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Sermon
of 12-22-01
A DAY of SURPRISES
by Dr. David Farmer, pastor
"Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them. V:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. V:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus."
Luke 24:1-3
Tuesday, September 11, 2001, did the events of that day come as surprise? Was America caught unaware - ignorant - uninformed? Were we so naive and unacquainted with these terrorists? How could they highjack our jets and crash them into our tallest buildings and the Pentagon? We had questions that day. Some still have questions. Questions like; Why hadn't our government watched these terrorist better? Today, we hear reports that they did. They had been watching them for years. We had our spies watching their every move. But nevertheless, we were not ready or prepared for the terrible events of that Tuesday. It will be a date that will live in our hearts our entire life.
As each surprise came we asked two questions. Why? How? It's not because we were there physically that we will remember the events of that day. But each of us watched on TV and heard the reports from others that were there. Vivid reports with powerful information. So powerful it was if we were there. Almost as if we encountered the events firsthand.
As if we were there with a shovel in our hands searching at Ground Zero through the rumble for the 3,000 plus that was missing. With every shovel full - tears would fall. Tears for the innocent men and women who died only because they were born in a land of the free. And they died to protect our freedom. Yes, Tuesday, September 11, 2001 will always be remembered as a day of surprises.
There is another day we all remember. The day Christ was born. We celebrate that day every year. We will do so in a few days again. And there is also another day we all remember.
There is another day we all remember. Not a Tuesday, but a Friday. It too is a day full of surprises with every turn of events. And with each event of surprises we again ask two questions; Why? How? It's not because we were there physically that we will remember the events. But each of us have read the reports from others that were there. Vivid reports with lots of powerful information. So powerful - it again was as if we were there. And just like the attacks in New York and Washington, it's as if we encountered the events firsthand. As if we were there on a Hill called Golgotha - standing below an old rugged cross.
And at times we may even feel like we held the hammer and nails in our hand. With every pound of the hammer tears fall, for we know that this innocent Man is being crucified for us.
Yes, that Friday some 2000 years ago will also be remembered as a day of surprises. The day Jesus Christ died for you and me.
Lets look the report of that day found in Luke 23. This is the biography of Jesus. Turn there with me. Oh by the way, Dr. Luke was not there either. He wasn't an eyewitness to the birth or death of Christ. Some of the biographies of Jesus were written by eyewitness like John. But Luke by trade was a physician and a historian. He liked to write down events and stories of what others would say. And although all of the events pertaining to Christ had been predicted for generations they came as a complete surprise. No one expected that Christ, the long waited for Messiah would die such a horrible and unbelievable death. Look at verse 26. "And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus."
Here is a man by the name of Simon of Cyrene. He had come to celebrate Passover. But can you imagine the shock on his face when he stumbled upon the Crucifixion. This had to have been a total surprise to Simon. To see Jesus, being lead off like a sheep to slaughter. Then, an event of surprise takes place right in front of him; Jesus crumbles under the weight of the cross. As he expressed his compassion a Roman Soldier seized him and placed the heavy cross upon his shoulders. But Simon was grateful to do it for his Redeemer.
Next, Jesus death march must have been a surprise for the mourners. Listen to verses 27:
"And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him."
As Jesus was released from the weight of the Cross-, a great company follows Him toward Calvary. And as Jesus walks toward His death He hears and sees women crying for Him. This attracted Christ's full attention. Soon Jesus speaks to them, verse 28;
"But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children."
Jesus could see into the future. He could see the fall of Jerusalem that was coming in 40 years. And in that terrible scene, apparently some of those there were to perish with their children.
His death also came to a surprise for His executioners. Theses tough, veteran soldiers who had so many times before lead men to be crucified could see something different about Jesus. As they nailed His hand and feet they noticed that Jesus spoke not a word. The Saviour murmured no complaint. The other two that were being crucified with Him yelled and tried to get away, but not Jesus! These soldiers had become desensitized to the curses, pleas, and threats of the ones being laid out on the wooden crosses. These men were not usually surprised about anything. Yet never had they come across anyone like Jesus. You see, while the soldiers were doing their fearful work Jesus prayed for them. Listen to verse 34;
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
This was enough to shock even the toughest of soldiers. Those words must have echoed thru their minds a thousand times a day after the Crucifixion. It's no wonder that the Centurion said in verse 47;
"Certainly this was a righteous man."
The forgiveness that Jesus offered that day had to have surprised and shocked all that heard Him.
