words, Jesus heralds the victory of redemption over condemnation. It echoes throughout history, offering assurance to all who trust in His completed work of the cross.  With a final agonizing breath, Jesus says in Luke 23:46, “Father, Into Your hands I commit My Spirit.”  In this word of reunion, believers witness the culmination of Jesus’ sacrificial death, as He willingly offers His life for the sake of humanity.  It is a profound moment of intimacy, where the Son shares restored fellowship with the Father in complete submission and devotion.  This final word fulfills Psalm 31:5: “Into Your hand I commit my spirit.”

Words of Abandonment, Fulfillment, and Reunion - Matthew 27:46; John 19:30; Luke 23:46

But we see Jesus... This phrase means more than to simply look at Jesus.  It means to look at Him with understanding.  To see Jesus on the cross is to see Him as the Suffering God, the Savior, the Sanctifier, the Satan-Conquerer, the Slave Redeemer, and the Sympathizer.

But We See Jesus - Hebrews 2:9-18

Jesus rose from the dead...  and transformed these despairing, discouraged, and doubting believers into men and women of contentment, courage, and conviction.  By looking at how the resurrection helped the disciples gain hope in the aftermath of the crucifixion, we can gain perspective for recovering our hope.

The Passion: A Collection of Sermons on Christ's Death, Burial, & Resurrection

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