SPECIAL FOCUS SESSION
JESUS LIVES—AND YOU CAN TOO
Easter means many things to people around the world. As with Santa Claus at Christmas, many of the symbols usually associated with Easter, such as the Easter bunny and colored eggs, have a variety of legends regarding their beginnings. Unfortunately, these secular symbols for springtime often overshadow what the church celebrates: the resurrection of Christ.
The events in today’s Scripture may seem just as fanciful as stories of Easter bunnies, but it is the truth of God’s victory over sin and death. That victory, accomplished by Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, translates into the victory every person can experience by receiving the forgiveness of sin Jesus purchased through His death on the cross. This eternal truth must stand alone, untarnished by the distractions and dilutions of secularism.
JIM GANTENBEIN
Jim has been married to Cathy and in the ministry since 1974, living and serving in Oklahoma, Texas, and currently at Kitsap Lake Baptist Church, Bremerton Washington. Read more from Jim at jimgantenbein.blogspot.com. [Lifeway Adults (NaN). (p. 82). Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
JESUS LIVES—AND YOU CAN TOO
Easter means many things to people around the world. As with Santa Claus at Christmas, many of the symbols usually associated with Easter, such as the Easter bunny and colored eggs, have a variety of legends regarding their beginnings. Unfortunately, these secular symbols for springtime often overshadow what the church celebrates: the resurrection of Christ.
The events in today’s Scripture may seem just as fanciful as stories of Easter bunnies, but it is the truth of God’s victory over sin and death. That victory, accomplished by Jesus’ resurrection from the grave, translates into the victory every person can experience by receiving the forgiveness of sin Jesus purchased through His death on the cross. This eternal truth must stand alone, untarnished by the distractions and dilutions of secularism.
JIM GANTENBEIN
Jim has been married to Cathy and in the ministry since 1974, living and serving in Oklahoma, Texas, and currently at Kitsap Lake Baptist Church, Bremerton Washington. Read more from Jim at jimgantenbein.blogspot.com. [Lifeway Adults (NaN). (p. 82). Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
SPECIAL FOCUS
Jesus Lives—and You Can Too
Question 1:
When have you been surprised to run into someone unexpectedly?
THE POINT
Rest confidently in the resurrection of Christ.
THE PASSAGE
Matthew 28:1-10
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
One Christmas Eve a few years ago, we enjoyed a phone call from our son who was a Journeyman missionary in Amsterdam.
The next morning after the family had opened their gifts, my wife realized one gift was missing. All I could tell her was, “The man said it would be ready to pick up early this evening.” Later that day, after returning from picking up the package, I invited my wife and daughter to come downstairs. The gift was here. As my wife removed the wrapping, her anticipation changed to shock then joyous surprise. Her ears heard, “Hi, Mom!” and her eyes saw our son sitting in front of her—instead of 5,000 miles away as she had assumed. Her reality—what she “knew” to be true—had been completely obliterated. Our son was not an ocean away; he was home!
Matthew closed his gospel with the account of two women who had watched Jesus suffer and die. It had been difficult to accept this harsh reality, but that was their reality. It was in that frame of mind that they went to the tomb and experienced their own joyous surprise.
MATTHEW 28:1-5
1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.
5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
The Jewish law required that those who had been executed were to be buried immediately (Deut. 21:22-23). However, because Jesus died on Friday afternoon, they had no time to complete the burial process before the Sabbath—the Jewish day of rest—began at sundown. But now the Sabbath was over, and several women arrived at the tomb of Jesus to complete the burial process (Luke 24:1,10). Matthew chose to focus on two of these women: “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary,” whom he previously identified as “the mother of James and Joseph” (Matt. 27:56).
We all know what stress and challenges feel like. Much disruption has been occurring in our world on all levels: a global pandemic, political upheaval in our nation, violence in our cities, and so forth. People have many reasons for concern, even alarm. The Jews living under Roman oppression in the first century also were no strangers to similar distress; these disruptions would set them on edge two thousand years ago just as they do for many people today. The women mentioned in this passage were no exception, but in addition to the hardships most Jews faced in the first century, these women also carried the anguish of having watched their Messiah—their hero—endure arrest, torture, and crucifixion. Furthermore, now they were mournfully going to Jesus’ tomb with spices to anoint His corpse (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1).