Does His forgiveness still surprise you today? Think about your sins that you have committed against Him just this morning. Yet we are promised complete forgiveness if we ask and believe. I'm surprised that no matter what I have done - Jesus still seeks me and loves me.
The death of Christ probably surprised others that were not even at Calvary. Verse 44 says;
"And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour."
The land was dark. Christ had been placed on the cross somewhere around 9:00 that morning. Then around noon the sun refuses to shine any longer. Can you imagine what the people that wasn't at the cross thought? He stays on the cross until 3:00 pm. My friends, this was the darkest hour in human history. 2 Cor. 5:21 says;
"Jesus, who knew no sin, was made sin for us." He took on the sins of the world. He died so that we could live. The Creator, the Saviour, paid the price of sin for us - death.
Another person surprised at Christ death was next to Him also on a cross. A common criminal saw in Jesus hope, love, peace, and above all else - forgiveness. He even asked a question to his friend. Listen to verse 40 of Luke 23;
"But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?"
This thief asks you and I the same question to us today. "Do you not fear God?" I looked that word fear up in Greek. "Thou fear God?" means "That is, before whose judgment seat you must appear."
We must all face God someday. But we have nothing to fear if we have accepted Christ and His forgiveness today.
Another person that was surprised was Pilate. Listen to Mark 15:44; "And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling [unto him] the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead."
You do realize that it was not the Cross or nails that Christ die of? Friends, I believe He died of a broken heart. He could have come down from that cross anytime He wanted to. But He could not save Himself and save us too. And He knew it.
There's no doubt that the Priest had to be surprised also. Back over in Matt. 27:51-53 we read; "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; V:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, V:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."
When the loud cry "It is finished" came from the lips of Jesus, the Priests were officiating the evening sacrifice in the Temple. The Lamb that represented the Coming Messiah had been brought to be slain. As the Priest raised his knife an Earthquake shakes the ground and the lamb escapes. The veil is torn from top to bottom by unseen Hands. There is terror and confusion. And there that Friday afternoon one of the greatest surprise of all commences; Type met Antitype. The great Sacrifice had been made. No longer would sinful man have to come to a priest and have him officiate as priest and advocate to God. The Saviour of the world was to now be the High Priest and officiate for a sinners needs. He was to be our Advocate forever more. Yes the priest had to be surprised at Christ death.
Next Satan had to be surprised. No not at His death, for that was his goal all along. But at His Resurrection.
When Christ had been laid in the grave Satan celebrated and rejoiced. He just knew he had won the war that he started many years before in Heaven. He set his own evil angels around the tomb seeking to hold Christ a prisoner. He claimed the Lord's body. He was not going to let anything get in his way. But then another surprise takes place. God's Angels show up early Sunday morning. This causes Satan angels to flee. And Satan knew if Christ came forth from that grave that his kingdom was lost forever. He knew that someday he too would have to die for all the harm and sin he has caused to God's children.
Friends are you surprised to know that it is God who makes the rules and not us. In His Word He gives us His instructions on how to be ready for Jesus to come. With all that is happening around the world it is not a time to be wondering if you are saved or not. It's not a time to thinking about getting ready. It's time to be ready!
Well, I need to start wrapping this sermon up but before I do I want to look at 3 more surprises that will be coming your way soon.
When Christ comes the 2nd time I believe the first surprise that will come to each one of us is: We will be surprised that we made it! Everyday we wonder, we worry, and we fear that we are not ready for Jesus. We forget His love and His forgiveness. When we get there, you won't want to ask why! You will only want to thank Him.
The next surprise will be; When we get there we will be surprise to see someone we just knew would be there is not. What if your spouse, children, or pastor is not there? You thought they followed Jesus. You saw to it they were at church each week. Taught them to keep the Sabbath and pay their tithe. Yet they are not there. They are lost. Wouldn't you want to know why?
And the last surprise will be: Someone we knew would not be there is! What if your neighbor was Osama Bin Laden or Hitler? And you will want to know why? How? You will want to say, Lord, I knew them. And God will hand you the books and say "You be the judge." And friends another surprise will be we get to judge the Judge!
One more surprise is found in Matt. 25:13; "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh."
April 1st is traditionally known as "April Fool's Day". But I believe the greatest fool there is, is the person that rejects Christ today.
Friends, just like the clean up in New York and Washington will take sometime, don't be surprise take it takes God a while to clean you up. Maybe even a lifetime. His promise is Salvation and a clean heart. Will you ask for forgiveness right now? If you do, then you will not be surprised at His 2nd Coming. Like they were of His 1st Coming.
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