On This Day: Abib/Nisan 14

Today is a Sabbath. It's, of course, our weekly Sabbath. But I wanted to draw our attention today on the Sabbath. We have an opportunity to talk about the 14th of Nicin in a rather unique way, because this Sabbath also happens to be the 14th of Nicin. Or, Abib is what it was called in the Old Testament. And so we have a special opportunity, I felt, to think about the events that happened, historical events that happened on this day, the 14th of Nicin. Now, it was called Nicin. It was Abib. You can even see references to it in the Old Testament. The first month is called Abib. The name was changed to Nicin after the Jews returned from exile in Babylon. Now, of course, as we begin to talk about the 14th of Nicin, just to remind us all, God set up a measurement of time and of days, a calendar, differently from the Roman calendar we have today. God starts each 24-hour day at sunset. And so, I think we understand that. I'm pretty sure we do. Sunset to sunset is our Sabbath, for example. The Sabbath began at sunset last night, Friday night, and will end at sunset tonight, Saturday night. But, it also marked the 14th of Nicin. And so, last night also marked at sunset the beginning of the 14th, and sunset tonight will mark the end of the 14th. And that is how God ordained it.

And so, we find God's Holy Days, the very first full Holy Day, as he set it up, is the first day of 11 bread. It begins at sunset tonight. It will be Nicin 15. Let's turn back to Leviticus 23, 4-8. I'm trying to remember who's speaking tomorrow. I promise not to try to take away your whole sermon. But, you know, what is it? Necessity is the mother of invention. And I'm sure you'll be inspired, Mr. Crane, if I do broach too much on your topic. I'm trying not to, and I hope I did not.

We usually do not confer with each other before we speak, so who goes first? There you go. Anyway, I'm trying not to be greedy. Let's look at Leviticus 23, 4-8. And it's very good to remind ourselves that the Passover, God's Holy Days, the Feast of 11 Bread, starting tonight, these are not Jewish days. These are God's days. Leviticus 23, 4. These are the Feast of the Lord. They're God's. Holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the appointed times. This is God speaking through Moses, telling him what to teach. On the 14th day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover.

And on the 15th day of the same month is the Feast of 11 Bread to the Lord. Seven days you must eat 11 bread. On the first day you shall have a Holy Convocation, and you shall do no customary work on it. That's what we'll be doing starting tonight through tomorrow. Verse 8, but you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord for seven days.

The seventh day shall be a Holy Convocation, and you shall do no customary work on it. And so those are the days God has set up. We see the 14th day at twilight, the Passover. The 15th day begins the Feast of 11 Bread, first day of 11 Bread. So since we've gathered to worship God today on the weekly Sabbath, which also happens to be the 14th of Nicene, it's especially meaningful, I believe, for us to consider the profound events that happen on this day as recorded in God's Holy Scripture.

And so my intent today is to help us remember, especially as we look forward to partaking of the night to be much remembered, observed, my purpose to help bring into focus a little bit more, the truly astounding things that our Heavenly Father and Christ His Son have accomplished. Their fulfilling a plan is still in the process of being fulfilled, a plan of salvation for all humanity. And so I have the title today's message, On This Day, Nice on 14. On This Day, Nice on 14.

N-I-S-A-N. So let's start by turning to Exodus 12. Let's go back to the first major event in human history, as far as, I think, well, there are many, but anyway, if those regarding on this day. It's around the year 1443 BC, and sometimes the years fluctuate, 1445 in that area. But it seems to have been around 1443 BC. As the sunset drew near, marking the start of the 14th day of Nice on back then, it was called Abebe, the children of Israel were busily obeying God's specific instructions. Now, the children of Israel will not always be very meticulous about keeping God's instructions.

That's the rest of the story. But on this night, it's interesting, it seems they all did a very good job of doing what God had instructed them to do, because it was on the 14th of Abebe that God would pass over their houses. And so it has to do, the instructions had to do to the final plague, that God was going to have fall upon Egypt.

