Jesus Is Alive Today
 

For this lesson, read Luke 24:1-32.

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'" 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

An Empty Tomb

Jesus was executed and buried on a Friday. Early Sunday morning some women who were followers of Jesus went to the tomb where his body had been placed. They intended to put perfume and spices on the body, which was the custom when someone died. But as things turned out they were not able to do what they had planned.

1. Why were the women unable to put spices on Jesus’ body?

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2. Where did the two men, or angels, say that Jesus had gone?

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The women ran to find Jesus’ disciples. There were only eleven now, because one of them, Judas, had turned against Jesus. The women told them what had happened at the tomb.

3. Did the eleven disciples understand what had happened to Jesus?

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A Walk And A Conversation

Later that Sunday morning two of Jesus’ followers were walking from Jerusalem to a nearby village called Emmaus. As they walked along Jesus came and walked beside them, but at first something prevented them from recognizing who he was. Answer the following questions based on verses 13-24.

4. What were the two men talking about as they walked along?

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5. How would you describe their feelings?

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6. Did these men understand what had happened to Jesus after his death?

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Then Jesus began to explain to them what was written about him in the books of the prophets. Answer the following questions based on what you read in verses 25-32.

7. What did the prophets say would happen to the Messiah after he had suffered?

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8. When did the two men finally recognize Jesus?

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9. How would you describe the feelings of these two men as they began to understand the truth about God’s plan for Jesus, the Messiah?

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Go to Lesson 6