Learning Jesus | Week 45
Vindicated!
Lesson 45 >> Key Word – witness >> Central Passages – Days 1-3
Best engagement = complete all five days at home. Next best = Read Days 1-3 & complete Day 5 to prep for group.
Day 1 – He has risen!
Read Matthew 28:2-4.
Background Information – Jesus was not the first to be brought back from the dead, but He was the first to be resurrected. So when we say Jesus rose from the dead, we do not mean that He was resuscitated, for He did not just live again. He rose in a new body. All four gospels record that Jesus rose on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. None state that the angel rolled the stone away and then Jesus rose. As we shall see in the description of His linen burial cloths, Jesus did not need the stone rolled away for His exodus of the tomb.
Read John 20:1; Mark 16:2-8; Luke 24:1-8.
1. In the chart, note when the angels are providing information, giving a command, and asking a question. Consider what is said. Then ask why it was said. What are the implications?
2. If Jesus did not need the angel to remove the stone, then why did God send the angel to move the stone?
3. Response
o How did the women respond to the empty tomb and the angel’s words?
o How do the empty tomb and the angel’s words impact you? Enjoy a time of praise and prayer.
Background Information – In today’s three gospels, we can resolve some seeming discrepancies. John states that Mary came while it was still dark and saw the stone removed and then left to tell Peter and John, while Matthew, Mark, and Luke report a group of women who arrive at first light.
In Old Testament stories, angels sometimes appear as young men when they are delivering a message to people; Mark and Luke describe their appearance in this way. Both Matthew and Mark list one angel while Luke states two were present. Likely only one spoke to the women, so Matthew and Mark focus only on this angel.
Keep in mind as we work through the texts and note how gospel writers include different details, that we should appreciate how these details complement one another and give us a fuller understanding of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. We may be left with lingering questions, but BECAUSE Jesus surely rose from the dead, we have the sure hope of being in the presence of our God one day. We will have all of eternity to get some questions answered.
On that...personally, I’m hoping the Father had His video camera ready and recorded His favorite Child’s story from birth to ascension. I’m imagining people from every tribe and nation and tongue gathered before His wide wide wide screen, with popcorn of course, smiling over Jesus’ first toddling step and standing to cheer when He steps through grave clothes alive!
Day 2 – One believed. One marveled. The rest did not believe...yet.
Read John 20:2-10; Luke 24:8-12.
1. How do we know from this lesson’s texts and those we read last week about the burial of Christ that the disciples, both women and men, were not anticipating the resurrection of Jesus?
2. Upon seeing the linen wrappings, John records of himself that he believed, and Luke records that Peter left “marveling at what had happened.” Why would the presence of the linen cloths and the manner in which they lay cause John to believe in Jesus’ resurrection and Peter to be perplexed, trying to understand what happened?
Background Information – The other women who arrived in the early morning after she left, reported to the nine apostles, but their “words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.” Bock in his commentary Luke Volume 2, comments on these “words of nonsense,” which is one term in the Greek, saying: “In medical contexts, the term described the talk of a sick patient delirious from pain.” When Paul heard that some in the church did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, he called their faith “worthless,” saying that if we only hope in Christ for this life only, we are among all people most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:16-19).
3. Some today say our faith in Christ is just a crutch. We who believe Jesus actually rose from the dead are weak and insecure at best, deceived and delusional at worst. How would you use the resurrection of Christ to respond to this common accusation against believers?
Background Information – One way to resolve some discrepancies in the gospel accounts of the reporting women is to read them this way: Yesterday we learned that Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb while it was still dark. After seeing the stone had been rolled away, she ran to Peter and John, two apostles of Jesus’ inner circle to report what she saw. Then they ran to the tomb.
In his account Luke groups Mary Magdalene with the women and then groups all the women going to all the apostles at the same time. By including John’s account of Mary Magdalene going singly to the tomb and somehow singly to Peter and John, we can resolve that “they” refers to the nine apostles who did not race to the tomb.
Day 3 Mary weeps. Mary clings. Mary is sent.