And it had to do with that night being the very first passover. So what happened on this day would become a reminder of God's powerful and miraculous intervention for his people. Then, and now, and forever, is to be remembered. If you hear us talking a lot about the past, it's saying the words remember, recall, it's because that is what a commemoration is about. It's what God has commanded us to do. It's very important that we not forget.

This day, this, that night, that first passover, it would also foreshadow the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, would offer his unblemished, sinless life as a sacrifice for all the sins of humanity. And of course, we heard, that was our focus last night at Passover. And so on this day, we're going to read here in just a bit, the twilight portion of the evening that began the 14th day literally means the two, between the two evenings, that's between the going down of the sun in full darkness coming on.

And it's that time as we're going to read that the children of Israel were to kill the unblemished lamb or goat they had been keeping since the 10th day. So their preparation was rather extensive. They began early to make sure that everything was set and settled and ready to be done and completed on that day of the 14th. And they prepared everything according to God's instructions. So let's read Exodus 12, verse 5 through 14 together. And these were God's instructions to Moses and Aaron for that first passover. Exodus 12, verse 5, your lamb shall be without a blemish, a male of the first year, and you may take it from the sheep or from the goats.

Now you shall keep it until the 14th day of the same month. And then the whole assembly, the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. Again, between the two evenings. Verse 7, and they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lentil of the houses, the sides and above the doorway.

And let's see. Two doorposts on the lentil of the houses where they shall eat it. Where they eat it. And then they shall eat the flesh on that night, roasted in fire with unleavened bread, and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat it raw, I can't even imagine that, do not eat it raw nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire. And notice, with its head, with its legs, and its entrails. It was an entire roast, entire sacrifice. Of course, we know it foreshadows what Christ would give. He'd give his would be a total sacrifice. Verse 10, you shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. And thus, you shall eat it. Here's how you're going to eat it. With a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And so you shall eat it in haste. Sounds like it's not supposed to be just a luxurious five-course meal and all the trimmings. There's a very important lesson involved here. It is the Lord's Passover. Verse 12, for I will pass, I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And against all the gods of Egypt, I will execute judgment. I am the Lord. Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. And so this day shall be to you a memorial. It's something you're going to keep remembering. And you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations. You shall keep it as a feast by an everlasting ordinance. It is something we're to keep observing. And again, it's interesting when we know later on the history of the children of Israel is going to be there rather stubborn. They don't always do what God says, but every we get the sense from what we read in the Old Testament, there's no problem with them following the directions on that night. They seem very eager to do it. Now if you, the Beyond Today Bible commentary offers a listing of the many important events that happened that night in AB 14. I thought I'd just run through those real quick, kind of a quick summary of what we read if we didn't catch some of this. Among the things they had to do then on AB 14, the lamb was killed, its blood was put on the entrances of the houses, the lamb was roasted, they ate it with solemnity, and that state of preparedness, because they knew the next day when the daylight rose, it would still be on AB 14, but daylight would come, morning would come, and they had a full day's activities to accomplish. So they had to be ready.

One part we didn't read in this section, but our list from Beyond Today Bible commentary brings out, and it's elsewhere in Exodus, is that the children were to be specifically taught the meaning of these events. When the children would ask, why do we do this, the parents, the family were to explain it to their children. That is a very important thing that we must be doing with our children, or our grandchildren, if we get them to sit still, maybe ask and listen. It's important to be passing this down.

This is the most important legacy we could pass to our children, is God's truth, God's wisdom. That's the most important legacy. Next, at midnight, oh excuse me, next, they were not to go out of their houses until morning. And at midnight, the Lord would pass over the homes with the evidence of blood on the entrances, but he had spared the firstborn males of man and animals within, if they were within the house.

And then what remained of the sacrifice was to be burned. Now let's go on to verse 29, Exodus 12 still, and verse 29. And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the captive, who is in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. And so Pharaoh rose in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians, and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

And every time I read that sentence, it just stuns me. I can't wrap my mind around it. God was making a point. And then he meaning Pharaoh, then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night. Now would they have come? No, because they were not to leave their houses to mourning. So they would not have come. Prolly sent a message, and he said, Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel, and go serve the Lord as you have said, and also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone.

