Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ resurrection with reflections on whether resurrection is possible and what it means if it is. (Luke 24:1-12)
Sermon Outline
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6)
The Women at the Tomb: The Closed Door of Death Is Open
- Dark dawn, moving toward the tomb for anointing Jesus’ body
- The tomb’s stone is rolled away
- Jesus has opened death’s door; His body is not in the tomb
The Women and the Angels: The Closed Door to God is Open
- Two figures (angels in Luke 24:23) stand with them
- Jesus’ words about what would happen are true
- Jesus has opened the door to God closed by human sin by death and resurrection
The Women and the Other Disciples: The Closed Door for the Unlikely is Open
- The women return to the 11 and the other disciples
- They tell what they have seen and experienced, but encounter both disbelief (disciples) and hope (Peter)
- Jesus has opened the door to unlikely recipients of God’s goodness
Beginning to See Jesus
- Bringing our searching, questions, hope, and faith to the journey of seeing Jesus
- Seeing Jesus as the One who opens death’s closed door for us
- Seeing Jesus as the One who opens access to God’s presence for us
- Seeing Jesus as the One who opens God’s goodness to the unlikely
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- What are some of your most memorable personal or family traditions associated with Easter? If you don’t have any, what comes to your mind when you think about Easter?
- This week we begin a new sermon series entitled, “Seeing Jesus for the First Time,” all drawn from Luke, chapter 24. Today’s message begins with Luke 24:1-12. Whether on your own or with others, begin your study in prayer, asking God to speak to you through this study, and then read that text aloud.
- This portion of Scripture begins after Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Read Luke 23:55-56. Why were the women going to Jesus’ tomb? What was the first thing they did not see when they arrived (verses 2-3)?
- Instead of Jesus, they saw some others (verses 4-7). Who were they (also read 24:23)? What did they tell the women?
- Track the journey of the women through verses 1-8. How would you describe their journey not only physically but also intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually?
- How do you or don’t you relate to the women in your own journey of faith?
- The women return to the tomb to tell the remaining eleven apostles (minus Judas) and other disciples what they experienced. How do these disciples respond to them (verses 19-11)?
- Why do you think this was the response? How would you have responded if you were there? This episode closes with Peter, perhaps as a representative of all disciples, taking his own journey (verse 12). What happens to Peter?
- What is one thing God speaking to you personally through this week’s study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then pray about what you shared. If you are on your own, write it down, pray about it, and consider sharing your thoughts with someone this week.
DIG DEEPER
- Memorize Luke 24:5-7.
- This week, read through all of Luke 24 in one sitting. Take notes on what stands out to you. What characters do you relate to most? What episodes bring questions to you?
- Pray about what God is drawing to your attention.
- Consider sharing with someone what Jesus’ resurrection means to you personally. Pray about who that should be and how you should do it.
- Explore some or all of these resources:
- A previous Eastbrook sermon series, “Resurrection Hope”
- N. T. Wright, Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters
- John Polkinghorne, The Faith of a Physicist: Reflections of a Bottom-up Thinker