Emotions already were surely running high when they suddenly experienced “a violent earthquake” and encountered a brightly glowing angel sitting on the rolled-away stone that was supposed to keep the tomb tightly closed. Even the guards—men toughened from their experiences in the Roman army—shook from fear. The soldiers “became like dead men.”
Christians since that morning have had two thousand years to ponder the significance of all these events, but in that moment, the women had little time to consider what or who could be causing all of this. What they saw was from the hand of God because these were events that only God could accomplish. Today we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with songs of triumph. Celebration and songs of triumph would come later for these women, but in that moment their reality was confusion, despair, and sorrow. Counselors know you do not say, “It’s OK and everything is going to be all right,” when it clearly is not OK, the person is traumatized, and the problem will not be easily dismissed. But the angel knew everything was OK; in fact, it was a lot more than OK! That’s why he could say, “Don’t be afraid.”
In our English translations, the word you is implied in the phrase Don’t be afraid, but it appears in the Greek. This makes you emphatic and should be understood as, “You don’t be afraid like the soldiers are afraid.” 1 The women truly had no reason to fear either the angel or the message he was about to deliver.
We can take encouragement from this: the women had not yet reached unshakeable or mature faith. They believed Jesus was dead even though He had foretold His resurrection on multiple occasions (Matt. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19). Yet, these women clearly loved Him, and although they initially misunderstood, it was to them that God first revealed the truth that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. It is encouraging to know that God does not simply reveal Himself and His truth to only the most learned among us. It is as we seek Him and embrace the truth we find in His Word that our faith is strengthened and our understanding grows.
Question 2:
When have you seen God work in a powerful way?
MATTHEW 28:6-7
6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
God does not waste time. Immediately, after the angel calmed the women’s fears, he gave them needed assurance, an invitation, a commission, and authority.
The assurance. “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said.” With these words, the angel informed the women that their original reason for coming to the tomb no longer was relevant. The angel’s words also declared the fulfillment of Jesus’ own words of His coming resurrection. These words brought the women’s focus back to the trust they had in everything Jesus said and did. This assurance would help the women as they encountered other explanations that were certain to come as to why Jesus’ body was not in the tomb.
The invitation. The cry on many people’s lips in our society is a call for transparency in all matters. The disclosure of truth is strong and necessary to counter suspicion and distrust. The angel’s invitation—“Come and see the place where he lay”—carries transparency. Come and see for yourself that my words are true. This transparent invitation is quite different from what others did in their attempt to cover up the resurrection. The religious leaders would bribe the guards and instruct them to spread a lie about what had happened. (28:11-15) The openness of the angel’s invitation to the women to examine the empty tomb for themselves stood in stark contrast to the chief priests’ lack of transparency.
The commission. “Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ ” Jesus had previously said to His disciples, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” (26:32) The disciples would surely remember what Jesus had said, once the women shared the angel’s words with them. The women were not afforded the time to sit back and take it all in. The angel charged them to go quickly and report to the disciples what they had just witnessed.
The authority. The word angel means “messenger.” In Scripture, angels were messengers from God. They didn’t say whatever they wanted; they carried news and commands from God. When the angel said, “Listen, I have told you,” it was a reminder that he was speaking with the authority of God behind him; therefore, what the women heard came with the full authority of God Himself. When God tells us to do something, the authority and responsibility to carry it out are built into that communication. Jesus’ “Great Commission” (Matt. 28:18-20) begins with “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” Even as we’ve been authorized to share the gospel, the women were authorized to go with the message from the angel.
Question 3:
What evidence can you point to of Jesus working in someone’s life?
MATTHEW 28:8-10
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.
9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
The women were obedient to the commission the angel had given them and departed quickly. We see no mention of convenience, feelings, or circumstances as reasons for delay; they simply obeyed immediately. Most of us understand the tendency to freeze or flee when experiencing fear. However, despite their “fear,” the women obeyed and experienced “great joy.” We read that the wise men also “were overwhelmed with joy” after they parted from King Herod and saw the star that guided them to the house where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were living (Matt. 2:10). Their joy came from knowing they were on the right course, even before they laid eyes on the King of kings. The two women were also on the right course when they obeyed God’s messenger.
Question 4:
Why does the good news of Jesus’ resurrection include a sense of urgency?
