13: The Risen Lord - Teaching Plan

Key Thought : In Mark 16 we see the timing of Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday morning and the mission to take ther gospel throughout the world.
September 28, 2024

1. Have a volunteer read Mark 15:42—16:6.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
What happens here and why is it relevant to the resurrection narrative?
Personal Application: How can we be certain of the resurrection of Jesus? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Isn’t Sunday a memorial of Jesus’ resurrection? If not, what is the memorial?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Mark 16:1-8, I Cor 15:1-8.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
What happened and how did the women respond?
Personal Application: Why must we not keep silent about Jesus and what He has done? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your friends states, “What can you tell me about Jesus and the plan of salvation in your life? Do you have a personal testimony?.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Mark 16:9-20.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
What do these verses add to the resurrection story?
Personal Application: How can we keep ourselves from the spiritual trap of doubt and unbelief? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “Maybe the disciples lied about the resurrection and just made it up.” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Mark 16:14-20.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
What did Jesus say to His disciples and what do these words mean to us today?
Personal Application: What comfort can we take and should we take from this promise as we also seek to proclaim the gospel everywhere? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

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I don’t think anyone doubts that a man named Jesus actually existed. The question is if He was really the Messiah, and if He was really resurrected. How do we know Jesus really died, and did not just fake His own death and then made it look like He was resurrected? If He did indeed die, how do we know the disciples did not actually steal His body from the tomb to make it look like He was resurrected? Let’s take a look.

Was Jesus Actually Dead?

Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” John 19:32-37 NKJV

Conspiracy theories could have started circulating, that Jesus did not really die on the cross, but merely fainted and woke up later. Remember how prisoners escaped from Alcatraz by placing phony bodies in their beds to make it look like they were still in bed, while they escaped? How do we even know it was really Christ’s body placed in the tomb, and was not just a phony body to make it look like He died?

The testimony of the Roman soldiers themselves disproves any notion of such conspiracy theories. They pierced his side causing the blood to flow out. He was already dead, but if He wasn’t, the wound would have caused His death for sure.

Did Disciples Steal His Body?

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Matthew 28:11-15 NKJV

This is not logical. How can the soldiers document what happened while they were asleep? If they were asleep, how would they know that the disciples stole the body? There is no court in the world that would accept this testimony. No one can testify exactly who did what while they were not looking. You have to be looking in order to be a witness. Their own testimony, “while we were sleeping,” proves they did not see the disciples take Jesus’ body. Add to this the fact that the disciples themselves had a hard time believing that He was resurrected. If they had staged it, they would have been gloating about His resurrection at the very start, instead of being confused and amazed.

If the priests really thought the disciples stole Christ’s body, why were the disciples never charged or even accused of such a crime? They were later arrested for preaching about the resurrection, but they were never arrested for stealing a body. It is also highly unlikely the guards actually fell asleep while guarding the tomb, because falling asleep while on such a guard was an offense punishable by death. If the leaders truly thought the guards had fallen asleep, the guards would not have lived to tell the tale. They would have been executed. But they were not executed. Instead, they were given money.

Would the Disciples Have Died for a Lie?

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Acts 12:2-3 NKJV

Scripture testifies how James was martyred and the other disciples were persecuted. And Foxe’s Book of Martyrs documents how all the disciples except John were martyred for preaching Christ and Him crucified and resurrected. Poor John was thrown into boiling oil. Now, suppose the disciples made the story up about the resurrection and had stolen the body to make it look like Jesus was no longer dead. How many of those disciples would be willing to die for this made-up story? After a few of them were killed for making up the story, wouldn’t at least one of them come forward and show where they hid the body, to save his life? What are the chances of everyone in on the conspiracy dying for a lie?

I can tell you why they all died. I can tell you why none of them finally came forward and showed where they hid the body. It’s because they did not hide the body. They could not recant their story, because what they were saying was the truth. A truth worth dying for! Why do you think God allowed them all to be killed and for John to be boiled in oil? I believe it’s so that we would know, beyond the shadow of a doubt that their story was true.

Jesus Still Lives in our Hearts

One last thought. When I was in my early twenties, I heard a song on a Christian radio station. I heard it once, and never heard it again, so I can’t tell you who sang it or wrote it, but I remember the gist of the song. In the song, a little boy was crying because his little friend told him Jesus wasn’t real. The boy pleads with his friend not to tell his daddy that Jesus isn’t real because, “I don’t want him to start living like he used to.” The song showed how Jesus changed the daddy’s heart, and this is how we know He is real.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 NKJV

Like the old hymn says,

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.-Alfred Ackley

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Comments

13: The Risen Lord – Teaching Plan — 5 Comments

Tim Heischberg on September 22, 2024 at 6:26 am said:

I have said it before and will repeat it again, there is no power in a dead Savior. The resurrection of Jesus transformed his followers and empowered them to take the good news to all the then known world.

Perhaps the modern day church needs to peer into the empty tomb once again, and hear the angel's message. Are we so removed from the resurrection that we have lost the fervor to share the good news that Jesus is alive?

“G.B. Hardy exclaims: “Here is the record. Confucius tomb – occupied. Buddha’s tomb – occupied. Mohammed’s tomb – occupied. Jesus’ tomb — EMPTY. The decision is yours to make; the evidence speaks for itself. It says very clearly—Christ is risen indeed!”

