Lesson 7 – The Resurrection of Jesus

The resurrection reveals that the Father has accepted the Son’s sacrifice for our sins, and it fills us with confident hope that, as Christ has been raised from the dead, we too, will rise to eternal life.

Opening

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

If Jesus had lived in our time, how do you think people would find out about His resurrection?

Watch the video "He's Still Risen an lgniter Original".

What does it mean to us that Jesus rose from the dead? Christ rose from the grave and overcame death. In Him, we are set free from sin, death, and the power of the devil. In Him, we receive new life and the promise of a bodily resurrection.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, in Your perfect, holy sacrifice, You paid for our sins. Your resurrection assures us of life after death. Enable us to share our hope in You with others so that they, too, may be saved by Your grace. Amen.

God Speaks

The Bible says the disciples ran, hid, and denied knowing Jesus during Christ's trials, crucifixion, and death. Why do you think they felt afraid? The Pharisees and Sadducees easily swayed the people in Jerusalem. The disciples just lost their Rabbi and Savior to these political forces. They probably feared they would soon be killed too.

Jesus was buried before Friday evening. A new day began at sundown, which was a Sabbath day (Saturday), when the Jews refrained from any kind of work. This lesson is about what happened next.

Read  Matthew 28:1-10

Read the directions on the Student Page  at the end of the lesson and answer all the questions.

Why did the women go to the tomb? Read Mark 16:1 (on the Student Page). They planned to anoint Jesus' body, mostly likely with sweet-smelling balm, after they washed it and then to rewrap it in grave clothes for burial.

Did the angel release Jesus from the tomb? No, the angel descended, moved the stone covering the tomb, and sat on it. Jesus had already risen (verse 6).

What did the angel look like? His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

What made the soldiers afraid? How did they show it? The angel's appearance made the soldiers tremble and faint. These soldiers served as temple guards, not Roman soldiers Matthew 27:62-66).

The women felt afraid too, but they didn't faint. What did the angel do to calm the women's fears? He said not to be afraid and showed them that Christ was not in the tomb.

What did the angel tell the women to do? Go quickly and tell the disciples Jesus rose and will meet them in Galilee.

Filled with fear and joy, the women left quickly. However, Jesus met them and told them to tell the disciples the same message the angel delivered. List the women's three responses and what they tell us.

 

• The women recognized Jesus. In other accounts, either Jesus kept people from recognizing Him (Luke 24:16) or they just didn't (John 21:4).
• The women bowed down and worshiped Jesus, indicating that they realized He was truly God.
• The women touched Jesus' feet, which showed He had His body. He was not a spirit, a vision, or a hallucination.

What hope-filled promise did Christ give them? Jesus promised to see His disciples in Galilee.

Think about what you know about the other Easter narratives. Did the disciples believe the women's words and leave right away for Galilee to meet Jesus? No, they hid in a locked room for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). They did not believe the women (Luke 24:11; Mark 16:11).

 

We Live

Continue with the questions on the Student Page.

Jesus and the angel told the women not to be afraid. What do you fear?

Why do you think people fear death? We don't know what death is like and we cannot control it. It often involves aging and reliance on others. Some people fear pain in death; others are uncertain of their salvation. But because Christ defeated death, we don't need to fear it. Death is the doorway to our eternal life with Christ Jesus.

Jesus' sacrifice was acceptable in God's sight; His blood earned many benefits for us that remove fear. Name some of these benefits and when you received them. Luther's Small Catechism says Baptism "works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this" (Baptism, Part 2). In Baptism, we join Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection and receive these gifts.

 The Holy Spirit works through the Gospel to give faith (Catechism Question 161); to make us holy (sanctified) by renewing our spirits, wills, attitudes, and desires so that we strive to overcome sin and do good works (Catechism Question 162); and to enlighten us with His gifts (Catechism Question 159). Our Lord loves, comforts, guides, protects, and cares for us (Catechism Question 110).

Through His Word and Sacraments, God comforts us when we feel afraid, forgives our sins, and strengthens our faith. Blessed with Christ's love and assurance, how can we show the hope of resurrection in our daily lives? Like the women at the tomb, we respond in worship, praise, and thanksgiving. We live in faith as God's people in the world, serving others in His name. We share the peace and hope God gives.

Pick one of the following Bible verses. What confidence does this passage give you? How does it fill you with hope? Christ's promises let us live with confidence that He will not forsake us and that, no matter what happens, our salvation is secure in Him.

Titus 3:5-8 reminds us that God has saved us through Baptism and gives us the hope of eternal life.

Romans 8:38-39 reminds us that although the world tries to destroy us and may succeed in harming us physically, emotionally, or mentally, in the end, nothing can separate us from Christ and His saving work in our lives.

Isaiah 43:1 reminds us that God created, redeemed, and cares for us. We belong to Him.

Matthew 28:20 tells us that Christ is with us always. We are never alone.

Romans 15:4 reminds us that the Scriptures give us hope.

Closing

Prayer: Jesus, fill us with hope and joyous anticipation for resurrected bodies and eternal life with You, our Savior and Lord. Amen.