Christ and Creation

Unit 2: The Dawn of New Life

(Lessons 6-9)

Is RISEN!

--------1_--­ HE
INTRODUCTION DEVOTIONAL READING:
A. REMEMBERING TO REMEMBER 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-26
It is funny how the human mind remembers. Friends and family will BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE:
sometimes tell us stories of events we participated in firsthand only a few LUKE 24:1-12
years back, but we may have absolutely no recollection of them. Then we PRINTED TEXT:
may hear an old song on the radio that we haven't heard in years and, in­ LUKE 24:1-12
stantly, every word of the lyrics comes back to mind. I imagine some of this
has to do with the level at which the original context affected us.
Forgetfulness takes several fonns. Some forgetfulness is hannless and some
is hannful. Some is accidental and some is intentional. Does it surprise us LESSON AIMS
that jesus' followers all seemed to have forgotten that he foretold his suffer­ After participating in this
ing, death, and resurrection? How could they forget something so crucial? lesson, each student will
And what do we learn from the different ways they responded to the news of be able to:
this life-changing event when reminded? 1. Retell Luke's ac­
count of the women's
B. LESSON BACKGROUND experience on resurrection
In Luke 9:20, Peter was the first disciple to confess jesus as Messiah (or morning.
Christ). jesus responded by warning that he was to suffer, die, and rise on the 2. Compare and contrast
third day Shortly thereafter, following a crowd-dazzling healing display, jesus the various levels of beliefof
impressed upon his followers that he would be betrayed. But they didn't un­ those first told of the resurrec­
derstand (9:44, 45). jesus later alluded to being killed in jerusalem (13:33). tion with the varying levels of
He also said that he had to suffer and face rejection (17:25). faith expressed.
As the time of his death drew closer, jesus repeated these predictions. He 3. Plan to discuss with an
was to be handed over, mocked, beaten, and killed, but would rise on the unbeliever the facts ofJesus'
third day (18:31-33). Still his disciples did not grasp what he was saying. resurrection.
jesus gave his disciples several opportunities to expect his death and rec­
ognize it for what it was: a temporary stop on the path to resurrection. But
they did not comprehend. Indeed, they could not because it had been con­
cealed from them (Luke 9:45; 18:34). God planted a seed within them that
was to bear fruit only after Christ's resurrection. Our text today records how
jesus' closest followers first responded to the news of that resurrection.
The events that transpired before it are familiar to long-time Christians.
jesus was betrayed and handed over to jewish authorities. They handed him
over to Roman authorities. Pilate gave in to the crowd's wish that the inno­
cent man jesus be crucified. Since it was the day before the Sabbath,jesus'
body was removed quickly from the cross and placed in the tomb of]oseph
of Arimathea. Then on the third day the unbelievable happened.
KEY VERSES

