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The Guard at the Tomb—Matthew 27:62–66 Open It 1. *If you could have five personal bodyguards (any people on earth) whom would you choose and then where would you go? 2. Where do you feel the safest or most secure and why? 3. When in your life have you been “taken for a ride”? Explore It 1. When did the chief priests go to Pilate? (27:62) 2. *Who went to Pilate the day after Christ was buried? Why? (27:62–63) 3. What words of Jesus did the chief priests remember and report to Pilate? (27:63) 4. What did the religious leaders call Jesus? (27:63) 5. What did the religious leaders want Pilate to do? (27:64) 6. *For how long did the religious leaders want help from Pilate? Why? (27:64) 7. What were the Jewish leaders afraid would happen if Pilate refused their request? (27:64) 8. What were the chief priests afraid would happen if Jesus’ body disappeared? (27:64) 9. What command did Pilate give? (27:65) 10. *What did the religious leaders do to secure the tomb where Jesus was buried? (27:65–66) Get It 1. Knowing the attitudes and the actions of the Jews, what is ironic about them calling Jesus a “deceiver” guilty of “deception”? 2. What man-made precautions are giving you a false sense of security that everything in your life is under control? 3. In what ways do we trust in our own plans instead of in God? 4. *In what areas of life are we prone to try to cover up the truth? 5. *Why are we sometimes afraid to admit the truth? 6. What claim or promise of Christ do you need to take more seriously? Apply It 1. *What truth do you need to face today? 2. What foolish, fleshly attempts to control God and your own life do you need to repent of today?

The Burial of Jesus—Matthew 27:57–61 Open It 1. What do you think about fair-weather friends who depart at the first sign of trouble? 2. What would your coworkers say if they found out that you were in this Bible study? 3. *Where do you want to be buried? Why? Explore It 1. Who came to the execution site? When? (27:57) 2. What was true about Joseph of Arimathea? (27:57) 3. What did Joseph think about Jesus and His message? (27:57) 4. *What kind of help did Jesus receive at His death? (27:57–58) 5. How did Joseph ask for the body of Jesus? (27:58) 6. How did Pilate respond to Joseph’s request? (27:58) 7. *What did Joseph do with Jesus’ body? (27:59–60) 8. Where did Joseph put Jesus’ body? (27:60) 9. How did Joseph seal the tomb? (27:60) 10. *Who watched Joseph bury Jesus? (27:61) Get It 1. Where were Jesus’ disciples when all these events were going on? 2. As a respected Jewish religious leader (see Mark 15:42–43 and John 19:38), what risk was Joseph taking in coming forward to bury Jesus? 3. *In what ways are you a secret disciple of Christ, afraid to publicly follow him? 4. How might your reputation suffer if you let it be known that your top desire in life is to love and serve Jesus Christ? 5. When, if ever, is it inappropriate to use your power and position to support Christ and his work? 6. *What brand-new possessions would you be willing to part with for the sake of Christ? Apply It 1. *What gift (of time, money, effort, possession, etc.) can you give this week out of love and devotion to God? 2. In what setting today, tomorrow, or over the next week do you need to let it be known—maybe for the very first time—that you are a follower of Jesus Christ?

The Death of Jesus—Matthew 27:45–56 Open It 1. *What is it like to be separated from someone you love? 2. When in your life did you ever feel abandoned? Explore It 1. What happened from the sixth to the ninth hour (from 12 noon until 3 p.m.)? (27:45) 2. *What did Jesus cry out at the ninth hour? Why? (27:46) 3. *What did Jesus’ last words mean? (27:46) 4. What did some of the bystanders think Christ had yelled? (27:47) 5. What did one man in particular try to do for Jesus? (27:48) 6. How did the rest in the crowd respond to the gesture of kindness toward Jesus? (27:49) 7. What happened the next time Jesus cried out in a loud voice? (27:50) 8. What supernatural event took place inside the temple when Jesus died? (27:51) 9. How were things in Jerusalem at that time? (27:51) 10. How did the death of Jesus affect activity in some of the area’s cemeteries? (27:52–53) 11. *How did a Roman centurion react to the way Jesus died? (27:54) 12. Who else was in the crowd watching the crucifixion? (27:55) 13. Who in the crowd was most prominent at Jesus’ death? (27:56) Get It 1. *What did it mean that the sky turned black as Jesus hung on the cross? 2. How would you explain to an inquiring friend the significance of the veil in the temple tearing in two as Jesus ed? 3. Why does it often take drastic measures or life-threatening upheavals to bring people to their senses and persuade them to follow Christ? 4. What situations or events did God use to convince you that Jesus is the Son of God? 5. Why are the women followers of Jesus mentioned, and not the male disciples? 6. *What did Jesus accomplish for you with His death? Apply It 1. *What steps can you take this week to allow the profound truth of this passage to sink in? 2. In the near future, with whom can you share the good news of Christ’s payment for sin on the cross?

