The Champion – Part 1
Psalms 118 (1-14)
September 5, 2021
Tonight we come to the literal central message of the Bible.
You’ve likely heard it before, and I’ve not counted but it is said by many that Psalms 118 is the absolute middle chapter of the Bible.
• Before it is the shortest chapter in the Bible.
• After it is the longest chapter in the Bible.
• And Psalms 118 rests as the center.
The middle verse of the entire Bible is Psalms 118:8
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.”
Now, as I said, I didn’t count
So if you want to double-check that popular claim, have at it.
None the less tonight we come to the fabulous 118th.
It is the final Psalm in the 6 Psalm grouping known as “The Hallel”
• They are the grouping of hymns sung by Israel in commemoration of the Passover.
• By now you have no doubt noticed that they each effectively point to Christ,
• And perhaps none more obviously point to Him than the 118th.
Psalms 118 is at face value, “The Psalm of a Champion”
There is a champion who faces the battle of his life
And the outcome of his battle effects not only him,
But all who depend on his victory for life.
The champion enters the battle with nothing but his trust in the LORD,
And it is not long before it appears certain that the champion will lose.
• The odds are too great, the enemy is too strong
• And no one would lay odds on the survival of the champion.
However, the champion continues to trust God and God intervenes in a miraculous way,
• He grants victory to the champion
• And thus provides deliverance to all those who depended on him for victory.
Following the victory is a great parade which culminates at the temple of God
• Where the champion enters as the triumphant king
• And gives a sacrifice to God in gratitude for his great victory.
IT IS A GREAT STORY!
It is an event that Israel saw FORESHADOWED time and time again.
One could easily set the story of David and Goliath beside Psalms 118
And be convinced it is about his famous battle with the giant.
• You can see David facing overwhelming odds.
• You can see the surrounding Philistines and the taunting giant.
• You can see God deliver and the people saved as a result.
• You can watch David dancing during the victory parade as the people sing that “David has slain his ten-thousands”
The Psalm fits that story to a “T”
You could set the story of Daniel and the Lion’s Den beside Psalms 118
And be convinced that it is actually about him.
• You see Daniel in turmoil, conspired against and commanded not to pray.
• You see him trusting God regardless.
• You see his enemies surround him and his survival is hopeless.
• But God intervenes and Daniel is victorious.
• His victory means death for his enemies and deliverance for his people.
• And you can see Daniel and his God praised and glorified as a result.
This Psalm also fits that story to a “T”
Certainly it was a Psalm sung in commemoration of the Passover.
• Perhaps as the people sang they followed the dangers and exploits of Egypt.
• Perhaps they recognized the need to trust in God.
• Perhaps they saw overwhelming odds against them.
• Perhaps they remembered God’s supernatural deliverance.
• Perhaps they remembered how God cut off their enemies.
• Perhaps they rejoiced now to enter the temple and sacrifice to God for His great deliverance.
No doubt at the Passover such correlations were made.
And yet, more than anything, the Psalm has a prophetic tone.
It is a Psalm that trained its readers
To look for the coming deliverance of God.
AND LITTLE DID ISRAEL KNOW
THAT THERE WAS A DAY COMING
When they would spontaneously and even unknowingly
Use Psalms 118 as a script and act it out in broad daylight
As Jesus entered Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey.
They would even sing verses 25 and 26 verbatim to Him!
(25-26) “O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.”
“do save, we beseech You”
Is a sort of compound word in the Hebrew.
You know it as “Hosanna!”
At the triumphal entry of Christ the people sang, “Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD”
Without forethought and without definite intent,
And perhaps even without awareness,
As Jesus entered the city He was recognized by the masses
As the champion of Psalms 118.
It was such a startling event that it solidified in the minds
Of the Chief Priests that Jesus had to die.
In my mind, there’s really no sense nor any need
• For working through this Psalm in a some sort of secretive way
• And describing the Passover or David or Daniel
• When it is obvious that this Psalm has always been about Jesus.
The people of Israel may have sang it for years
And never known why,
But now we know better and so we’ll study it looking at Him.
It opens simply with BOLD INSTRUCTIONS.
(1-4) “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
In order to make sure that you don’t study this Psalm
With some sort of confusion regarding what your mood should be
The Psalmist spells it out.
The expected mood of the Psalm is: GRATITUDE.
“Give thanks to the LORD”
God has done something for you that you could not do for yourself.
He has stepped in and delivered you
From a foe that you could have never defeated.
YOU OWE HIM GRATITUDE.
But it’s not just for the deliverance He won.
But simply for who He is.
“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good”
There’s that word again; “good”
It is a word that is far too often used to describe humanity
When humanity absolutely DOES NOT FIT the description.