I. EMPTY TOMB (LUKE 24:1-3) \Vhy do you look for the

A. ROUTINE PREPARATIONS (v. 1) living among the dead? He is
1. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the not here; he has risen!
spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. -Luke 24:5, 6
APRIL 12, 2009
LESSON 7 NOTES
WHAT Do You THINK?
How do you prepare to
honor Christ on the first day
of each week?
WHAT Do You THINK?
What was a time when
you didn't find Christ as you
expected to find him? How do
you remain open to admitting
and adjustingyour wrong ex­
pectations?
308 HE Is RISEN!
The first day of the week is of course Sunday. Jesus was crucified and died
two days previously, on Friday. Since Saturday was the Sabbath, it would
not have been appropriate to anoint Christ's body with spices on that day.
Pious Jews are careful to avoid all fonns of work on the Sabbath (Luke
23:56). Coming into contact with a dead body, especially on a "special"
Sabbath Qohn 19:31), creates problems of ceremonial uncleanness (Num­
bers 19:11).
So Friday evening the body had been taken off the cross and hastily placed
in a tomb to await final burial preparations. Luke 23:54-56 tells us that the
women who followed Jesus from Galilee take it upon themselves to prepare
the spices the day of Christ's death and then wait until the first day of the
week, after the Sabbath, to administer them.
The time of day (very early in the morning) shows us how eager the women
are to complete this task. Psalm 30:5 says "weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning." God is about to dry the tears of all
Jesus' followers and change the course of world history.
B. UNEXPECTED FINDINGS (w. 2, 3)
2. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
Mark 16:3 tells us that the women wonder who will roll the stone away so
they can gain entrance to the tomb. When they see that the stone is already
moved, they may be both relieved and startled. Who has done this, and why?
Perhaps the women think that Joseph of Arimathea has courteously spared
them the burden of trying to roll back the heavy stone. After all, the grave site
does belong to him, and he has taken a keen interest in providing for Jesus'
burial (Luke 23:50-53).
One mental image of this gravestone is that of a giant sphere that rolls
downhill into the cave mouth, thus securing it from intruders. This is one
possibility, but there is at least one other. The stone may be a flat, round disc
that rolls side to side in a track running in front of and parallel to the cave
opening. Such stones may thus be rolled to the left or right to gain access to
the interior.
3.... but when they entered, they did notfind the body of the LordJesus.
If the women are not disturbed by the moved stone, the fact that the body
is missing certainly alanns them! What thoughts flash through their minds?
Have they come to the wrong tomb? Not a chance! These same women per­
sonally had followed Joseph to the grave and witnessed the location of]esus'
lifeless body (Luke 23:55).
Have Jesus' enemies stolen his body in order to subject it to further dis­
grace? One can only imagine the rush of mixed thoughts that come over the
women. But they do not wonder for long.
II. HEAVENLY MESSENGERS (LUKE 24:4-8)
A. ANGELS ApPE4.R TO THE WOMEN (w. 4, 5)
4. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that
gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
God supplies an answer through two men clad in clothes that gleam like
lightning. They are later identified as angels (Luke 24:23). This event parallels
the appearance of two men to the disciples to interpretjesus' ascension into
i Heaven (Acts 1: 10). Perhaps God chooses two angelic messengers to satisfy
 LESSON 7 ._~___ 309 APRiL 12, 2009
the requirement that weighty claims be confirmed by two witnesses (Deuter­ DAILY BIBLE READINGS
onomy 17:6; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Hebrews 10:28; Revelation 11:3). Monday, Apr. 6--God
5. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the Raised Him from the Dead
men said to them, "Why do you look for the living anlOng the dead? (Acts 13:26-33)
Apparently the appearance of the angels is more startling than verse 4 Tuesday, Apr. 7-God's
would imply! The women respond to the awe-inspiring presence of angels as Powerfor Us (Ephesians 1:
any of us would if approached by heavenly messengers: the women are terri­ 15-23)
fied, bo\\ing theirfaces to the ground in respect. The angels respond just as in \Vednesday, Apr. 8­
Acts 1: 11: they greetJesus' followers with a question. In Acts, angels ask why First Fruits of the Dead (l
his followers are staring up into Heaven; here, angels ask why these women C011nthians 15:12-26)
are looking for their living Savior among the dead. Thursday, Apr. 9-Buried
CEMETERIES
and Raised with Christ
I have an abnormal interest in cemeteries. Perhaps it is because of my interest (Colossians 2:6-15)
in history, but I find cemeteries fascinating. Sometimes I like to wander through Friday, Apr. 10-Walk
old cemeteries just to see what I can find. in Newness of Life (Romans
One day when I was in Baltimore, I was walking through a section near down­ 6:3-11)
town and discovered an old church with a small cemetery Included was the grave Saturday, Apr. II-Seek
of Edgar Allan Poe. I have visited the grave sites of Washington, Uncoln, Roben the Things Above (Colossians
Frost, and several other famous people. I have visited the cemetery in Salzburg, 3:1-11)
Austria, that was used for some of the footage near the end of the movie The Sound Sunday, Apr. 12-C1111St
~fMusic. . Has Risen (Luke 24:1-12)
In all these visits I was keenly aware that the graves held the mortal remains only
of people who were dead. If a person is alive, we do not expect to find him or her
in a cemetery except for brief visits. The Wall StreetJournal ofjuly 23, 2007 carried
a front-page story entitled "Uberia's Tombs Shelter Much More Than the Dead."
The story was about children, criminals, and poor people who live subsistence
lives in a cemetery after being displaced by war. This grates against our sensibili­
ties (compare Mark 5:3). The location ofjesus' tomb is irrelevant today precisely
because we don't seek the living among the dead. -j. B. N.

