WEBVTT - This file was automatically generated by VIMEO 0 00:00:01.315 --> 00:00:03.885 Perhaps it counts to use a portion of the creed 1 00:00:03.885 --> 00:00:06.605 as a sermon text, but just to be sure, 2 00:00:06.715 --> 00:00:10.125 I've got one from Mark 15, verse 47. 3 00:00:11.035 --> 00:00:13.245 Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Josephs, 4 00:00:13.245 --> 00:00:16.205 were looking on to see where he was laid. 5 00:00:16.995 --> 00:00:21.485 This is our text on his way into the arena 6 00:00:21.705 --> 00:00:24.965 to face his trial and eventual execution. 7 00:00:25.085 --> 00:00:28.285 A voice came from heaven, be strong, 8 00:00:28.605 --> 00:00:30.605 Polycarp and play the man. 9 00:00:31.905 --> 00:00:33.645 And he was, and he did. 10 00:00:34.425 --> 00:00:36.245 He played the part of a man 11 00:00:36.745 --> 00:00:40.285 and even more, he played the part of a martyr. 12 00:00:41.185 --> 00:00:44.565 Though the flames would not kill him, the dagger did. 13 00:00:45.595 --> 00:00:47.245 Defiant, confident, 14 00:00:47.625 --> 00:00:51.085 and the recipient of a miracle of momentary preservation. 15 00:00:51.845 --> 00:00:55.165 Polycarp was faithful and Polycarp died. 16 00:00:56.835 --> 00:00:59.905 We're not told if he heard a voice from heaven. 17 00:01:00.475 --> 00:01:03.185 Maybe it was just a groan from above, 18 00:01:03.525 --> 00:01:06.665 but whatever the reason, face-to-face with death. 19 00:01:07.125 --> 00:01:10.425 Joseph of Arimathea also found his courage 20 00:01:10.925 --> 00:01:13.625 and decided it was time to play the man. 21 00:01:14.885 --> 00:01:17.745 He publicly owned his allegiance to the crucified. 22 00:01:17.755 --> 00:01:21.425 Jesus staked out a minority position on the Sanhedrin, 23 00:01:21.815 --> 00:01:23.865 defiled himself ahead of the Passover, 24 00:01:24.085 --> 00:01:28.185 and with the help of Nicodemus pulled Jesus dead body from 25 00:01:28.185 --> 00:01:30.785 the cross and laid it in his own tomb. 26 00:01:31.935 --> 00:01:34.465 Compassionate, fearless, and bold. 27 00:01:34.885 --> 00:01:39.025 Joseph played the man and risked the role of martyr. 28 00:01:40.795 --> 00:01:42.155 Polycarp and Joseph 29 00:01:42.745 --> 00:01:46.075 come together today in a one time juxtaposition. 30 00:01:46.825 --> 00:01:50.875 They share much common ground, two men who step up 31 00:01:51.015 --> 00:01:52.955 and act like men. 32 00:01:53.495 --> 00:01:55.715 Two heroes of the faith, ready 33 00:01:55.815 --> 00:01:58.475 to proclaim their allegiance to Christ. 34 00:01:59.255 --> 00:02:01.675 Two men who lived with courage, 35 00:02:02.775 --> 00:02:05.155 two men were dead. 36 00:02:06.725 --> 00:02:09.625 Of course, we aren't told about Joseph's death, 37 00:02:09.645 --> 00:02:11.465 but we know it happened. 38 00:02:12.325 --> 00:02:15.505 The tomb he had carved eventually welcomed its 39 00:02:15.505 --> 00:02:16.665 rightful occupants. 40 00:02:17.605 --> 00:02:19.305 It was only a matter of time. 41 00:02:21.295 --> 00:02:26.155 It is the way every human story always ends. 42 00:02:27.785 --> 00:02:32.715 When the old sheep enlightens Wilbur about Zuckerman's 43 00:02:32.785 --> 00:02:35.355 plan to turn the pig into bacon 44 00:02:35.415 --> 00:02:38.075 before Christmas, the stunned 45 00:02:38.075 --> 00:02:42.435 and disbelieving pig seeks corroboration from the one only 46 00:02:43.015 --> 00:02:47.195 person he trusts, and Charlotte confirms the worst. 