Introduction

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

John 19:16-30 NASB
16 So he then handed Him over to them to be crucified.17 They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. 18 There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” 20 Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be”; this was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”

Jesus' earthy ministry fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophecies.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Tetelestai

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

John 20 NASB
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.

2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

The Afikomen

Peter, the first in the empty tomb, states:

Acts 3:15 NASB
15you put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.

1 Peter 1:3-4 NASB
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

The resurrection vindicates Jesus as King.

John 20:11-16 NASB
11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).

This is our Living Hope: We have new life because Jesus lives.

Easter Sunday
John 19 & 20, Pastor Lance Ainsworth
March 31st, 2024
A Living Hope

Prayer Requests:


Group Discussion: What is your fondest Easter memory?

Read Aloud: John 20:1-16

1. John19:28 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, to fulfill the Scripture, said, “I am thirsty.” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
Why is it important Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Prophecies? Psalm 22 was written around 1000 years before Jesus was born, and it details the crucifixion. Do we chalk this up to coincidence? Does Biblical prophecy build up our faith?

2. John 19:29-30 “.A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up to His mouth. 30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” The term Tetelestai was shouted after a military victory and used in the marketplace to mean “paid for.” How do these two definitions work for us in the context of Jesus' life?

3. Acts 3:15 “you put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.” The early church message was centered around the resurrection. Does the resurrection of Jesus still have potency in your life? Would we still believe in Jesus if he wasn’t resurrected? How does sharing about the resurrection help our evangelistic efforts?

4. Jesus chose to reveal himself to Mary Magdalene first, a woman who had been delivered from 7 demonic spirits and was not a prominent member of society. Why did he choose her? Mary recognized Jesus’ voice when He said her name. What significance did that mean for Mary? Do you think Jesus knows your name? Does He call you by name?