And bless me also. That last phrase always makes me pause. Is he asking for a specific blessing, or is he suggesting that it'll be a blessing if you go? It'd be a personal blessing. Maybe it's a little bit of both. Well then at morning light on that same day, ABib 14, the Israelites could leave their houses, and of course they had much to do in a little bit of time. The Egyptians were mourning their dead, burying in them, and they really wanted to see Israel get out of Egypt, get out of town fast.

Verses 33-36. And the Egyptians urged the people that they might send them out of the land in haste, for they said, We shall all be dead. And so the people, the Israelites, took their dough before it was leavened. Here's the reason why they had unleavened bread. So the people took their dough before it was leavened, before it could have the yeast put in it and let it rise, and having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.

Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses. Again, they listened. They did what he said. And they had asked from the Egyptians, articles of silver, articles of gold and clothing, and the Lord had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested, and thus they plundered the Egyptians.

Some scholars talk about it's kind of like they finally got their back pay. They got the wages for all the terrible labor they had been doing. And of course, the children of Israel did need to hurry. As many scholars have recognized, and through the years, and taught us, Goshen, in the northern part of Egypt, part of the Egyptian delta area was a very large area of land. And it seems the children of Israel would have been broadly scattered through that area.

And so some would have had quite a few miles to go. And by the way, we're not talking about hopping in the old car or old truck, loading it down, and driving 12-20 miles in about, well, it depends on how heavy your foot is, in a few minutes they had a walk. They had a walk, and it was not paved road, I'm sure, all the way. And of course, they also had to take their cattle and their flocks with them.

And yes, even children, it all can be like trying to herd cats, as we say. This would not have been an easy process. This is not something easily done and just move out in a very, I'm sure it was somewhat orderly, I'm sure they had done some sort of preparation, but there was need for urgency because they were expected to be at Ramses, to gather at a city called Ramses.

That was their rendezvous point. That was their point where they'd gather and then they would depart from there to Sukhoth and then elsewhere. And so if we're wondering how many, and this is always fascinating too, we remember this every year and it's important that we do, verses 37-39. This is explaining how once they arrived at Ramses, how they had a journey. I'm always amazed it says that about, verse 37, still in Exodus 12, it says about 600,000 men on foot besides children, and of course women as well. And I know our literature tends to suggest it could have been over three million people, a total, sometimes less.

It depends on what you read, but is easily based on what Scripture says. It would must have been millions of people. Verse 38, The mixed multitude went up with them also in flocks and herds, a great deal of livestock. So many times when I imagine this Exodus, I remember the people, but I forget the livestock. And that is, that must have been, again, hundreds of thousands of animals they had to keep track of. And they baked on leaven cakes of dough, which they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leaven because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait. They didn't have time to wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves.

And so it seems then by the time sun had set on Abed 14, the people had arrived more or less in Ramses, and then it was time to set out. It was time to leave. And the Israel left Egypt. They were let out of Egypt on Abed 15. Now please hold your place here in Exodus 12, and let's go to Numbers 33 through 4 and highlight additional information about what we call the Exodus, specifically the day and time when they left. Numbers 33 verse 3 through 4.

