Jesus: The Savior
Bible Study
The Critical Questions... And More
Three Pre-Easter Bible Studies
Object:
Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Lesson Objective: At the end of this lesson, each participant will have a greater understanding of Jesus' triumph over death and the subsequent results of it.
Prayer Focus: Pray that each member of the group might truly experience the joy of the resurrection of Jesus and know the victory that is afforded them through the Savior.
Lesson
Easter Sunday is almost here. The words will soon ring out: "Jesus is risen! He is alive! The grave has been overcome. Death has been defeated." Today, join in the chorus of those who praise him as we look at Jesus, the Savior.
A second grader had an assignment to draw a picture illustrating the song, "America The Beautiful." The teacher recognized the flag, the purple mountains, and even the young artist's conception of "sea to shining sea." She didn't understand, though, the plane in the corner with red and yellow balls on it. The boy answered her question: "Oh, that is the fruited plane." A census bureau worker was once asked where the US population was most dense. He paused a moment, then replied, "From the neck up." Understanding this day and its significance is not readily done by those of the world. There are many who just "don't get it." We celebrate the fact that the tomb is empty and Jesus lives! Over the past several weeks, we've seen different aspects of Jesus' life and what he did. Today we consider him as our Savior.
Remember last week, when we spent several minutes at the cross of Christ? Jesus was nailed to a Roman cross. He suffered excruciating pain. He died. He was taken by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. His body was hurriedly prepared and he was put in a new tomb. It seemed that hope was gone. When Jesus died, so, too, did many dreams and ambitions. Darkness, cold, and damp hung over the followers of Christ. Saturday was a long day. It was the first day of painful living. Was it true? Was he really gone? Did he make any difference? Some women came early on the first day of the week. They had a task to perform that no one else would do. They came to prepare the body for final entombment. John tells us Mary Magdalene went. She arrived at the tomb to find the stone rolled away. She ran to Peter and John. When they arrived, they found the tomb empty and the grave clothes lying, as if they were still around a body, but empty. The cloth for his face was where a face would've been, if there had been a body. No body was there. The tomb was empty!
Death is not the final answer
Jesus rose from the dead. His disciples didn't realize this until much later, but it was true. Death could not keep its prey. The empty tomb means that death is not the final answer. Many today struggle with that. We've all been to funerals. Each one is different, but one thing is clear from all of them. Death is not something that we, as people, are comfortable facing. It is unknown. Many fear it. Let me reassure you today, death is not the final answer. Look at the empty tomb. What is the symbol of death there? The grave clothes. Max Lucado notes this in his book, He Chose the Nails. How are the grave clothes? They are wrapped like they would be covering a body, but they are a hollow shell. That is what death is. It appears imposing and final, but it is merely a hollow shell for a Christian.
Dr. David Eubanks of Johnson Bible College told the story of the water beetle. I'm not an expert on these creatures, but I do know this: They live near the water and are earthbound. There comes a time, though, that they attach themselves to a solid object and begin to change. The outside of the body becomes hard. It looks for all the world like the creature is dead. After a period of days, though, the shell cracks open and a dragonfly escapes. What is left is the empty shell. What is real is the soaring dragonfly. I doubt there is one dragonfly that would want to go back to being a water beetle.
Death is an empty shell. Because the tomb is empty, death is not the final answer.
The way to God has been rebuilt
Jesus' death and resurrection rebuilt the way back to God. Sin had separated us from him. Jesus bridged that gap. He told Mary in their conversation, "I am returning to my Father." Jesus was going back to God and now we can, too. Jesus foretold this when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." The door is open. The curtain is torn. Fellowship is possible.
People do many things to try to get back to God. Some see penance as the only way. Punish yourself enough so that God will see you're serious. Some try to do enough good things. Each kind act is another stone. They stack stone on top of stone in a vain attempt to build a bridge to God. The truth is, there is only one way.
