Explore the Bible Lesson Preview April 5, 2015 The Declaration Background and Lesson: Luke 24:1-12

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview April 5, 2015 The Declaration Background and Lesson: Luke 24:1-12 Motivation: Critics throughout the centuries have tried to disprove the resurrection. Obviously it is the single most important event in human history. Without it, Paul writes, we are to be pitied (I Cor. 15:17-19). On Easter Sunday, we celebrate Christ s resurrection as a fact of history! Examination: I. The Empty Tomb (1-3) A. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared (1) It s important to note that Jesus followers expected no resurrection. They came prepared only for a burial. Schonfield ( The Passover Plot ) supposes an elaborate collaboration among the disciples to conceal the truth. On the contrary, the disciples were scattered and dispirited. Unlike Lenin s tomb, which sees a daily parade of spectators, the early church completely ignored Christ s tomb. Tour guides today can only suppose its location. B. Stone They found the stone rolled away from the tomb (2) Frank Morrison was an atheistic attorney/ journalist from London who set out once and for all to disprove the resurrection myth. His extensive investigation, both in the scripture and in the Holy Land, resulted in his conversion to Christ and his classic book Who Moved the Stone. Morrison could find no rational explanation for the movement of the large stone covering the tomb s opening about which ancient documents estimate twenty men could not roll it away ( The Resurrection Factor 1 / 6

2 , p. 53). Not only would the weight of the stone, but also the Roman seal put upon it (Matt. 27:64-66) have prevented any one person from moving it. C. Sight They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus (3) The absence of Jesus body caused tremendous grief to the Sanhedrin. In contradiction to the many swoon theories (that Jesus only appeared to die and was revived in the coolness of the tomb), there was no objection among first-century critics to the fact that Jesus died on the cross. The earliest theory was that the disciples stole His body (Matthew 28:11-15 and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day. The three-fold problem to this theory involves the stone, the seal and the security guards. Josh McDowell presents a convincing case for the presence of an elite Roman guard ( The Resurrection Factor, pp ) Normally what they did was this: four men were placed immediately in front of what they were to protect. The other 12 were asleep in a semi-circle in front of them with their heads pointing in. To steal what these guards were protecting, thieves would first have to walk over those who were asleep. Every four hours, another unit of four was awakened, and those who had been awake went to sleep. They would rotate this way around the clock. Of course, the penalty for going to sleep while on guard would have been death to all 16. II. The Risen Lord Declared (4-8) A. Shining Messengers While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. (4) In Matthew s account, one of these angels rolled back the stone and was sitting on it (28:2) The reaction to these heavenly emissaries was the same as that accompanying Jesus birth So the women were terrified... (5- cf. Zacharias: Luke 1:12-13; Mary: 1:29-30; the Shepherds: 2:9-10; Joseph: Matt. 1:20). John writes perfect love drives out fear (I John 4:18). B. Scared Women So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. Why are you looking for the living among the dead? asked the men. (5) Once again we have confirmation that those closest to Jesus were not expecting a resurrection much less plotting to promote such a scenario. They were confused, discouraged and terrified. 2 / 6

3 C. Scriptures He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise the third day? And they remembered His words. (6-8) On several occasions, Jesus had taken the time to explain His death, burial and resurrection (Matt. 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). Yet the disciple s ignorance (11) highlights the difference between knowing (in theory) and understanding. Bible studies are more available now than ever before in history; Christians can log on, tune in, or attend Bible Study any day of the week. However, application of Bible truths in regard to moral values, tithing, and soul winning may be at historic low. Not only is our nation becoming increasingly non-christian, the Christian Church as a Body is dangerously moving toward lukewarmness with regard to changing our society. James reminds us So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn t do it. (4:17). Jesus said If you love me, you will keep my commands. (John 14:15). It s not enough to hear; we must understand and put Biblical truth into practice. (Luke 24:44-50). III. Sure Witnesses (9-12) A. Witnessing Women Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. (9-10) The very success of the early church in which His followers were changed from fearful to bold, speaks of the resurrection s impact. The fact that the first witnesses were women, who in first century Palestine were not even allowed to testify in court, demonstrates both the Lord s favor upon them and the fact that this was not some well-organized conspiracy. B. Wondering Men But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. (11) When the women reported the news of the resurrection, the men reacted with disbelief. In John s gospel, the word for believe or trust occurs over 100 timesit is a big concept. However, the initial reaction of the disciples was not Hey, how can we pull the wool over everyone else s eyes but rather That s ridiculous! That these same disciples were willing to be martyred for this belief speaks volumes as to the power of the resurrection. 3 / 6

4 C. Wrappings Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened (12) In John s account of this scene, the placement of the grave clothes arrested the attention of both Peter and John (John 20:6-8). The neatly folded handkerchief especially warranted attention. William Barclay writes Then something else struck him- - the grave clothes were not disheveled and disarranged. They were lying there still in their folds- - that is what the Greek means- - the clothes for the body where the body had been; the napkin where the head had lain. The whole point of the description is that the grave-clothes did not look as if they had been put on or taken off; they were lying there in their regular folds as if the body of Jesus had simply evaporated out of them. The sight suddenly penetrated to John s mind; he realized what had happened and he believed. It was not what he had read in scripture which convinced him that Jesus had risen; it was what he saw with his own eyes. ( John, Vol. 2, p. 267) (John 20:29; 2 Cor. 4:3-6; I Peter 1:7-9). Application: 1. The Resurrection is a sure fact of history. 2. The Resurrection is a guarantee of our eternal life. 3. The Resurrection is a foretaste of heavenly things. Leader Pack item 9 Map: The Passion Week in Jerusalem Illustrator, p. 29 Jesus Post-Resurrection Appearances Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format and notes at: lestudy.org 4 / 6

5 Dates: 4/2 Broken for You; 4/3 Good Friday Church offices closed; 4/5 Easter Sunday LBS 4/11 Pastoral Care, Widows & Widowers lunch; 4/12 Easter Sunday and Launch of Spanish Campus; 4/17 Marriage and Relationship Conference; 4/24-25 HUB Guys Event; 4/25 Men: Serve; 4/26 Make it Your Church Orientation; 5/1-3 Singles Retreat; 5/3 HS Seniors Celebration; 5/9 CBS Graduation; 5/10 SPF Mother s Day Luncheon; 5/17 Parent Commitment; 5/25 Memorial Day church offices closed; 5/29 - HCHS Graduation; 5/29 HUB Summer Kick-off; 5/29 ReCreate Date Night; 5/ th grade launch retreat; 6/7 Promotion Sunday, student led worship; 6/10,17,24 - SPF Summer Nights Bible Studies; 6/14-7/13 Pastor Gregg on Sabbatical; 6/14 SPF B-day Bash; 6/14 NO ; 5 / 6

6 Matthew Hoskinson speaking; 6/15-19 Camp Intersect. 6 / 6