Download Evening Bible Study 04/14/2010 The Resurrection The evidence is

Evening Bible Study 04/14/2010
The Resurrection
The evidence is overwhelming that Jesus rose from the dead.
What does Jesus’ resurrection mean? It means that Jesus is who he claimed to be, that he has the power he
claimed to have, and that we have hope for this life and the one to come. This study will look at the evidence
that Jesus is truly alive today by looking at the events of 2,000 years ago.
Scripture: Matthew 27:62–28:15
62
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63"Sir," they said, "we
remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64So give the order for the
tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people
that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
65
"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb
secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
Matthew 28:1-15
1
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the
tomb.
2
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back
the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so
afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not
here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has
risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
8
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met
them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be
afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
The Guards' Report
11
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests
everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the
soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away
while we were asleep.' 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15So the
soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to
this very day.
Part 1 Identify the Issue
In 1 Corinthians 15:17 the apostle Paul wrote “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in
your sins.” The resurrection of Jesus is the linchpin of Christianity. It is the ultimate authentication of Jesus
Christ’s claim that he is the unique Son of God.
Discussion Questions:
1. What makes you believe that Jesus’ resurrection actually did occur?
2. What doubts, if any, do you have about the Resurrection?
3. Why is belief in the Resurrection central to the Christian faith?
Part 2 Discover the Eternal Principles
Teaching Point One: Evidence shows the Resurrection is not a created myth.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:1–8.
1
Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken
your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed
in vain. 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to
Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of
whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all
he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
 According to this passage, what were the essential messages of the gospel?
 Why do you think Paul listed so many people who had seen Jesus after his resurrection?
 Why would some think Jesus’ resurrection was a created myth?
 When did Jesus appear to Paul (v. 8)?
Refer to Acts 9
 What kind of difference would that appearance have made to his ministry?
 Why must we be convinced of Jesus’ resurrection in order to properly worship him?
Teaching Point Two: Evidence proves the tomb was empty.
 Why do you suppose Matthew included the account in 27:62–66?
 Looking at the details of the Resurrection, what stands out to you as important?
 What about the guards’ report in 28:11–15 sounds similar to reasons for rejecting the Resurrection today?
 How do you suppose the early disciples answered that accusation?
Teaching Point Three: The witnesses of the Resurrection are reliable.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:12–20.
12
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection
of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been
raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about
God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are
not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this
life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
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Why do you suppose some of the Corinthians were saying that there was no resurrection of the dead (v. 12)?
Why would our faith be useless if there is no resurrection of the dead (v. 14)?
What does this tell us about choosing to believe one part of the Bible while rejecting other parts?
Why are we to be pitied if we only have hope in this life (v. 19)?
Part 3 Apply Your Findings
The evidence is overwhelming: early accounts plus empty tomb plus eyewitness testimony equals the certainty
that Jesus Christ was indeed resurrected from the dead as the ultimate authentication of his claim to be the
unique Son of God.
Look at all other religious leaders. Confucius, Abraham, and Mohammed are all in the grave. But Jesus Christ
isn’t. His tomb is empty. Jesus Christ alone possessed the power to overcome the grave.
The evidence points convincingly to Jesus Christ having told the truth when he said in John 11:25, “I am the
resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”
—Study by Lee Eclov, with JoHannah Reardon ©2009 Christianity Today International ChristianBibleStudies.com