Even Jesus said it to the Rich Young Ruler:
Matthew 19:17 “And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good…”
• Only of God can we say that He lacks nothing…
• Only of God can we say that perfection dwells there…
• Only of God can we see such completion and perfection that nothing could be added or renovated in any way…
Only God is truly “good”
And this Psalm sings a song to celebrate the goodness of God.
God’s goodness which manifests itself in His loyal covenantal love.
What do you mean that God is “good”?
I mean He is not only good, but is good to us.
“For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
His CHECED never fails.
• His loyal covenantal love lasts for all eternity.
• He never forsakes…
• He never forgets…
• He never ignores…
• He is supremely loyal to those He has chosen…
And so the expected mood of the Psalm is that everyone would stop and “Give thanks to the LORD”
That includes THE CHOSEN
“Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
That includes THE CONSECRATED
“O let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
That includes THE CONVICTED
“O let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
And we might even add today that this mandate includes THE CHURCH
Who should also sing, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
What God has done for us through this Champion
Deserves our gratitude and praise for the rest of eternity.
Well, let’s take a look at this Champion tonight.
We’re going to break the Psalm down into 2 main points but each one will have to be broken down further.
#1 THE STORY OF THE REDEEMER
Psalms 118:5-21
These 17 verses tell for us “The story of the Champion”.
They take us not only into the battle
But into the heart of the Champion as He faced the danger.
We will break His tory down into 5 points.
1) HIS TURMOIL (5-7)
“From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place. The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.”
First we read about the Champion’s “distress”
We might think of Daniel here
• Receiving word that he could not legally pray to God in Babylon…
We might think of David here
• First hearing the bone-chilling taunt of the giant while visiting his brothers…
We might think of the Israelites
• Trampling straw into the mud pits in their slavery…
But in reality all of THOSE ARE FAR LESS
Than the stress of the true champion.
Hopefully you remember it from our recent study of Luke,
But the Scripture gives us great insight into the distress of our Champion.
Luke 22:41-44 “And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.”
If you write in your Bible,
Beside verses 5-7 you can write the word: GETHSEMANE
For it was in this garden that our Lord was in the distress of His life.
• It was in this garden that our Champion was in such distress that He fell into a medical condition caused by His stress.
• It is a condition where under duress and pressure a person exudes such strain that blood vessels are burst and blood flows out of the sweat glands.
This was our Lord’s distress.
The writer of Hebrews gives added insight here.
Hebrews 5:7-8 “In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.”
The writer of Hebrews there describes the behavior of our Lord as
“loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death”
What was happening in the garden?
Jesus was identifying with sinners.
• He was already beginning to sense condemnation.
• He was already beginning to be gripped with the fear of the judgment of God.
Many, in their lostness, have felt some degree of this
As they were made aware of their sin and the judgment of God upon it.
Many a man in that moment of horror cried out for mercy
From the God of the universe that they might be spared such agony.
That is where Christ was in the garden.
• Certainly there would be nothing fun about being arrested…
• Certainly there would be no joy in the series of mock trials and accusations…
• Certainly there would be great physical pain in the torment of the cross…
But those are not the things that caused grief to the Lord.
He was faced with the reality of the judgment of Holy God
For the sin that He now took upon Himself.
And like many a sinner in the world,
• He responded with “loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death”
• He “was praying fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling upon the ground.”
He was about to face the wrath of God mixed to full strength.
He will bear the punishment for all the sin of all the elect for all time.
It was His “distress”
And in that distress He says, “I called upon the LORD”
Indeed the writer of Hebrews says that
“He was heard because of His piety.”
That is to say that because He was holy and righteous God most certainly would have granted His request and saved Him from death, yet deliverance was not His only prayer.
We also read that in that garden He said,
“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me;
yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
And we further read, “Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.”
And thus we understand exactly what the Psalmist spoke of.
“From my distress I called upon the LORD; The LORD answered me and set me in a large place.”
God reassured our Champion as He faced the distress of the coming battle.
And the CONFIDENCE of our Champion is overwhelming.
(6-7) “The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.”
At once we see our Champion arise from prayer
And face the legion of soldiers who came to arrest Him.
It is the most gripping scenes of MEEKNESS the world has ever seen.
Here came a Roman cohort
• A Roman cohort at full strength was 1,000 men strong.
• It consisted of 760 infantry and 240 cavalry,
• And one was always in Jerusalem to control the peace.
• Commonly a cohort was simply 600 men
• And the smallest record of any Roman cohort was 200 men.
It was powerful scene as the traitor
Led the temple police and a Roman cohort to come and arrest Jesus.
John 18:3-11“Judas then, having received the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,” to fulfill the word which He spoke, “Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one.” Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put the sword into the sheath; the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?”
One reads such a scene and is forced to ask the question:
“Who is really in charge here?”
The numbers must point to Judas, but the event clearly points to Jesus.
