Lesson 18
Lord’s Day 16
God the Son and Our Redemption
Part 6: His Suffering in Death
Listening to God’s Word
Read or have the students read John 19: 28-42. Ask the students the following
questions, but do not give them the answer. Encourage them to find the answer in the
text. Following this, give them the correct answer.
1. Did Jesus know that He was going to die? (verse 28)
Yes, Jesus knew He was going to die. In verse 28 John writes that Jesus knew that
all things had been accomplished.
2. Why did Jesus say “It is finished”?
He said “it is finished” to communicate that His atoning work had been completed.
Nothing more needed to be done in order to make satisfaction for the sins of His
people.
3. Why did the soldiers not break the legs of Jesus?
The soldiers did not break the legs of Jesus in order to fulfill the prophecy of
Scripture.
4. Where was Jesus buried? Who buried Him?
Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph and Nicodemus
buried him.
Praying for a Blessing
Ask God to make His truth clear and to apply it to the hearts of the students.
Committing God’s Truth to Memory
Tell the students that today’s lesson is based on Lord’s Day 16, Q + A 40-44. Read
each question and answer. Optional: Ask the students to read the answer in unison.
Repeat.
Question 40: Why was it necessary for Christ to humble Himself even unto death?
Answer: Because with respect to the justice and truth of God, satisfaction for our sins
could be made no otherwise, than by the death of the Son of God.
Question 41: Why was He also “buried”?
Answer: Thereby to prove that He was really dead.
Question 42: Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?
Answer: Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, but only an abolishing of sin, and a
passage into eternal life.
Question 43: What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on
the cross?
Answer: That by virtue thereof, our old man is crucified, dead and buried with Him; that
so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us; but that we may offer
ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
Question 44: Why is there added, “He descended into hell”?
Answer: That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in
this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by His inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish
agonies, in which He was plunged during all His sufferings, but especially on the cross,
hath delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.
Simplified Version
1.
Why was it necessary for Christ to humble Himself unto death?
Because the justice and truth of God demand that payment for our sins be made in no
other way than by the death of the Son of God. Gen.2: 17; Heb.2: 9,10; Phil.2: 8.
2.
Why was He also buried?
To prove thereby that He was really dead. Acts 13:29; Mk.15: 43,46.
3.
Since Christ died for us, why do we still have to die?
Our death is not a payment for our sins, but only a dying to sins and entering into
eternal life. Jn.5: 24; Phil.1: 23.
4.
What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?
That by His power our old man is crucified, slain and buried with Him. Rom.6: 6,7; etc.
5.
What does that imply?
That the evil lusts of our flesh no more reign in us, but that we offer ourselves unto Him
a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Rom.6: 12; 12:1.
6.
What is meant by the term, "He descended into hell?"
That my Lord Jesus Christ suffered inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish
agonies during all His life, but especially on the cross. Matt. 26:38; 27:46.
7.
How does this benefit me?
Now I may be sure that as my Substitute He has delivered me from the anguish and
torment of hell. Isa.53: 5.
8.
When especially does this knowledge comfort me?
When I experience my greatest temptations. Isa.53: 10; Matt.27: 46; Isa.63: 9.
Outline
The Final Sufferings of Christ
I.
His Death (Q + A 40)
A.
The Reason For His Death (Q + A 40)
B.
The Reason For Our Death (Q + A 42)
C.
The Benefit of Christ’s Death (Q + A 43)
His Burial (Q + A 41)
His Descent Into Hell (Q + A 44)
II.
III.
Getting Started
Ask the students if they have ever watched someone die. Tell them that watching
someone die is one of the most solemn and disturbing things we can ever see. That is
because death is unnatural. God created man to live not to die. Tell them that the most
unnatural death in history is the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is because He is
the source of life. It was through Him that God created the heavens and the earth and
every living thing. It is through Him that God gives life to a sinner. Yet Christ had to die.
What is more, He had to be buried and descend into hell.
Read the following:
During the past few weeks we have been studying Christ’s state of humiliation. This
state of humiliation began with His conception and birth (LD 14), continued in His life of
suffering (LD 15) and ends with His death, burial and descent into hell. This is the
subject of LD 16.
Taking A Closer Look
1.