B. ANGELS REMIND THE WOMEN (w. 6-8)

6, 7. "He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was

still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of

sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. '"

The prospect thatJesus could be alive is certainly inviting. But what do

the messengers mean by their question in verse 5? Those words can be inter­
preted in more than one way. So the messengers quickly clarify. They remind
the women of Christ's prediction of both his death and resurrection (Luke
9:22; 18:31-33).
Jesus had known all along what would take place, and he had told his WHAT Do You THINK?
followers as much. Yet his followers do not remember. It is as if God wanted What are some ways you
Jesus' followers to hear the predictions for the purpose of later recollection as can remind yourselfof the
a testimony of God's control over these events. fact of the resurrection? Why
It is also important to note the language the angels use to describe what and when do you need this
happened to Jesus. He has risen is the language of resurrection. The kind of reminder?
resurrection at issue is not just any kind of postmortem existence. It certainly
does not mean thatJesus' spirit mystically departed his body to take on a
new bodiless form (Luke 24:39). It does not mean merely that the disciples
will feel Jesus to be alive in their hearts. Rather, it means that God has raised
Jesus bodily.

llo.........~~~_

APRIL_il, 200~~ _ 110 HE Is RISEN!

; 8. Then they remembered his words.

Visual for Lesson 7. Ask
your class, "Why does the
message on this visual bear
continuous repeating?"
With the angel's words of clarification, it all begins to make sense. What
the disciples had never caught on to during Jesus' ministry, the women fi­
nally begin to grasp. Jesus' suffering and death have been intentional, as is his
resurrection. These are deliberate parts of God's plan.
This passage teaches us an important lesson about instruction and mem­
ory. Words don't always hit home when first heard. They may be recalled and
recognized as being true only after being fulfilled. Parents know this all too
well! Although they are not divinely inspired prophets, parents know from
experience how a certain course of action their child is about to take is bound
to turn out. The parent warns the child, but the warning "goes in one ear and
out the other." The child goes ahead, suffers, and then hears the parent say, "I
told you that would happen. You should have listened."
But one cannot recall what one has not heard. So it is important that Chris­
tians continually proclaim the good news of Christ to the lost. They may not
immediately respond favorably to our message, but as life deals its ups and
downs they may be able to discern God's hand at work, if they have been told
already of a God who loves them enough to work in their lives. For similar rea­
sons, parents continue to raise even their most rebellious children in the Lord.
They hope with tears that later in life their own prodigals will someday recog­
nize and submit to the gospel truths that they heard long before.

III. RELAYED MESSAGE (LUKE 24:9-12)

A. WOMEN TELL THE ApOSTLES (w. 9,10)
9. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven
i and to all the others.
The Eleven disciples are the first to hear the relayed news. There are only
. eleven because Judas has taken his own life (Matthew 27:3-10). In his Gos­
pel, Luke does not tell us ofjudas's suicide, but he alludes to it in Acts when
the apostles select another to take his place (Acts 1:12-26).
The eleven are not alone. There are other followers with them or very close
by. One wonders what they are all doing together (seeJohn 20: 19). Are they
trying to regroup, trying to figure out how to put their hves back in order, hav­
ing previously turned them upside down to follow Jesus? Or are they praying
, to God for some bit of guidance about what to do next? Jesus' ministry has
been too powerful among them simply to believe it could end just like that.
Whatever their thoughts and activities, one suspects that they should be
the most receptive group to the women's testimony. Jesus had told the dis­
ciples personally that he was to die and rise again. But like a good storyteller,
WfL4.T Do You THINK? Luke holds us in suspense before reporting their response. He does this by
'V'hat lessons do you learn pausing to name the women who bring the good news.
from the first telling of the 10. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother ofJames, and the others
message of the resunection? with them who told this to the apostles.
Here we are given the names of the first witnesses to Christ's resurrec­
tion. We don't know if they are simply in the right place at the right time or if
God intentionally chooses to entrust the message of Christ's resurrection to
women first. The latter idea is in keeping with Luke's presentation of God's
high regard for those whom the first-century world does not esteem highly.
Women, children, foreigners, and social outcasts often play important roles in
'I'