• For the soldiers first kneel to Him…
• Then Jesus gives the orders regarding who they can arrest…
• Then Jesus stops a would-be rebellion…
• And finally Jesus agrees to go stand before His enemies…
He is a man of infinite POWER and infinite CONVICTION.
He might as well be wearing a T-shirt which says,
“The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore I will look with satisfaction those who hate me.”
He started in turmoil and distress for His mission was terrifying,
And yet He was strengthened by God to go and face His foe.
HE IS OUR CHAMPION!
His Turmoil
2) HIS TRUST (8-9)
His trust was proclaimed in verses 6-7,
But it is CONFIRMED yet again here.
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.”
One might try to see David here
• Refusing the armor of Saul before he faces the giant…
One might try to see Daniel here
• Refusing to appeal to Darius for some sort of deliverance from the lion’s den….
One might try to see the Israelites
• Patiently waiting for God to intervene with plagues to break the back of Egypt…
BUT THEIR TRUST PALES IN COMPARISON TO CHRIST.
Beside verses 8&9 in your Bible you can write the word: GABBATHA
John 19:9-13 “and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” As a result of this Pilate made efforts to release Him, but the Jews cried out saying, “If you release this Man, you are no friend of Caesar; everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.” Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.”
One of my favorite scenes in the entire Bible is this event
Which really became “The Trial of Pilate”
At this point Jesus had already BEEN THROUGH 5 TRIALS.
When He was arrested He was immediately taken
In the middle of the night to the house of Caiaphas for TRIAL #1.
Before He made into the house of Caiaphas, Annas intercepted Him in the courtyard and interrogated Jesus in an informal trial outside.
• It was there that Jesus was “struck” for failing to cow down to Annas.
From there Jesus was led to TRIAL #2
Which was in the house of Caiaphas
• Where false witnesses were produced and in the middle of the night Jesus was condemned.
• Again they begin to spit on Him and beat Him and to tell Him to “prophesy to us who hit You”
However, because the first two trials were illegal by Jewish Law for many reasons,
But perhaps primarily because it could not be held at night;
Friday morning after sunrise Jesus was led to TRIAL #3
This trial took place before the Sanhedrin at the council chamber
• Where they only objective was to get Jesus to admit publicly now what He had already stated earlier in the night
• Which was that He is “the Son of Man”
• And He “will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Jesus proclaimed it again, and also claimed to be the Son of God
And for the third time in a few hours He was condemned.
Following this formal conviction came TRIAL #4
Jesus was taken to Pilate
• But because Pilate could care less about Jesus’ claims to be the Son of God,
• Before Pilate Jesus was accused of insurrection by supposedly telling people not to pay taxes to Rome.
Pilate questioned Jesus and for the first time
Jesus received a verdict of “Not Guilty”.
Pilate found no guilt, but the Jews wouldn’t have it.
But the Jews wouldn’t have it so in desperation Pilate then determined
To send Jesus to Herod for trial who happened to be in Jerusalem.
Because Pilate was stuck He sent Jesus to TRIAL #5
Jesus was taken before Herod
• However, even as Herod mocked and ridiculed Jesus,
• Jesus said nothing to Herod
• So Herod deferred to Pilate that he didn’t see anything deserving of death in Jesus either.
And by the time we get to the text we read in John 19
Jesus has now been tried 5 times and is now finally standing again
Before the ONLY MAN who thought He was INNOCENT.
Having been condemned in 3 previous trials,
Beaten in at least two of them,
And certainly mocked in another.
IT WOULD APPEAR AT THE MOMENT
That Jesus’ best chance of getting out of this mess would be by appealing to Pilate.
• He was the only One who didn’t seem to have some ulterior motive for wanting Jesus dead.
But when Jesus stood before Pilate He refused to ask for help.
I’ll read it again:
John 19:10-11 “So Pilate said to Him, “You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
And with that passage we look again at the Psalm of our champion
And read: (8-9) “It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes.”
Our champion did not waiver.
Jeremiah 17:5-8 “Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. “For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.”
Our Champion had that kind of trust.
• He was convinced that “The LORD is for me”
• He had already asked “What can man do to me?”
• He knew that with the help of the LORD, “I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.”
AND SO
• There was no need to appeal to Pilate.
• There was no need to put all His hope in Pilate’s abilities.
• There was no need to appeal to Pilate’s mercy.
Our Champion rested in the hands of God.
And even though Pilate would still try to release Him,
Pilate was unwilling to face hostility for the sake of Jesus.
So we read:
John 19:13 “Therefore when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.”
It is the most remarkable demonstration of faith in God
That the world has ever seen.
OUR CHAMPION IS UNFLAPPABLE.