On a Bible Bowl trip a year or so ago, we were in Cincinnati, Ohio. I've been there several times before, but I always have trouble finding the college there. Cincinnati is a lot like Kansas City. It has a lot of narrow, one-way streets. The Christian college is downtown in a rough part of town. One of our sponsors was driving first, but she didn't want to drive in the downtown part, so I took over. That should have been a signal that we were in trouble. We began driving -- turn after turn -- street after street -- it was late at night. Finally, after several minutes of being lost, I stopped for directions. When I walked in, I told the man what I was looking for. His first response: "I don't think you can get there from here."
"You can't get there from here." That accurately describes any attempt to get to God, except through Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
Jesus brings triumph over tragedy
What was Mary Magdalene's response to what she saw? She exclaimed, "I have seen the Lord!" It is an emphatic statement. She ran to the other disciples with this news. Tragedy had been overcome with triumph. "I have seen the Lord!"
Is that your cry? All of us face tragic times. There is no one among us here who hasn't faced hardship. The loss of a loved one, the changing of a job, the aging of a parent, the moving out of a home, divorce, problems with the children -- the list is endless. The question is, "Have you seen the Lord?" He is the only one who can turn tragedy to triumph.
It is easy to say this, but it is true. Will you see him today?
Freedom from sin brings about real life
At the end of this chapter, John writes, "But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing, you may have life in his name." Entering a relationship with Jesus takes care of your sin problems and brings about real living. You can have life in his name. It is not just existence, but living. There is a difference.
"Would you be free from your burden of sin? There's power in the blood" is what the old hymn says. You can be free; free to live for him.
Conclusion
Easter is a time of celebration. Death has been vanquished. The bridge to God is finished. Triumph resides where tragedy once ruled. Freedom is offered. What will you do?
Suggested Songs And Hymns
"He Lives"
"Up From The Grave He Arose"
"Living For Jesus"
Thought/Discussion Questions
1. Why do people fear death? Is that something a Christian should fear? Why or why not?
2. Why do so many people try so many different things to reach God? What can you tell them that will help? What do you do to "come back" to him?
3. Tragedy falls upon all of us. How does Jesus change tragedy into triumph? What do you understand and get from that truth?
4. What does it mean to "really live"? How do you do that in Jesus?
Lesson Objective: At the end of this lesson, each participant will have a greater understanding of Jesus' triumph over death and the subsequent results of it.
Prayer Focus: Pray that each member of the group might truly experience the joy of the resurrection of Jesus and know the victory that is afforded them through the Savior.
Lesson
Easter Sunday is almost here. The words will soon ring out: "Jesus is risen! He is alive! The grave has been overcome. Death has been defeated." Today, join in the chorus of those who praise him as we look at Jesus, the Savior.
A second grader had an assignment to draw a picture illustrating the song, "America The Beautiful." The teacher recognized the flag, the purple mountains, and even the young artist's conception of "sea to shining sea." She didn't understand, though, the plane in the corner with red and yellow balls on it. The boy answered her question: "Oh, that is the fruited plane." A census bureau worker was once asked where the US population was most dense. He paused a moment, then replied, "From the neck up." Understanding this day and its significance is not readily done by those of the world. There are many who just "don't get it." We celebrate the fact that the tomb is empty and Jesus lives! Over the past several weeks, we've seen different aspects of Jesus' life and what he did. Today we consider him as our Savior.
Remember last week, when we spent several minutes at the cross of Christ? Jesus was nailed to a Roman cross. He suffered excruciating pain. He died. He was taken by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. His body was hurriedly prepared and he was put in a new tomb. It seemed that hope was gone. When Jesus died, so, too, did many dreams and ambitions. Darkness, cold, and damp hung over the followers of Christ. Saturday was a long day. It was the first day of painful living. Was it true? Was he really gone? Did he make any difference? Some women came early on the first day of the week. They had a task to perform that no one else would do. They came to prepare the body for final entombment. John tells us Mary Magdalene went. She arrived at the tomb to find the stone rolled away. She ran to Peter and John. When they arrived, they found the tomb empty and the grave clothes lying, as if they were still around a body, but empty. The cloth for his face was where a face would've been, if there had been a body. No body was there. The tomb was empty!
