The resurrection of Jesus is the epoch of human history: it changed absolutely everything.
Romans 4:25 says: He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. This verse brings together Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the death and resurrection of Jesus.
1. The Empty Tomb Luke 24:1-12
On the first day of the week:
- The women went to the tomb
- They found the stone rolled away from the tomb and no body
- Two men appear and say “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
- Then they remembered his words. They told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
According to Romans 10:9, is belief in the resurrection necessary for salvation? Discuss.
How can we really believe in the Resurrection?
- The women’s testimony: they were not credible witnesses in the Greco-Roman culture
- James the brother of Jesus didn’t believe at first, but he died believing
- Saul the church persecutor became Paul the apostle: a life changed after encountering the resurrected Christ on the Damascus Road
- Transformed lives of the apostles, many of whom died professing belief in Jesus’ resurrection
- Birth of the early church was based on the appearances of the resurrected Jesus
2. The Road to Emmaus on the day of Jesus’ resurrection
Read Luke 24:13-49
Jesus appears to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and explained how the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms, meaning all scripture of the Hebrew Scriptures (our Old Testament) spoke of him. He opened their eyes to what they had read and how he was to fulfill it.
For Example:
- Genesis 3:15 – Romans 16:20. Satan to be crushed under Jesus’ feet.
- Genesis 22:18 – Galatians 3:29. All nations blessed through Abraham’s offspring.
- Isaiah 53 – 1 Peter 2:24 and many others. Jesus as our suffering servant, dying for us to bring us peace with God.
- Psalm 16:8-11 – Acts 2:25-28. Speaks of our salvation through Jesus’ resurrection and finding joy and eternal pleasure through him.
Can you think of other Old Testament passages that look forward to Jesus’ person and work?
3. Jesus begins his ministry Luke 4:16-21
Jesus began his ministry in Nazareth where he had been brought up. He stood up in the synagogue on a Sunday and read Isaiah 61, a prophecy about himself. He was the one to “bring good news, freedom for prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, set the oppressed free and proclaim the Year of the Lord’s favour.”
Why did Jesus have to die? What was achieved by his death and resurrection?
4. The Year of the Lord’s Favour Leviticus 25:8-13
The Year of the Lord’s Favour is the Year of Jubilee which occurred every 50 years. During this year debts were cancelled, slaves released and inheritance land returned.
- We have had our debts cancelled - sin forgiven, no condemnation, no judgement, no punishment instead we have been made right with God.
- We are no longer slaves but sons and daughters, children of God.
- We have a rich inheritance in Christ Jesus – we are co-heirs with him of everything.
Can you list the things that were changed by His resurrection?
- Door to the kingdom of God opened
- We can receive His Spirit
- We can be born again
- Have our sins forgiven
- Made sons and daughters
- Receive an inheritance – including eternal life
What happens when we believe in the resurrection?
What should we do with this Good News?
Jesus in the Old Testament:
- Genesis: The seed of the woman
- Exodus: The Passover Lamb
- Leviticus: The High Priest
- Numbers: The Sceptre that will rise out of Israel
- Deuteronomy: The Prophet Like unto Moses
- Joshua: The Captain of our Salvation
- Judges: Our Mighty Law Giver
- Ruth: Our Kinsman Redeemer
- 1 & 2 Samuel: Our Trusted Prophet
- Kings & Chronicles: Our Reigning King
- Ezra: Our Faithful Scribe
- Nehemiah: The Deliverer from Exile
- Esther: Our Honourable Mordecai
- Job: God Present in our Suffering
- Psalms: The Lord Our Shepherd
- Proverbs & Ecclesiastes: Our Wisdom
- Song of Solomon: The Lover and the Bridegroom
- Isaiah: The Prince of Peace
- Jeremiah: The Righteous Branch
- Lamentations: The Weeping Prophet
- Ezekiel: The Wonderful 4-Faced Man
- Daniel: The 4th Man in the Burning Firey Furnace
- Hosea: The Faithful Husband forever Married to the Backslider
- Joel: The Baptiser in the Holy Spirit and Fire
- Amos: Our Burden Carrier
- Obadiah: He is Mighty to Save
- Jonah: Our Great Foreign Missionary
- Micah: The God of the Remnant
- Nahum: The Avenger of God’s Elect
- Habakkuk: God’s Evangelist
- Zephaniah: The Saviour
- Haggai: The Restorer of God’s Lost Inheritance
- Zechariah: The Fountain opened up in the House of David for Sin & Uncleanness
- Malachi: Son of Righteousness Rising with Healing in His Wings
