RESURRECTED UNTO NEW LIFE
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Unit: The Path to New Life
1. The promise of Christianity is a new and everlasting life.
a. But where does this path that leads to this new life begin?
- As we discovered last week, the path begins with “death”.
b. This idea that in death we find life, is one of several seemingly paradoxical
concepts in Christianity.
- Like Nicodemus, we ask, “How can these things be?”
- Perhaps we can begin to find some answers in our Bible study for this unit.
2. The central message of the unit is that new life is available to each of us.
a. To find our own path to this new life, it is fitting that we should look at the
path Jesus took.
b. Last week: Jesus’ crucifixion
- We found that the path Jesus took led to a cross.
- Unfortunately, that is the cost of our sin, and the lesson teaches the hard
truth that before new life can begin, there must be a death.
- First and foremost, it was Jesus’ atoning death that provided the possibility
of new life for us.
- His death on the cross served as atonement for the sins of the world,
including our own, and created the path which we now travel toward an
eternal relationship with God.
- His call to us is to follow Him, not as a martyr, but in allowing the Holy Spirit
to teach us how to die to self, i.e., to give up self-centeredness and selfish
desires and focus on loving God and other people.
c. Today: Jesus’ resurrection
- The resurrection of Jesus is a central part of the gospel—the good news.
- It means Jesus Christ is alive and well and active in our world today.
- It demonstrates that the power of death over us has been broken.
- Today we will look at how to embrace what Resurrection means and make
it a part of our own witness, especially as we encounter the difficult, confusing
times in our path to new life.
d. 4/19: Jesus’ commission
- In the last chapter of Luke, Jesus gives His final instructions to His followers.
- They are to preach a message of repentance to the whole world,
emphasizing the forgiveness and new life that is now available from God.
e. 4/26: Jesus’ continuing presence and work
- Peter allows Jesus to work through him, performing acts of healing in Jesus’
name and literally giving new life to one who was thought to be dead.
B. Today’s Lesson
1. Today’s Scripture passage describes a very special time in the lives of the
early followers of Jesus that is both unique and temporary.
a. It’s unique because it describes a set of circumstances very much like our
own today.
- The resurrected Jesus has not yet appeared to the people in this passage.
- Like us today, they see and hear evidence for the resurrection and must
decide how to deal with it.
b. It’s temporary because the resurrected Jesus does, of course, appear to them
later on.
2. In our study today, we want to look at how these people reacted to this evidence
because in a way, we are likely to face similar experiences in our own path to God.
a. Some of the evidence these people encountered involved unexpected and
unexplained events and circumstances.
- And yet the counsel they received for helping to understand was to remember
Jesus’ words.
b. So one of the questions we want to explore with this passage is, when the
dark times come, or our faith is challenged, or we’re confused and don’t
understand what God is doing, where do we turn for help?
- Does the counsel given to the women on that first Easter morning apply
to us today?
II. SCRIPTURE
A. Read Luke 24:1-3
1. Some women were the first to go to the tomb—who were they?
a. Luke names 3 of them later in verse 10 (Mary Magdalene, Joanna and
Mary the mother of James).
b. They were never listed as part of the 12, but do you see them as disciples
nonetheless?
c. Through various references in his Gospel, Luke tells us that these women
had begun following Jesus back in
to
- Today, 70 miles is only about an hour away by interstate, but in those days
it represented a journey of at least 3 days and more likely 4-5 days.
d. Many people now believe these women played a vital role in Jesus’ ministry.
- Even though Jesus and His disciples lived simply, traveled lightly and
depended on local hospitality whenever possible, they would surely have
had various expenses from time to time.
- The women in this passage apparently provided much of the financial and
logistical support necessary for the group’s travels around the countryside.
- e.g., Luke 8:2 says these women and others supported Jesus ministry
“out of their own means”, and Mark 15:14 says they “cared for His needs”.
2. Why did the women go to the tomb and not the men?
a. According to Luke, in order to get Jesus’ body into the tomb and “buried”
before the Sabbath began at sundown on Friday, Jesus’ followers had not
taken the time to properly prepare the body for burial.
b. When the Sabbath was over at sundown on Saturday, they would have had
time to go out and purchase the customary spices for this purpose.
- However, they would not have attempted to go to the tomb on Saturday
night since it may not have been safe to be outside the city after dark, and
after dark the guards were more likely to be suspicious and less cooperative.
- So they waited until after first light the next day to go.
c. The men, meanwhile, probably remained in hiding, afraid of being arrested
and executed like their leader.
- Of course, the women were also followers of Jesus, but they would probably
not have been seen as a threat by the religious authorities and were unlikely
to be arrested.
d. Nevertheless, do you see these women as unusual in their courage and
commitment?
- First of all, they were supporting a ministry some 70 miles from home—they
had to be courageous and resourceful to do that.
- But with the leader dead and buried, that ministry was now seemingly over.
- Why would they take such a risk to carry out a custom that probably wouldn’t
make much difference anyway?
- One commentator says they did it as a way of beginning to put their lives
back in order after going through the trauma of the crucifixion.
- People need a little ritual and structure in their lives to help maintain stability.
- In NT times, properly preparing a body for burial was just another of the
rituals of life.
- When their beloved Master was arrested, tortured and crucified, their world
was turned upside down; they were in shock, not knowing where to turn.
- But they knew how to prepare a body for burial; going through the motions
of a ritual process, even a sad process, would begin to help “right the ship”
and bring a little closure to this horrible event.
e. Do you think the women also might have felt they owed a debt of gratitude to
Jesus and this would be a way of satisfying some of that debt?
- One commentator points out that Jesus had probably healed several of the
women in this group and they may have very much felt indebted to Him.
3. The stone was rolled away from the tomb entrance.
a. Was this necessary for the resurrected Jesus to get out? (No)
b. Then why was it rolled away?
(to allow witnesses to come in or look in and see that the tomb was empty)
4. Notice in verse 3 that Luke refers to Jesus with a new title which is translated
as “the Lord Jesus”.
a. In both his Gospel and the book of Acts, Luke uses this title in reference to
Jesus only after His resurrection.
b. Some commentators suggest that Luke may be trying to tell us that with His
resurrection, Jesus is different.
- After the resurrection, Jesus is no longer allowing Himself to be limited by
His humanity.
- Instead, He has been given all power and is resuming His role as part of
the divine Trinity.
B. Read verses 4-8
1. Based on verse 1, we know the women went to the tomb expecting to anoint a
dead body.
a. It’s very clear they did not anticipate or expect a resurrection.
b. How do you think they felt after seeing the tomb and looking around a little?
(completely confused and afraid)
c. Do you see any indication that after seeing the empty tomb they began
thinking of a possible resurrection?
2. Looking at verse 5, do you see the angels expressing surprise or even a little
dismay that the women are here seeking a dead body?
a. They remind the women that Jesus Himself told them what would happen—
that He would be killed and then resurrected on the 3rd day.
b. Luke recorded Jesus’ words on this back in Chapter 9 (see Luke 9:22),
which is relatively early in Jesus’ ministry.
- And He told them again on the way to
c.&nb
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