95
March, 1945
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Lesson C omm e n t a r y
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe "" Points and Problems H omer A. K ent Golden Text Illustration
A lan S. P earce - Blackboard Lesson G retchen S ibley Children s Division M ildred M. C ook Object Lesson E lmer L. W ilder
APRIL 1, 194E) THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH M atthew 27:57 to 28:10; H ebrews 12:1, 2
He would be vindicated' and they would be shown as being in rebellion against their God. These enemies Went to Pilate, say ing, “We remember that that deceiver said . . . After three days I will rise again,” and they demanded thht the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, “lest his disciples . . . steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead.” Pilate told them to make the sepulcher “as sure as ye can.” Then they went about “sealing the stone, and setting a watch” of soldiers to guard the tomb from interference. II. T he E mpty T omb (28:1-6) In spite of all the-precautions that were taken, the seal was broken. The stone was rolled back by an angel; the body of Jesus had disappeared. Neither the disciples nor the guard knew how it happened. When the soldiers were bribed by the chief priests, they lied, saying that His disciples had stolen the body (vs. 11-15). When the Sabbath passed, the wo men came to the tomb and found only the angel there. The angel said, “Fear not ye . .. ye seek Jesus ... He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” Hence Christ’s word was proved true; His •enemies were confounded, and His sacrifice was accepted by God. With the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, God began a new creation, one that forever is beyond the reach of sin, and in which there is no germ of decay or death. It is being built by God—He Himself ad ding to it each believer in Christ, until the whole number is completed, to be BLACKBOARD LESSON Fltl US Run UJITH PflTIEnCETHE.RfKE.THHT 15SET before US, LOOKine um-o jesus the author Ano EiniSHER OF OURFAITH" HB8.au,x
Matthew 27:62. Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate. 63 Saying, S ir, we remember that that deceiver said, w hile he was yet alive, A fter three days I w ill rise again’. 64 Command therefore th at the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him aw ay, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the firs t. 65 Pilate said unto them , Ye have a w atch: go your w ay, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a w atch. Matthew 28:1. In the end of the sab bath, as it began to dawn toward the firs t day of the week,, came Mary Magdalene and the other M ary, to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great e arth quake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled b?ck the stone from the d oor,, and sat upon it. 3 H is countenance was like lightning, and his raim ent white as snovy: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,, which 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, be hold, he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him : lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre w ith fear and great jo y; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met ' :i And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. LES SO N T E X T : M att. 27:62 to 28:9. G O LD EN T E X T : “ Let us run w ith pa tience the race that is set before us, look ing unto Jesus the author and fin ish er of our fa ith ” (H eb. 12:1, 2). D E V O T IO N A L R E A D IN G : Rev. 1:12-18. Outline and Exposition I. T he S ealed S epulcher (27:62-66), A T THE beginning of His min based everything upon the fact of His literal resurrection from the dead (cf. John 2:18-22). Several times during the last week of His life upon earth He told His disciples that He would be Trilled, but would rise f(om the dead the third day. They evidently forgot His word. But His enemies remembered. They were afraid His claims would be proved true by His resurrection; if He should actually rise from the dead,
G ladys B owman , I llustrator Lesson material is based on outlines of International Sunday School Lessons, copyrighted _ by International Council of Religious Education; used by permission. used by the Lord to show forth the greatness of His grace, and the suf ficiency of the sacrifice on thg cross (cf. Eph. 2:7, 13). . III. T he D isciples ' C ommission (28:7-9) The Lord’s followers were told: “Go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is ’risen from the id.” This message is likewise the’ commission of each believer in Christ. The message of the empty tomb is the-.core of the Chris tian’s testimony. Without the resurrec tion, the work of the cross is value less; the hope of the future is vain, and the honor of God is lost.. In obedience to the message, the women departed to fulfill their com mission. “With great joy . . . [they] did run” to tell the story. While they had not as yet seen the Lord, they believed the word of the ngel and, believing, were filled with joy. “As they went. .. Jesus mpt Ahem.” Some ask today, “How may I meet Jesus?” Many ways are suggested, but the oqly royal road to the presence of the Lord is by way of quick obedience to the commission of telling the. glad message of His physical resurrection, which, is the foundation upon which the entire system of our Christianity rests. Points and Problems 1. “Make it is sure as ye can" (Matt. 27:65).'This was Pilate’s response to the request of the chief priests and Pharisees. The latter, in the presence of Pilate, had referred to Christ as “that deceiver” and had called Pilate’s attention to the fact that Jesus had prophesied His resurrection. By their
istry' Jesus was challenged to give a sign to prove He was what He claimed, to be. In answer He
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