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The Surprising Conversion of a Supreme Court Justice

Luke 23:53-56

We are now in our fourth year, studying together the Gospel of Luke. Today is study #129. I want you to know that I’m going as fast as I can.

I got a note in the mail a few months ago from a couple who are expecting their third son. They wrote that in honor of all they’ve learned and appreciated from our study, they will be naming their son Luke.

Their note reminded me – many years ago, I spent 6 years preaching through the Book of Romans. A couple in our church was having a son and wrote to tell me his middle name was gonna be Roman, in honor of it. The mother added in the note a request – she wrote, “We would like to have more children – but please, don’t start preaching through the Book of Habakkuk.”

I haven’t.

But what a wonderful legacy – to embed, even in the name of a child, something about the Bible – the gospel – the word of God.

Maybe for you, you’re a first generation Christan – that is, you came to faith in Christ, in spite of the fact that you didn’t have believing parents.

You might have surprised your family and circle of friends when you got saved – you were the last person in their minds to care about the Bible, or about Jesus.

But you can now think back through your life – you can now see the different events – the different people God brought into the traffic pattern of your life, who lived out the gospel – who delivered to you the news of God’s grace.

And you became – to everyone around you – a surprising follower of Christ.

I think of Rosaria Butterfield, a former professor of English and Women’s studies at Syracuse University – an avowed atheist, living in a lesbian relationship for years. A pastor and his wife moved next door – and after years of conversations and questions – she came to faith in Christ. She’s now a pastor’s wife, a best-selling author, a mother and now a grandmother. She’ll be one of our guest presenters at the next Shepherds360 Conference this October.

She surprised everybody when she took her stand with Jesus Christ.

If you traveled back in time 200 years ago and met John Newton, you would have met a calloused, God-hating, vile, slave trader.

A storm at sea nearly cost him his life and for the first time he began to think about the gospel of his mother, which he had rejected.

He soon trusted Christ as his Savior and went on to become a pastor and hymnwriter – you probably know the lyrics he wrote to the most hymn in the church to this day:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

Let me tell you, John Newton was a surprising convert to Christianity.

I also think of John Wesley – the exact opposite of John Newton. Wesley was a morally outstanding young man; a student at Oxford. Soon after arriving at college he joined a fraternity of young men called the Holy Club.

They were determined to live holy lives and avoid sin at all costs.

They followed every discipline of the church to an extreme:

• rising early in the morning to pray;
• fasting twice a week
• avoiding any luxury
• visiting prisoners
• feeding the poor and the sick
• teaching orphans about the Bible
• never missing church or communion services

And then, at the end of every day, they pledged to examine themselves with four questions – and then journal their answers honestly:

1 – did I dishonor God today?

2 – did I act selfishly today?

3 – have I been faithful to pray today?

4 – did I read my Bible today?

So much of that is commendable – in fact, rather convicting – let’s ask ourselves those same 4 questions at the end of each day!

Their holy disciplines were mocked by fellow students at Oxford. They were nicknamed by the students – Methodists – because of their methodical discipline – their religious methods – for achieving holiness.

And for John Wesley, the problem was, he was following those methods to earn his way into Heaven – to earn acceptance with God – to be worthy of God’s forgiveness.

He even went on what we would call an extended missionary trip from England to the Colonies of early America, but he returned to England soon after, a failure.

He recognized his spiritual bankruptcy – his human efforts had simply run outta gas.

But he had been deeply impacted by the simple faith of the Moravians whom he had met on the same ship he was traveling on.

He was eventually saved by trusting Christ alone.

People were surprised that he wasn’t already a Christian.

And to this day, we need to explain the difference:

• between religion and regeneration
• between religious sincerity and salvation
• between trusting in your own merit and trusting in God’s mercy and grace.

Well, if you could travel back in time some 2000 years ago, you could have a met a man a lot like John Wesley. He was passionate about holy living, and keeping all the religious rules.

He was a man everyone would have assumed had a ticket into the kingdom of heaven.

Now, we’ve already met one of his friends whose name was Joseph of Arimathea.

So let’s go back to Luke chapter 23 and reintroduce ourselves to this scene on Calvary’s hill – we’ll eventually get to Joseph’s friend.

Jesus has just died on the cross and here in verse 52, we read that he This man [Joseph] went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Luke 23:52

Now, without this request, Jesus would have been thrown into a garbage dump outside the city, a place where fire perpetually burned the city’s trash, as well as the remains of crucified criminals.

It was Roman law that a crucified victim was not allowed to be buried.

