To Begin: What is the most unbelievable story you’ve ever been told by someone, which turned out to be true?

Read: Matthew 28:1–15 (NIV)

¹ After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; 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 is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Questions:

Context:

1. What is going on this passage?

2. What genre is this section?

Observation:
3. Retell the narrative in pairs. What stands out to you? What questions do you have?

4. How do the different groups of people react to these events?

Meaning:

5. What makes this account believable or unbelievable?

6. Why does it matter that Jesus really rose from the dead?

7. Why would Matthew include verses 11-15?

8. Directly after this the disciples head to Galilee as they are told, to wait for Jesus. He gives them his final teaching, the Great Commission for his disciples to continue. As we have reached the end of Matthew, how would you summarise what it looks like to be a disciple of Jesus?

Application:

9. The resurrection of Jesus is the biggest claim of Christianity. If it really happened, what impact should this make on:

a. Sharing the gospel with others

b. Living as disciples of Jesus

c. Our future hope

10. When you share the good news about Jesus with other people, is the resurrection a part of this? Why and how could you think about sharing this with others as good news?

11. When the women saw the resurrected Jesus, they worshipped and obeyed him. For us as we wait for Jesus to return, how can we make sure we continue in:

a. Worship of Jesus

b. Obedience to his commands

Prayer:

Pray 2-for-2 (pray for two friends who are not Christians for two minutes)


Give thanks that Jesus was raised and did not stay dead!


Pray that the resurrection would shape our perspective on how we live as disciples of Jesus