02.17. Resurrection of Jesus Continued
LESSON XVII.--Resurrection of Jesus--Continued. THE STORY OF THE SOLDIERS. When the soldiers recovered from their fright, what did they do? Matthew 28:11. Repeat all that the soldiers had seen. Matthew 28:2-4. Had they seen Jesus? Why did they report to the chief priests rather than to Pilate? See Matthew 27:65-66.
Repeat the contract which was made with the soldiers. Matthew 28:11-15. Why promise to persuade the governor? Ans.--Because a Roman soldier who went to sleep while on guard was liable to punishment with death. How, then, did the Jews account for the disappearance of the body of Jesus? Matthew 28:15. Is there any other way to account for it if his resurrection is denied? Why not suppose that his enemies took the body away?
What was the expectation of the disciples in regard to the body? Mark 16:1. How did they feel when they found that it was gone? John 20:2-10; Luke 24:12. Is it possible, then, that they could even have wished to take it away?
What is the probability that the soldiers would all have gone to sleep? If they had been asleep, how could the disciples have passed between them, rolled the stone away, and carried the body out, without waking them. If they were too sound asleep when the body was removed to hear men getting it away, could they know how it got away? What, then, does their story carry on its face? What should be regarded as the real testimony of the soldiers: this story, or the one which they first told to the chief priests?
If we had no evidence except that of the soldiers, would it be probable or improbable that Jesus rose from the dead?
SECOND AND THIRD APPEARANCES OF JESUS. When the women told what they had seen and heard, what did the male disciples think of it? Luke 24:8-11. When Peter saw the tomb empty, what did he think? Luke 24:12.
Describe how Jesus joined company with two on their way to Emmaus. Luke 24:13-16. How were their eyes holder? Ans.--Partly by the state of their feelings, and partly by the effort Jesus made to keep himself concealed from them. Comp. Mark 16:12.
How did he open conversation with them? Luke 24:17-19. What account did they give of what had occurred that morning? Luke 24:20-24.--Had any of the male disciples seen Jesus before these two left the city? Luke 24:24.
What did Jesus then say to them? Luke 24:25-27. Describe the remainder of the interview. Luke 24:28-32. Why did he make as if he would go further? What opened their eyes? Why did their hearts burn as he talked with them? Ans.--Because he revived their hopes, and enabled them to understand more correctly the events which had transpired.
Describe the next movement of the two men. Luke 24:33-35. What time in the day must it have been when they reached Jerusalem? Luke 24:29, Luke 24:13. Had the appearance of Jesus to Simon been before or since his appearance to them? Ans.--It is not certain which.
FIRST APPEARANCE TO THE ELEVEN.
While the eleven were yet talking with the two men from Emmaus, what occurred? Luke 24:36-37. What made his entrance into the room the more surprising to them? See John 20:19.
What did Jesus say to them? Luke 24:38-39. Did he appear, then, in his natural body? How did he further satisfy them that it was he? Luke 24:40-43. What reference did Peter make to this in his speech in the house of Cornelius? Acts 10:40-41.
What more did Jesus say and do during this interview? John 20:21-23. Did he send them at that time, or afterward? Did they receive the Holy Spirit then, or not till the day of Pentecost? See Acts 2:1-4. Why, then, did Jesus breathe on them, and say, Receive the Holy Spirit? Ans.--To assure them that it would be given them as promised. Comp. John 16:7. In what way were the apostles to remit and retain sins? Ans.--By prescribing the conditions on which sins would or would not be forgiven.