Please read John 20:1-8 

When I read the account of the Lord’s death and resurrection, I think of the word “distinctive.” Webster said the word “distinctive” means, not alike, separate, clearly marked off, distinguishing from others. How many other religions or movements, celebrate the death of its founder? There may be a celebration of the founder’s birth, or some great event in the life of the founder or the movement, but not the death of the founder. Christianity is distinctive because the central figure is distinctive. Jesus Christ is distinctive from all others! Of the many ways in which Christ was distinctive, I want us to examine “His Distinctive Death.” 

Our Lord’s death was not distinctive in the fact that He died, many folks have died, and if the Lord does not return soon, many of us will die. Our Lord’s death was not distinctive because he was crucified. The day our Lord died, there were two malefactors crucified, one on each side of Him. Our Lord’s death was not distinctive because He died at a young age of 33. There have been numerous folks that have gone to their eternal state at a relatively young age. The lord’s death was distinctive in it’s: 

(I) Timing

When considering the timing of an individual’s death there are usually two factors to take into consideration, nature and accident. Nature has a grip on every living soul born into Adam’s family. Every child comes into the world destined for the graveyard. In the natural course of life, nature continually gains a greater hold with each passing day. Why is this? Sin is the reason! God told Adam, “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”(Genesis 2:17). Paul told us in the book of Romans, “death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (5:12). It is sin that allowed nature to grasp man, and lead him to the grave. But, nature had no grip on the Lord Jesus, because he was without sin. With the blood of the Heavenly Father coursing through His veins, He was immune to the defilement of sin. In some cases nature is not permitted to run it’s course because of an accident or murder. There are countless people that have died at the hands of others. It may have been an automobile accident, an act of violence, or on the battlefield. Whatever the case, life was taken. Jesus told us that He was the Good Shepherd that lay down His life for the sheep. Jesus said in John 10:18, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” The timing of our Lord’s death was distinctive because nature did not hold Him in its grasp, neither did any person or tragic event cut His life short! He chose the time and place that He would give His life as a ransom for sin. 

(II) Types

The Old Testament declared the death of Christ through shadows and types. From the first death in the garden, God had been declaring what His Son’s death would accomplish. Genesis3:21 records for us the death of an animal that was slain by God to provide coats for Adam and Eve. God could not look upon the sinfulness of man, but He could look upon that innocent animal. The death of the sinless Lamb of God provided a covering for sin. The sinner can exchange the rags of sin for a robe of righteousness. Leviticus 16:5-10 gives the account of the two goats used in the sin offering. There would be two goats led to the door of the tabernacle where lots would be cast. One animal would be the scapegoat, the other the sacrifice for sin. The scapegoat would bear the peoples sins away, and the other would die under God’s wrath for their sins. On the cross Jesus became sin for us, bearing them away never to be remembered again. Christ also died under the wrath of a Holy God as He suffered fro my sins. Here we see the completeness of salvation. Exodus 12  records how God sends the last plague upon Egypt to free the nation of Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh. The death angel was to pass through the land killing all the first-born. God told Moses to have the people sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial lamb upon the doorpost and lintel having the promise of God, when I see the blood, I will pass over you”(Exodus 12:13). At His death, Jesus carried the precious blood of the eternal covenant in to the Holy of Holies and placed it on the mercyseat. There the eternal covenant of grace was ratified by the blood of God’s Spotless Lamb. Numbers 21 records the children of Israel speaking against God, and the judgment of the fiery serpents. Verse 6 said, “much people of Israel died.” When the people cried out unto Moses, God told Moses to make a serpent of brass, and place it on a pole in the midst of the camp. If the bitten individual would look to the brazen serpent that had been lifted up, they would be healed. When Jesus was lifted up on that cross, He provided a cure for sin and compelled the sinner to come. Every Old Testament type has found its fullness in the person of Jesus Christ, even His death. The death of God’s Son provided for the sinner a covering, a completeness, a covenant, a cure and it is compelling.

 (III) Testimony

When Simon Peter and John arrived at the sepulcher, they went in to investigate where Christ had been. Their study revealed something unusual, the napkin was not with the linen clothes. “And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself” (John 20:7). The napkin that had been about the head of Christ was folded and was lying in a place by it’s self. The napkin left in this manner gives testimony concerning the Lord’s death. There are two thoughts I want to pursue. The folded napkin testifies of a finished task. The craftsman would wear a napkin about their waist to keep defilement off their clothes. At the end of the day when the task had been completed, the craftsman would remove the napkin and fold it. Anyone that saw the craftsman’s napkin knew that the task was complete and his day of labor was over. The folded napkin is a testimony of the complete and finished work of our Lord and Saviour. The salvation that was wrought by God is finished and Christ has completed the task. Nothing else needs to be done, the labor is over. The napkin also speaks of a soon return. At these great suppers of the Jews, people were assigned a place to sit according to honor. If a guest had to get up and did not want someone to get his place before he returned, he would fold his napkin, and lay it at his place. When the servants came by and saw the folded napkin they knew not to remove anything for the guest was returning shortly. The folded napkin gives testimony to the soon return of our Saviour. He has gone away, but he is coming again to receive us unto Himself, and we shall never be separated again. The folded napkin gave testimony of a Saviour that had finished the task, but is soon to return for His own.

Distinctive is the only way to describe our Lord’s death, for there was none like it. It was distinctive in it’s timing, it’s types, and it’s testimony. But, greater still is its distinctiveness in its triumph. Through His death, He has conquered every foe and set us free from the law of sin and death. Hallelujah what a Saviour!