But God moved in the heart of this politician – Pilate evidently agreed – verse 53 tells us:

Then he [Joseph] took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. Luke 23:53

Now if you put the gospel accounts together you discover three different cloths connected with the burial of Jesus.

First, a shroud – mentioned here. No doubt this was used to enable Joseph and his household servants – perhaps others who remain unnamed – to carry the body of Jesus to the tomb.

Once there, in Jewish fashion, the body would have been quickly washed. You can imagine how the body of Jesus would have been covered with dirt and sweat and blood.

The body would have been perfumed as well with dry spices – spices that would also have been strewn on the floor of the tomb and on the ledge where they will place the Lord.

The second material mentioned in the gospel accounts are strips of cloth.

John gives us the most detail here in chapter 19 and verse 40:

So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:40

These linen strips of cloth were typically 8-inches to 12-inches wide. (SOURCE: ^{Charles R. Swindoll, The Darkness and the Dawn (Word Publishing, 2001), p. 237)}

These linen strips were wound around each limb of the body, with a mixture of spices layered in to keep the strips in place.

^{Adapted from William Hendriksen, John: Volume 2 (Baker Book House, 1953), p. 442}

When they finished, the corpse would have been encased in a hardened wrapping of linen strips, from the shoulders to the ankles. (SOURCE: ^{Swindoll, The Darkness and the Dawn, p. 237)}

Now the third cloth mentioned is the face cloth – a soudarion – which was wrapped around the face and head, and then it was tied under the jaw to keep it from sagging open.

This face cloth isn’t mentioned until after the resurrection, in John 20 and verse 7 where John and Peter:

“…saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded up in a place by itself.  John 20:7

It’s as if Jesus tidied up the place before leaving.

But don’t miss it – these details are important because John is clarifying that Jesus did in fact receive an honorable, typical burial for a Jewish man – strips of cloth – spices – face cloth.

It was key – listen – it was incredibly important that there was a body that had been placed in a tomb.

Why? Because you can’t have a resurrection without a corpse.

There wasn’t any question that Jesus was dead.

Let me tell you, salvation’s plan would not have been complete if Jesus had merely suffered on the cross and shed His blood.

He had to do all that and He had to die – for the wages of sin is death, the Bible says.

The payment for sin is death.

But why did Jesus have to die if he never committed a sin?

The answer is – He died in our place to make our payment for our sin. If the wages of sin is death, then Jesus could satisfy the full demand of holy justice only by dying. (SOURCE: ^{Philip Graham Ryken, Luke: Volume 2 (P&R Publishing, 2009), p. 623)}

One author wrote, “It is not simply His sufferings on the cross that save us, but the cold reality of His physical death.” Charles Spurgeon preached on this text, “If Jesus did not die, He has made no atonement for sin. Sin requires death. And if Jesus did not die, then He could not rise from the dead, and, as the apostle Paul said, “and if Jesus did not rise from the dead our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins.” (SOURCE: ^{Ryken, p. 621)}

That’s why there are volumes written out there that claim Jesus didn’t actually die. Some suggest He lapsed into a coma and then revived in the damp coolness of the tomb with the help of His disciples.

A woman once wrote J. Vernon McGee, a radio Bible preacher who is now with the Lord. She wrote, “Dr. McGee, my pastor preached last Sunday that Jesus didn’t really die, but that He just swooned – or fainted – and the disciples revived Him three days later.”

McGee wrote back, “Dear Madam, I recommend you get somebody to whip your pastor at least forty times, jam a crown of thorns down on his head, nail him through his hands and feet to a cross, then run a spear up under his ribs and through his heart, take him down and wrap him up tightly with a hundred pounds of spices and leave him for three days without food or water, and then see if you can revive him.

Jesus didn’t faint – He died.

And His death is a key part of our gospel today. We’re still sinners – but Jesus died and faced the wrath of God in our place.

So the apostle Paul connects the dots in Romans chapter 8: “Who then is the one who can condemn us? No one. [Why? Because] Christ Jesus died – He took our death penalty – but that isn’t all – Paul goes on to write, He was raised back to life.” (Romans 8:34)

So He really did die, and He really did rise from the dead.

Beloved, our gospel – our hope – includes the death of the Passover Lamb – our Lord – who died so that, as He promised, those who believe in Him, though they die, yet shall they live.

Now at this point in the narrative, Jesus is now being washed and wrapped for burial.

The rest of Luke chapter 23 informs us that a group of faithful women are sticking it out to the bitter end – God bless their faithfulness. (SOURCE: ^{Adapted from David E. Garland, Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke (Zondervan, 2011), p. 940)}

Luke writes that the Sabbath is approaching so their gonna have to wait.

This is called the High Sabbath by John in chapter 19 and verse 31.

