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July 5, 2015
Series: Discovering the Life Changing Gospel
Forensic Evidence that Leaves No Doubt

John 19:31–42 (HCSB)
31 Since it was the preparation day, the Jews did not want the bodies to remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special day). They requested that Pilate have the men’s legs broken and that their bodies be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the other one who had been crucified with Him. 33 When they came to Jesus, they did not break His legs since they saw that He was already dead. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows he is telling the truth. 36 For these things happened so that the Scripture would be fulfilled: Not one of His bones will be broken. 37 Also, another Scripture says: They will look at the One they pierced. 38 After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission, so he came and took His body away. 39 Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. 40 Then they took Jesus’ body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. 41 There was a garden in the place where He was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. 42 They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

1. THE PIERCING OF JESUS’ BODY PROVED HE WAS DEAD. (19:31-37)

• You don’t have to break the bones of a dead man.

Psalm 34:20 (HCSB)
20 He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken.

• He was pierced for our transgressions.

Zechariah 12:10 (HCSB)
10 “Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the house of David and the residents of Jerusalem, and they will look at Me whom they pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps for a firstborn.”
Isaiah 53:5 (HCSB)
5 But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.

2. THE PREPARATION OF JESUS’ BODY PROVED THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS DEATH. (19:38-40)

• Prominent Jews took care of the burial of Jesus’ body.

Luke 23:50 (HCSB)
50 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin…

John 3:1 (HCSB)

1 There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

• Had there been any possibility that Jesus was not dead, it would have been discovered.

3. THE PLACING OF JESUS’ BODY IN THE TOMB PROVED THE POWER OF WHAT WAS TO COME. (19:41-42)

• The grave (tomb) was a necessary step in God’s plan.

• Jesus would overcome death and the grave, but He had to be there for that to happen.

• Victory is often just around the corner from defeat.

1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (HCSB)
54 When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory.
55 Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The proof that Jesus died (not fainted, swooned, or passed out) on the cross, would set the stage for the resurrection. The measures that the enemies of Christ would go to in order to be sure He was dead, gives us confidence that He died for us.