CENTRAL THOUGHT
Christ’s resurrection is the assurance and proof of the genuine-ness of the Christian faith.
HYMN: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”
TEXT: Matt. 27:57-60; 28:1-7.
INTRODUCTION
While the burial of Jesus Christ involved the remarkable fulfillment of one aspect of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 53:9), His resurrection confirms its claims; validates His authority and assures us that because Jesus lives, we shall live also. In this study, we shall examine some details of the burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
- To understand the role played by Joseph of Arimathea in the burial of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- To know the attempts made by men to prevent the Lord’s resurrection.
- To appreciate the significance of the Lord’s resurrection.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA IN THE BURIAL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38
Joseph of Arimathea was an honorable counselor, a conscious and hopeful believer (disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ) who waited for the kingdom of God. He was a good and just man who never consented to the counsel of evil deeds of the men of his time.
After the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate, took permission from him, carried the body of Christ, wrapped it with linen and laid it in his (Joseph’s) sepulcher which he hewn for his
own burial. Joseph of
Armathea helped to fulfill Isaiah 53:9 “And He made his grave… and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth”. He prepared a befitting grave for his own burial and in fulfillment of scripture he offered it up for Jesus’ burial.
Contemporary believers have lessons to learn from the life and character exhibited by Joseph of Arimathea.
(i). As an honorable counselor, he had the opportunity to “dance” to “the tune of the music of the power to be”, especially with the Jewish leaders, chief priests, elders, and the multitude who proclaimed “Hosanna” today and the next moment “crucify Him”, but he did not because he so much hoped for the eternal honor.
(ii). As a believer, he was very conscious and hopeful of the long awaited kingdom of God that he could recognize his role of burying the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He was a giver. He
gave Jesus his best- a rich man’s best.
(iii). As “a good and just man”, his position and power in the society did not influence him negatively; rather, he pleased God and had peace with men.
These challenges are for believers today. They should not drop eternal value for sensual honor because the Lord Jesus must be lifted up.
Q2. DISCUSS THE ATTEMPTS MADE BY MEN TO PREVENT THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Matt. 27:62-66; 28:12-15
Christ’s enemies did not forget His saying; they went to Pilate and reminded him of Christ’s words that “on the third day he would rise again” and requested that he (Pilate) should “command that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest His (Christ) disciples come by night and steal him away and say unto the people, “He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be made worse than the first… so they went and made sure the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone and setting watch.” Matt 27:64-66. Pilate foolishly consented to their request and commanded that the grave be sealed up and soldiers guarding it. These efforts did not prevent the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ rose triumphantly from the dead. Never ever tired of fighting, Satan engineered his agents who assembled with the elders… “gave large money unto the soldiers saying, ‘ say ye, His disciples came by night and stole Him away while he slept’…so they took money and did as they were taught” Matt. 28:12-15.
The fabricated story of the chief priest that the timid and fear stricken disciples came and stole the body while the fearless Roman soldiers slept is a grand design by the devil to undermine the reality of Christ’s resurrection.
It must be emphatically stated that the indisputable fact of scripture and history is that the Lord Jesus Christ did indeed rise from the dead and He is alive today. “Whom God hath raised up having loosed the pain’s of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it” (Acts 2:24). We must believe this to receive salvation for our souls (Rom 10:9-10).
Q3. DISCUSS SOME HAPPENINGS AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD.
Matt. 28:1-7
According to the record of St. Matthew, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the grave and saw that the stone had been rolled back. There was an earthquake and the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. The angel said “fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen, as He said, come and see the place where the Lord lay”. Verse 5-6. He asked them to go and tell His disciples that He is raised from the dead, adding that He goes before them into Galilee.
Q4. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST?
The resurrection of Christ is one of the proofs of the existence of God. Christ would not have risen from the dead if there were no God. This is because the living God raised Him. It always proves that Christ indeed is God. “And declared to be the son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4)
The resurrection of Jesus means that salvation is a finished work and a reality. Jesus said that salvation was completed when He died on the cross and His resurrection is the confirmation. Without resurrection, Christianity would have been a dead religion like all other religions which are dead because their founders are dead.
Also, the resurrection of Jesus guarantees that everyone else shall rise also. “But now is Christ raised from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). While the righteous will rise unto eternal life, the unrighteous will rise to face an angry judge and be condemned forever.
With Christ risen from the dead, we are confident that He will surely come again to receive us, His believers, unto Himself.
The power of His resurrection is an experience that we can enjoy even now. It means living in newness of life that comes to us by the resurrected Christ living His life anew through our bodies.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Death is the last enemy, the most feared enemy, the most cruel enemy. But Jesus has conquered this enemy; He has taken the sting out of death for those who are in Christ. Christ is risen, for the grave could not hold Him. This is victory over death.
MEMORY VERSE:
Matt. 28:6
“He is not here: for He is risen, as He said, Come see the place where the Lord lay”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: Joseph of Arimathea’s life, a challenge indeed! Matt. 27:57-60; Mark 15:443; Luke 23:50-53
Tuesday: Enemies to the resurrection of Christ. Matt. 27:62-66
Wednesday: Show of commitment to the Lord. Matt. 27:55-56; John 20:11-12
Thursday: Jesus laid down His life. John 19:26-30
Friday: Indeed He is risen from the dead. Matt. 28:1-7
Saturday: Significance of the resurrection to the believer. 1 Cor. 15:14-22