Luke's Gospel account.

 LESSON 7 311 APRIL 12, 2009
Luke first introduced Mary Magdalene and Joanna back in 8:2,3. We learn
there thatJesus cured these women of various evil spirits and infirmities.
They then began traveling with him and providing for his financial needs.
The word Magdalene is not a surname as we think of such today; rather, it re­
fers to the fact that this particular Mary is the one who comes from Magdala,
which is near the Sea of Galilee. An amazing thing aboutJoanna is that her
husband is the manager of Herod's household.
Identifying Mary the mother ofJames is more difficult since there are sev­
eral women named Mary in the New Testament. This particular Mary is also
identified as the mother oEjoses (Matthew 27:56, 61; 28: 1), and we know
thatJesus had brothers named James and Joseph (Matthew 13:55), although
some Greek manuscripts spell Joseph's name as Joses. Thus one logical guess
is that this Mary isJesus' mother.
It would be odd, however, thatJesus' mother would not be called as such
at this point rather than by two of his half-brothers. In Acts 1: 14, Luke refers
toJesus' mother as "Mary the mother oEjesus," not the mother oEjames and
Joses;Joseph. So Luke has no problem identifyingJesus, mother in this way
John's Gospel does not help us resolve this issue. He mentions only Mary
Magdalene as discovering and relating the story of the empty tomb Oohn How TO SAY IT
20:1, 2). John locates three different women named Mary atJesus' cruci­ Arimathea. AIR-uh-muh­
fixion: Mary Magdalene,Jesus' mother, and Mary the wife of Clopas Oohn THEE-uh (th as in thin).
19:25). This latter Mary could also possibly be the mother of men named Clopas. KLO-pus.
James andJoses;Joseph. Corinthians. Ko-RIN-thee­
unz (th as in thin).
B. ApOSTLES DOUBT THE WOMEN (w. 11, 12) Deuteronomy. Due-ter-AHN­
11. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them uh-me.
like nonsense. Galilee. GAL-uh-lee.
Firsthand testimony is what the angels have given to the women. Second­ Joses. JO-sez.
hand testimony is what the women pass along to the disciples, and this Judas. JOO-dus.

results in disbelief. Jesus had told the disciples firsthand of his impending Magdala. MAG-duh-luh.

death and resurrection, but they do not accept the women's secondhand tes­ Magdalene. MAG-duh-leen

timony regarding fulfillment. They go so far in their disbelief as to think that or Mag-duh-LEE-nee.
the women have fabricated tales-pure nonsense! Pilate. PIE-lut.
We should not assume that the disciples reject this testimony because the
witnesses are women. The resurrection is an extraordinary event that requires
great faith to accept. Even when Jesus later reveals himself to disciples in per­
son, they express doubt, wondering if he is a ghost (Luke 24:36-43). It is not
until they touch him with their hands that they truly believe. Even so, Jesus
will pronounce blessing on all who believe reliable testimony about him, al­
though that testimony be secondhand Oohn 20:29).
TALL TALES
There is a genre in American literature called the tall tale. It consists of a "hero
story," featuring a larger-than-life character. The character is bigger and srronger
than most people, even if the story is based on an actual person. Exaggeration and
hyperbole are major ingredients in these stories. The hero usually faces a particu­
lar task and then resolves it in an unusual and humorous way. Exaggerated details
flesh out the story, adding to the humor and the novelty of the tale.
Well-known examples of tall tale are the ones told about Paul Bunyan and his
Blue Ox, Pecos Bill,]ohn Henry the Steel-Driving Man, and]ohnny Appleseed. A
typical exaggeration is the story of Paul Bunyan pulling a ship through the English

...

