Adult Uniform Sunday School Lesson for April 1, 2018

                        "He Has Risen"

Adult Uniform Sunday School Lesson for April 1, 2018

Purpose

To realize that for nonbelievers “the cross is foolishness” while we know “it is the power of God” for our salvation (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Bible Lesson

Background: Luke 24:1-35

Luke 24:1-12, 30-35 (CEB)

1 Very early in the morning on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb, bringing the fragrant spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 They didn’t know what to make of this. Suddenly, two men were standing beside them in gleaming bright clothing. 5 The women were frightened and bowed their faces toward the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He isn’t here, but has been raised. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Human One must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 11Their words struck the apostles as nonsense, and they didn’t believe the women. 12 But Peter ran to the tomb. When he bent over to look inside, he saw only the linen cloth. Then he returned home, wondering what had happened. . . .

30 After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”

33 They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.

Key Verse

They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34)

Some Thoughts On The Lesson

As you prepare for this lesson it is important that you read the other three accounts found in Mark 16:1-7, Matthew 28:1-10, and John 20:1-18. In addition to the Gospel account you might also want to read Paul’s account as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. “3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried,that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

At the time of Paul’s writing it is important to remember the New Testament did not exist. (Paul’s reference to the scriptures applies to the Old Testament writings) Paul’s writing is the first time this story was ever written down. The Gospel accounts were all written at a much later time.  The Gospel accounts followed Paul’s writing by as much as 10-35 years. The order of accounts as to date written follows the list above, 1st Mark, Matthew, then John.

While the four Gospel accounts have some variance, it is the differing accounts that make it more believable. It is hard for witnesses to testify to the exact same thing.

The things they all agree on is; the day of the week, the time of day and that the tomb was empty.

Starting with verse 30 of our lesson we are reading the tail end of the “Road to Emmaus” account as recorded by Luke. My take on this story is once you invite Jesus into your home or heart He will take charge and goes from guest to host. Jesus wants to be more than just a guest, He wants to be Lord.

My Hymn for this week is “Lead Me to Calvary.”