1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb… 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word…. 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
Matt 28:1,5-8,16-17
Q & A：
- What does Jesus’ resurrection mean to you as a believer? What are the occasions when your faith wavered like Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection unless he saw with his own eyes, and discuss what are the consequences when we allow doubt, unbelief and fear to grow in our lives? (Matt 28:16-17; John 20:24-25)
- Explain the definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1, particularly with the words firm persuasion, confident, assurance, convinced, certain, and conviction for the things hoped for and not yet seen. From the story where the two Mary’s came to see the tomb because they believed what Jesus spoke about His resurrection, discuss what it means to walk by faith and not by sight especially when we become impatient of not witnessing what we have prayed for. (Matt 20:19; Matt 28:1; Heb 11:1; 2 Cor 5:7)
- Discuss what can give substance to our faith especially when we go through obstacles, opposition, challenges or suffering and there is a lack of physical evidence to support it. How does the fact that Jesus’ resurrection was announced to two women and not His close disciples tell you about how God calls man and women to carry out great exploit for Him in comparison to the gender bias in this world? (Rom 10:17; Matt 28:5-7; Gal 3:28)