Story 40
He is Risen
Matthew 27:62-28:15; Mark 16:1-8;
Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10
The Bridge: The gospel rests upon two great pillars: (1) the death of Christ, and (2) the resurrection of Christ. This is confirmed by the apostle Paul as he defines the gospel: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3-4).
The Story:
- After Jesus died, they put Him in the tomb. A rock was rolled over the entrance. The disciples scattered because they were afraid that they would be executed next. Since Jesus had said He would rise from the dead, the tomb was sealed and guards were stationed there. Religious leaders feared that followers would steal the body and claim that He arose.
- After the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave and anoint Jesus’ body with spices (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-3; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).
- An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, there was a great earthquake, and he rolled the stone away and sat on it. The guards fainted from fear (Matthew 28:4).
- When the women saw the stone had already been removed from the entrance of the tomb, the angel told them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you’ ” (Mark 16:6-7).
- The women ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved. Then Peter and John ran to see what was taking place. When they got there the tomb was empty, and Jesus’ grave clothes were folded in place. When they saw this, they believed, but they did not understand (John 20:3-9).
- Later, the religious officials bribed the soldiers to say that the disciples stole the body.
What did the resurrection of Jesus signify?