47 00:02:49.045 --> 00:02:51.775 It's a dirty trick. She says. 48 00:02:53.675 --> 00:02:54.875 A dirty trick. Indeed, 49 00:02:56.245 --> 00:02:59.445 it is a dirty trick to provide life 50 00:03:00.225 --> 00:03:02.645 And all that sustains it only 51 00:03:03.545 --> 00:03:04.545 To end it. 52 00:03:05.665 --> 00:03:08.045 But Charlotte plays her own trick 53 00:03:08.825 --> 00:03:11.485 And still even the spider's clever plan 54 00:03:11.485 --> 00:03:16.405 of salvation provides only a temporary day of execution. 55 00:03:17.935 --> 00:03:21.765 Every heroic intervention is always 56 00:03:22.555 --> 00:03:24.525 just a postponement. 57 00:03:25.955 --> 00:03:29.245 Save a life today. Watch it end 58 00:03:29.725 --> 00:03:30.725 Tomorrow. 59 00:03:31.525 --> 00:03:35.035 Death is the ultimate dirty trick 60 00:03:36.535 --> 00:03:37.595 and no one beats it. 61 00:03:38.685 --> 00:03:43.225 Sooner or later, everyone ends in the same place. 62 00:03:44.415 --> 00:03:47.465 Charlotte dies. Wilbur dies. 63 00:03:48.135 --> 00:03:50.785 Zuckerman dies. Fern dies. 64 00:03:51.345 --> 00:03:55.825 EB white dies. Polycarp dies. Joseph dies. 65 00:03:56.345 --> 00:03:57.345 Everyone dies. 66 00:03:58.395 --> 00:04:00.865 Death is a dirty trick. 67 00:04:02.145 --> 00:04:06.505 Eternity has been set in our hearts in every human heart, 68 00:04:07.405 --> 00:04:09.025 but it does not matter. 69 00:04:10.015 --> 00:04:14.585 Because Every human heart finally stops beating 70 00:04:15.205 --> 00:04:16.205 anyway. 71 00:04:16.425 --> 00:04:20.865 Eternity or not. Every human dies. 72 00:04:22.585 --> 00:04:27.365 It is the final tragedy of every life, every single 73 00:04:27.875 --> 00:04:31.445 life ends. It does not 74 00:04:31.505 --> 00:04:34.405 matter what you eat or don't 75 00:04:34.405 --> 00:04:35.405 eat. It doesn't 76 00:04:35.405 --> 00:04:38.205 matter how much you work out or don't bother. 77 00:04:38.825 --> 00:04:41.925 It does not matter how much sleep you get, the quality 78 00:04:41.985 --> 00:04:44.645 of your sleep or how much stress you escape. 79 00:04:46.055 --> 00:04:48.565 death always comes just 80 00:04:49.025 --> 00:04:50.025 the same. 81 00:04:52.045 --> 00:04:54.315 Death is the ultimate antithesis, 82 00:04:55.455 --> 00:04:57.795 the fulfillment of nothing. 83 00:04:58.775 --> 00:05:03.685 The negation of everything is not good 84 00:05:04.425 --> 00:05:06.405 or beautiful or inspiring. 85 00:05:07.625 --> 00:05:09.565 It crushes every relationship, 86 00:05:10.645 --> 00:05:15.525 shatters every dream, derails every accomplishment, 87 00:05:15.745 --> 00:05:17.365 and ruins every 88 00:05:17.555 --> 00:05:18.555 plan. 89 00:05:19.015 --> 00:05:23.925 Death is the dirty trick we have played on ourselves. 90 00:05:26.385 --> 00:05:28.445 So Jesus, God 91 00:05:28.635 --> 00:05:31.965 with us in our world, God in 92 00:05:32.175 --> 00:05:36.885 human flesh, God with us to save us, God 93 00:05:36.915 --> 00:05:39.485 with us under the law, with us, 94 00:05:39.835 --> 00:05:43.485 even in our own condemnation, Jesus 95 00:05:43.825 --> 00:05:47.125 who is like us in every way except without sin. 96 00:05:47.575 --> 00:05:51.205 Jesus does what we all do. 97 00:05:52.775 --> 00:05:55.125 Jesus also plays the man. 98 00:05:56.725 --> 00:06:00.535 Jesus dies. The apostles 99 00:06:00.625 --> 00:06:01.775 creed moves quickly. 100 00:06:02.475 --> 00:06:05.695 We go from born of the Virgin Mary to 101 00:06:06.295 --> 00:06:09.735 suffered under Pontius Pilate with only a comma between. 