The Resurrection WEEK OF April 20, 2014 Matthew 28:1-10; 1 Corinthians 15 Leader, as a rule, answering the questions in engage it should take no more than 10 minutes and are designed to generate conversation around the sermon s main themes. 1. What do people fear and why? 2. When have you heard news so extraordinary it was hard to believe? Leader, unpack it questions help provide an understanding of what happened in the passage and a deeper analysis of certain themes in it, oftentimes, bringing in additional passages for comparison or support. Read Matthew 28:1-10 3. In Matthew 27:62-66, what reason did the chief priests and the Pharisees give for ordering Jesus tomb to be guarded? The chief priests and the Pharisees recalled Jesus saying that He would rise after three days and wanted to prevent Jesus disciples from stealing His body from the tomb in order to make it appear as the fulfillment of Jesus statement. (Jesus foretells His resurrection in Matthew 16:21; 17:22.) 4. What amazing, supernatural things are recorded in Matthew 28:2-3? Violent earthquake
Angel of the Lord came down from heaven Angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the tomb, and sat on it. The angel s appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 5. How did the following respond to the news of the Resurrection: The women? The guards? The chief priests (Matthew 28:11-15)? The disciples (Matthew 28:17)? The women: Fear and great joy (verse 8) and worship (verse 9) The guards: Such fear that they shook and fainted (verse 4) The chief priests: Proactively cover up Jesus resurrection by directing the soldiers to spread the word that Jesus disciples stole His body. As an aside, this was, ironically, the very act of deception that they had presumptuously accused the disciples of planning. The disciples: Worship and doubt (verse 17) 6. The angel and Jesus exhort the women, using the exact same phrase: Do not be afraid. In fact, at 119 times, this is the most often repeated command in the Bible. Why does God need to repeatedly command us not to fear? How do 2 Timothy 1:7 and Psalm 56:1-4 encourage us in obeying this command? There are many possible answers as to why God repeats this command to numerous people throughout the Bible and to us as well. Perhaps because, as our creator, He knows how prone we are to fear. Perhaps because in his sovereignty, He knows Satan s tactics of using intimidation, doubt and anxiety to thwart the effectiveness and faith of believers. 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that fear is NOT from the Lord. God has given us a spirit of power, love and self-discipline, NOT one of fear. If fear is not from the Lord, then it is from His enemy, and our enemy, Satan. Though His Spirit within us, He has given us everything we need to conquer fear. Psalm 56 reminds us that when we go through hardship, when we are attacked, oppressed, treated wrongly, we often become fearful. But when fear comes, we must turn our attention, focus and trust on the Lord, whom we can always and ultimately trust to provide for us, to love us, and to never leave us or forsake us. 7. Proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not in seeing Him rise, but rather in seeing Him risen. From God s Word and your own experience, what would you say was God s purpose in this after the fact kind of proof? There are many, many possibilities as to why, in God s sovereignty, this method was chosen. Matthew Henry offers several suggestions: 1. Put simply, in His infinite wisdom, God chose this method as best for His purposes and our faith. 2. As Jesus tells Thomas, Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed (John 20:29). 3. His fulfillment of his own predictions and Scriptural prophecy is more than proof enough. 2
4. We are to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). 5. As Moses says to the rich man in hell, if people will not believe God s Word, they won t believe someone who has come back from the dead either. In essence, the issue is the human heart, not the burden of proof (Luke 16:19-31). Here is Henry s quotation, in its entirety: For the proof of Christ's resurrection, we have here the testimony of the angel, and of Christ himself, concerning his resurrection. Now we may think that it would have been better, if the matter had been so ordered, that a competent number of witnesses should have been present, and have seen the stone rolled away by the angel, and the dead body reviving, as people saw Lazarus come out of the grave, and then the matter had been past dispute; but let us not prescribe to Infinite Wisdom, which ordered that the witnesses of his resurrection should see him risen, but not see him rise. His incarnation was a mystery; so was this second incarnation (if we may so call it), this new making of the body of Christ, for his exalted state; it was therefore made in secret. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Christ gave such proofs of his resurrection as were corroborated by the scriptures, and by the word which he had spoken (Lu. 24:6, 7-44; Mk. 16:7); for here we must walk by faith, not by sight. 1 8. Read 1 Corinthians 15:3-5. What are the four essential components of the Gospel that Paul mentions in these verses? Paul said that he "received" this confession. Most likely the confession Paul received from the Apostles in Jerusalem. This is perhaps one of the earliest Christian creeds. 2 It can be divided into four distinct parts: Christ died for our sins. Christ was dead and buried. Christ was raised from the dead. Christ was seen by many witnesses. 3 9. In 1 Corinthians 15:12-13, Paul is confronting a belief, which was held by certain members of the Corinthian church. What false teaching was Paul confronting? What function does Jesus' resurrection play in Paul's argument? It was not that Christians in Corinth were denying the resurrection of Jesus rather they were denying the future resurrection of all believers. 4 In essence, Paul is arguing that if Jesus was raised from the dead then believers also have the hope of being resurrected as well. Conversely, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then it must follow, logically, that Jesus himself was not raised from the dead either. 1 Henry, Matthew. Matthew 28:1-10. Commentary on Matthew 28. Blue Letter Bible. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. 2 Franklin H. Paschall and Herschel H. Hobbs, eds. The Teacher s Bible Commentary. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1972. p. 732. 3 Utley, Robert James. Paul s Letters to a Troubled Church: I And II Corinthians. Vol. 6. Study Guide Commentary Series. Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International, 2002. 4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001.
