Cover Illustration Creatas; Illustration: Scot McDonald, p.

24 :5b

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e It: ro Resurrection PThev

of Jesus Christ
How would you prove to someone that you graduated from elementary school?
If some wise guy came up to you, and said you were too dumb (or too short, or too tan, or too German) to be in Middle School, and you probably never even finished elementary school, how could you respond? There are a few possible ways you could try to establish proof: Your own personal testimony: Im pretty sure I didnt make up a years worth of math tests and book reports. Or that 5th grade spelling bee championship. Ill bet you cant spell equilibrium. Physical evidence: See that scar? Thats from P.E. Dodgeball. I could take you to the school itself and show you my picture on the wallfounding member of the After-School Tofu Club. Written authority: Ive got the certificate of graduation right here. Plus all my report cards. Plus a super-sweet Valentines Day card from Jamie Saunders.
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Prove it!

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Credible witnesses: My mom and dad were right there at my 5th grade graduation ceremony. They saw the whole thing. Or you can ask my 5th grade teacher, Mr. Farrell. Or the elementary school custodianhe sees everything. Logic: Well, I couldnt very well be in Middle School now, if I hadnt done the Elementary thing first, right? Dont you think the principal would have needed to see some transcripts before she let me in?

on
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In the face of such overwhelming evidence, this proof-seeking naysayer would have to admit that you had, in fact, graduated from elementary school. Christians face the same demands for proof from people who would prefer to believe that Jesus was never raised from the dead. Because if Jesus really rose from the dead, people would really have to believe in Him. And if they really believed in Him, then theyd have to change their lives. And its scary for people to change their lives because of a miracle. So they deny the miracle. But for 2,000 years, Christians have established proof that has never been torn down:
Personal Testimony: Usually when legends happen, its hundreds of years later, when theres nobody left alive who actually remembers the real history. The stories of Robin Hood and the miracles of Muhammad werent started until centuries after their deaths. In contrast, the miracles of Jesus and His resurrection were immediately claimed, when hundreds and thousands of people still remembered Him personally. Physical Evidence: Archaeology has confirmed that Jesus existed. Several statements of the Bible have been confirmed in recent years. There is no archaeological evidence to contradict Jesus resurrection, and quite a bit of circumstantial evidence to support it. Written Authority: Historians of that time, including nonbelievers like Josephus, wrote about Jesus and His followers. Their history agrees with much of the Bibles account. Credible Witnesses: Over 500 people witnessed Jesus walking around after His death. One person might lie. A small group might agree to a conspiracy. But Jesus appeared to many people, in many
Continued on page 6. Easter Lesson 3

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NO
you own a 21-speed mountain bike. Its so valuable that when youre not riding it, you keep it chained in a sealed room with an alarm system. Now imagine going to the sealed room one morning ready to ride your bike. You find the door ajar and the room empty. No bike! How would you feel? Before He was crucified, Jesus had said He would be raised from the dead. Still, His resurrection caught even those closest to Him by surprise.

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Luke24:112 On the first day of the week, very early in morning, the women too spices they had prepared an the tomb. 2They found the st away from the tomb, 3but when they did not find the body of the 4 While they were wondering abou two men in clothes that gleamed lik beside them. 5In their fright the wom with their faces to the ground, but them, Why do you look for the living 6 He is not here; he has risen! Reme you, while he was still with you in G Man must be delivered into the hand crucified and on the third day be rai they remembered his words. 9When from the tomb, they told all these th and to all the others. 10It was Mary M Mary the mother of James, and the who told this to the apostles. 11Bu believe the women, because their to them like nonsense. 12Pete got up and ran to the tomb. over, he saw the strips of lin by themselves, and he wen wondering to himself wha happened.

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DYS THERE
SCRIP
TU
RE
1. Read Luke
24:1-3. Why were the women going to Jesus tomb?

5. Read Luke

Luke24:112 n the first day of ek, very early in the , the women took the had prepared and went to hey found the stone rolled omb, 3but when they entered, d the body of the Lord Jesus. wondering about this, suddenly that gleamed like lightning stood eir fright the women bowed down the ground, but the men said to ook for the living among the dead? has risen! Remember how he told ill with you in Galilee: 7The Son of ed into the hands of sinful men, be third day be raised again. 8Then his words. 9When they came back told all these things to the Eleven 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, James, and the others with them he apostles. 11But they did not n, because their words seemed onsense. 12Peter, however, ran to the tomb. Bending w the strips of linen lying lves, and he went away, g to himself what had happened.

