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Today we are reminded of the most important event in the history of the world - the resurrection of Jesus from the dead - the moment proving His past claims are true and His future promises are trustworthy.

• Mary Magdalene was from Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee that has a 1st century synagogue (discovered in 2009). Contrary to what many think, we are not told that Mary was a prostitute, but we ARE told that Jesus casts 7 demons out of her (Lk 8:2).
• Mary the mother of James & Joseph - We don’t know who this woman is.
• Mary, the mother of Zebedee’s sons was the mother of James & John, likely called Salome (Jn 19:25 the sister of Jesus’ mother). 
• Although Matthew doesn’t mention it, John was likely there - “the disciple whom Jesus loved” who was told to take care of Jesus’ mother (Jn 19:26-27). 

The day was almost over, 3 hours from sunset which is the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (Friday evening). If Jesus’ body is going to be washed and buried, there isn’t much time, so Joseph approaches Pilate and asked for permission to take Jesus’ body. John adds that Nicodemus joined Joseph to bury the body of Jesus (Jn 19:39-40). 

• Joseph & Nic were both part of the Sanhedrin - who had not agreed to have Jesus over to be killed by Pilate & the Romans (Mark 15:43; Luke 23:50–51).
• Joseph and Nicodemus, had become disciples of Jesus, but secretly, because they feared their religious peers (Jn 19:38), Now these men were willing to go public with their faith. It could cost them and they knew it, but they decided to take care for the body of Jesus.
• Joseph was also a rich man. There’s a couple of reasons why that’s mentioned, as we’re about to see.

This kind of family tomb would have taken time and money to cut out of the rock. This was a new tomb, that had been carved out in the 1st century. 

• The traditional “Garden Tomb” or “Gordon’s Calvary” has been dated to 7th-8th century BC. In other words, it is NOT the new tomb that belonged to Joseph. 
• The place of Jesus’ death & burial is likely now covered inside the “Church of the Holy Sepulcher”, which has much longer historical tradition as being the site where Jesus was crucified & buried.

Matthew doesn’t give all the details, but these women hoped to gain access inside the tomb to anoint Jesus’ dead body one more time (Mk 16:1-3, Lk 24:1-2). It’s doubtful that they knew about the Romans posted there as they made their way that Sunday morning.

They too are incredibly afraid. While Matthew focuses on one young man - an angel - Luke notes that there were 2 angels who looked like men, and Luke shows how alarmed they were.

There is MUCH more detail given by the other 3 gospels, but again, Matthew cuts to the chase and says,

There is fear, but there is HOPE! Could it be true? It must be…but when will we SEE Him?

• It’s here that I need to note that critics point to the differences in the Gospel accounts, but often don’t recognize that the writers shrink the longer story into a shorter version while Dr. Luke gives a detailed chronology (check Syncing the Stories in your notes).

That said, based on Luke 24:9-12, the ladies go to tell the disciples, who don’t believe them. Peter and John run to see the tomb for themselves, the ladies follow, and it’s sometime after that when… 

Their KING, the One they had watched brutally killed on a Roman cross…was ALIVE!!!! And now they just want to be near Him, and they worship Him. 

Revelation 22:8–9 (NIV) I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

The apostles of Jesus didn’t allow others to bow before them to worship them either (Acts 10:25-26; 14:11-15).

Yet Jesus DOES! Jesus receives their worship, because He IS God…in skin. He is worthy of their worship. And He’s worthy of OUR worship as well. 

The Risen King, is not just King of the Jews:

• Jesus is the King over LIFE & DEATH. 
• Jesus is the King who WILL RETURN one day.
• Jesus is the King who WILL JUDGE all people.
• Jesus is the King who WILL cause the dead to rise fro all of eternity. Oh what a day that will be!

Take some time to discuss these questions with your family, friends, or group.

1. What challenged you, encouraged you, or left you scratching your head, from today’s teaching?
2. Read Psalm 22:1, 6-8, 15-18. Knowing that this was written 1,000 years before the death of Jesus, name how these prophecies were fulfilled according Matthew 27:32-50. 
3. Read Matthew 27:51. What does the tearing of the temple curtain symbolize in the context of Jesus' death? How does it relate to accessing God's presence?
4. Read Matthew 27:54. The soldiers, who initially mocked Jesus, eventually called Jesus “The Son of God” after witnessing the extraordinary events of the crucifixion. How does the transformation of the soldiers challenge us in the way we perceive those who initially reject or mock faith? Take a few minutes and talk about what the soldiers would have seen, heard, and participated in that day.
5. Read 1 Peter 2:24-25. Explain the correlation between being forgiven & livin’ forgiven. Consider digging into this statement and talking further about it: “We can’t live for the things Jesus died to pay for, anymore.” How can we avoid the trap of taking that grace for granted, and instead, let it transform our actions and relationships?
6. How can we effectively share the message that “It’s not too late for guilt to meet grace” with others who feel weighed down by their past? Share some ways we can be more intentional about showing the grace of Jesus to those around us, especially those who seem "guilty" or unworthy in the eyes of the world.
7. How can we pray for/care for one another this week? (Pray for one another.)