The first thing we confess in this LD is that it was necessary for Christ to die.
a.
Why, according to our Catechism, was it necessary for Christ to die?
It was necessary for Christ to die “because with respect to the justice and truth
of God, satisfaction for our sins could be made no otherwise than by the death
of the son of God.”
b.
What does the word “satisfy” mean in this context?
The word “satisfy” means “to assuage”
i.
What must be satisfied?
The wrath of God against sin must be satisfied
Teaching Hint: Emphasize that the wrath of God against sin is like a raging
fire that must be extinguished.
ii.
How was this wrath satisfied?
This wrath was satisfied by the death of the Son of God
Teaching Hint: Point out that the death of Christ as like water on a raging
fire. Just was water quenches a raging fire, so the sacrifice of Christ
satisfies the wrath of God against sin.
c.
What two attributes of God demanded the death of the Son of God?
The two attributes of God that demanded the death of the Son of God are His
justice and His truth.
i.
In what way did the justice of God require the death of the Son of God?
The justice of God required the death of the Son of God because death is
the just penalty for sin (Gen 2: 17, Ezek 18: 4, 20; Rom 6: 23).
ii.
In what way did the truth of God require the death of the Son of God?
The truth of God required the death of the Son of God because in Gen 3:
15 God promised that the seed of the woman (Christ) would bruise the
head of the serpent (Satan). This would be accomplished by His death
(Heb. 2: 14).
Teaching Hint: Emphasize that the death of the Son of God was not optional. He
had to die – not only to save His people from their sins, but also to satisfy the truth
and justice of God.
2.
The second thing we confess here is that Christ was also buried.
a.
Why, according to our Catechism, was Christ also buried (Q + A 41)?
He was buried to prove that He was really dead
b.
What other proof do we have that Christ really died?
A Roman soldier pierced His side and out came blood and water (John 19: 33,
34)
c.
Why is it is necessary for us to know that Christ really died?
It is necessary for us to now that Christ really died otherwise we could never be
sure that He actually made atonement for sin since in order to make atonement
for sin, Christ actually had to die.
3.
Since Christ died and was buried, why must believers die (Q + A 42)?
Our Catechism gives two reasons why believers must die:
a.
What is the first reason why believers must die?
Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins [because Christ already made this
satisfaction], but rather an abolishing of sin. As long as we live we will sin;
death puts an end to that once and for all. When we are dead, we can no
longer sin.
Teaching Hint: Point out that this is what the believer longs for. The believer
longs for the day when he no longer sins. Death fulfills this longing.
b.
What is the second reason why believers must die?
Our death is a passage to eternal life (II Cor 5: 6-8; Phil 1: 21). The only way
we can enter into eternal life is if we die.
Teaching Hint: Point out that this too is what the believer longs for. The
believer longs to enter into eternal life with Christ. Death fulfills this longing.
c.
Are there any exceptions to this rule?
There are a few exceptions to this rule:
i.
Enoch and Elijah
Teaching Hint: Ask the students why Enoch and Elijah did not die. One
possible answer is in order to assure us that there is an after life.
ii.
4.
Believers who are still alive when the Lord Jesus Christ returns
What, according to Q + A 43 is the benefit of Christ’s death on the cross for the
believer?
The benefit of Christ's death on the cross is that “by virtue of thereof our old man is
crucified, dead and buried with him”
a.
What is the old man?
The old man refers to the believer's old (unrenewed) nature.
Teaching Hint: Point out that within every believer there are two natures: an old
nature (“old man”) and a new nature (“new man”). The old nature is constantly
trying to get the believer to walk in the ways of sin. The new nature is
constantly trying to get the believer to walk in the ways of righteousness.
b.
What happened to the old man when Christ died on the cross?
The old man was “crucified, dead and buried” with Christ
c.
Where is this taught in the Scriptures?
This is taught in Rom 6: 1-6. There the apostle Paul writes “Knowing this, that
our old man is crucified with him.
d.
Explain how the old man can be said to be crucified and buried with Christ. Did
the believer actually die on the cross and enter into the grave with Christ?
Yes, however, not physically, but spiritually by virtue of the believer’s union with
Christ.