This was an additional Sabbath day of rest, in addition to the normal Saturday Sabbath, according to the Jewish customs surrounding Passover.

This High Sabbath was Friday this year – and as we’ve already discussed in an earlier study – at the same time the nation Isarel would have been killing their Passover lambs on Thursday afternoon, Jesus, the final Passover Lamb would have died on the cross, at approximately the same time as our final Passover Lamb.

He will be in the grave, literally, a portion of three days and three nights.

And now these women take note of the tomb where Jesus is lying, and they go back and quickly prepare more spices, Luke tells us here in verse 56 that they’re planning to come back after Sabbath rest to anoint His body.

Now let’s not get too far down the road. I’m trying to go fast, but not that fast.

Something else happens here at the tomb that now deserves some attention.

John’s gospel is the only gospel account that informs us that another surprising convert has just emerged from the shadows of secret belief.

His name is Nicodemus.

John writes in chapter 19 and verse 38:

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission.

So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 

So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.  John 19:38-40

Now wait a second. Who’s Nicodemus? And how did he know Joseph of Arimathea?

Well, the biblical clues reveal that both of these men were supreme court justices – they were both members of the Sanhedrin – Israel’s highest court in the land.

And I would agree with Warren Wiersbe and other Bible scholars that Nicodemus and Joseph had decided to emerge together as followers of Jesus – their Messiah. (SOURCE: ^{Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Transformed: John 13-21 (Victor Books, 1986), p. 116)}

They would be secret followers no longer – they are going to become surprising followers of Jesus – their Messiah!

But follow this.

Jesus had been arrested at midnight – He’s rushed through 6 illegal trials and then put on a cross at 9:00 am. Six hours later, at 3 o’clock – just 15 hours after being arrested, Jesus is dead.

And these men are prepared – they’re ready.

Some scholars indicate that Joseph had this tomb prepared beforehand for Jesus – it was unoccupied, which would have been unusual.

And now Nicodemus arrives with 75 pounds of burial spices – which would have been impossible to purchase when all the Jewish merchants would have been preparing for their Passover feast.

In other words, these men knew that Jesus was going to die. And they were ready and waiting.

How?

The disciples are busy planning which throne they’re gonna sit on – arguing over who’s gonna be the greatest in the kingdom, these two men have watched the proceedings from their vantage point as Jewish leaders.

But most importantly, Nicodemus had met with Jesus three years earlier.

In John chapter 3, we’re told that Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus during the night. In other words, he wasn’t ready to risk his reputation just yet. He was a leader in the nation Israel.

Now when we think of Pharisees, we think of legalists who never smiled.

The truth is, they were the most revered men in their nation – men of integrity who were passionate about keeping the law of Moses.

You could say that they were all members of the Holy Club – and they were dedicated to holy living.

Pharisee simply means, separated one.

They traced their traditional roots back to Daniel who refused to eat the kings meat or drink the wine – both which had been offered first to their gods. He lived in Babylon, a separated life.

Trouble was 600 years after Daniel – the Pharisees were simply following the rules.

Nicodemus is also introduced in John chapter 3 as a “ruler of the Jews” – the word “ruler” indicates that Nicodemus is not only a member of the Sanhedrin, but a respected leader among leaders.

But Nicodemus is curious. So he comes to Jesus at night and basically asks Jesus who He is? He effectively says to the Lord, “Only God’s power can do the things you’re doing – so just who are you?!”

And with that, Jesus begins to reveal to Nicodemus that He is not only the Son of Man – a Messianic title – but the Son of God.

He tells Nicodemus in John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Earlier in verse 7 Jesus tells him, “You must be born again” – or you could translate it – you must be born from above.

In other words, God has to bring you to life and when He does, through faith in His Son, you are given eternal life.

Which means you don’t get into heaven by keeping the rules – you get into Heaven by having a relationship with God’s Son, the giver of eternal life.

This is a staggering conversation.

In fact, in verse 10, Jesus says to Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?”

John’s account was recorded in Greek, but it reflects the Lord’s use of the definite article in Aramaic – aren’t you the teacher of Israel?

Jesus is pointing out that Nicodemus has the reputation in all of Israel as being the preeminent teacher of God’s word – he is the leading voice of religious teaching in Israel.

^{Charles R. Swindoll, Insights in John (Zondervan, 2010), p. 67}

It was the role of the Pharisee to teach the scriptures to the people, which is a role they had largely abandoned.

And here in John chapter 3, Jesus rebukes Nicodemus for not knowing the Bible – the Old Testament scriptures.

He’s a lot like preachers and religious leaders today – they know a lot about religion, and religious tradition, but not very much about the Bible.