APRIL 12, 20Q9____ 312 HE Is RISEN!

Channel-a ship so large that it scraped the sides, thus creating the white cliffs of
Dover. The tall tale format has been used in teaching creative writing to children;
they imagine a scenario in which they can improvise on a normal situation but
exaggerate it and develop it into a tall tale.
lt is always presumed that listeners can tell the difference between a tall tale
and a truthful account. But some tale-tellers can become very credible in their
exaggerations, and some truthful accounts are hard to imagine. That's the dilem­
ma faced by the aposdes when they heard the women. Was it a tall tale? Or was
truth stranger than fiction? The answer became clear to them, and so must it to us.
-JB.N.
WHAT Do You THINK?
How does the testimony of 12. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips
your church cause others to of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himselfwhat had
come to it and check it out? happened.
What do (or should) they find The action of Peter represents another kind of response to secondhand
when they arrive? testimony: investigation. Peter will not accept the women's testimony blindly,
Uohn 13:35 will be impor­ nor does he merely reject it without testing it for himself So he runs straight­
tant in your answed way to the tomb. Peter, whose last recorded deed to this point has been to
weep over denyingJesus, is more than mildly interested in his master's pos­
sible return!
Peter's findings are inconclusive. The empty tomb and the pile of body
wrappings do not contradict the women's testimony. But there is no angel
sighting. Peter departs the cave wondering what has happened, wondering
where his Lord may be, and likely wondering whether he will get a second
chance to prove his love for Jesus.
PRAYER i Peter will get all the proof he needs soon enough!]esus' resurrection
Father in Heaven, may Imeans a new start for us still today. There are many who have heard of God's
we not keep your plan to . offer of forgiveness and new life, but they are waiting on more evidence. They
ourselves. May we offer it are looking at the lives of Christians and evaluating whether we truly possess
boldly to all whom we meet. the new life we claim is possible. Unfortunately, when they don't see it in us,
Let us not be intimidated by they often assume it is not true. So God's people must not only talk of new
appearances or status. Let us life, we must diligently seek to embrace it fully and live it daily in the sight of
not be discouraged by rejec­ nonbelievers.
tion or ridicule. Forsaking
worldly praise let us do your CONCLUSION
will, knowing that the Lord of To~ay's le~s?n reveals.a critical time for "the ~leven" because they, as we,
resurrection life is also Lord iwere m a poslUon of relymg on secondhand testImony. Of course, they go on
of the harvest. ThroughJesus to seeJesus firsthand, which placed them in a different position from ours.
Christ our risen Lord amen. During this brief but critical window-the time between getting secondhand
, and firsthand testimony-we see some variation in response to testimony
of Christ's resurrection. Some thought others to be peddling tall tales. Some
tested the claims. At least one believed after conducting a test without actu­
ally having seen the risen Jesus (John 20:8). Another absolutely refused to
believe without firsthand evidence (John 20:25).
Despite the variety of initial responses, all oEjesus' followers ultimately
believed his resurrection. Today, Jesus does not stand among us physically to
invite us to touch his nail-scarred hands as he did with Thomas. But God has
left us with plenty of other evidence to create belief
: So let us not be discouraged by the variety of responses we receive to the
I gospel message. Let us not give up persistently proclaiming Christ to all peo­
 LESSON 7 313 APRIL 12, 2009
pIe regardless of how they initially respond to us. Equally important, let us THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
live with integrity and joy the new life Christ's resurrection has made possible Live and proclaim Christ's
for us. For Christ is indeed risen! resutfection.