Teaching Hint: Point out that when a sinner believes on the Lord Jesus Christ,
he becomes united to Him by faith. He becomes, as it were, bone of His bone
and flesh of His flesh. Christ is the head; the believer is part of His body. That
means, when Christ was crucified, the believer was crucified with Him. When
Christ died, the believer died with Him. When Christ was buried, the believer
was buried with Him. Whatever Christ did, the believer did in Him.
e.
Does that mean the believer no longer sins?
Not at all. The believer will continue to sin his entire lifelong.
Teaching Hint: Point out that David was a man after God’s own heart, yet he
committed adultery and murder. Peter was one of the Lord’s closest disciples,
yet he denied the Lord three times.
f.
What then do we mean when we say that the old man is crucified, dead and
buried with Christ?
When we say that the old man is crucified, dead and buried with Christ we
mean that the old man no longer has dominion over him/her.
i.
What is the negative result of this?
The negative result of this is that “the corrupt inclinations of the flesh no
more reign in us”, i.e. although the believer still sins, because he has been
crucified with Christ, he does not live in sin. Sin no longer has dominion
over him.
ii.
What is the positive result of this?
The positive result of this is that ”we may offer ourselves unto Him a
sacrifice of thanksgiving”, i.e. we may begin to live to the glory of God in al
things.
Teaching Hint: Point out that these two results go together. We cannot offer
ourselves a sacrifice of thanksgiving unless the corrupt inclinations of our flesh
no longer reign in us.
5.
We also confess that Christ descended into hell.
a.
What does this mean?
The descent of Christ into hell is a very controversial subject. The fact is, we
do not know where this phrase came from nor do we know its original intent
and meaning. There are three main interpretations:
i.
The word “hell” refers to the grave
The problem with this view is that it makes the phrase redundant. Why do
we need to confess that Jesus descended to the grave twice?
ii.
The word" hell" refers to the place of eternal punishment
According to this view, between his death and resurrection Jesus actually
went to hell. Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics say that He did so in
order to free the souls of OT believers who died before the death of Christ
(based on I Peter 4: 6). The Lutherans say He went there in order to
proclaim His victory over His enemies (based on I Peter 3: 18-20). But this
view also has many problems. For one thing, Jesus told the thief on the
cross they would be together that very day in paradise (Luke 23: 43). How
could Jesus say this if he was on his way to hell? For another thing, it is
hard to imagine Jesus crying out “It is finished” (John 19: 30) and “Into thy
hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23: 46), if he had more suffering to endure
in hell.
iii.
The word" hell" refers to “the inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and
hellish agonies” our Lord suffered during all His life, but especially on the
cross.
This is the explanation adopted by our Catechism and it is the one that
makes the most sense
b.
What comfort is there in knowing that Christ descended into hell? (Q + A 44)
The fact that Christ descended into hell means the believer will never have to
endure the “anguish and torments” of hell for Christ experienced them for him.
i.
When is this of particular comfort for the believer?
This is of particular comfort when the believer is tempted.
ii.
Why is this such a comfort when the believer is tempted?
This is such a comfort because it is especially when the believer is
tempted (and especially when he falls into temptation) that he feels that he
deserves the pain and anguish of hell. At such times he can remind
himself that this pain and anguish was borne by Christ.
What About You?
Read the following with the students. Ask them to consider these questions openly and
honestly before the Lord.
We have come to the end of our consideration of the humiliation of Christ. What a
wonder that Christ suffered all these things for miserable, hell deserving sinners like you
and me. What is your response to this? May the humiliation of Christ humble us before
God and cause us to flee to Christ and embrace Him as our Lord and Saviour!
For Review
Ask the students to answer the following questions and hand them in at the beginning of
next class:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
In what way does the justice of God require the death of the Son of God?
In what way does the truth of God require the death of the Son of God?
What is the old man?
What happened to the old man when Christ died on the cross?
Explain how the old man can be said to be crucified and buried with Christ. Does
that mean the believer no longer sins?
What is the negative result of this? (Q + A 43)
What is the positive result of this? (Q + A 43)
Why, according to our Catechism, was Christ also buried?
If by dying on the cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sins, why do believers still
have to die? (Two reasons)
What do we mean when we say that Christ descended into hell? What are the other
two interpretations?
What comfort is there in knowing that Christ descended into hell? When is this
especially comforting?