Easter

April 20, 2025
Pastor Jack

empty tomb

Luke 24:13–32

And behold, on that same day, two of them were traveling to a village named Emmaus that was sixty stadia distant from Jerusalem, and they were conversing with one another about all these things that had happened. And it happened that while they were conversing, and discussing, Jesus himself also approached and began to go along with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are these matters that you are discussing with one another as you are walking along?” And they stood still, looking sad. And one of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to him, “Are you the only one living near Jerusalem and not knowing the things that have happened in it in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, a man who was a prophet, powerful in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers handed him over to a sentence of death, and crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. But in addition to all these things, this is the third day since these things took place. But also some women from among us astonished us, who were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying they had seen even a vision of angels, who said that he was alive! And some of those with us went out to the tomb and found it like this, just as the women had also said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish and slow in heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures. And they drew near to the village where they were going, and he acted as though he was going farther. And they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening, and by this time the day is far spent.” And he went in to stay with them. And it happened that when he reclined at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks, and after breaking it, he gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he became invisible to them. And they said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?”

Saturday

No one in Jerusalem would have slept; everyone was in shock and uproar. This was Passover but so much had happened since Friday:

  • Three hours of darkness.
  • An earthquake.
  • The Temple curtain was torn in two.
  • Jesus of Nazareth was dead from Roman crucifixion.

Matthew 27:62–66: The chief priests and the Pharisees

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

  • Where are the chief priests and Pharisees on the Sabbath?
  • What are they asking of Pilate?

🕊️ Sabbath Types in Biblical Context

Type of SabbathOccurs WhenCommanded InKey FeaturesRelevance to Passover
Regular SabbathEvery 7th day (Saturday)Exodus 20:8–11Day of rest and worship; no work; weekly rhythmMay coincide with Passover season
Festival Sabbath1st and 7th days of Unleavened Bread (15th & 21st Nisan)Leviticus 23:7–8Treated like a Sabbath regardless of weekday; special offerings; no workThe 15th of Nisan (day after Passover) is always a feast Sabbath
High SabbathWhen a Festival Sabbath falls on a SaturdayJohn 19:31Extra special significance; double observance; enhanced Temple rituals & crowdsThis was the case in the year of Jesus’ crucifixion

🗓️ Timeline Focus: Crucifixion Weekend

DayEventBiblical ReferenceNotes
Friday (Nisan 14)Jesus crucified, died before sundownJohn 19:14–30Passover day; preparations made for Sabbath; Lamb of God sacrificed
Saturday (Nisan 15)High Sabbath: Weekly + Festival overlapJohn 19:31, Leviticus 23:7Jesus in the tomb; disciples in hiding; rest day
Sunday (Nisan 16)Resurrection morningMatthew 28:1, John 20:1First day of the week; beginning of Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10)

Sabbath & Rest

  • What would the Sabbath after Jesus’ crucifixion have felt like for the disciples? What might they have been thinking or wrestling with?
  • How does resting on the Sabbath—even amid pain or confusion—teach us something about trusting God?

High Sabbath Significance

  • Why might John have gone out of his way to say “that Sabbath was a high day” (John 19:31)?
  • How does the idea of a “high Sabbath” deepen our understanding of Jesus’ death being the ultimate fulfillment of both the Passover and the Sabbath?

Waiting in Silence

  • Saturday was silent—no miracles, no speeches, no activity. How do you respond when God feels silent or still?
  • What does Jesus’ time in the tomb teach us about God’s timing, and about hope in what appears to be defeat?

Resurrection Hope

  • The resurrection happened on the Feast of Firstfruits (Leviticus 23:10). What does that mean symbolically about Jesus as the “firstfruits from the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:20)?
  • How might our understanding of Sabbath and Sunday change when we see Jesus’ resurrection as the beginning of a new creation week?

