1. Message: He Has Risen! April 5, 2015

2. The Burial of Jesus  On Friday after Jesus died, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Jewish council, asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:42-43)

3. Reasons Joseph Asked for Jesus’ Body 1)He was a secret disciple of Jesus. 2)He did not want Jesus’ body to be wickedly defiled.

4. The Significance of Joseph’s Request 1)Joseph would certainly be expelled from the Jewish council. 2)Joseph would become ceremonially unclean and would be unable to participate in the feasts and the Sabbath. 3)Joseph’s request could have incited Pilate’s anger.

5. Pilate’s Response 1)Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead. 2)Pilate verified that Jesus was dead by asking the Roman centurion. 3)Pilate granted the body of Jesus to Joseph of Arimathea.

6. Joseph’s Care of Jesus’ Body 1)He bought a linen shroud to wrap Jesus’ body. 2)He took Jesus down from the cross, washed his body, and wrapped his body in linen. 3)He laid Jesus’ body in the tomb he owned.

7. Joseph’s Actions  Everything Joseph of Arimathea did assumed that Jesus would stay dead.

8. The Women’s Preparation  After the Sabbath, three women purchased burial spices in preparation for Jesus’ body.

9. On The Way to the Tomb  At dawn, on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb.  Looking up, they saw the stone had already been rolled back.

10. In the Tomb  They entered the tomb and saw an angel in white sitting on the right and they were terrified.  The angel said: ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.’

11. In the Tomb  The angel said: ‘ He has risen! He is not here – see the place they laid him.’  The angel continued: ‘Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee – there you will see him, just as he told you!’

12. Resurrection Truths to Consider 1)Jesus did what he said he would do and he will continue to do what he said he will do – God’s Word is true! 2)Jesus calls us to follow him in faith and when we do – we will see him! 3)Only Jesus has power over death. 4)Jesus is alive and will return one day – just as he said he would!