So Jesus chides him – suggesting, you really oughtta go back to the scriptures and study them again.

Remember, this conversation in John chapter 3 takes place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

And three years later, Nicodemus is waiting with nearly 100 pounds of spices – and Joseph has prepared a tomb – many believe that he had hewn out a never-used tomb specifically to hold Jesus’ body temporarily.

It’s as if they knew. Warren Wiersbe wrote that these men had already carefully planned what they would do. They could not have started at midnight after Jesus was arrested, or later that morning when Jesus was nailed to a cross.

And I agree – I could be wrong – but I believe they knew months in advance.

Think about it – Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and 15 hours later, He’s dead.

And these guys are ready.

Three years earlier, Jesus had effectively told the leading teacher in Israel that he needed to go back and study the scriptures again more carefully, and Nicodemus had evidently listened.

And he had mulled over and over the conversation he had with Jesus that night, three years earlier where:

• Jesus called Himself the Son of Man – a title reserved for the Messiah;
• Jesus connected that title of Himself to the title, “Son of God” verses 16-18).
• Jesus said to Nicodemus in verse 14 that just as Moses had lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, to cure those who’d been fatally bitten, so will the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believe es in him may have eternal life.” – this was a clear reference to Jesus being crucified.
• Jesus said that He was telling Nicodemus things He had personally witnessed in heaven (verse 11).
• Nicodemus heard Jesus stand before the Sanhedrin and talk about the Son of Man who will come back on the clouds of Heaven (Matthew 26:64).

So Nicodemus spent the next three years studying the scriptures – he connected the prophecies of Genesis and Zecheriah and Isaiah and the Psalms with what Jesus had told him in John chapter 3:

• Jesus has descended from heaven
• Jesus said He was testifying to things he saw and knew from heaven
• Jesus was referring to Himself as the Son of God from heaven
• He clearly referred to Himself as the Son of Man, the prophesied Messiah
• Jesus implied that He would be lifted up – a reference to crucifixion
• That meant that the Psalms indicated that Jesus would come back to life and suffer no decay

Nicodemus connected the dots. It was all here, in the Old Testament – in the words of Jesus – the clues were as plain as the nose on your face.

So, here he is, three years later – with his buddy Joseph – he’s ready to reveal that he is a follower of the Messiah.

Let me tell you, this is a really surprising convert – the conversion of a Supreme Court Justice – Israel’s most famous, preeminent, teacher of Old Testament scripture.

Now a believer in Christ.

I close with this more recent illustration of a surprising conversion.

Frieda van Hessen was one of Holland’s most famous opera singers. During the Nazi invasion, because she was Jewish, went into hiding and she survived. Someone later told her that she ought to convert to Christianity in case something else happened in the future against Jews. She was offended by that, but eventually began talking to another Jewish woman who had become a Christian. They began studying the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life, His crucifixion and resurrection, but Frieda would argue. She told Elizabeth that it was nothing more than fairy tales and could not be trusted.

After weeks of arguments, they decided to have one last meeting. During that final meeting, Elizabeth asked Frieda to read just two chapters from the Old Testament – Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. Frieda would later write:

Six days went by, and I finally got alone and opened up the Bible. I found Psalm 22 and read, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

Having sung in opera, I remember Johann Sebastian Bach’s great opera “St. Matthew’s Passion,” where the bass who was portraying the Lord sang, “My God, my God why hast Thou forsaken me?” So closed minded was I that I said to myself, “What do you know, Psalm 22 stole this from Bach.” So I continued reading to find out what more they had stolen from Bach. I read on in Psalm 22 to verse 16, “They pierced my hands and my feet.” In shock I literally shouted, “That’s what they did to Jesus.” I knew the Jews stoned people to death, but did not crucify them. Crucifixion was a Roman death penalty. I realized David had written this Psalm hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented.

Then I turned to Isaiah 53 and knew that it was describing the rejection and crucifixion and death of Jesus. I read, “He was despised and rejected of men” . . . He was “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” . . . “we hid our faces from Him” . . . “He was afflicted and wounded for our transgressions”. I realized, “Yes, for my sins too”.

I called Elizabeth to tell her the good news – Jesus was now my Lord and my Savior. (SOURCE: ^{Adapted from Matt Carter & Josh Wredberg, Exalting Jesus in John (B & H Publishing, 2017), p. 374)}

She connected the dots – put together the biblical clues that were there all along.

Just one more surprising conversion, brought about by the recognition that Jesus died – just as He said.

How about you?

What more clues might you need to admit your sin, and trust only in the work of Jesus, who died literally, so that you can be saved forever.