The Resurrection of Our Lord proclaims God’s love for human life. The Heavenly Father will stop at nothing to rescue and preserve us from death. He delights to bring us His own abundant and everlasting being even in the midst of frailty and suffering. Every beat of a heart, every breath in the chest, every member of our race demonstrates once again how the Almighty Maker wills us here. Easter Jesus makes for the most life-affirming message and festival of all.
Jesus predicated that He would come back from the dead three days after He died. When He was crucified, His enemies were afraid that His disciples would steal His body. They placed a giant rock over His tomb, sealed it, and posted guards. On the morning of the third day, there was an earthquake and an angel opened the tomb. It was empty. The guards were so afraid, they passed out. The women who went to finish the burial preparations were also afraid. The angel told them Jesus had risen. Jesus appeared to them and instructed them to tell His disciples about it. The guards and Jesus’ enemies pretended the disciples stole the body so they wouldn’t get in trouble.
- Read the Easter Gospel in Matthew 28:1-10. Why did these events take place at dawn on the first day of the week (Genesis 1:1-5; John 1:1-5)? How do God’s creating, incarnating, and incorporating each highlight the sanctity of every human life?
- What does it mean that the guards became like dead men? What does this tell us about playing with the power of death (Matthew 26:52; Daniel 3:22; Romans 5:12)?
- How does the angel greet the women? What is significant about this greeting (Luke 1:30; Luke 5:8-10; 1 John 4:18)?
- What makes it especially appropriate for the women to witness resurrection first (Genesis 3:15, 20; John 16:21?
- Why does the angel remind them about the crucifixion (1 Corinthians 15:56; Hebrews 10:18; Isaiah 25:8; Matthew 9:6-7)?
- How did the women feel about their experience? How were they able to be both at the same time? What does this tell us about Christian faith in general and life issues in particular?
- What evidences does the story give that the resurrection really happened (see also Luke 24:39-42)? Why does it matter that the resurrection account be factual and literal (1 Corinthians 15:14-17)? What scientific evidences are there for the value of human life in the context of surprise pregnancy or terminal diagnosis?
- What excuses did the chief priests give for the empty tomb (Matthew 28:11-15)? What are some popular justifications given for abortion and physician-assisted suicide? What really motivates these arguments and objections?
- What did Jesus look like after He rose from the dead (John 20:14-16; Luke 24:15-16; Revelation 5:6)? What does this tell us about God’s regard for human bodies, however weak or wounded they may appear? Why is this good news for us? How does it affect the way we treat our neighbor’s body (and our own)?