Sunday

The only man ever guarded to be kept in His tomb came out on His own volition! Jesus would not come down from the cross; He was coming out of the tomb! The tomb is empty but the stone was still there, in place.

Mark 16:1: Mary, Mary, and Salome

16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

  • What were these ladies doing and planning?

Matthew 28:1–4: The Stone Rolled Away

28 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

  • Place yourself in this scene and describe what you see.
  • The soldiers passed out cold; what would you do if you were there and saw it all?

Mark 16:2–4: Arrival at the Tomb

2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.

Luke 24:2–3: No Body is There!

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

John 20:1-2: Mary Magdalene Runs to Tell the Disciples

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

Luke 24:4–8: Why do you seek the living among the dead?

4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words,

Luke 24:11: The Disciples Did Not Believe It

11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

🔍 1. Expectations vs. Reality

  • The women came prepared to anoint a dead body. What does this show about their expectations?
  • Have you ever come to God expecting disappointment or loss—and found something entirely unexpected?

🪨 2. The Moved Stone

  • Why do you think it’s significant that the stone was already rolled away when they arrived?
  • What “stones” in our lives do we assume will block God’s work, even when He has already moved them?

😕 3. Confusion, Grief, and Hope Colliding

  • In John 20:2, Mary is distraught and confused. How does that reflect the human experience of faith—believing while not fully understanding?
  • When have you misunderstood something God was doing, only to later realize He was fulfilling His word all along?

👼 4. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

  • What does this angelic question reveal about the nature of resurrection life?
  • In what ways do we today seek “life” among things that are spiritually dead (habits, identities, beliefs)?

🙅 5. Not Believed

  • The apostles dismiss the women’s testimony as nonsense (Luke 24:11). Why do you think resurrection was so hard to believe—even for Jesus’ closest friends?
  • What helps you personally trust the resurrection—both as a historical event and a present hope?

John 20:3–9: John Outruns Peter

3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

John 20:3–9 is a subtle and powerful passage—especially in the original Greek—where three different Greek words for “to see” are used to describe what Peter and the beloved disciple (traditionally John) perceive when they enter the empty tomb.

Let’s walk through the key verses and highlight the Greek verbs for “see” used:

🔹 John 20:5 – “And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.” Greek word: βλέπει (blepei)

Meaning: To see in a simple, physical, observational way—just noticing something.

Usage tone: Neutral. “He saw” as in “he noticed.”

🔹 John 20:6 – “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there…” Greek word: θεωρεῖ (theōrei)

Meaning: To look carefully, to observe attentively, to scrutinize.

Usage tone: Investigative. Peter is taking a good, close look—analyzing what he sees.

🔹 John 20:8 – “Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed…” Greek word: εἶδεν (eiden)

Meaning: To see with understanding, to perceive or comprehend.

Usage tone: Insightful. This is the word used when someone “gets it”—he understood and believed.

👁️ Greek Words for “To See” in John 20:3–9

VerseEnglishGreek WordMeaning
20:5“he saw”blepeiTo notice; simple sight
20:6“he saw”theōreiTo observe carefully, examine
20:8“he saw and believed”eidenTo understand or perceive with insight
  • How do these different “levels of seeing” reflect stages in our own faith journeys?
  • Where do you see yourself right now: noticing, examining, or understanding and believing?

John 20:10–18: Whom are you seeking?

10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

🌧️ 1. Why Mary?

  • Why do you think Jesus chose to appear first to Mary Magdalene rather than Peter or John?
  • What does this moment tell us about how Jesus values devotion, faithfulness, and sorrow?
  • Mary stood by Jesus at the cross, came early to the tomb, and stayed when others left. What does that persistence say about her faith?

👀 2. Recognizing Jesus

  • In verse 14–15, Mary doesn’t recognize Jesus right away. Why might God allow that delay in recognition?
  • What changed in verse 16 when Jesus says her name? Can you think of a moment in your life when God’s presence became suddenly personal or clear?