And again, this is a little more poignant because, again, right now on this day, according to Hebrew Calendar, we are on Abed 14, Nicem 14 right now. So that's kind of the connection for us. So Numbers 33 verse 3 through 4. And they departed from Ramses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month, on the day after the Passover, the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. For the Egyptians were bearing all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them, and also on their gods the Lord had executed judgments. And then the children of Israel moved from Ramses and Kamtut Sukkoth. Also, let's turn to Deuteronomy 16 verse 1. Deuteronomy 16 verse 1, it reaffirms that they left Egypt. And more specifically, of course, it tells us what time of the day, what time on the fifteenth. Deuteronomy 16 verse 1, it reveals they left at night. And so we read, observe the month of Abib and keep the Passover to the Lord your God. For in the month of Abib, the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. By night. So now back to Exodus 12 and 41-42. And so God brought the children of Egypt, excuse me, let's get that right. God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt on the night of Abib 15 at the very beginning then of the days of 11 bread, verse 41. And it came to pass at the end of the 430 years on the very same day it came to pass that all the armies of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night of solemn observance to the Lord for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the Lord, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations. Of course, the Hebrew word, as we recall, perhaps remember or should know, observance means to watch. It means to keep vigil, as in being on guard, being aware, being vigilant. And so that night as they left, God kept watch over Israel. And the descendants of Israel are to commemorate or remember that night by keeping a vigil or watching, you might say, we could say watching God, being focused on God, but also being focused on what happened that night. And we call it in the Church of God, our tradition is to call it the night to be much observed. And our tradition is also to gather with our family and brethren for good food and fellowship as Abeb 14 ends and the 15th begins, and we'll be doing that in just a few hours now. And while we fellowship, I'd encourage us, as we are always encouraged, to talk about what God did on this day, now about 3,470 years ago, and how those events impact us now. You might think, well, that happened so many thousands of years ago. What does that have to do with me? Okay, you answer that one. I'm going to pull the teacher on you. You answer that question and then get back with me, because it is very much connected. And also we could talk about, as a as an example, as a symbol, consider what God did for us and leading us out of sin and death through salvation. And of course, we follow Jesus Christ. There's much more to be said about this night, but I'm going to leave it be, because that's something you can discuss, maybe together, with your friends and family tonight, on the night to be much observed.

Now, of course, there are other extraordinary events that occurred on this day, nice and 14. Let's shift our attention now to 31 A.D. to 31 A.D. In 31 A.D., Nice and 14 began at sunset on Tuesday, and it ended at sunset on Wednesday.

At the beginning of Nice and 14, at the appointed time, is directed in Leviticus 23, and also in Exodus 12, Jesus kept his final Passover with his 12 closest disciples, and we rehearsed that quite a bit last night at the Passover service. And after the meal has ended, Jesus instituted the new symbols. He established foot washing to instruct his disciples to live by his personal example of service and self-sacrifice, the way of God. The symbols of the bread and wine replaced the sacrificial lambs from the Old Testament, which were a type of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Lamb of God, our Passover. And the 11 bread and wine represent his total sacrifice. His total sacrifice, much like that whole roasted lamb, entrails and all, was a total sacrifice. The bread and wine represent total sacrifice, his suffering, and his death.

So last night, we who are baptized kept the Passover. We took the symbols. In the words of Christ, we read, I'm sure, still fresh in our hearts and minds. And well, they should be. But we left off our reading last night with Jesus and the disciples walking to the Mount of Olives. That's where we closed the service, and we sang a hymn, and we went home. But, nice and 14 was not done. Nice and 14 continued on through the morning hours and the daylight hours until sunset. There's much more that occurred on this day in 31 A.D. So now, let's turn to Luke 22. Let's turn to Luke 22 and recall what happened on this day, nice and 14 and 31 A.D. This is part of our commemorating, remembering this day. Luke 22, 41, 42, 41, 44, my fingers do not want to work well today again. Luke 21, 41. And here, Luke records, what we're seeing here, we're going to read here, is Luke records Jesus' prayers in the Garden of Cassinum. And this is, it reads, is it just almost immediately before he was arrested. And his prayers, what we were going to see is how his prayers reveal that he truly, even at this point, was suffering, and he was sorrowful. Christ is called the suffering servant. Luke 22, 41. And Jesus was withdrawn from them, disciples about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if it is your will, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. And that's a powerful, powerful statement. That should be our approach and attitude toward God every day. Your will be done. Verse 43, then an angel appeared to him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. And then his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Now Matthew adds in his account how Jesus said, even in his prayer, he said, well, he recorded, is recorded saying that he was exceedingly sorrowful even to death. He explained that to the disciples. It was recorded. That's Matthew 26, 38. And, of course, Jesus, though, although he is sorrowing, he is agonizing about the death he is about to face, he came willingly. He came willingly to pay humanity's penalty of death for sin, and as you heard in the in the sermonette, so that all could be forgiven. We still have to choose to repent, but Jesus Christ made the possibility available. He came willingly, but as a human being, he agonized over his approaching death. He knew exactly what he was about to face.