His Turmoil, His Trust
3) HIS TRIAL (10-14)
“All nations surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. They surrounded me like bees; They were extinguished as a fire of thorns; In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off. You pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”
Again, one might be tempted to see David here
• Facing the giant with the Philistines littering the hillside beyond…
Or one might wish to see Daniel
• With the entire weight of the Persian government against him…
Or one might wish to see Israel,
• Hated by Egypt but also being led to a land of Promise which was already inhabited by her soon to be enemies…
But none of those stories fit as accurately as that of Christ Jesus.
4 times in these 5 verses we read that our Champion was “surrounded”
The fury of His enemies is likened to “bees” and to “a fire of thorns”
It is a relentless pursuit of attack from every side.
EVERYONE IS AGAINST HIM.
Luke 23:35-39 “And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” Now there was also an inscription above Him, “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
It was Jesus against the world.
• Romans were gambling for His clothes…
• The crowd was indifferent to His suffering…
• The chief priests were mocking Him…
• Even the criminals next to Him were mocking Him…
He was surrounded and they jabbed Him from every side.
And yet, because of the LORD
Our Champion was confident that
“In the name of the LORD I will surely cut them off.”
And He says that 3 times.
Despite the anger and resentment and rage that was thrown at Him,
Our Champion had no fear of those around Him.
• He knew they would one day bow.
• He knew they would not be given the final word.
• He knew that God had already promised Him to reign over them.
• He knew that one day He would break their knees and crush them like earthen ware.
In fact He was so confident of His future victory over them that He could do the unthinkable at the cross and actually offer terms of peace.
• He would pray for their forgiveness and plead for their mercy.
• He would even save one of the thieves hanging next to Him.
Our Champion was surrounded and attacked
But still there was NO FEAR THAT HE MIGHT LOSE.
AND THEN THE REAL BATTLE STARTED.
Then He faced the foe He had dreaded back in the garden.
(13a) “You pushed me violently so that I was falling…”
Literally there in the Hebrew He says, “I fell…”
• Our Champion stood before the giant as a representative on our behalf.
• And even though the Philistines taunted from the hillside…
• And even though his own brothers scorned him from his own camp…
THE REAL FIGHT WAS NOW UPON HIM.
He faced sin and He faced death.
And He faced the fierce wrath of a Holy God.
Next to verses 10-14 you can write the word: GOLGOTHA
Matthew 27:32-46 “As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink. And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” At that time two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. “HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words. Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?”
Here at Golgotha our Lord faced the wrath of God.
• Darkness fell which pictured “The Day of the LORD”
• Which was a day of God’s judgment on His enemies.
• It was a day of “deep darkness”.
• And as God’s wrath fell it was not the Romans who begged for mercy…
• And as God’s wrath fell it was not the Jews who expressed torment…
As God’s wrath fell it was Christ who cried
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Isaiah 53:4-6 “Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.”
There may have been many enemies and many foes
That our Champion faced in battle,
BUT THE GREATEST WAS GOD HIMSELF.
God was pleased to crush Him on the cross.
God poured out His wrath in full measure on Christ.
It was a trial against impossible odds.
It was a battle that none could win.
• If you suppose David was an underdog against the giant…
• If you suppose Daniel was an underdog against a den of lions…
• If you suppose Israel was an underdog against the army of Egypt…
THEN LOOK AGAIN AT THE CROSS.
Here was Jesus bearing all the sin for all the elect for all time
And He was suffering God’s wrath on all of it.
NONE COULD SURVIVE.
“You pushed me violently so that I was falling,”
• On the cross He had completed His mission and said “It is finished!”
• And He died.
And yet, in a marvelous display of God’s sovereign grace.
As God crushed His Son, God also strengthened His Son.
“But the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”
• David saw the stone sink into the forehead of the giant…
• Daniel saw the lions fall asleep…
• Israel saw the Red Sea split in two…
But what is about to happen for our Champion
Is a comeback of epic proportion.
Because it was late in the day
• His body was somewhat hastily thrown in the nearby tomb of a rich man…
• The woman had no time to adorn His body…
• He was placed in the tomb and a stone was rolled over the entrance…
Steps were then taken to make sure this Champion stayed dead.
Matthew 27:62-66 “Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, “Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I am to rise again.’ “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.”
And for 3 days the defeat of the Champion seemed certain.
• The woman wept and torturously waited for the Sabbath to end so that they might go anoint His body.
• His followers frantically returned to the upper room and locked the door for they feared for their own lives.
• No doubt the chief priests had a celebratory Passover meal like none they had ever enjoyed before.
THE CHAMPION WAS DEAD…
But as the old preacher said,
“It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!”
The scene begins to reveal itself
Early Sunday morning when the women go to anoint His body…
Matthew 28:1-5 “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.”
And that is what we call a cliffhanger…
We’ll follow the story of our Champion next Sunday night.
In the meantime we “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