Death is not the final answer
Jesus rose from the dead. His disciples didn't realize this until much later, but it was true. Death could not keep its prey. The empty tomb means that death is not the final answer. Many today struggle with that. We've all been to funerals. Each one is different, but one thing is clear from all of them. Death is not something that we, as people, are comfortable facing. It is unknown. Many fear it. Let me reassure you today, death is not the final answer. Look at the empty tomb. What is the symbol of death there? The grave clothes. Max Lucado notes this in his book, He Chose the Nails. How are the grave clothes? They are wrapped like they would be covering a body, but they are a hollow shell. That is what death is. It appears imposing and final, but it is merely a hollow shell for a Christian.
Dr. David Eubanks of Johnson Bible College told the story of the water beetle. I'm not an expert on these creatures, but I do know this: They live near the water and are earthbound. There comes a time, though, that they attach themselves to a solid object and begin to change. The outside of the body becomes hard. It looks for all the world like the creature is dead. After a period of days, though, the shell cracks open and a dragonfly escapes. What is left is the empty shell. What is real is the soaring dragonfly. I doubt there is one dragonfly that would want to go back to being a water beetle.
Death is an empty shell. Because the tomb is empty, death is not the final answer.
The way to God has been rebuilt
Jesus' death and resurrection rebuilt the way back to God. Sin had separated us from him. Jesus bridged that gap. He told Mary in their conversation, "I am returning to my Father." Jesus was going back to God and now we can, too. Jesus foretold this when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me." The door is open. The curtain is torn. Fellowship is possible.
People do many things to try to get back to God. Some see penance as the only way. Punish yourself enough so that God will see you're serious. Some try to do enough good things. Each kind act is another stone. They stack stone on top of stone in a vain attempt to build a bridge to God. The truth is, there is only one way.
On a Bible Bowl trip a year or so ago, we were in Cincinnati, Ohio. I've been there several times before, but I always have trouble finding the college there. Cincinnati is a lot like Kansas City. It has a lot of narrow, one-way streets. The Christian college is downtown in a rough part of town. One of our sponsors was driving first, but she didn't want to drive in the downtown part, so I took over. That should have been a signal that we were in trouble. We began driving -- turn after turn -- street after street -- it was late at night. Finally, after several minutes of being lost, I stopped for directions. When I walked in, I told the man what I was looking for. His first response: "I don't think you can get there from here."
"You can't get there from here." That accurately describes any attempt to get to God, except through Jesus Christ. There is no other way.
Jesus brings triumph over tragedy
What was Mary Magdalene's response to what she saw? She exclaimed, "I have seen the Lord!" It is an emphatic statement. She ran to the other disciples with this news. Tragedy had been overcome with triumph. "I have seen the Lord!"
Is that your cry? All of us face tragic times. There is no one among us here who hasn't faced hardship. The loss of a loved one, the changing of a job, the aging of a parent, the moving out of a home, divorce, problems with the children -- the list is endless. The question is, "Have you seen the Lord?" He is the only one who can turn tragedy to triumph.
It is easy to say this, but it is true. Will you see him today?
Freedom from sin brings about real life
At the end of this chapter, John writes, "But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ and that by believing, you may have life in his name." Entering a relationship with Jesus takes care of your sin problems and brings about real living. You can have life in his name. It is not just existence, but living. There is a difference.
"Would you be free from your burden of sin? There's power in the blood" is what the old hymn says. You can be free; free to live for him.
Conclusion
Easter is a time of celebration. Death has been vanquished. The bridge to God is finished. Triumph resides where tragedy once ruled. Freedom is offered. What will you do?
Suggested Songs And Hymns
"He Lives"
"Up From The Grave He Arose"
"Living For Jesus"
Thought/Discussion Questions
1. Why do people fear death? Is that something a Christian should fear? Why or why not?
2. Why do so many people try so many different things to reach God? What can you tell them that will help? What do you do to "come back" to him?
3. Tragedy falls upon all of us. How does Jesus change tragedy into triumph? What do you understand and get from that truth?
4. What does it mean to "really live"? How do you do that in Jesus?
