Bible Study - CHRIST (6) - Resurrection like No Other - Matthew 28:1-10 - April 5, 2015
Bible Study – CHRIST (6) – Resurrection like No
Other – April 5, 2015
This is lesson six (6) in our series entitled “Like
No Other: The Life of CHRIST.”
Our focus scripture is Matthew 28:1-10.
JESUS is alive – and we can live forever. Who raised
JESUS from the dead?
We read in Acts 2:23-24:
23 This Jesus, when delivered up according to
the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you
crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and
wicked men. 24 [But] God raised
Him up, liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not
possible for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it (death).
(Amplified)
1 Corinthians 15:20-23:
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the
• firstfruits of those who
have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man (Adam), the
resurrection of the dead also comes through a man (CHRIST). 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the
firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.
(Amplified)
The ultimate proof that CHRIST was and is the only
true Son of GOD is that GOD raised HIM from the dead. As further assurance of
HIS resurrection, when a person accepts CHRIST as his or her Savior, through
faith, the Holy Spirit indwells that person as a security deposit or down
payment that the person is GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of
rebirth.
Let’s consider what JESUS had told HIS disciples
would happen to HIM earlier as we read in Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23 and 20:19:
Matthew 16:21-22:
21 From then on Jesus began to point out to His
disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders,
•chief priests, and • scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, “Oh no, Lord! This will
never happen to You!”
Matthew 17:22-23:
22 As they were meeting in Galilee, Jesus told
them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They
will kill Him, and on the third day He will be raised up.” And they were deeply
distressed.
Matthew 20:17-19:
17 While going up to Jerusalem, Jesus took the
12 disciples aside privately and said to them on the way: 18 “Listen! We are
going up to Jerusalem. The • Son of Man will be handed over to the •chief
priests and • scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. 19 Then they will
hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and He will
be resurrected on the third day.”
How often we forget when things do not go as we
think they will go. JESUS’ disciples scattered when JESUS died but guess who
remembered the words JESUS spoke regarding HIS resurrection, as we read in
Matthew 27:62-66:
62 The next day, which followed the preparation day,
(Friday) the chief priests and the • Pharisees gathered before Pilate
63 and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive He said, ‘After three days I will rise
again.’ 64 Therefore give orders that the tomb be made secure until the
third day. Otherwise, His disciples may come, steal Him, and tell the people,
‘He has been raised from the dead.’ Then the last deception will be worse than
the first.” 65 “You have a guard of soldiers,” Pilate told them. “Go and
make it as secure as you know how.” 66 Then they went and made the tomb secure
by sealing the stone and setting the guard.
The tomb where JESUS was laid was sealed and guarded
by the temple police.
Let’s read Matthew 28:1-7:
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
Suddenly 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 robe was as white
as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like
dead men. 5 But the angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you
are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here! For He has been
resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. 7 Then go
quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He
is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.’ Listen, I have told
you.”
After the Jewish Sabbath, which would be our Sunday
some women went to the tomb where they had placed the dead body of JESUS to
complete the embalming process.
When we combine the four gospels, Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John, each give us the list of the women who went to the tomb of
JESUS:
Matthew 28:1 - Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
went to view the tomb.
Mark 16:1 - 1 When the Sabbath was over, • Mary
Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so they could go
and anoint Him.
Luke 23:55-56 - 55 The women who had come with Him
from Galilee followed along and observed the tomb and how His body was placed.
56 Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on
the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Luke 24:9-10 - 9 Returning from the tomb, they
reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 • Mary
Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with
them were telling the apostles these things.
John 20:1 - 1 On the first day of the week •
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark.
Women of that day were not considered of great value
and it is interesting that the most profound event to ever happen in the world
was revealed to women, the resurrection of JESUS. JESUS always valued women and
reached out to them and HE did so by them witnessing HIS resurrection. HIS
disciples were hiding and afraid but these gutsy women went to the tomb in love
and compassion that JESUS would get a proper burial. And what a joy they
witnessed.
Matthew’s gospel gives us an account of what these
women’s experienced. An earthquake, when the angel descended, caused the stone
covering the entrance to the tomb where JESUS body had been placed was rolled
away as they approached the tomb. This was to reveal that JESUS had not escaped
by HIM physically walking out of the tomb but a miracle had taken place because
GOD resurrected HIS physical body.