2. In 30 seconds,

list as many emotions as you can that the women might have felt when they realized that Jesus body was gone.

24:9-12. What does it mean to you that Luke listed exactly who was among the women who saw the empty tomb?

6. Why do you

3. Review Luke

24:4-8. Why do you think the two men in white said what they did to the women?

think the disciples doubted the womens account of the empty tomb? How would you describe the difference between the other disciples reaction to the womens news and Peters reaction?

4. How do you think 7. What does it mean to you that

the womens feelings changed when they remembered what Jesus had told them about His resurrection?

Jesus tomb was found empty?

8. How could Jesus

resurrection from the dead affect you?

Shawn Finley

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Continued from page 3.

different situations. There were far too many witnesses for them all to be involved in a lie. Logic: If Jesus had still been dead, it would have been easy for the Jews or the Romans to prove itjust by showing His corpse. Theyd even set a guard on the tomb to prevent anyone stealing Jesus body for just this purpose. How could a bunch of uneducated fishermen outsmart or overpower elite Roman soldiers to steal Jesus body? Why would these apostles be willing to let people kill them, instead of admitting it was lie?

This all seems like pretty good evidence, right? But all of this ignores the single biggest piece of evidence of Jesus resurrection: how you live your life. You were destined for death. You sin all the time. Every day, in fact. If God were being fair, you would deserve to go to hell for all the mean stuff you do. But because we accept Jesus resurrection, we are spared the punishment we deserve. Therefore our joyful lives should be the best proof of Jesus miracle. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. -1 Peter 3:15 Do you believe Jesus died for your sins, and then rose from the dead so you could live in heaven?

Then prove it.

Rex Bohn

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Power. Its all around us and In us. It exPlodes. It shakes. It burns, freezes, and sPIns. Power is massive. More than a mile of earth blasted into the sky when the volcano on Krakatoa Island erupted in 1883. That explosion destroyed the island, tore a 900foot gash in the ocean floor, and caused tidal waves that drowned 36,000 people. Rocks shot up 34 miles into the sky. Dust fell everywhere on earth for a year. It was the loudest sound in history, equal to a noise in New York that people as far off as Hawaii would mistake for nearby cannon fire. Power can be small but intense. An ant carries objects 10 to 50 times its weight. Thats like you carrying a full-size van. nature is charged with power. A thunderstorms air currents can rip a plane in half. Lightning blazes through a storm at 50,000 miles per hour250 times faster than the fastest race car.

huMans control some forms of power. We direct the piercing ray of a laser beam to burn holes in diamonds or destroy cancerous tissue. We harness surging rivers for electricity; then we flood the Astrodome with light or jolt an irregular heartbeat back into rhythm.

awesome powers in science and nature cannot rescue our friends, our relatives, from deaths cold grip or fire their eyes with sparkle once again.

Yet we cannot gaIn Power over death. The most

but god can. He proved it by unleashing the sheer, raw power that brought Jesus back to life.

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marmay lesson
Cover Illustration Creatas; Illustration: Scot McDonald, p. 8

To Tell the Truth

The women who saw Jesus empty tomb
ran back to town to tell others the good news. They told the truth, yet no one believed them!
Lu

ke

MONDAY

Read Luke 24:1-8. Draw a picture of what you think the two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning looked like. Would they have convinced you right away? Read Luke 18:31-34. Jesus own disciples did not understand the truth when they heard Jesus tell it. Why do you think they did not understand?

THURSDAY Have you ever felt totally confused? Write down thoughts that might have gone through Peters head after he saw the empty tomb. FRIDAY
Not only does Jesus tell the truth: He is the Truth (John 14:6). How can you try to be the truthlike Jesus? Do you know someone who does not believe the truth about Jesus? Or is confused about it? Ask God to help that person accept the truth. And be prepared for God to use you to help your friend!
Easter Lesson

TUESDAY

SATURDAY

WEDNESDAY Read Luke 24:1-12. Pretend you are one of the women who saw the empty tomb. What would your reaction be?
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24 :5b

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Easter