📣 3. “Go to my brothers and tell them”

  • Jesus gives Mary the task of proclaiming the resurrection—essentially becoming the first “apostle to the apostles.” How does that impact your view of her role in the resurrection story?
  • What might have been going through Mary’s mind and heart as she ran to the disciples?
  • Have you ever felt God calling you to speak or share something, even when it might not have been easy or expected?

🙋‍♀️ 4. Faith & Witness

  • What does Mary’s response in verse 18 (“I have seen the Lord”) teach us about testimony and faith in action?
  • How can we follow Mary’s example in sharing what we’ve seen or experienced with Jesus—even if others may not yet believe?

✨ Bonus Reflection Thought:

  • Mary Magdalene—a woman once bound by seven demons (Luke 8:2)—is chosen as the first evangelist of the resurrection. This highlights that God often entrusts the most sacred moments to the least expected people, turning grief into glory.

Luke 24:13–32: On the Road to Emmaus

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

  • What do you make of the note in verse 16 “…their eyes were kept from recognizing him”?
  • Let’s follow a quick rabbit trail to 2 Kings 6:

2 Kings 6:15–23:

15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria. 20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.

👁️ 1. Spiritual Sight vs. Physical Sight

  • What do both stories teach us about the difference between seeing with our eyes and seeing with faith?
  • Why might God sometimes conceal truth temporarily, only to later reveal it more fully?

🙏 2. God’s Initiative in Revelation

  • In both stories, it is God who opens eyes—Elisha prays in 2 Kings, and in Luke, it’s during the breaking of bread (Luke 24:30–31).
  • What does this say about our dependence on God to truly understand or perceive spiritual truth?

🛡️ 3. Encouragement in Fear and Doubt

  • The servant in 2 Kings is afraid, and Elisha reassures him: “Those who are with us are more…”
  • The disciples on the road are confused and downcast (Luke 24:17). How does Jesus’ hidden presence comfort or encourage even when we don’t fully understand?

🔄 4. Seeing Changes Everything

  • Once the servant’s eyes are opened, his entire perspective shifts.
  • Once the disciples recognize Jesus, their hearts burn, and they run to tell the others (Luke 24:32–33).
  • Can you think of a time when God “opened your eyes” to something that completely changed your outlook?

Can you imagine, walking along the road with Jesus in person, and He begins teaching you about His life, death, burial and resurrection from the Old Testament?

As they continue on their journey, they invite Jesus to join them. Jesus always goes where He is invited!

  • What does Jesus do at dinner?

And they rush back to Jerusalem to the disciples.

Luke 24:34: We Know!

34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”

John 20:19: Peace be with you!

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Luke 24:38–39: Touch me, and see

38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

🩻 Flesh and Bone vs. Flesh and Blood

PhraseTypical UseBiblical Meaning
Flesh and BloodCommon idiom (NT & OT)Mortality, humanity, weakness; usually denotes perishable life.
Flesh and BoneRare, used in Luke 24:39 and Genesis 2Embodied existence, kinship, or identity—but not focused on blood.

✨ Why Does Jesus Say “Flesh and Bone”?

  1. Blood as Symbol of Mortal Life In Scripture, “blood” is life (cf. Leviticus 17:11), but also a symbol of mortality and atonement.

Jesus had poured out His blood in His sacrificial death (cf. Luke 22:20). In this post-resurrection moment, blood is notably absent—perhaps to emphasize that His new, resurrected body is no longer subject to death.

  1. “Flesh and Bone” = Real, Tangible, Yet Glorified Jesus isn’t a ghost or spirit (He affirms this directly).

“Flesh and bone” affirms physical reality, but distinct from ordinary, perishable human life.

  1. Resurrection Body = Transformed Body Paul develops this in 1 Corinthians 15, describing the resurrection body as imperishable, spiritual, and glorious—not ethereal, but transformed.

Jesus’ use of “flesh and bone” signals a new kind of embodied life—real and physical, yet beyond corruption.