They had just eaten their Passover just a few hours earlier. When Jesus then was arrested, it seems more than likely right around midnight, which is an interesting parallel with that very first Passover. Let's turn now to Mark 14, Mark 14, 43 through 50. As we continue to rehearse what happened on the rest of this day, on this day, Nice and 14.

So we're turning to Mark 14, 43 through 50.

Here Jesus has been praying. He's been asking his disciples, are you still sleeping? Wake up! Can't you stay awake with me? And then verse 43, immediately while he was still speaking, Judas. Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now his betrayer, Judas, had given them a signal saying, Whomever I kiss, he is the one. Seize him and lead him away safely. Verse 45, as soon as he had come, immediately he went up to him, to Jesus, and said to him, Rabbi, Rabbi, and kissed him. Sounds like you're approaching like a friend, like a buddy. And then verse 46, then they laid their hands on him, on Jesus, and took him. And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Mark doesn't tell us who it was. John does.

John 18.10 tells us it was Peter. It was Peter who did that. And then Jesus answered and said to them, to this gang of people who came to arrest him, he says, Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But the scriptures must be fulfilled. And of course, the scripture would be Zechariah 13.7, Strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. And then they all forsook him and fled. It's rather somewhat elegant way to say the disciples ran away. They ran away. They got out of there. Jesus was taken then before Caiaphas, the high priest, and the Sanhedrin to be tried and condemned. Let's turn to Matthew 26. It's the next step, we might say, in what happened on this day. Matthew 26, 59-68.

Now, by the way, before we read this, it's only I think we know this, that clearly Jesus's trial was never intended to be fair. It was never intended to be fair. The Sanhedrin had already conspired to execute him. They only needed an excuse to do so. In our nomenclature today, we would call this a kangaroo court. They'd already figured out what they're going to do. They just had to figure out how to do it under the cover of legality. Verse 59, Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the counsels sought false testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.

Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. They found none that you and I had to find two that would agree. But at last, finally, two false witnesses came forward. They said, this fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.

And of course, we get it. We know what he really said, what he was really talking about. Verse 62, And the high priest arose and said to him, and here we see that Jesus was there. He was standing before his accusers. And the high priest arose and said to Jesus, Do you answer nothing? What is it these men testify against you? But Jesus kept silent. It's much like we read last night, Isaiah 53. He was like a lamb silent before the shearers. He kept silent. He wasn't going to be argumentative and boisterous and loud. But then the high priest answered and said to him, I put you under oath by the living God. Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God. So you see, at that moment, Caiaphas invokes God and compels Jesus to speak.

And Jesus did. He spoke. Verse 64. Jesus said to him, It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the power and coming on the clouds of heaven. He spoke truth. And then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, He has spoken blasphemy. What further need do we have of witnesses? See, they no longer needed the witnesses because they have the testimony of his own words. He is speaking truth. They thought he was speaking lies. I gave a sermon not so long ago about how darkness cannot comprehend the light. They cannot comprehend the truth. He was speaking. What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard his blasphemy. They're actually being the ones being blasphemous. They didn't realize it. And he asked the Sanhedrin, What do you think? And they answered and said, He is deserving of death. And then they spat in his face and beat him, and others struck him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophecy to us, Christ, who is the one who struck you?

And again, this occurred on this day in 31 A.D.

Now let's turn to John 18, John 1828, as we move forward in the narrative. John 1828, this historical narrative, this eyewitness account now in John. John 1828, continuing on. They took Jesus, next step is, they took Jesus to the governor to Pilate because they wanted Jesus Christ executed, but they didn't have the authority to do that themselves. The Jews couldn't do it, so they had to get the Roman government to agree to it, the Roman authority. They had to convince Pilate that Jesus' crime was worthy of the most severe death penalty. John 1828. And then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning, still on Abbir 14. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.