Heeding instructions is critical. My wife and I saw this graphically illustrated when we watched two cruise ship passengers run down the dock with their hands full of shopping bags and yelling, “We’re here! We’re here!” We observed this from the veranda of the cruise ship as it sailed away from the dock—without them. In exchange for the contents of their bags, these passengers forfeited the remaining three nights and days of the cruise because they treated the “all aboard” time too lightly. Had the women taken the angel’s instructions lightly or hesitated, they may have missed Jesus, who met them on the way. Like the angel, He reassured the women, telling them, “Do not be afraid.” Then He repeated the angel’s commission to go and tell His disciples to go to Galilee.
One thing seems to be certain: The women had a healthy spiritual “learning curve.” They went from totally believing their Messiah was dead to joyfully worshiping a very alive Jesus all in the same morning! The radical changes in their lives on that resurrection morning are clear evidence that the presence of Jesus is transformational. It should not be lost on us that this all took place as part of their journey of obedience to carry out what the angel told them to do.
These women may or may not have had other responsibilities that day such as work, meal preparation, caring for children or grandchildren, or drawing the morning’s water from a well. Whatever else they had to do, they managed to make time to go to the tomb and anoint Jesus’ body. Perhaps that is why they had gone so “early, while it was still dark” (John 20:1). Of course, we don’t know, but the rest of their plans for that day were most likely set aside to quickly carry out the task of taking the news of Jesus’ resurrection to His disciples and the reminder for them to meet Him in Galilee, as Jesus had promised before His crucifixion (Matt. 26:32).
Did the disciples need this reminder? Probably. After all, like the women, they expected Jesus to be in the tomb. Roman crucifixions ended with the victim most decidedly dead, so what would be the point now of going to Galilee? But Jesus expressed no annoyance because His grieving disciples had to be reminded. God is patient and that patience is part of His plan of redemption (2 Pet. 3:9) and His work of strengthening our faith.
This reminder would also give the devastated disciples much needed hope. The last words of Jesus’ message offered that hope: “They will see me there.” The disciples would see for themselves the truth and reality of the resurrection. Their hope of seeing Jesus was fulfilled, and it was followed with the sure hope that they, too, can live. For the disciples, it was that unshakeable hope that drove them forward as they shared the resurrection with others.
Even as the women were tasked with telling the disciples of the risen Christ, we have been given a similar commission (Matt. 28:18-20). Jesus is alive, and we can express that through our words and the evidence of the risen Savior and Lord living in us. The message of the resurrection should be our life message: “Jesus lives—and you can too!”
Question 5:
What opportunities do you have to share the good news with others?
ENGAGE
Can you recall the details surrounding your decision to make a commitment to follow Jesus? If you’ve made that decision, list some of the details so you can develop your own personal testimony.
If you can’t recall making a conscious decision to place your faith in Christ, speak to a trusted believer and ask that person to help you understand the basics of the good news and your need for a Savior.
LIVE IT OUT
Realize. Thank Jesus for His gift of eternal life, made possible by His victory over death.
Memorize. Memorize Matthew 28:6, “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Let this verse become a source of joy and strength for you as you seek to follow Jesus daily.
Exercise. Share your story of making the decision to follow Jesus with someone you know who is far from God.
END NOTES
1. Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28, in Word Biblical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 869. [Lifeway Adults (NaN). (p. 84). Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]
Jesus Lives—and You Can Too
Question 1:
When have you been surprised to run into someone unexpectedly?
THE POINT
Rest confidently in the resurrection of Christ.
THE PASSAGE
Matthew 28:1-10
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
One Christmas Eve a few years ago, we enjoyed a phone call from our son who was a Journeyman missionary in Amsterdam.
The next morning after the family had opened their gifts, my wife realized one gift was missing. All I could tell her was, “The man said it would be ready to pick up early this evening.” Later that day, after returning from picking up the package, I invited my wife and daughter to come downstairs. The gift was here. As my wife removed the wrapping, her anticipation changed to shock then joyous surprise. Her ears heard, “Hi, Mom!” and her eyes saw our son sitting in front of her—instead of 5,000 miles away as she had assumed. Her reality—what she “knew” to be true—had been completely obliterated. Our son was not an ocean away; he was home!
Matthew closed his gospel with the account of two women who had watched Jesus suffer and die. It had been difficult to accept this harsh reality, but that was their reality. It was in that frame of mind that they went to the tomb and experienced their own joyous surprise.
MATTHEW 28:1-5
1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.
3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.