10. What seven hypothetical realities would be true, according to Paul (See 1 Corinthians 15:14-19), if there is no resurrection? If Jesus was not raised from the dead, then: Preaching is in vain (verse 14). Faith is in vain (verses 14, 17). Those who preach the resurrection misrepresent God (verse 15). Christ is not raised (verse 15). Faith is futile and sin remains (verse 17). Believers in Jesus who have died have perished (verse 18). Believers in Jesus are most to be pitied (verse 19). 11. What is our actual reality since Jesus did, indeed, die for the sins of humanity and rise from the dead? (See 1 Corinthians 15:20-28) Paul describes a number of realities brought about by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Christ s resurrection Reverses the process of death and makes the believer alive (verse 22). Destroys rulers and authorities both in the physical and spiritual realms (verse 24). Destroys death itself (verse 26). Establishes the Kingdom of God (verse 24). 12. The two Mary s at the tomb were, in essence, the first evangelists of the resurrection as Jesus told them to proclaim the news to the disciples. According to 1 Corinthians 15: 12-23, why must the empty tomb and the resurrection be a central aspect of sharing the gospel? There are many possible answers, but a couple are that 1) it is through Jesus' resurrection that we too can have the hope of resurrection. 2) Jesus calls us to share the good news that He is alive; His tomb is vacant. He has defeated death on our behalf. 13. What central truths are explored in 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 and 50-56? What do these truths mean to you? 15:25-26 These verses teach us that Jesus came and destroyed the greatest enemy of the human race: death. He accomplished this through his perfect sacrifice on the cross. By accepting His sacrifice on our behalf, we gain the forgiveness of sins and grab hold of life everlasting. 15:50-56 This passage capture the end result of the victory over death that Christ won for those who accept Him in faith. Those in Christ will be raised from the dead and their mortal, perishable bodies will be changed to immortal, imperishable bodies like Christ s. This tells of death s ultimate demise because of Christ s amazing victory over it! Answers will vary on what these truths mean. Some answer themes could be: Thankfulness that death is not the end. 4
Joy at being with Christ for all eternity with a new, perfect body. Gratefulness to Christ that He died for our sins and rose again giving us the promise of resurrection. A sense of urgency to tell others of Christ s sacrifice and the hope of eternal life. 14. What are the promises of Romans 6:5-6 and Romans 8:10-11 for us who have accepted Jesus death and resurrection on our behalf? How does/should these promises encourage us? Romans 6:5-6 We will be united with Christ in resurrection; we are no longer slaves to sin. Romans 8:10-11 The Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives IN us. That Spirit IS LIFE. Answers will vary on the encouragement and hope people receive from these passages. 15. Paul dedicates all of 1 Corinthians 15 to a lengthy defense of and teaching on Christ s resurrection and its ramifications to our faith and future. How will you take his final exhortation (1 Corinthians 15:58) to heart? Answer will vary. 16. In what ways can you engage unbelievers in the importance of the resurrection this week? Leader, live it are generally designed for individual application after small group time; though, some may be appropriate for group discussion, if desired. 17. Meditate on and/or memorize Romans 6:5-6, Romans 8:10-11 and 1 Corinthians 15:58. How will you be a doer of the Word this week?