Encounters with Jesus Series: The Two Mary’s

Matthew 28 verses 1-10 

Ice Breaker

How ready are you to believe something that people have heard about? Are you more likely to believe them if they have seen the incident?

Read Matthew 28: 1-10

Some questions to help us grasp the importance of this passage:

• Why did the women come to see the tomb? (see also Luke 24. 1-3)

• Why do you think the guards reacted as they did? (4)

• “He is not here, he is risen” (6a). Possibly the most important 7 words ever spoken!

Can you think of any examples in the Bible of people being resuscitated?

These people were RESUSCITATED and not RESURRECTED – what is the difference?

• Can you see any significance in “as he said” (6b)?

• And what about the significance of “Come and see the place where he lay” (6)?

• Why is the resurrection of Jesus so crucial to the Christian faith?

• The women had the angel’s testimony (5) but they also has a chance to see (6). Why do you think this was important to the women?

• Do you think there is any significance in the fact that women were the first messengers of the good news of Jesus’ resurrection (7).

• “Go and tell my brothers” (10) Why was calling the disciples “brothers” important at this particular time?

• Even after the resurrection we read of the disciples that “some doubted” (16). Is doubt a good or bad thing?

PRAYER

We will soon be celebrating Holy Week and the events of Easter weekend. Pray for the special events and services that will be taking place – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Day – that they will be occasions when our faith is deepened.

Pray for those who will be leading and preaching on these occasions that they may be filled with the Spirit and speak words of truth and encouragement.

Pray for any visitors that they too may hear (and respond) to the challenge of Jesus’ resurrection and the offer of eternal life.