Central thought: The death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the basis of our hope for eternal life.
Hymn: Christ the Lord is risen today.
Text: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:53-57
The disciples of Christ didn’t ever contemplate that He would die violently. They knew the power He had, His popularity among the people and His intimacy with God. So it was a big blow to them when Jesus submitted to arrest, did no miracle to free Himself and eventually died like a criminal. But it was not so with Christ and God; who knew that the road to the salvation of mankind would be bloody.
To the disciples, the death of Jesus Christ was like a defeat. The enemy too thought he succeeded in truncating the plan of God; little did they know that this was the exact and eternal plan of God for the redemption of mankind.
When He gave up the ghost, Jesus appeared in the underworld of spirits to demand for and retrieve every stolen mandate and authority from Satan. All the righteous souls who were held captive by death were freed and Christ led them triumphantly out of the pit. By this He conquered and demystified death for ever, and provided a new access to eternal life.
In this study we shall be looking at how the Lord Jesus defeated death, not only for Himself, but for all believers of all ages.
Lesson Objectives:
The objectives of this study is as follows:
- To name those who confirmed the death of Christ.
- To discuss man made and satanic efforts to ensure that Christ did not resurrect.
- Discuss the spiritual events that happened between the death and resurrection of Christ.
- List the evidences that attest to the resurrection of Christ.
- List the implications of Christ’s resurrection; and
- Discuss what our proper response to the message of resurrection should be.
Question 1.) Name some of those whose actions confirmed the death of Christ?
John 19:33-34, 38-40, Luke 23:55, Mark 15:39, 43-45
There were several persons who practically confirmed the physical death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The most prominent ones were:
- The soldiers at the site of crucifixion who confirmed His death by piercing His side with a spear.
- The centurion who confirmed the death of Christ before Pilate.
- Pilate who believed the report of the centurion and subsequently released the corpse of Jesus.
- Joseph of Arimathea who applied for and received the body of Jesus for a decent burial.
- Nicodemus who brought the burial spices and assisted Joseph of Arimathea in the burial of Jesus.
- The women who sorrowfully watched the execution and death of Jesus and took notice of where He was buried.
Question 2.) Discuss some man made/satanic efforts to ensure that Jesus did not rise from the grave.
Matthew 27:62-66, 28:12-15
Many things were done to ensure that Christ did not rise from the grave and after He rose more things were done to discredit the resurrection.
Here are some of them:
A great stone was rolled over the entrance/exit of the tomb, so that He won’t be able to come out per-adventure He regains consciousness.
The entrance to the tomb was sealed with official sealed with official seal to prevent intruders who could carry the body away.
A company of armed guards was stationed to watch the tomb and to prevent Him from rising.
When all these failed and Christ eventually resurrected, a conspiracy was devised and the guard who witnessed the resurrection were paid huge sums of money to propagate the lies. Till today many authorities are still laboring to discredit the reality of the resurrection, but all are without success.
Question 3.) Discuss the spiritual events that happened between the death and resurrection of Christ.
Revelation 1:18
The interval between the death and resurrection of Christ witnessed very significant spiritual encounters which culminated in the decisive victory of Christ for all believers. All these were triggered by His sacrificial and substitution death.
First He descended into the underworld of spirits where Satan had locked in many righteous souls using the instrumentality of death and hades. There He retrieved the stolen authority which Satan had exercised to keep human souls in captivity. He opened the prison gates to these captive souls and qualified them for resurrection. He also destroyed the sting and piercing power of death and opened the door of saints to ascend to glory. He opened the door to the presence of GOD (Holy of Holies) and made it accessible using His own blood. When He died on the Cross, the dispensation was sealed before the throne of God and for all ages. He thus became the head of all principalities and powers and He obtained pre-eminent position over every other authority.
Question 4.) What are the evidences that attest to the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
There are very many scriptural and historical evidences that attest to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Having established the truth that He died and was buried, we not consider the truth of His resurrection:
The empty tomb as observed by Mary Magdalene, then Peter and John early on resurrection morning.
Luke 24:1-3
The testimony of the angels.
Luke 24:4-6
The appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene in the garden of the sepulcher.
John 20:14-18
His appearance once to ten disciples (excluding Thomas) in a locked room.
John 10:19-21
His second appearance to all the eleven disciples and the conviction of the doubting Thomas.
John 20:26-29
The experience and testimony of the guards. (Matthew 28:4, 11-15) and the attempt by the Elders council to cover up the truth.
His appearance to two disciples on their way to Emmaus.
Luke 24:31-34
His physical ascension into heaven.
Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51 and Acts 1:9
The baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the signs and wonders that followed thereafter.
John 16:7, Acts 1:8, 2:-1-4.
His appearance to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus and His subsequent conversion.
Acts 9:3-5
The faith and tenacity expressed by the early Apostles on the reality of the resurrection (1 John 1:3), to the extent of laying down their own lives.
Present evidence that Jesus is alive to include answers to prayers made in His name, miracles and wonders, conversions and changed lives of the present genuine church and the continuous attempt by the opposition to discredit this singular event of history.
Question 5.) What are the implications of Christ’s Resurrection?
There are a lot of lessons and inferences we can draw form the resurrection of Christ. Some of the outstanding ones are that:
The resurrection of Jesus Christ attests to the credibility of the Christian faith as genuine and God- approved, and not just a man-made concept (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
It is also an assurance of deliverance from the captivity of Satan.
Colossians 2:12-15
The resurrection of Christ is an indicator that a new life is only possible in Him.
Romans 6:4
It shows that the death of Christ and His blood in the final sacrifice for sin and that Christ lives forever to mediate for us (Hebrews 7:25).
The resurrection of Christ is a pointer to the imminence of his return and the need for believers to be ever prepared to receive him (Acts 1:11).
The fact of the resurrection is the solid base upon which the hope of eternal life rests (Colossians 3:1-2).
The resurrection signifies the enthronement of the Lord Jesus Christ as the King of the Universe and indeed all existence (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Question 6.) As believers, what are we to do with the message of Christ’s resurrection?
Matthew 28:7, 18-20.
It is the privilege of a life time to be in possession of the resurrection message. But this depends on what we do with the message. We are not to treat it as a comic opea for the purpose of entertainment only.
First we must personally believe it and allow it to usher us into genuine relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It should form the basis of our salvation, and our service to God, knowing that our Master is alive and on the throne. Next, we must carefully guard this message to ensure that we hold tenaciously to its authenticity. We must not allow false science and philosophy to corrupt our faith (1 Timothy 6:20-21). We are also to spread it through preaching and teaching to every member of the body of Christ and then to the entire world. Aggressive advocacy on the blessings of the resurrection is needed. The message of resurrection should inspire every believer to persevere in genuine service to God and to be expectant always of His return. It should serve as a constant reminder that “if we suffer (for Him), we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12) and that a crown of righteousness awaits each one of us who love His appearing.
Daily Living Application:
There are two outstanding experiences that clearly distinguish Jesus as the Son of God. These are, His virgin birth and His resurrection after He died. By the first one He came down to serve and save mankind, and by the second one He went up as King forever to perfect the salvation of those who believe. These are the striking difference between the Lord and any other prophet.
Death has been one of the tormenting agents of Satan since the fall of man. By His resurrection, Jesus demystified death and emptied it of its string. Today death is only a passage way from one form of existence to another. For the believer, it is an enthronement, and a transformation from mortality to immortality.
Memory Verse
Revelation 1:18
“ I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death”.