102 00:06:11.595 --> 00:06:13.735 And this creed does not flinch 103 00:06:14.885 --> 00:06:16.735 like the ene creed does. 104 00:06:18.095 --> 00:06:19.115 The bishops gathered 105 00:06:19.185 --> 00:06:22.315 outside Constantinople could not bring themselves 106 00:06:22.455 --> 00:06:24.715 to say died. 107 00:06:26.435 --> 00:06:29.935 The apostle's creed though flatly declares the fact 108 00:06:30.955 --> 00:06:34.525 crucified, died, buried. 109 00:06:35.795 --> 00:06:38.235 That's it. Done. 110 00:06:40.175 --> 00:06:41.905 Mark is equally blunt. 111 00:06:42.925 --> 00:06:46.185 Elijah does not come to take Jesus down. 112 00:06:46.255 --> 00:06:49.865 Neither did the true object of Jesus poignant prayer. 113 00:06:50.315 --> 00:06:54.545 Jesus was abandoned, left to die, 114 00:06:56.205 --> 00:06:58.505 but this was no trick. 115 00:07:00.245 --> 00:07:03.695 This was the plan. Jesus knew exactly 116 00:07:04.315 --> 00:07:05.535 how it was going to go. 117 00:07:05.535 --> 00:07:09.355 Down in verse 43, 118 00:07:09.735 --> 00:07:11.595 Joseph makes his request for 119 00:07:11.595 --> 00:07:14.475 what now is left hanging from the nails. 120 00:07:15.175 --> 00:07:19.675 He wants te Soma to de su the body 121 00:07:20.215 --> 00:07:22.205 of Jesus. Twice 122 00:07:22.265 --> 00:07:26.285 in the next verse, the brutal truth is declared half naked. 123 00:07:27.345 --> 00:07:31.835 He has died. By verse 45 124 00:07:32.385 --> 00:07:36.275 what Pilate releases to Joseph is 125 00:07:37.215 --> 00:07:40.215 potoma the corpse. 126 00:07:42.885 --> 00:07:47.465 No flinching here. No metaphors, no imagery, 127 00:07:48.645 --> 00:07:51.625 no spiritualizing away the awful truth. 128 00:07:53.065 --> 00:07:55.875 Mark declares the brutal reality. 129 00:07:56.725 --> 00:07:59.555 Jesus is dead. 130 00:08:01.595 --> 00:08:05.605 Mathias Grunewald captured the horror of the contorted, 131 00:08:06.005 --> 00:08:07.525 tortured, ashen wreck 132 00:08:07.905 --> 00:08:10.205 of Jesus crucified corpse in his famous 133 00:08:10.655 --> 00:08:12.005 Eisenhower altarpiece. 134 00:08:12.945 --> 00:08:16.205 But less than a decade later, it was Hans Holbein 135 00:08:16.505 --> 00:08:21.445 who pushed things even further with his shocking portrayal 136 00:08:21.865 --> 00:08:26.485 of Jesus in the tomb, barely a foot high, but six 137 00:08:26.485 --> 00:08:27.725 and a half feet long. 138 00:08:28.105 --> 00:08:33.085 The stretched painting captures the corpse on a cramped tomb 139 00:08:33.325 --> 00:08:35.205 shelf where Joseph left it. 140 00:08:36.625 --> 00:08:39.205 No one rolls over in this grave 141 00:08:39.875 --> 00:08:42.245 sitting up quickly would leave a nasty lump. 142 00:08:42.245 --> 00:08:45.205 There is no room. The eyes 143 00:08:45.305 --> 00:08:49.685 and mouth of the cadaver are appallingly open. 144 00:08:51.425 --> 00:08:55.165 The body is gaunt. The ribs and bones are visible. 145 00:08:56.255 --> 00:08:59.285 Hands and feet are torn by wounds, swollen 146 00:08:59.905 --> 00:09:03.005 and blue, as in the case of a corpse 147 00:09:03.755 --> 00:09:06.805 that is already in the process of decomposition. 148 00:09:09.405 --> 00:09:13.425 That's the description provided by the wife of Fyodor 149 00:09:13.595 --> 00:09:18.345 Dostoevsky In 1867. Her husband was 150 00:09:18.405 --> 00:09:20.425 so overwhelmed by the painting that 151 00:09:20.425 --> 00:09:22.185 after standing transfixed 152 00:09:22.185 --> 00:09:25.025 before it, for 20 minutes, she had 153 00:09:25.025 --> 00:09:28.025 to lead him from the room, fearing he would succumb 154 00:09:28.025 --> 00:09:29.225 to an epileptic seizure. 