5 The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
The Jewish law required that those who had been executed were to be buried immediately (Deut. 21:22-23). However, because Jesus died on Friday afternoon, they had no time to complete the burial process before the Sabbath—the Jewish day of rest—began at sundown. But now the Sabbath was over, and several women arrived at the tomb of Jesus to complete the burial process (Luke 24:1,10). Matthew chose to focus on two of these women: “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary,” whom he previously identified as “the mother of James and Joseph” (Matt. 27:56).
We all know what stress and challenges feel like. Much disruption has been occurring in our world on all levels: a global pandemic, political upheaval in our nation, violence in our cities, and so forth. People have many reasons for concern, even alarm. The Jews living under Roman oppression in the first century also were no strangers to similar distress; these disruptions would set them on edge two thousand years ago just as they do for many people today. The women mentioned in this passage were no exception, but in addition to the hardships most Jews faced in the first century, these women also carried the anguish of having watched their Messiah—their hero—endure arrest, torture, and crucifixion. Furthermore, now they were mournfully going to Jesus’ tomb with spices to anoint His corpse (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1).
Emotions already were surely running high when they suddenly experienced “a violent earthquake” and encountered a brightly glowing angel sitting on the rolled-away stone that was supposed to keep the tomb tightly closed. Even the guards—men toughened from their experiences in the Roman army—shook from fear. The soldiers “became like dead men.”
Christians since that morning have had two thousand years to ponder the significance of all these events, but in that moment, the women had little time to consider what or who could be causing all of this. What they saw was from the hand of God because these were events that only God could accomplish. Today we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection with songs of triumph. Celebration and songs of triumph would come later for these women, but in that moment their reality was confusion, despair, and sorrow. Counselors know you do not say, “It’s OK and everything is going to be all right,” when it clearly is not OK, the person is traumatized, and the problem will not be easily dismissed. But the angel knew everything was OK; in fact, it was a lot more than OK! That’s why he could say, “Don’t be afraid.”
In our English translations, the word you is implied in the phrase Don’t be afraid, but it appears in the Greek. This makes you emphatic and should be understood as, “You don’t be afraid like the soldiers are afraid.” 1 The women truly had no reason to fear either the angel or the message he was about to deliver.
We can take encouragement from this: the women had not yet reached unshakeable or mature faith. They believed Jesus was dead even though He had foretold His resurrection on multiple occasions (Matt. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19). Yet, these women clearly loved Him, and although they initially misunderstood, it was to them that God first revealed the truth that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. It is encouraging to know that God does not simply reveal Himself and His truth to only the most learned among us. It is as we seek Him and embrace the truth we find in His Word that our faith is strengthened and our understanding grows.
Question 2:
When have you seen God work in a powerful way?
MATTHEW 28:6-7
6 He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
God does not waste time. Immediately, after the angel calmed the women’s fears, he gave them needed assurance, an invitation, a commission, and authority.
The assurance. “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said.” With these words, the angel informed the women that their original reason for coming to the tomb no longer was relevant. The angel’s words also declared the fulfillment of Jesus’ own words of His coming resurrection. These words brought the women’s focus back to the trust they had in everything Jesus said and did. This assurance would help the women as they encountered other explanations that were certain to come as to why Jesus’ body was not in the tomb.
The invitation. The cry on many people’s lips in our society is a call for transparency in all matters. The disclosure of truth is strong and necessary to counter suspicion and distrust. The angel’s invitation—“Come and see the place where he lay”—carries transparency. Come and see for yourself that my words are true. This transparent invitation is quite different from what others did in their attempt to cover up the resurrection. The religious leaders would bribe the guards and instruct them to spread a lie about what had happened. (28:11-15) The openness of the angel’s invitation to the women to examine the empty tomb for themselves stood in stark contrast to the chief priests’ lack of transparency.
The commission. “Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ ” Jesus had previously said to His disciples, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” (26:32) The disciples would surely remember what Jesus had said, once the women shared the angel’s words with them. The women were not afforded the time to sit back and take it all in. The angel charged them to go quickly and report to the disciples what they had just witnessed.
The authority. The word angel means “messenger.” In Scripture, angels were messengers from God. They didn’t say whatever they wanted; they carried news and commands from God. When the angel said, “Listen, I have told you,” it was a reminder that he was speaking with the authority of God behind him; therefore, what the women heard came with the full authority of God Himself. When God tells us to do something, the authority and responsibility to carry it out are built into that communication. Jesus’ “Great Commission” (Matt. 28:18-20) begins with “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” Even as we’ve been authorized to share the gospel, the women were authorized to go with the message from the angel.
