Theology of Christ’s Burial: Part II
1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
Introduction
In our passage this morning Paul tells us that Christ’s burial no less than His crucifixion and His resurrection, is a matter of first importance. However, few Christians today can articulate the reason why Christ’s burial is so important.
Therefore, last week we began our study by asking why? Why is Christ’s burial so important? In fact, if the Cross paid the full price of sin and death, what was Christ doing in the grave at all? And remember we found that
Christ endured the grave under Promise: that is, Christ did not suffer any further punishment or complete any unfinished aspect of our Salvation in the grave. Instead, He endured the grave under the promise that His victory on the Cross had utterly defeated death’s power and claim.
Not only that, we also saw that Christ’s burial provides for an essential delay between the completion of salvation (on the Cross) and the reception of the full measure of its reward (at the Resurrection).
This morning before we look at the significance of Christ’s burial, we have one more theological point to cover. We need to look at the grave itself (notice then, we have seen how Christ endured the grave. Now we need to see what Christ endured)
Let’s begin
D] In the grave Christ endured the full condition of the fallen world: that is, in the grave Christ endured the totality and the full extent (comprehensive and intensive) of what it means to live in this fallen world. How?
First, remember death defines the entire condition of this fallen world FN#1. Sin has brought death and decay to man spiritually, physically, relationally, and even environmentally. Simply put, man’s entire existence (inside and out) is defined by the death and corruption brought about sin.
Romans 5:17 by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one,
And where do we see the most complete expression of death? The grave.
Notice then, the grave is the most comprehensive expression of the world’s broken condition. Think about it: the grave is separation from God, it is separation from others, it is separation from this world, and it is even separation from the self. Therefore, when Christ endured the grave, He literally endured the full measure of the world’s condition FN#2.
Notice the result: when we step back and put it all together what we find is that Christ’s burial provides for a delay between the completion of salvation (Cross) and its full reception (the resurrection), a delay in which Christ (in the grave) endures the full condition of the fallen world under promise not judgment.
III. Resolve: so what is the significance of Christ’s burial for the church today? Why does Paul say it is of first importance?
A] Notice at once: the pattern that Christ (our representative) established for us during Holy Week, the pattern of completion/delay/and full reception (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday), is the very pattern that now defines the believer’s entire earthly existence FN#3. Notice then:
1) Even though we are already fully saved, we do not yet experience the fullness of that salvation. Instead, there is a delay (a delay that is defined by the promise/assurance that Christ has accomplished the whole of our salvation FN#4). In turn, it is this delay that defines every detail of our life, walk, and how we experience our relationship with God on this earth.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials FN#5
Notice the Result: On Holy Saturday Christ passed through the grave thereby enduring the fullness of the world’s brokenness in order to secure our passage through the same and to insure that we too endure these conditions under promise. Simply put, while it may seem macabre, what this means is that we experience the whole of our salvation while on earth from the Tomb FN# 6 (i.e. in terms of the dynamics that Christ established in the grave on Holy Saturday). Thus, in this life, we are surrounded by death; but at the same time, we are ever under the absolute promise/security of life.
IV. What is the Point– We see the delay and that it establishes the framework for our life today; but why? Why is this delay such a big deal? Why did God find a delay so necessary/important?
A] There are several reasons our delay is so vital FN#7. However, one of the main reasons is that it provides the essential context necessary for the believer’s work/mission. How?
1. First, remember the believer is not left behind. Rather, he is sent out into the world as a witness.
John 17:15 “I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 18 “As Thou didst send Me into the world, I
also have sent them into the world. FN#8
2. Second, as the believer is sent into the world he is subjected to the reality of its conditions. Therefore, the believer is relevant to the world (the believer truly endures the same trails that the world endures).
Job 1:9 Then Satan
answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 “Hast Thou not
made a hedge about him and his house
and all that he has, on every side? (Also
Jn 6:26-27)
3. However, at the same time, the believer is not given over to the world. Rather, he is kept under the promises of God. As such, God is already providing the believer with the very grace and healing that the world needs. Therefore, the believer has significance to the world. That is, the believer is able to serve as a translator, speaking the words of hope and grace in the language of world’s trials and sufferings
1 Peter 3:15 always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you,
Bottom Line: Christ’s burial establishes the very context of your whole existence on this earth. Between the completion of salvation (the Cross) and the reception of its full blessings (your own resurrection) there is a delay. A delay in which the Church is sent into the world, enduring its conditions and even its death, yet not under God’s judgment but under God’s promise that the whole of our salvation is secure and that our certain victory is already underway. FN#9
Footnotes
1] It is not just that life eventually terminates in death. It is that death infects the whole process of living.