This was an example and confirmation that GOD has
the power over the physical and the Spiritual to all who place their faith in
CHRIST. A Christian’s born-again Spirit exits his or her physical body at the death
of their physical body and he or she is immediately in the presence of CHRIST
and GOD in Heaven. At the second coming of CHRIST, those with CHRIST in Heaven
will follow behind HIM and will be united with their new Glorified body for
eternity as we read in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
13 Now also we would not have you ignorant,
brethren, about those who fall asleep [ in death], that you may not grieve [for
them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave]. 14 For since we
believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him
through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [ in death]. 15 For this we
declare to you by the Lord's [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until
the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage
at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death].
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of
summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of
God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall
simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to
meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities)
we shall be with the Lord! 18 Therefore comfort and encourage one another
with these words. (Amplified)
A Christian’s new Glorified body will be like JESUS’
Glorified body after HIS resurrection. Study what CHRIST did after HIS
resurrection and you will get a glimpse of what your Glorified body, as a
Christian, will be like.
As we see in our scripture, gloom turns to great joy
because of the resurrection of CHRIST. When we come to the realization of the
resurrected CHRIST, the joy of that moment is overwhelming. Friday was a day of
gloom, doom and no hope but in the darkest hour there is hope because, “It is Friday but Sunday is coming!”
What do we want to do when we experience the
resurrected JESUS? We want to do exactly what these ladies wanted to do! We
rejoice because HIS resurrection is the assurance of the resurrection of all
who place their faith in HIM.
Let’s read 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, “Good morning!” 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.”
When the resurrection of CHRIST is revealed and we
accept HIM as our Savior, we encounter HIM. Salvation is just the beginning of
a life long process of getting to really know HIM personally and intimately
through relationship. The in dwelling Holy Spirit comes to our aid in
enlightening us to truth and embracing truth. We want to tell others this Great
News!
When we embrace CHRIST as truth and see what HE did
for us, we worship HIM because of HIS great love HE has for us, while we were
yet sinners, HE gave HIS life for us so that we will receive eternal life at
the instant we place our faith in HIM.
Christians are not to be afraid but we are to
worship CHRIST and go and tell the Good News of JESUS CHRIST and HIS
resurrection to others.
JESUS said HE was going to Galilee and HIS disciples
should meet HIM there. Why Galilee? JESUS and HIS disciples, with the exception
of Judas, were all from Galilee. JESUS taught and most of the miracles were
manifested in Galilee. It was the home area of JESUS and where HE was rejected.
I think HE returned to HIS home area to reveal to them that HE was Who HE said
HE was, The Son of GOD.
As Christians obediently follow JESUS, HE will
reveal more of Himself to them as they walk with HIM. After HIS death and
resurrection, JESUS walked upon earth for 40 days and over 500 people witnessed
HIS resurrection as we read the Apostle Paul’s review of death and resurrection of JESUS in 1
Corinthians 15:3-8:
3 For I passed on to you as most important what I
also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4
that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to
the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to • Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then
He appeared to over 500 brothers at one time; most of them are still
alive, but some have fallen • asleep. 7 Then He appeared to James,
then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one abnormally born, He
also appeared to me.
Do you believe it? JESUS was and is the true Son of
GOD and HE gave HIS life just for you. Will you accept HIM by placing your
faith in HIM and asking HIM to forgive you for your sins and to come into your
life?
If you did, then thank HIM for coming into your life
and go and tell someone what you have done. This is just the beginning of an
awesome journey with CHRIST. It will not be easy but the power of the
indwelling Holy Spirit will be with you each step of your journey. Begin by
reading the Gospel of John and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you
and HE will. Pray as you study the Bible and also ask GOD to lead you to the
place where you can be Spiritually fed. I rejoice with you in this your new
life in CHRIST my brother or sister.
To those who are Christians and have not been living
for HIM, confess your sins and return to HIM because HE is right where you left
HIM. Keep in mind John 3:16-18 and John 5:24:
16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave
His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but
have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might
condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who
believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already
condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of
God.
John 5:24: (JESUS is speaking.)
24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and
believes Him who sent Me has eternal
life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.
HAPPY EASTER! BECAUSE WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR!
Blessings!!!
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