Background Information – Yesterday we resolved some discrepancies in the gospel accounts of the reporting women by noting that John reported Mary going singly to the tomb while it was still dark, and when she saw that the stone had been moved, she ran to tell Peter and John. Nowhere does it say that Mary went into the tomb, only that she saw the stone had been moved. But here is the conclusion she makes: “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Her “we” could refer to the other women who joined her a bit later. Regardless, after she tells Peter and John, these two ran to the tomb with the result that when they saw the linen cloths lying in the tomb, John left believing and Peter wondering.
It would make sense that Mary followed Peter and John to the tomb because both Mark and John do not record any other women being with her in today’s text. Mark’s account is not as detailed as John’s, but he chooses to include one thing John does not: Mary Magdalene, from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons, THIS Mary is the first to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection. Read John’s account with this in mind.
Read John 20:11-18.
1. What might be some reasons for Mary not recognizing Jesus? Consider how she responds to the angels and to Jesus when all ask her why she is weeping?
2. How is it clear that Mary enjoys an abiding relationship with Jesus? Find all the S.T.E.A.L. in this text, how John reveals her heart with her Saying, Thinking, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks.
3. This is the first time that Jesus refers to the apostles as His “brethren,” His brothers. How do you see Jesus’ care for His apostles in sending Mary to them with this message: “I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.”
If you have questions about why Jesus does not allow Mary to cling to Him, go to the Deep Think at the end of this lesson for an intriguing answer.
Day 4 – Believers are commissioned to proclaim the gospel; the chief priests lie.
Background Information – In the gospel accounts we see that a group of women witnessed Jesus’ death; they then watched His burial and noted the exact location of His tomb; and then these women are among the first to whom Jesus appears after His resurrection. Essentially the women witnessed every step of the gospel story: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, and...He was buried...and He was raised from the dead according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 5:3-4).
The first believers are Jews, and if Jews were going to make up a believable story to sell, they never would have developed a storyline where a woman was the first witness or even multiple women were the first witnesses. Their fabricated story would include 2-3 credible men as the first witnesses because by Jewish law, women cannot serve as witnesses. For this reason, when Paul names people to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection, he lists men by name as witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
Read Matthew 28:9-10.
1. The word apostle means “sent one.” The women to whom Jesus appeared first have been called the apostles to the apostles. Note what these women did first. Note Jesus’ two commands to them. How are they indeed apostles to the apostles?
Recap – Yesterday we resolved some discrepancies in the gospel accounts of the reporting women by noting that Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb alone after reporting to Peter and John that the stone for the tomb had been moved. After Mary Magdalene leaves, the other women return to the tomb. These women are allowed to touch Jesus even though Mary Magdalene was not (Again, go to the Deep Think of Lesson 45 to read an intriguing answer about why this might be so.) Jesus tells the women to remind the disciples to go to Galilee to see Him. This is a reminder because the disciples have already been told to go to Galilee two other times.
Background Information – Remember Matthew was the gospel writer most concerned with Israel’s rejection of her Messiah and Jesus’ promised destruction of Jerusalem as a result. Matthew 12 records this rejection and Jesus’ warning that Israel will receive only one more sign that He is their Messiah and that is the sign of Jonah, the sign of resurrection. After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, we read this in John 11:
Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.
Read Matthew 28:11-15.
Background Information – Only Matthew, who was writing to a Jewish audience, records this interaction between the soldiers who guarded the tomb and the chief priests who at the cross said, “ Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” These guards had figuratively “become like dead men” after the earthquake and descension of an angel who had the appearance of lightning. If these soldiers were Roman soldiers and Governor Pilate heard they had fallen asleep, then they literally would be dead men. Since Pilate left after the Feasts, it’s possible he never heard this rumor. Or maybe he did and did not want to do anything to support the chief priests who had manipulated his political hands.
2. Do the Chief Priests S.T.E.A.L. your hearts?
o Throughout the gospels, what greed has been driving the chief priests?
o What is the ultimate effect of this greed upon the people?
3. To this day, some say Jesus’ disciples stole His body from the tomb. The earth is full of people who, like the chief priests, do not believe in the resurrection because their lives are absorbed in this life’s achievements and power. How would you defend the accusation that the disciples stole Jesus’ body from the tomb and then made up this resurrection story to such a person?
Day 5 – What are the implications of Messiah Jesus’ resurrection? Personal Reflection
1. Highlight answers to these questions in the verses below.
o How did the Father vindicate His Son? How did the resurrection prove who Jesus is?
o How did Jesus’ resurrection vindicate you? How did and does it free you and empower you to live like Christ? Consider your past victories in Christ and your current challenges.
