Scripture
For this week please read chapter 27 in the Story, The
Resurrection. From the Bible please read Matthew 27-28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John
19-21
Timeless Truth: He is risen!
Ashamed. Afraid.
Absent. Mere hours after they pledged never to leave Jesus—even to die
with Jesus—the Eleven were nowhere near the cross as the sun began to set. The Roman soldiers were still there though
and pierced his side to prove Jesus was very, very dead. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, an unlikely
duo, show up at the cross. These two members of the Sanhedrin shed their secret
discipleship and took responsibility for burying Jesus’ body. Wrapping Him in
enough spices for a king, they laid him in a nearby tomb. Remembering Jesus’
words, the Jewish authorities and Pilate secured the tomb and posted a guard
there to keep the three-day resurrection story from gaining any traction.
Early Sunday
morning, a small band of faithful women approached His tomb wondering who could
remove the rock that sealed the entrance.
Imagine their shock as an angel announced to them that Jesus was not
there, “He is risen, just as He said!”
Hearing the news, Peter and John sprinted to the tomb. They, too, found it empty. As Mary Magdalene remained weeping, Jesus
appeared to her. Later the same day, an unrecognized Jesus approached two
downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Evidently all of Jerusalem was abuzz with the events of the last three
days. The One whom they had trusted to
redeem all of Israel had been crucified, and they were disappointed. Some silly women even had an unbelievable
angelic vision, and the tomb was empty.
But what’s a guy to do except head home to Emmaus? Jesus admonished the two for their
unbelief. Then He used Moses and the
Prophets to teach them about the Messiah.
Jesus dined with them that evening.
When their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, He disappeared from
their sight, but they finally got it! So
they headed back to Jerusalem at full speed and full of joy to report their
experience to the Eleven. They were
interrupted there by yet another Jesus appearance. An empty tomb and two appearance reports
later, the disciples still cowered and mistook Jesus for a ghost when He spoke
to them. “Touch me and see,” He said as He showed them His hands and feet. When
Jesus re-explained the Old Testament in light of all that had happened, He
opened their minds so they too finally understood.
Thomas was not
about to believe these second-hand stories. He wouldn’t believe it until he saw
the nail marks for himself. A week later, Jesus graciously appeared to Thomas
and the others just so he could touch the scars for himself. Thomas confessed, “My Lord and My God!” Yes, now he believed that Jesus was the
God-man and that He was risen indeed.
Sometime later,
Jesus appeared to the disciples by the Sea of Galilee. Having caught nothing
all night, Jesus told these fishermen to cast their nets on the other side of
the boat. The miraculous catch was so great that they could hardly get the fish
into the boat. It prompted Peter to bail
out and head to the Lord. Over a beach
breakfast, Jesus three times asked Peter if he loved Him. Then He told Peter three times to care for
His sheep. The Eleven met Jesus on a Galilean mountain where He commissioned
them to continue to carry out His mission by saying, “Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
As God, Jesus had
all authority to now commission His disciples to carry out the building up of
His new community of believers who would be identified with the Triune
God. They in turn could accomplish their
mission because, as Emmanuel (Matt. 1:23), He would be with them to do so. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ vindicated
Him as the Son of God. It is the
cornerstone of the Christian faith and the climax of God’s great story of
redemption. The redemptive work was
finished, but now there was more work to do to spread the good news, and this
ragtag group of disciples were just the ones to do it, armed with the
supernatural power headed their way.
Questions
- People have always had difficulty believing that Jesus was God in the flesh. (Read 1 John 1:1, 2:22 and 4:2-3) What details did John include in the crucifixion story for his readers to know for certain that Jesus, fully human, had truly died? How does knowing that God came to live among us affect your daily life?
- For whose sake did the angel roll away the stone (p. 316)? What other major events have been announced by angels?
- List everything you have learned about Jesus’ resurrection body from this chapter. Why is Jesus’ literal, physical resurrection a non-negotiable teaching of the Christian faith? (See Romans 1:4, 4:25 and 1 Corinthians 15:17 )
- Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, 42-49. What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for you personally and for all believers?
- Thomas is frequently referred to as “doubting Thomas” because he refused to believe his fellow disciples’ testimony. Then, a week after the resurrection, he confessed, “My Lord and My God!” Do you think Thomas’ reputation is justified or do you think he has been labeled unjustly? Why or why not?
- What parallels can you find between Peter’s denial story (John 18:17-27) and His restoration story (p. 320, John 21:15-23)? What does Peter’s restoration reveal about Jesus’ heart and how does it apply to you personally?
- What does Jesus’ Great Commission on the mountain in Galilee require of all His disciples (p. 320)? Discuss what is involved in “making disciples.”