The Crucifixion—Matthew 27:32–44 Open It 1. What do you think would be the most horrible way to die? 2. Where do you stand in the ongoing debate over capital punishment? 3. How accurate is the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me”? 4. *What is the weakest and most exhausted you’ve ever been? Explore It 1. When did these events take place? (27:32) 2. Whom did Jesus and his executioners meet as they were making their way to the site of the crucifixion? (27:32) 3. What was Simon forced to do? For whom? (27:32) 4. Where did the group take Jesus? (27:33) 5. What is the meaning of “Golgotha”? (27:33) 6. What was offered to Jesus? (27:34) 7. After nailing Jesus to the cross, what did the soldiers do? (27:35–36) 8. What did the soldiers place above Jesus’ head? (27:37) 9. Who was executed that day? (27:38) 10. *What did onlookers shout at Jesus? (27:39–40) 11. *What was the behavior of the religious leaders like as they watched Jesus die? (27:41–43) 12. *How did the robbers act toward Jesus? (27:44) Get It 1. In a passage where many people are anonymous, why do you think Simon of Cyrene is mentioned by name? 2. *Why does it hurt to be mocked and laughed at and scorned? 3. In what way were the soldiers showing mercy by offering Jesus wine? 4. What are some ways we attempt to numb ourselves to the reality of the harsh world around us? 5. *How does it make you feel to realize that Jesus underwent horrible abuse for you? 6. How is it possible to love the very people who are the most cruel and vicious to us? 7. When are you sometimes insulted? 8. When is it worth undergoing unjustified abuse? Apply It 1. What “cross” (burden, problem, difficulty, grief) can you unselfishly agree to bear for someone else today? 2. *In what way can you show your gratitude to Jesus today in light of all He suffered for you? 3. What steps can you take this week to help you overlook insults and verbal taunts?

The Soldiers Mock Jesus—Matthew 27:27–31 Open It 1. *What effect do you think violence in the media has on our society? 2. Which is worse, physical or emotional pain? Why? 3. What are the most common ways Christians are mocked? Explore It 1. *Who took charge of the flogging and crucifixion of Jesus? (27:26–27) 2. How many people were involved in torturing Jesus? (27:27) 3. *Where did the guards take Jesus? Why? (27:27–28) 4. *Once they had Jesus inside, what did the guards do? (27:27–31) 5. What did the guards make Jesus wear? (27:28–29) 6. What did the soldiers put on Jesus’ head? Why? (27:29) 7. In what way did these soldiers mock Jesus? (27:29) 8. With what did the soldiers ridicule Christ? (27:29) 9. What types of emotional and physical abuse did the guards inflict on Christ? (27:30) 10. After mocking Jesus, what did the soldiers do? (27:31) Get It 1. Why did Christ put up with torture when He could have destroyed all His attackers? 2. What do you think the soldiers were thinking as they mocked, taunted, and assaulted Jesus? 3. What would you do if you came upon a group of friends who were abusing (either verbally or physically) some helpless individual? 4. What can we do to curb the abusive mentality of others? 5. Why do people pick on helpless individuals? 6. In what ways does evil become easier to justify when many people are doing it? 7. *What evils have become legitimized by consensus in our society today? 8. *What can Christians do to resist the tendency for evil to spread once it becomes common? 9. What sorts of opposition should we expect to face when resisting popular evils? Apply It 1. Whom can you encourage this week who has been facing persecution? 2. What can you do or say to speak out against an evil that is being accepted as normal? 3. *In what way can you be a peacemaker this week at home, at work, or among your neighbors?

