Victory Fellowship Bible Study
273 23rd St. S.W., Barberton, OH 44203
Wednesdays at 7pm
Rev. Roderick D. Grabski (330) 858-0223
WEBPAGE: victoryfellowshipministries.com
CLASS TWENTY-NINE: Resurrection and the Great Commission
I. ANNOUNCEMENTS and PRAYER CONCERNS
II. READ / LISTEN to MATTHEW 28:1–20
a. What are your initial impressions or questions? Notable translation differences?
III. Resurrection Morning (vv. 1-10)
a. The four Gospels together tell the complete account of the resurrection. They seem to diverge at some points but in reality they fit together well.
b. In his book, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (College Press, 1992), retired judge Herbert Casteel, a trial judge for 26 years in Missouri, offers one example of how the various gospel accounts could fit together:
Very early a group of women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and Joanna set out for the tomb. Meanwhile two angels are sent; there is an earthquake and one angel rolls back the stone and sits upon it. The soldiers faint and then revive and flee into the city. The women arrive and find the tomb opened; without waiting, Mary Magdalene, assuming someone has taken the Lord’s body, runs back to the city to tell Peter and John. The other women enter the tomb and see the body is gone. The two angels appear to them and tell them of the resurrection. The women then leave to take the news to the disciples. Peter and John run to the tomb with Mary Magdalene following. Peter and John enter the tomb, see the grave clothes, and then return to the city, but Mary Magdalene remains at the tomb weeping, and Jesus makes His first appearance to her. Jesus next appears to the other women who are on their way to find the disciples. Jesus appears to Peter; He appears to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus; and then appears to a group of disciples including all of the Eleven except Thomas.
According to Judge Casteel, the minor variations found in the four gospel accounts actually argue for their reliability as containing eyewitness testimony: People who conspire to testify to a falsehood rehearse carefully to avoid contradictions. This is why false testimony appears on the surface to be in harmony, but discrepancies appear when you dig deeper. On the other hand, true accounts may appear on the surface to be contradictory, but are found to be in harmony when you dig deeper.
c. What is significant about the women being reported as the first to arrive at the tomb?
d. What caused the earthquake?
e. What is significant about Jesus allowing them to worship Him?
f. Peter on the Resurrection of Jesus: Acts 2:22-36
g. Paul on the Resurrection of Jesus: 1st Corinthians 15:1-20
h. Resurrection Appearances Chart (Also to Stephen in Acts 7:55-56 and Saul in Acts 9:3-6)
IV. The Chief Priests Bribe the Soldiers (vv. 11-15)
a. How would the priests be able to guarantee no trouble would come to the soldiers?
b. What would be the major flaws in this deception of the stolen corpse?
c. Nazareth Inscription dated ~A.D. 41-54:
Edict of Caesar
It is my decision [concerning] graves and tombs—whoever has made them for the religious observances of parents, or children, or household members—that these remain undisturbed forever. But if anyone legally charges that another person has destroyed, or has in any manner extracted those who have been buried, or has moved with wicked intent those who have been buried to other places, committing a crime against them, or has moved sepulcher-sealing stones, against such a person, I order that a judicial tribunal be created, just as [is done] concerning the gods in human religious observances, even more so will it be obligatory to treat with honor those who have been entombed. You are absolutely not to allow anyone to move [those who have been entombed]. But if [someone does], I wish that [violator] to suffer capital punishment under the title of tomb-breaker.
V. The Great Commission (vv. 16-20)
a. Why do you think some still doubted?
b. What is significant about the authority given to Jesus?
c. Why do you think Jesus wants us to emphasize the Trinity in baptism?
d. What are the five major points of this Commission for the Church?
VI. Application
a. We have the hope of eternal life because Jesus conquered death and the grave. (1st Corinthians 15:57)
b. Even with irrefutable evidence, there are some people who will refuse to believe that Christ is risen from the dead. (Matthew 13:13-15)
c. As Christians, all the authority of Jesus goes with us, wherever He sends us, and empowers us to make disciples as Jesus commissioned us to do. (Mark 16:15-16)
Final Comments and/or Questions. Close in Prayer
Have a nice summer. Lord willing, weekly Bible Study Classes will resume in September 2022. The first summertime Dinner and Movie night will be on Wednesday, June 29 at 6:30pm. We will view episode one from the second season of THE CHOSEN.