2] Notice the difference: from the incarnation all the way through His death on the Cross, Christ endured the full conditions of the fallen world in order to accomplish our salvation (He fulfilled for us, as one of us, all that God requires of us). However, on Holy Saturday, Christ once again endures the full conditions of the fallen world. However, this time, He does so under the promise that His salvation has utterly defeated those conditions. That is, Christ passes through the grave and the fullness of the world’s brokenness in order to secure our passage through the same and to insure that we too endure these conditions under promise. Simply put, Christ’s delay has secured the terms of our own delay.
3] Notice: last week we said that if the Cross is the source of your salvation and the Resurrection is the content of that salvation (i.e. the new life that Christ accomplished for you), then Christ burial establishes the way you experience that salvation on earth.
4] Notice, it is not just that Christ’s delay establishes our own delay. It’s that the very manner of Christ’s delay (under promise) establishes the manner of our delay as well. Thus, while we experience the full conditions of this fallen world, we experience them for an entirely different reason than the world. Thus, the world suffers its conditions under judgement and separation. However, the believer endures these very same conditions not under the world’s judgement but under God promise, favor, and salvation.
Once again we are reminded that while the Cross is the source of our salvation and the resurrection is the content of that salvation (i.e. the new life that Christ accomplished for us), Christ’s burial establishes the way we experience this salvation while on earth. Case in point: as we turn our attention to Christ’s Ascension and His reign, Christ’s burial is not the bases of that reign (Christ would reign as our head even if there had been no burial). However, Christ’s burial does determine the way we experience that reign while on earth as well as the way that Christ administers His reign in light of His people’s mission/delay.
5] Notice the result: during this delay, the Church suffers the actual conditions of the fallen world, even its death, yet not under judgment, but under God’s promises in Christ.
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
6] While this is certainly a sobering thought, it is also absolutely true. We experience the whole of our salvation while on this earth from within the context of and in terms of our interactions with a dying world. That said, this is also a point of great assurance once we remember that Christ has established the very grounds and purpose of our delay.
7] There are several reasons our delay is so vital. For example, it allows us the opportunity (during the delay) to understand the enormity of our salvation by giving us an active part in the process of working it out (Phil 2:12-13). It also provides us the space (during the delay) to unlearn/retrace the steps of disobedience and mistrust that led to the fall (Prov 3:5-6). However, one of the main reasons our delay is so vital is that it provides the essential context necessary for the believer’s work/mission. As such, it affords us an active share in our Father’s Kingdom labor. Importance: remember the grace that saves you is a grace that changes you so that you can have an active/actual role in your Father’s Kingdom. Notice then, without this delay there would be no mission of the church. In turn, without the manner of our delay (under promise not judgement) there would be no success of our mission.
8] There is another major significance to the delay that Christ has provided. And although I am putting it here in the footnotes it is extremely important. By establishing the context for our mission, the delay that Christ provides allows us to share in Christ’s work firsthand.
1 Peter 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing;
Not only that, it is this firsthand share in Christ’s Kingdom labor that will prove to be one of the biggest blessings of the new life that God has given us. Notice then, not only do we have a High Priest who can relate to us in all things (Heb 4:15), our High Priest has a people who in turn can relate to Him. That is, by sharing in His labor/toil as we struggle against our own sin as well as when we confront/witness to/minister to the brokenness of the world about us, we come to understand the enormity of the salvation that Christ has given us. The result is a shared intimacy in our relationship with God that is truly sacred.
9] What a great way to prepare to enter the days of Rogation, when we will ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit on us so that our walk and ministry may be fruitful. We do so knowing that during Holy week, God not only delivered us from our past (on the cross) and prepared us for our future (in the resurrection) but also provided for our present (on Holy Saturday)- as He established the conditions necessary for His people’s work and witness.
Epilogue
Genuine and prolonged struggle, real and true advances by darkness, do not mean that God has abandoned you or that His plan has faltered. Instead, God has intentionally and deliberately provided the manner in which you encounter your salvation while on this earth. And while this manner involves you enduring the real conditions of this world, you do so as His child and under His promise and favor. Not only that, this manner/delay provides the space for one of the biggest blessings of the new life: it allows you an actual and active part in God’s Kingdome work (inside and out).