Jesus Before Pilate—Matthew 27:11–26 Open It 1. *What is the most ingenious or creative excuse you have heard someone give in an attempt to avoid responsibility? 2. What is your opinion of politicians? 3. What governmental customs or laws do you like best and least? 4. How much stock do you put in dreams? Explore It 1. What title and position did Pilate have? (27:11) 2. What question did Pilate ask Jesus? (27:11) 3. How did Jesus answer the Roman authority? (27:11) 4. How did Jesus answer the Jews when they made accusations against Him? (27:12) 5. What did Pilate think of Christ’s silence? (27:13–14) 6. What custom did the governor follow at this particular time of year? (27:15) 7. Who was in prison at the time? (27:16) 8. What choice did Pilate put before the crowd? (27:17–18) 9. What message did Pilate’s wife send him? (27:19) 10. How did the religious leaders influence the crowd? (27:20) 11. What choice did the crowd make? (27:21) 12. *What did the crowd ask Pilate to do to Christ? (27:22) 13. *How did Pilate attempt to evade any responsibility in the condemnation of Jesus? (27:24) 14. What ironic statement did the crowd make about Jesus’ blood? (27:25) 15. *What happened to the two prisoners—Barabbas and Jesus? (27:26) Get It 1. How would you rate Pilate’s performance? 2. Why is it difficult not to defend yourself when people are saying mean and untrue things about you? 3. What attitudes, emotions, or perspective must a person have in order to stay calm while being attacked? 4. In what way is not defending an innocent person the same as condemning him or her? 5. When might you be called upon to defend someone who is innocent? 6. What risks are there in defending an innocent person? 7. In what relationships do you need to trust more in the power and sufficiency of Christ? 8. In what situations do you need to quit arguing and defending yourself? 9. *What decisions have you been putting off for fear of the responsibility? 10. *What helps you face your responsibilities? Apply It 1. How can you prepare yourself for the next time you have an opportunity to defend an innocent person? 2. *What decision do you need to make today and then take responsibility for?

Judas Hangs Himself—Matthew 27:1–10 Open It 1. Over what kinds of situations or mistakes do people decide to kill themselves? 2. *What are some ways people try to deal with guilt? 3. Who is the most compassionate and caring friend you know? 4. What are inappropriate sources of income for churches and ministries? Explore It 1. When did the religious leaders decide to put Jesus to death? (27:1) 2. What did the religious leaders do with Christ? (27:2) 3. Where did the religious leaders take Jesus? (27:2) 4. Why was it significant that Jesus was taken to Pilate? (27:2) 5. *How did Judas feel when he saw that Jesus had been condemned to die? (27:3) 6. *What action did Judas take in an attempt to undo his crime? (27:3) 7. What did Judas say to the religious leaders? (27:4) 8. *How did the religious leaders act when they heard Judas express second thoughts? (27:4) 9. What did Judas do when the leaders rejected his offer to return the money? (27:5) 10. What did the leaders do with the bounty they had paid Judas? (27:6–8) 11. Why was Judas’s suicide significant? (27:9–10) Get It 1. Why do you think the chief priests were so insensitive to Judas’s remorse? 2. In what situations do we sometimes offer token compassion or ignore altogether those who are hurting? 3. *What would you say to someone who was feeling extremely guilty and depressed? 4. *How can we avoid (or break out of) a downward spiral of sin, guilt, depression, more sin, greater guilt, deeper depression, etc.? 5. How does sin, if allowed to go unchecked, cause us to lose all sense of rightness and kindness? 6. What practical steps can we take when confronted with wrongdoing? Apply It 1. *What big decision do you need to pray about this week so that you do not end up making a choice you will later regret? 2. What can you do today or tomorrow to encourage a friend who is feeling especially low because of a bad or sinful choice?

Peter Disowns Jesus—Matthew 26:69–75 Open It 1. *What does loyalty mean to you? 2. What are some of your greatest fears? 3. What examples could you cite to prove the old adage, “There is strength in numbers”? Explore It 1. Where was Peter? (26:69) 2. *Who approached Peter? Why? (26:69) 3. What did the servant girl say to Peter? Why? (26:69) 4. *How did Peter respond to the servant girl’s question? (26:70) 5. What did Peter do after his exchange with the servant girl? (26:71) 6. When another girl approached Peter, what did she say? (26:71) 7. How did Peter handle the second girl’s claim? (26:72) 8. Why did a third group of folks insist that Peter had to be a follower of Christ? (26:73) 9. What extreme reaction did Peter have to the allegation that he was a follower of Jesus? (26:74) 10. *What happened when Peter denied knowing Christ? (26:74–75) 11. What memory did the cock’s crow trigger in Peter’s mind? (26:75) 12. How did Peter react when he realized what he had done? (26:75) Get It 1. What do you think Peter was hoping to accomplish by hanging around the trial of Jesus? 2. What happened through a couple of young girls to scare Peter into silence? 3. How would you have felt in Peter’s place? 4. *When do you find you are most tempted to downplay or even deny your Christian beliefs? 5. *When has your faith in Jesus cost you something? 6. Why do some Christians seem to be able to stand up for Christ with no problem, while others stumble often? 7. If you were accused of being a close follower of Jesus Christ and were put on trial, would witnesses be able to come forward to present evidence against you? 8. How can close friendships with committed believers keep you from falling away from Christ? Apply It 1. *To what person should you demonstrate your loyalty this week? How? 2. Whom might you be able to engage in a conversation about Jesus Christ this week? 3. In what settings do you need to acknowledge Christ more consistently by your actions (or nonactions)?

