WEEK NINE
Lesson Note for SS1 CRS THIRD TERM
THE RESURRECTION AND SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
Resurrection is the act of arising from the dead and becoming alive again. According to the Bible, after Jesus was crucified, dead and buried, He rose again on the third day.
i. THE ACCOUNT OF THE RESURRECTION (Matthew 28: 1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11)
According to account of Matthew in Matthew 28:1-10, the Bible records that on Sunday being the Sabbath day, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb where Jesus was buried. On getting there, there was an earthquake as an angel of the Lord came down and rolled the stone away and sat on it. He eyes shone brightly and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards became sore afraid and became like dead men. The angel turned to the women and told them that Jesus whom they were looking for has resurrected and no more in the grave. Seeing where he was laid empty, the angel charged them to go and tell His disciples all that happened. They left immediately and while they were on their way, Jesus met them. They ran to Him, took hold of His feet and worshipped Him. Jesus instructed them to go and relate the event to His disciples.
In verses 11-15, the Bible records that the guards went to the chief priests to relate what happened to them. The chief priests agreed among themselves and gave the soldiers a huge amount of money to give false account of the incident that while they slept, the disciples came and stole him away. They promised to persuade the governor and defend the guards from punishment. This news spread among the Jews till this day.
According to Mark’s account in Mark 16:1-8, the Bible records that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body with sweet spices very early. They were contemplating on who will roll the stone away from the mouth of the tomb but when they got there, the stone had already been rolled away. When they entered, Jesus was no longer there. Rather, they met an angel in form of a young man dressed in long white robe sitting by the right side. The angel told them that Jesus has risen and that they should go and tell Peter and the other disciples, that Jesus has risen and was on his way to Galilee. Out of fear, they ran out to go and meet the disciples.
However in Luke 24:1-11, the Bible records that the women included Joana and not Salome. Luke stated that when they got there, they saw two men in shining robes who told them that Jesus has risen. When they saw the men, they were afraid and bow with the faces to the ground. Then the men asked why they were looking for the living among the dead. They told them that all these things were ordained to happen; the arrest, the crucifixion and the ressurection as Jesus had told them. They remembered his words and went back to tell the others all that transpired even though they were not believed.
ii. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESURRECTION TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
1. It confirms the fact that Jesus is the Son of God
2. It confirms the truth of what Jesus had told them
3. It confirms that Jesus is the Messiah they were expecting
4. It gave the disciples confidence in whom they believed
5. It exposes the hypocrisies of the pharisees, saduccees and the chief priests
6. It reveals the Omnipotent power of God.
7. It established the basis of the Christian faith.
iii. WOMEN ACTIVITIES IN THE STORY OF RESURRECTION TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
1. The women were the ones who attempted to preserve the body of Jesus
2. The women were the ones who spread the news of the resurrection of Jesus
3. The women demonstrated loyalty and faithfulness to Jesus, the Saviour
Unprecedented 