This week, as Stages of The Cross comes to an end, we are talking about the whole reason why we celebrate Easter, Jesus' resurrection from the dead. As we study about the resurrection of Jesus, we are going to see that because Jesus rose from the dead, we have hope. We have hope because, through His resurrection, He has conquered sin and death.
What is your favorite Easter tradition?
1. What do you think Jesus' death represented to those observing His crucifixion?
2. Consider the fact that Jesus suffered and died on the cross for the sins you have committed. How does this impact your view of Jesus' crucifixion and death?
3. How do you think the disciples were feeling on Saturday morning after Jesus' death?
4. Have you ever experienced a Saturday like the disciples were experiencing? If so, describe that time.
5. Read John 20:11-18. God is in the business of resurrecting things. What areas of your life need resurrecting?
John 20:11-18 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
John 20:11-18
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
6. What was the significance of Jesus' greeting, "Peace be with you," to Mary? How does Jesus' resurrection bring you peace today?
7. Read Revelation 3:20. Have you opened the door of your heart and asked Jesus to come inside? If so, talk about that time. If not, what is holding you back?
Revelation 3:20
“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
The story of Jesus' death and resurrection is too good to keep to ourselves. Let's take a minute to check in with each other as we think about the people in our lives who do not know Jesus. Who in your life have you been having intentional conversations with about Jesus? How have these conversations been going? If you have not been having these conversations, what changes do you need to make in your life so that you can start making these conversations about Jesus a priority?
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Romans 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.
Romans 8:38
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love.
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