Before the Sanhedrin—Matthew 26:57–68 Open It 1. *What is the most famous “miscarriage of justice” you have ever witnessed or heard about? 2. When in your life have you ended up suffering because you tried to help someone else? 3. In what ways are lies and gossip damaging? Explore It 1. *After being arrested, where was Jesus taken? (26:57) 2. Who was assembled where Jesus was taken? Why? (26:57, 59) 3. Who had followed Jesus at a distance? Where was he? (26:58) 4. What did Peter do in an attempt to observe the proceedings against Jesus? (26:58) 5. What were the chief priests and Sanhedrin hoping to find? (26:59) 6. *Who came forward to testify at this “trial”? (26:60) 7. *What did one witness claim to have heard Jesus say? (26:61) 8. When the high priest first began questioning Jesus, how did Jesus respond? (26:62–63) 9. What question did the high priest finally ask Jesus about His identity? (26:63) 10. How did Jesus answer the high priest? (26:64) 11. What prophetic statement did Jesus make in His defense? (26:64) 12. How did Jesus’ claim affect the high priest? (26:65–66) 13. What emotional and physical abuse did Christ endure at the hands of these spiritual leaders? (26:67–68) Get It 1. *How is it possible for an innocent person to be accused and convicted of a crime? 2. *When have you been harmed by false accusers spreading malicious lies? 3. How can we respond when attacked for no just reason? 4. What is it like to be ganged up on? 5. Why do you think Christ didn’t argue with his accusers and make some sort of defense? 6. In what situations are we tempted to water down or soft-pedal the truth? 7. What is it that sometimes causes groups of people to become vicious and cruel? 8. What do you think about Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God? Apply It 1. In what group situations might you be able to act as a calming and peacemaking voice this week? 2. *In what situation this week do you need to tell the truth, even if it may cost you? 3. To what friend(s) in trouble can you show support by your physical presence?

Jesus Arrested—Matthew 26:47–56 Open It 1. What is the fastest you have ever run in your life? 2. *What is one time your beliefs or convictions were tested? 3. What types of situations tend to make your heart sink? 4. What prompts some people to rescue others in trouble, while others are interested only in helping themselves? Explore It 1. What happened just as Jesus finished praying in the garden of Gethsemane? (26:47) 2. Who accompanied Judas? (26:47) 3. What kind of crowd accompanied Judas? (26:47) 4. How did Judas greet Jesus? (26:49) 5. What was significant about the signal Judas used to point out Jesus? (26:48) 6. What command did Jesus give Judas? (26:50) 7. What did the men in the crowd do when Jesus spoke? (26:50) 8. *What did one of Jesus’ disciples do in an attempt to protect his master? (26:51) 9. What did Jesus tell the disciple who attacked? (26:52) 10. What truthful “boast” did Jesus make? (26:53) 11. *Why didn’t Jesus take advantage of His disciple’s brave attack? (26:54) 12. What did Jesus say to the crowd? (26:55) 13. *What happened when it became obvious that Jesus would be arrested? (26:56) Get It 1. What do you think the disciples were feeling as they saw the armed mob approaching? 2. Why do you think this mob came at night to arrest Jesus? 3. What is especially awful about the way Judas betrayed Jesus? 4. What do you think would have been your reaction had you been in the garden that night? 5. Whose trust have you violated recently? 6. *When are we tempted to take matters into our own hands out of “devotion” to God? 7. How has your faith been tested recently? 8. *How can we stand firm when our faith is tested? 9. How do you tend to react in frightening situations? Apply It 1. *What can you do today to ensure that you will stand strong the next time your faith is tested? 2. In what specific situations this week do you need to trust God instead of resorting to human wisdom and tactics?