Now, sometimes you might read that, and we're going to wait a minute.

Passover's done. Jesus already ate the Passover. What Passover is this? Well, not all the Jews ate Passover on the 14th of Niceon. The Jewish leaders ate the Passover on the 15th, not the 14th. There's a reason for that. Although I've tried to understand it, I have a hard time because I read the scripture, and I can't understand how it can be massaged in a different way. And what research tells us is that by the first century, by the time of Christ, the Jews over time had extended, had expanded the time when they could eat the Passover. There's a website. It's called, I think it's pronounced, Chabad.org. It's in authority on Jewish practices, and just a short piece here, a quote from then explains, when it comes to the celebration of the Passover sacrifice, while it was eaten on the 15th, it was considered to be the same as, the same day as the 14th. So they ate it on the 15th, but they had considered it to be the same day as the 14th, unquote. And that's still the Jewish practice today. But that's not what Jesus practiced, so don't be concerned, oh, are we doing it wrong? No, we are not. It's what Jesus practiced. He ate the Passover at the very beginning of Nice on 14, as directed in Leviticus 23, and as we see the example of Exodus 12, and we do the same. We follow God's scriptural directions and Jesus Christ's own example. That's what we follow. And we're very confident in what we do. We're very sure of what we do. Continuing on, verse 29, well, then Pilate went out to them, so he had to go out and meet them. And he said, what accusation do you bring against this man? And the answer and said to him, if he were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered him up to you. In other words, just trust us. Trust us! And I think that's one thing Pilate could not do, did not want to do. And then Pilate said to them, you take him and judge him according to your to your law. And therefore the Jews said to him, well, it's not lawful for us to put anyone to death. And they said that that saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spoke, signifying by what death he would die. And of course, the death he would die, he would die on the tree, on the stake crucifixion.

Now let's turn to Luke 23 and continue on here with this Luke's account. Gives us a little more information as to how much Pilate really, it's amazing when you read this, how he tried to release Jesus Christ. Luke 23 verse 13 through 25. You see, Pilate was disinclined to heed the Jewish leaders. He really, it comes across that he did not want to execute an innocent man or maybe he just wanted to irritate them. I'm not, you can read it, however, but he did, as it reads, try to get Jesus Christ released. Luke 23 13. And then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, this will after a little more investigation, verse 14, he said to him, he said to them, you have brought this man to me as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined him in your presence, I have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. He doesn't see any evidence of what they're accusing him of.

Verse 15, no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him. And indeed, nothing deserving of death has been done by him. And he's just verifying that Jesus Christ was a man without sin. He was, he was a unblemished there. He, he had done nothing wrong. Verse 16, I will verify, Pilate says, I will therefore chastise him and release him. For it was necessary for him to release one of them, one to them, at the feast. It was tradition to release a criminal at the feast of unleavened bread. Or they might have, they probably would have also called it a feast, a passover. Verse 18, and they, meaning the Jewish leaders, they all cried out at once saying, away with this man and release to us Barabbas, Barabbas who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion made in the city and for murder. Verse 20, Pilate therefore wishing, Pilate wishing to release Jesus again, called out to them. But they shouted again, saying, crucify him, crucify him. And I can imagine it was very much a chant. Verse 22, and then he said to them a third time. Just imagine it, three times he's tried to release him. He says, why? What evil has he done? I have found no reason for death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go. But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that that he be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priest prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. He had to give in. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Pilate tried, maybe, but he was no savior. Pilate was no savior. He wanted to release Jesus, but ultimately he would not risk his position as governor. That's what it came down to. And moreover, we also have to understand what Pilate would not have understood. That Jesus came to fulfill the Father's will. And it was necessary that the Lamb of God should suffer and die such a cruel death. It would have gone against Pilate's efforts to save him. It was not what God had willed.

