Continuing typing up my notes of the talks from Contagious 2007: The Resurrection, with the second talk which was given by Jonty Alcock.
2: Jesus the Living Sacrifice (John 20)
“It is finished” cried Jesus on the Cross. But when we see so much evil and suffering in the world, what is finished? Is it finished? And what of the sin in our lives – was Jesus’ death really enough? As Christians, we stake a huge amount on the Cross. But can we be sure that Jesus achieved everything the Bible says he achieved? Anyone can say that “it is finished”, but what if Jesus was mistaken?
Come and examine a cold stone tomb, three days later, where we find the evidence that gives us certainty about all this. The Resurrection is more than just a happy ending – without it, the words “it is finished” are empty and the Cross is meaningless.
Is it finished? Yes – there’s a brand new day
v1 – The first day of the week, and there’s darkness – just like the first day of Creation, when God brought light out of darkness and chaos. Darkness has no chance against light. And here, God is doing the same thing again. This world is a world of darkness, death and evil. Darkness is a thing of fear, loneliness and alienation.
But a new world is dawning, a new first day! Shadows hang around in the reverse twilight before the dawn, but are eventually banished. The Resurrection is not a happy ending, but a happy beginning.
Is it finished? Yes – there’s a pile of linen
John seems to have an odd interest in linen (19 v40, 20 v5-7). The tomb is not in fact empty – there’s a pile of linen. And it’s glorious! To understand why the pile of linen is so amazing, we need to go way back, back to the Garden of Eden.
Adam and Eve walked with God. But once cast out of Eden, the way back was guarded by a flaming swords. For sinners to be in God’s presence is certain death. Later, after God led the Israelites out of Egypt, the Tent of Meeting contained a curtain with two angels on it, guarding the way into the Holy of Holies. On Atonement Day, the sin of the people was dealt with. The priest has to go into the very presence of God, into the presence of his burning holiness. Only the High Priest could enter, if he came in according to God’s rules on God’s terms. He wore a sacred linen tunic and turban. He took off the grand robes, and wore linen, to make atonement. (Leviticus 16 v3-5). The blood of sacrifice was needed for the forgiveness of sins. God’s justice was satisfied. The goat died as a substitute for the people.
After sacrificing, he was to take off the linen garments before coming out of the Holy of Holies. The sign that the people’s sins had been forgiven, that the sacrifice was accepted, was the priest coming out – it is finished! And if it were possible for you to go in, you would see linen garments. It’s resurrection!
Jesus is the true high priest. He sacrificed himself, bearing the wrath for our sin. How do we know? Jesus came out, leaving the linen. The resurrection is crucial for our forgiveness.
Satan’s greatestlie is that we’ve done something that can’t be forgiven. The Resurrection says otherwise – the price is paid, there’s no more to do! A whole new world is ours to enjoy, beginning in the here and now, though the best is yet to come.