The End and The Beginning (Message 2)

1. THE CENTURION

Luke 23:47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely
this was a righteous man.”

The centurion was drawn towards WORSHIP by watching
HOW Jesus died.

His statement though is a way of saying, “This is DONE.”

2. THE CROWD

Luke 23:48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took
place, they beat their breasts and went away.

Some of the people had been MOCKING, but now were in
shock and DISBELIEF. The darkness . . .

Their actions are a way of saying, “This is DONE.”

3. THE COUNCIL MEMBER — JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

Luke 23:50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good
and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came
from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of
God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down,
wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no
one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to
begin.

Joseph was part of the COUNCIL (Sanhedrin) that had
unjustly tried Jesus. He had not VOTED with the group.

With great COURAGE, Joseph asked for Jesus’ body and
placed it in his own TOMB. By law, the body had to be
REMOVED before the holiday.

This burial was a way of saying, “This is DONE.”

THE WOMEN WHO FOLLOWED JESUS

Luke 23:49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him
from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Luke 23:55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and
saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared
spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the
commandment.

Luke mentions these women TWICE to show their courage.

Preparation for burial was a way of saying, “This is DONE.”

THE HEAVENLY FATHER

Luke 23:44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until
three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple
was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I
commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Of all the people who “showed up” for the DEATH of Jesus,
the Heavenly Father made the most IMPACT.

At noon, DARKNESS covered the entire area.
Ex. 10:21 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward the sky so
that darkness spreads over Egypt—darkness that can be felt.”
Amos 5:20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, . . .
— There is no MOCKING or game-playing after this.
— The darkness is a judgment of SIN (on JESUS).
— The Father poured HELL onto His SON for those hours until
the PENALTY of sin was paid!

The curtain of the temple was TORN in HALF to show that
now man had direct ACCESS to God. No intermediary!

Jesus’ LAST words were a very common PRAYER. He was
quoting SCRIPTURE.
Psa. 31:5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.

This was Jesus’ way of saying, “This is DONE.”
John 19:30 . . . Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up
his spirit.