So now let's go to the part we don't like so much. Let's go to Mark 15. Mark chapter 15. I say it because it's a painful description, but very important for us to not turn our eyes away from or our minds away from the horrifying punishment that Jesus Christ underwent. And so in Mark 15, we're going to read some here. Mark describes the torment and crucifixion Jesus Christ submitted to on this day, nice on 14. Verse 15. And so Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, now he's wanting to please them, they're turning against him, he can't have a riot. Wanting to gratify the crowd, he released Barabbas to them, and delivered Jesus after he had scourged him to be crucified. Now the New Testament study Bible explains what being scourged meant. Quote, a Roman scourging was a terrifying punishment. The victim was stripped, usually bound to a post and beaten by a number of guards until his flesh hung in bleeding shreds. The instrument of torture was a whip consisting of leather thongs plated interwoven with pieces of lead or bone so as to form a chain. And victims of flagellation often collapsed and died from the flogging.

And what Mark describes, verse 16 through 24, the flogging occurred in this description, and Christ survived it. Christ survived it, and he was able to walk onto his crucifixion site. Let's read continuing verse 16. And then the soldiers led him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed him with purple, and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on his head, and began to salute him, Hail King of the Jews. Then they struck him on the head with a reed and spat on him, and bowing the knee, they worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they did not really worship him. And when they had mocked him, they took the purple off him, put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And then they compelled a certain man, Simon, a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus. These must have been disciples and Christians. They took Simon as he was coming out of the country and passing by to bear his cross, that beam. And they brought him to the place Golgotha, which is translated place of a skull. And then they gave him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but he did not take it. It seems Jesus refused to dull his pain. He refused to ease his suffering at all. Verse 24, and then when they crucified him, they divided his garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take. Verse 25, now it was the third hour, that would be 9 a.m., and they crucified him.

The inscription of his accusation was written above, the king of the Jews. And with him they also crucified two robbers, one on his right and the other on his left. So the scripture is fulfilled, which says, and he was numbered with the transgressors. We read that last night. That's Isaiah 53, verse 12. And those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads and saying, Ha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself and come down from the cross. And likewise, the chief priests, also mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, He saved others himself he cannot save. Let the Christ, the king of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.

But even those who were crucified with him reviled him.

That's something.

None understood that Jesus chose to die for them and for everyone. He was shedding his blood. He was giving us a total sacrifice for them and all humanity. Now, verse 33. Now, when the sixth hour that would have been noon had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, till 3 p.m. And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, Elama, Sabachthani, which is translated, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And some of those who stood by when they heard that said, Look, he is calling for Elijah. And then someone ran and filled the sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to him to drink, saying, Let him alone, let us see if... and they said, Let him alone, let us see if Elijah will come to take him down. They are not... well, never mind. Verse 37, Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last, and then the veil of the temple was torn into you from top to bottom. So when the centurion who stood opposite him saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, Truly, this man was the Son of God.

Now that reference to the veil of the temple.

The veil in the temple was what we might call this massive curtain.

Many authorities claim that it was 30 feet wide, 60 feet high, and 3 inches thick. Another other sources I saw suggested it could have been 4 inches thick. And there are other sources that suggest that there are actually two layers of curtains, possibly. Either way, could any man have torn that curtain top to bottom, 60 feet up?

No.

Only God could have torn that curtain in two from top to bottom. The curtain separated the holy place from the holy of holies, the holy of holies which represented God's presence. That's where the ark would have been stored. That represented the throne of God. And so the torn curtain signified that humanity's sins which had cut us off from God could now be forgiven through Jesus Christ shed blood. The way was made open. We read about that in Hebrews last night.

Finally, let's turn to John 19, John 19, 31-42.

John 19, 31-42.

And here we get some of the details of Christ's burial on this day, Nice on 14. John 19, verse 31.