Discovery Learning

The following is an alternative lesson plan emphasizing learning activities.

Classes desiring such student involvement will find these suggestions helpful. At the

back of this book are reproducible student pages to further enhance activity learning.

INTO THE LESSON jesus' body.) Groups 1 and 2: "What surprised the
Lead into a discussion of burial rituals by saying, women when they arrived?" (The stone was rolled
"Death has always been mysterious to us. Various away, and jesus , body was missing.) Group 1: "How
explanations have surfaced throughout the centu­ did the women react to the angels?" (Fear and
ries to explain what happens at the point of death bowing down.) Group 2: "What did the angels tell
and afterward. Humans naturally want to 'make them had happened to Jesus?" (He had risen from
sense' out of things. What are some of the differ­ the dead.) Group 1: "What words ofJesus did the
ent rituals and ceremonies surrounding death and angels repeat?" ("The Son ofMan must be delivered
burial that have been practiced by various civiliza­ into the hands ofsiriful men, be crucified and on the
tions? What customs do we observe today? How do third day be raised again.") Group 2: "What did
these ceremonies help people make sense of, or at the women do after they heard the angels' mes­
least cope with, the mystery of death?" sage?" (Retumed and told what had happened to the
At some point in the discussion, have the class apostles.) Group 1: "What were the names of some
contrast the Christian view of death with a non­ of the women who went to the tomb?" (Mary Mag­
Christian view. What makes the difference? Be sure dalene, joanna, Mary the mother ofjames.) Group
to point out that the resurrection of]esus is the 2: "How did the apostles react to the women's
defining point of belief and hope for the follower of report?" (They didn't believe them.) Group 1: "What
Christ. did Peter do?" (He ran to the tomb to seefor himself.)
Group 2: "What did Peter find?" (The burial clothes,
INTO THE WORD but no body.)
Select class members to represent various Conclude by saying, "The events in today's text
characters in a skit about the story in Luke 24. caused a turning point for all the people involved
These include Mary Magdalene, Joanna, the sec­ and even for us today. Let's see how many things
ond Mary, two men (angels), Peter, and some we can name that are different because of this day
other apostles. As either you or another narrator in history." Jot answers on the board. You can ask
reads verses 1-12, have the characters act out the the two groups to alternate in answering.
scenes. Read slowly, pausing long enough for each
scene to be enacted. INTO LIFE
When the skit is completed, divide the class The application of these exercises is thatJesus'
into two groups. Alternate in asking each group resurrection changes lives. Write the following
the follOwing questions. Ask them to answer from words across the top of the board: Home, Work/
memory, but allow them to use their Bibles if School, Community, and World. Have the students
necessary. relate ways thatJesus' resurrection has affected
Group 1: "What was the day and time when them in each area of life listed. Write answers
the women came to the tomb?" (Very early Sun­ under each heading.
day moming.) Group 2: "What had the women Then say, '1\t first even Jesus' closest friends did
brought with them, and for what purpose?" (They not believe that he had risen. They wanted proof.
brought spices they had prepared to place around The same is true today. Many people do not believe

..

 APRIL 12, 2009
in the resurrection at all. They reject Christ's res­
urrection." Ask someone in class to represent the
point of view of a person who does not believe in
the resurrection. (Arrange for this before class time
so the person can be prepared.) Have students tell
the "unbeliever" of]esus' resurrection, trying to
persuade him or her that it is true. Keep in mind
that perhaps someone in the class is not fully con­
vinced of the resurrection and will be listening for
answers to his or her uncertainty.
...
314 HE Is RISEN!
Ask if some would be willing to tell of a time
they doubted]esus' resurrection. Why did they
doubt? Do they doubt now? What changed their
belief? Did another person's life have any effect on
them, either causing doubt or causing faith? How
do we as Christians appear to those who do not
follow Christ? Discuss how our lives can be a hin­
drance or an encouragement to those seeking the
truth. Distribute one or both of the reproducible
activities on page 377 as take-home work.