Christ wasn't a loser in the battle over the grave. Not at all! Jesus has conquered death, and has the keys to death and the grave. He offers that same victory to all who believe in, and follow Him.

"He's alive, and I'm forgiven, Heaven's gates are open wide!" He's Alive, Don Francisco
He's Alive lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Indeed, this is the greatest event in history. That in itself is something worth talking about.

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John Herscher on September 22, 2024 at 7:53 am said:

I am going to have to use some of your answers for my SS class, Tim. 😊 God Bless You. I like Don Francisco's reditions also.

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Reply ↓
- Tim Heischberg on September 22, 2024 at 8:57 am said:
  
  Hello John. Thank you. If it's good, it's from God. "I'm just a beggar telling other beggars where I found bread." 😉 To God be the Glory. Share the blessings that bless you, my friend.
  
  I cut my "Christian teeth" on Don Francisco's music. Very lyrically rich and often story telling music. Not like the many "7/11" songs of today's CCM.
  
  Blessings back your way!
  
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  Reply ↓
William Earnhardt on September 22, 2024 at 7:34 pm said:

I don’t think anyone doubts that a man named Jesus actually existed. The question is if He was really the Messiah, and if He was really resurrected. How do we know Jesus really died, and did not just fake His own death and then made it look like He was resurrected? If He did indeed die, how do we know the disciples did not actually steal His body from the tomb to make it look like He was resurrected? Let’s take a look.

Was Jesus Actually Dead?

Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.” John 19:32-37 NKJV

Conspiracy theories could have started circulating, that Jesus did not really die on the cross, but merely fainted and woke up later. Remember how prisoners escaped from Alcatraz by placing phony bodies in their beds to make it look like they were still in bed, while they escaped? How do we even know it was really Christ’s body placed in the tomb, and was not just a phony body to make it look like He died?

The testimony of the Roman soldiers themselves disproves any notion of such conspiracy theories. They pierced his side causing the blood to flow out. He was already dead, but if He wasn’t, the wound would have caused His death for sure.

Did Disciples Steal His Body?

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Matthew 28:11-15 NKJV

This is not logical. How can the soldiers document what happened while they were asleep? If they were asleep, how would they know that the disciples stole the body? There is no court in the world that would accept this testimony. No one can testify exactly who did what while they were not looking. You have to be looking in order to be a witness. Their own testimony, “while we were sleeping,” proves they did not see the disciples take Jesus’ body. Add to this the fact that the disciples themselves had a hard time believing that He was resurrected. If they had staged it, they would have been gloating about His resurrection at the very start, instead of being confused and amazed.

If the priests really thought the disciples stole Christ’s body, why were the disciples never charged or even accused of such a crime? They were later arrested for preaching about the resurrection, but they were never arrested for stealing a body. It is also highly unlikely the guards actually fell asleep while guarding the tomb, because falling asleep while on such a guard was an offense punishable by death. If the leaders truly thought the guards had fallen asleep, the guards would not have lived to tell the tale. They would have been executed. But they were not executed. Instead, they were given money.

Would the Disciples Have Died for a Lie?

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Acts 12:2-3 NKJV

Scripture testifies how James was martyred and the other disciples were persecuted. And Foxe’s Book of Martyrs documents how all the disciples except John were martyred for preaching Christ and Him crucified and resurrected. Poor John was thrown into boiling oil. Now, suppose the disciples made the story up about the resurrection and had stolen the body to make it look like Jesus was no longer dead. How many of those disciples would be willing to die for this made-up story? After a few of them were killed for making up the story, wouldn’t at least one of them come forward and show where they hid the body, to save his life? What are the chances of everyone in on the conspiracy dying for a lie?

I can tell you why they all died. I can tell you why none of them finally came forward and showed where they hid the body. It’s because they did not hide the body. They could not recant their story, because what they were saying was the truth. A truth worth dying for! Why do you think God allowed them all to be killed and for John to be boiled in oil? I believe it’s so that we would know, beyond the shadow of a doubt that their story was true.

Jesus Still Lives in our Hearts

One last thought. When I was in my early twenties, I heard a song on a Christian radio station. I heard it once, and never heard it again, so I can’t tell you who sang it or wrote it, but I remember the gist of the song. In the song, a little boy was crying because his little friend told him Jesus wasn’t real. The boy pleads with his friend not to tell his daddy that Jesus isn’t real because, “I don’t want him to start living like he used to.” The song showed how Jesus changed the daddy’s heart, and this is how we know He is real.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 NKJV

Like the old hymn says,

He lives (He lives), He lives (He lives), Salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.-Alfred Ackley

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Reply ↓
- John Herscher on September 23, 2024 at 5:28 am said:
  
  Thank you, William. I don't have any problem with doubt, but your words help with our help of others, and yes, for preventive spiritual medicine for us. As Maurice has pointed out, the secular world has a hard time understanding. I imagine you have run into that more frequently than many of us. God bless you and your ministry.
  
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13: The Risen Lord – Teaching Plan

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13: The Risen Lord – Teaching Plan — 5 Comments

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