He writes, Therefore, because it was the preparation day, that the body should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for that Sabbath was a high day. What high day were they anticipating? Nice on 15, the first day of unleavened bread. And so the Jews asked Pilate that their legs, the legs of the criminals, might be broken, that they might be taken away. And then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other, who was crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen, in this person who has seen, this is John is referring to himself without actually stating his name, he, the apostle John, was an eyewitness of this. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth so that you may believe. We were not there, but we can trust what John is saying. He saw it. Verse 36, For these things were done that the scripture should be fulfilled. Not one of his bones shall be broken. And again another scripture says they shall look on him whom they pierced. And it's amazing, and this is a topic for another sermon, I'm sure, all the fine details that were prophesied and God fulfilled on these days of Christ. When Christ is on earth, his crucifixion, and of course his resurrection. It's absolutely astounding. If there's ever need reason to trust God in our own troubles, just remember how God is perfect control. Continue in verse 38, After this Joseph Amaremethiah be a disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews. And of course he and Nicodemus, we're going to see later here, they're all members of the Sanhedrin. For fear of the Jews asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. And so he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and allos, about a hundred pounds. And then they took the body of Jesus, bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as accustomed the Jews is to berry. Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. And so they laid Jesus because the Jews' preparation day for the tomb was nearby. Nice on 14, of course, was the preparation day. They were preparing for the 15th beginning at sunset, the first day of 11 bread. And so Jesus was entombed in the earth late on nice and 14, before sunset. Again, that would have been on a Wednesday. Wednesday in 31 A.D. And that can be established. If you carefully study the Bible, study God's scriptures, you will see that it is accurate. And we've written extensively on that topic for decades. And I would point you to our lobby. They're full of booklets, if you want more details than I can give here right now. And we know that he remained dead and in the tomb from Wednesday before sunset until Saturday before sunset. He arose after a full three days and three nights in the tomb, fulfilling the sign of Jonah, which Jesus himself said would be the sign of his messiahship. Well, I guess that wasn't the last scripture. Let's go to Matthew 12. I forgot. Matthew 12, verse 40. Actually, let me begin. Matthew 1239.

Matthew 1239.

They wanted to see a sign to prove who Jesus was.

Matthew 1239. But Jesus answered and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after his sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. And this is not parts of three days. A little bit of a night, a day, another little bit of a night. This is three full days. Day and night is the formula that you find back in Genesis 1. Day and night is the definition of a full 24-hour day. So these are three full days.

And so it is then later on in John 20, I'll just refer to you to it, John 20, verse 1. The Apostle John tells us there that it was early on that following Sunday on the first day of the week, and while it was still dark, that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found it empty. Why was it already empty? The sun hasn't risen yet. It was already dark. It was still dark. Why was it empty? Because Jesus had already risen late on Saturday before sunset. Three full days and three full nights in the tomb. He fulfilled the only sign, the only sign that would be there. He fulfilled that sign of Jonah.

And so these things happened on this day. We've recalled now two of the most significant events of human history to have occurred on this day, at least as far as I'm aware of and what scripture shows. Who knows what more may come? But it seems pretty clear these are the two big events. What should our response be? What should we be doing?

We've heard a lot about that, and I'm not going to disagree with anything we've said. I'm going to reiterate. We must continue to worship God with complete and willing submission to His authority and will. We must continue in our commitment to live our lives totally in obedience to Jesus Christ and God our Father. And as we heard last night, and we're going to hear more about this in the week ahead, we must eat daily of the bread of life in Jesus Christ. And we must remain mindful of all that God has done for us. And not just for us, we're not that special, but for all humanity. They just don't know it yet, even as we didn't know it, until God opened our minds. And so as we look forward to the night to be much observed, the start of the Feast of Love and Bread, in just a few hours now, we must remain mindful that our deliverance from sin and death depends on our faithfulness in following God. The children of Israel followed God out of Egypt. The disciples followed God. They kept following Christ even after the resurrection, and they gave their lives and their obedience and devotion to God. We must be ready to do that, too. So we must be faithful in following God and always and totally submitting our lives and will to Him. We're going to hear about it this week, tomorrow, that we must be putting out the leaven of sin. We must be putting out the leaven of sin. And so today, tonight, and throughout the week ahead, as we remember, as we keep vigil on these events, let's also remember to give our sincere thanks and our praise and our lives to our most loving God, our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.