Sunday, April 20, 2014

Journey with Christ to the Cross thru the Resurrection, Part 4: Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Dig Deeper

Following Jesus’ crucifixion His body was taken by two disciples (Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus) to a nearby tomb where Jesus was buried (John 19:38-40). After a large stone was rolled against the doorway of the tomb, two women remained, “And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.” (Matthew 27:61, NKJV) Sunday sometime around 5:00 a.m., as it was “still dark” (John 20:1), Mary Magdalene along with several other women made their way to the tomb only to discover the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. (Matthew 28:1, John 20:1-2)

Mary Magdalene was the last person to leave the tomb the night of Jesus’ crucifixion and first person to encounter Jesus after His resurrection. (John 20:16-18) What insights do the following Scriptures provide as to the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene? Why is it significant that He appeared to her first?

Luke 8:1-3--

Matthew 27:56-61; 28:1--

Mark 15:40-47; 16:1-19--

Luke 24:10--

John 19:25; 20:1-18--

Over the next forty days Jesus appeared to hundreds of His disciples offering “many convincing proofs” of His resurrection. (Acts 1:3) How did these eyewitness accounts form the foundation for the Christian message?

Acts 1:1-11--

1 Corinthians 15:1-11--

Application

Read Luke 7:36-50. Some Bible teachers believe the unnamed “sinful woman” in this passage is Mary Magdalene. Regardless of the identity of the “sinful woman” in this passage, Mary was motivated to follow Jesus out of gratitude for being “healed of evil spirits and infirmities” (Luke 8:2, NKJV). From what has Jesus set you free? How is gratitude in your life a motivation for greater followership of Christ?

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