155 00:09:30.445 --> 00:09:34.585 And later when he wrote The idiot, the painting featured 156 00:09:35.085 --> 00:09:37.945 as evidence in the argument of an atheist. 157 00:09:40.015 --> 00:09:44.565 But Holbein was no atheist nor apostate. 158 00:09:45.715 --> 00:09:48.685 Holbein was a proclaimer of truth. 159 00:09:50.605 --> 00:09:53.215 Some have suggested that Holbein went 160 00:09:53.515 --> 00:09:57.225 too far, but he only went 161 00:09:58.155 --> 00:10:02.785 where Jesus chose to go all the way to death. 162 00:10:03.725 --> 00:10:08.105 In all of its crushing, solitary, ghastly, 163 00:10:09.255 --> 00:10:10.585 rotting horror. 164 00:10:12.625 --> 00:10:14.575 Death is ugly. 165 00:10:16.085 --> 00:10:20.015 Death is evil, and death is the end of the story 166 00:10:21.335 --> 00:10:22.475 and the end of our text. 167 00:10:23.965 --> 00:10:26.915 Jesus is dead trapped in the tomb 168 00:10:28.405 --> 00:10:31.115 until the Passover Sabbath is complete. 169 00:10:34.835 --> 00:10:37.415 But five weeks is far too long 170 00:10:37.635 --> 00:10:40.295 to leave Jesus in the tomb waiting for Easter. 171 00:10:41.655 --> 00:10:43.855 I will not play that dirty trick on you. 172 00:10:43.855 --> 00:10:47.055 This morning, though I was tempted, 173 00:10:49.625 --> 00:10:50.645 it is still true. 174 00:10:50.745 --> 00:10:55.005 Of course, the wages of sin is death. 175 00:10:56.765 --> 00:11:00.905 You, you have earned those wages. 176 00:11:02.405 --> 00:11:07.315 Death in all of its terror is your fate. 177 00:11:09.335 --> 00:11:10.915 But Jesus beat you there. 178 00:11:12.555 --> 00:11:16.615 He went first and he blew it up from the inside. 179 00:11:17.745 --> 00:11:22.375 Death swallowed him only to be shattered into oblivion. When 180 00:11:22.375 --> 00:11:25.055 Jesus refused to stay dead, 181 00:11:26.015 --> 00:11:29.095 a corpse no more forever, Jesus 182 00:11:29.625 --> 00:11:31.975 burst from the tomb alive, 183 00:11:33.215 --> 00:11:36.695 gloriously beautifully, unbelievably, perfectly, 184 00:11:36.905 --> 00:11:38.215 fully alive. 185 00:11:39.565 --> 00:11:43.955 Jesus has won. Death. Death is done. 186 00:11:45.225 --> 00:11:47.795 Your death is done. 187 00:11:49.265 --> 00:11:52.715 Your tomb will not hold you. 188 00:11:53.345 --> 00:11:56.005 It can't. Jesus faced 189 00:11:56.105 --> 00:11:57.725 the ultimate human curse. 190 00:11:57.985 --> 00:12:02.845 He went right into the guts of death itself and torn apart. 191 00:12:03.415 --> 00:12:05.565 Death does not win. 192 00:12:06.705 --> 00:12:08.285 Yes, Death still mars 193 00:12:08.305 --> 00:12:10.965 and perverts your life in this broken world. 194 00:12:10.965 --> 00:12:14.765 And yes, yes, your death will still 195 00:12:15.315 --> 00:12:18.965 Come someday. Someone 196 00:12:19.155 --> 00:12:21.245 will put your corpse 197 00:12:22.345 --> 00:12:26.805 in a grave and shed tears and walk away. 198 00:12:29.005 --> 00:12:33.405 But then, then Jesus will come 199 00:12:34.545 --> 00:12:37.165 and find you tenderly, 200 00:12:37.265 --> 00:12:41.645 but certainly pull you up out of your narrow tomb 201 00:12:42.255 --> 00:12:44.365 alive, gloriously 202 00:12:45.105 --> 00:12:47.885 and perfectly alive forever. 203 00:12:49.395 --> 00:12:53.015 And then Jesus will lead you into the eternity 204 00:12:53.715 --> 00:12:55.015 He has planned for you. 205 00:12:56.155 --> 00:13:00.755 All along crucified died 206 00:13:01.535 --> 00:13:05.795 and buried indeed, but not anymore. 207 00:13:06.495 --> 00:13:08.315 No, not anymore. 208 00:13:09.735 --> 00:13:14.665 Not for Jesus, and not for you either. Amen.