Question 3:
What evidence can you point to of Jesus working in someone’s life?
MATTHEW 28:8-10
8 So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.
9 Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
The women were obedient to the commission the angel had given them and departed quickly. We see no mention of convenience, feelings, or circumstances as reasons for delay; they simply obeyed immediately. Most of us understand the tendency to freeze or flee when experiencing fear. However, despite their “fear,” the women obeyed and experienced “great joy.” We read that the wise men also “were overwhelmed with joy” after they parted from King Herod and saw the star that guided them to the house where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were living (Matt. 2:10). Their joy came from knowing they were on the right course, even before they laid eyes on the King of kings. The two women were also on the right course when they obeyed God’s messenger.
Question 4:
Why does the good news of Jesus’ resurrection include a sense of urgency?
Heeding instructions is critical. My wife and I saw this graphically illustrated when we watched two cruise ship passengers run down the dock with their hands full of shopping bags and yelling, “We’re here! We’re here!” We observed this from the veranda of the cruise ship as it sailed away from the dock—without them. In exchange for the contents of their bags, these passengers forfeited the remaining three nights and days of the cruise because they treated the “all aboard” time too lightly. Had the women taken the angel’s instructions lightly or hesitated, they may have missed Jesus, who met them on the way. Like the angel, He reassured the women, telling them, “Do not be afraid.” Then He repeated the angel’s commission to go and tell His disciples to go to Galilee.
One thing seems to be certain: The women had a healthy spiritual “learning curve.” They went from totally believing their Messiah was dead to joyfully worshiping a very alive Jesus all in the same morning! The radical changes in their lives on that resurrection morning are clear evidence that the presence of Jesus is transformational. It should not be lost on us that this all took place as part of their journey of obedience to carry out what the angel told them to do.
These women may or may not have had other responsibilities that day such as work, meal preparation, caring for children or grandchildren, or drawing the morning’s water from a well. Whatever else they had to do, they managed to make time to go to the tomb and anoint Jesus’ body. Perhaps that is why they had gone so “early, while it was still dark” (John 20:1). Of course, we don’t know, but the rest of their plans for that day were most likely set aside to quickly carry out the task of taking the news of Jesus’ resurrection to His disciples and the reminder for them to meet Him in Galilee, as Jesus had promised before His crucifixion (Matt. 26:32).
Did the disciples need this reminder? Probably. After all, like the women, they expected Jesus to be in the tomb. Roman crucifixions ended with the victim most decidedly dead, so what would be the point now of going to Galilee? But Jesus expressed no annoyance because His grieving disciples had to be reminded. God is patient and that patience is part of His plan of redemption (2 Pet. 3:9) and His work of strengthening our faith.
This reminder would also give the devastated disciples much needed hope. The last words of Jesus’ message offered that hope: “They will see me there.” The disciples would see for themselves the truth and reality of the resurrection. Their hope of seeing Jesus was fulfilled, and it was followed with the sure hope that they, too, can live. For the disciples, it was that unshakeable hope that drove them forward as they shared the resurrection with others.
Even as the women were tasked with telling the disciples of the risen Christ, we have been given a similar commission (Matt. 28:18-20). Jesus is alive, and we can express that through our words and the evidence of the risen Savior and Lord living in us. The message of the resurrection should be our life message: “Jesus lives—and you can too!”
Question 5:
What opportunities do you have to share the good news with others?
ENGAGE
Can you recall the details surrounding your decision to make a commitment to follow Jesus? If you’ve made that decision, list some of the details so you can develop your own personal testimony.
If you can’t recall making a conscious decision to place your faith in Christ, speak to a trusted believer and ask that person to help you understand the basics of the good news and your need for a Savior.
LIVE IT OUT
Realize. Thank Jesus for His gift of eternal life, made possible by His victory over death.
Memorize. Memorize Matthew 28:6, “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Let this verse become a source of joy and strength for you as you seek to follow Jesus daily.
Exercise. Share your story of making the decision to follow Jesus with someone you know who is far from God.
END NOTES
1. Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 14–28, in Word Biblical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1995), 869. [Lifeway Adults (NaN). (p. 84). Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adult Personal Study Guide - CSB - Spring 2022. Lifeway Press. Retrieved from https://read.lifeway.com]