2. After you have highlighted, pray through these verses. You can pray through all or those you select.
o Praise God for vindicating His Son by raising Him from the dead.
o Praise God for the work He has done in you and how you are already living a “resurrected” life.
o Ask God to help you walk in the freedom and power granted you in Christ, particularly in whatever challenge or battle that currently engages you.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Romans 1:4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast ]the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Romans 4:25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
I Corinthians 15:55-56 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
I Corinthians 6:14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.
Ephesians 1:19-22 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 2:5-6 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Philippians 2:5-11 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death ]on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Peter 3:21-22 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Romans 8:37-39 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2 Corinthians 4:14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
Romans 6:6-11 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:1-3 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 3:8-9 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith
REFLECTION for Group
Now we live in this “already, but not yet” tension: in a sense, we are already resurrected because having been set free through the resurrection of Christ, we are no longer enslaved to sin; and yet...we are still waiting for that One Day when we shall live in perfect holy relationships in our glorified bodies.
We are made for relationship and our greatest longings are to know and be fully known.
Moving from left to right on Row 4 of our Journey of Discipleship chart, we see how God first gives us confidence in WHO Jesus is. This starts when a person trusts Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection saves them. But notice how trusting Christ gives new disciples courage to engage in relationships with Christ followers.
Having been loved by Christ and His followers, these disciples are prepared to serve others themselves. All these relationships are disciplemaking relationships. That is why Bill Allison of Cadre Ministries says “Disciplemaking is relationships.” In other words, Jesus rose again to be in a disciplemaking relationship with you so that you can be set free to make disciples in deep dependence upon Him.
Witness -- Tell a Story to Bring Glory to the Vindicated One
Jesus the Holy One defeated sin and death and all His enemies through His death, burial, and resurrection. Our lives lived for Him also witness to His Person and Work. Tell a story that illustrates how true disciples make disciples who make disciples...Your story would follow this loose organization –
1. ____________ (person) became a disciple.
2. This #1 then discipled _____________.
3. This #2 then discipled _____________.
Include at least two “generations” of disciples in your story, likely you are one of those disciples. Be sure to include a tension, conflict, or opposition that these disciplemakers had to persevere through along the way. As we saw in Day 4, wherever the truth of the gospel is proclaimed and lived, the enemy will seek to counter that through deceit.
So keep the story real to encourage the brethren, your brothers and sisters in Christ, that when we abide in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit that raised Him from the dead, we vindicate our Messiah as the Holy Son of God (Romans 1:4)
God’s joy and strength to you,
kpaulson@gracelaredo.org
Deep Think (Optional)
Why did Jesus command Mary Magdalene to stop clinging to Him?
One answer is inherent in the word for “touch” used in John 20:17, which is translated correctly in the ESV as “cling.” This might imply that she clung to Him because she did not want to let Him go. When Jesus commands Thomas to touch His hands and side to prove that it is He, Jesus uses the word for touch that means “feel.”
Another answer to this question focuses on Jesus’ explanation: “for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”
In the Old Testament God provided very specific instructions to the Jews for how to build His tabernacle and later His temple because these followed the model of His sanctuary in heaven. On the Day of Atonement the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to sprinkl the blood of animals to temporarily cleanse sin. Before doing so the high priest purified himself with ritual immersions. After his second immersion, no one could touch him before he entered the Holy of Holies to seek God’s forgiveness for the people.
In heaven, Jesus would sprinkle His blood to cleanse the heavenly sanctuaries which Satan defiled when he sinned there. (Ezekiel 28:11-19). In general, the book of Hebrews helps us understand Jesus’ role as the perfect high priest and in particular why the heavenly tabernacle required the perfect blood of the Son of God to forever remove sin. Read Hebrews 9:11-14.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, ]having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
So an intriguing answer to why Jesus did not allow Mary Magdalene to touch Him is that He had to bring His own blood to cleanse the heavenly tabernacle first. He does allow the group of women to whom He makes His second appearance to touch Him, so if this answer is correct, then He ascended to the heavenly sanctuaries after speaking to Mary Magdalene and before appearing the group of women.