  • Why do you think Jesus wanted to emphasize His physicality after rising from the dead?
  • How does the phrase “flesh and bone” shape your understanding of the resurrection body—Jesus’ and ultimately our own?
  • In what ways does this moment challenge modern assumptions that spirituality must be “non-physical”?

John 20:22–23: Receive the Holy Spirit

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

John 20:24–25: I will never believe

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

A Few Days Later

John 20:26–29:

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

❓1. Why Do You Think Thomas Doubted?

  • What might Thomas have been feeling when he said, “Unless I see… I will not believe”?
  • Do you think Thomas’s doubt was intellectual, emotional, or both?

✋ 2. “Put your finger here…” – A Tender Invitation

  • How do you think Thomas felt when Jesus personally invited him to touch His wounds?
  • What does this tell you about how Jesus responds to our doubts or questions?
  • Have you ever experienced Jesus meeting you gently in a place of uncertainty?

👁️ 3. Seeing vs. Believing

  • Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (v. 29). What does that mean for us today? How is our faith shaped without physical proof?

❤️ 4. The Power of the Wounds

  • Why do you think Jesus kept His wounds after the resurrection?
  • What do His scars say about His identity, His love, and the nature of the resurrection?

🔁 5. Thomas’s Transformation

  • After touching Jesus, Thomas says, “My Lord and my God!”
  • How does this moment mark a turning point in his belief?
  • What might it look like for someone today to move from doubt to declaration like Thomas did?
  • Imagine Jesus saying to you: “Put your hand here… do not disbelieve, but believe.” What place in your life right now needs that kind of reassurance?

John 21:1–14:

21 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

🎣 Miraculous Catch of Fish — Beginning and Renewal

ElementLuke 5:1–11John 21:1–14
SettingSea of Gennesaret (Galilee)Sea of Tiberias (Galilee)
TimeEarly in Jesus’ ministryAfter the resurrection
Disciples’ SituationWashing nets after catching nothingFishing all night and catching nothing
Jesus’ Instruction“Let down the nets for a catch” (v.4)“Cast the net on the right side…” (v.6)
Catch ResultNets so full they begin to break153 large fish, but the net does not break
Recognition of JesusSimon Peter realizes: “I am a sinful man”John says: “It is the Lord!”
Peter’s ResponseFalls at Jesus’ knees in aweJumps into the water to get to Jesus
Calling or Re-calling“From now on you will fish for people”Implied recommissioning (esp. Peter in v.15+)

🎣 1. Empty Nets & Divine Intervention

  • In both stories, the disciples work hard and catch nothing—until Jesus steps in. What might this say about our efforts without Him? Where have you experienced “empty nets” in your own life?

🙌 2. Recognition of Jesus

  • Why do you think the disciples in John 21 didn’t recognize Jesus right away?
  • What helps you recognize God’s hand or voice in unexpected situations?

🔄 3. Beginnings and New Beginnings

  • Luke 5 marks the start of discipleship; John 21 marks a kind of re-commissioning after failure (Peter’s denial, for example). How do these stories speak to God’s willingness to start again with us?

❤️ 4. Peter’s Response

  • Compare Peter’s humility and awe in Luke 5 with his eagerness in John 21.
  • How has your relationship with Jesus matured or changed over time?

🔥 5. Breakfast with Jesus

  • Why might Jesus choose to cook for them after the resurrection?
  • What does this moment tell you about His heart for intimacy and restoration?

🌟 Reflection Prompt

  • Jesus doesn’t just restore the mission—He restores the relationship. Where might Jesus be inviting you to come ashore, rest, and eat with Him?

Matthew 28:18–20: The Great Commission

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

  • How this compare or contrast to Mary Magdalene’s instructions?
AspectMatthew 28:18–20John 20:17–18
SpeakerJesusJesus
AudienceThe Eleven disciplesMary Magdalene
Commissioned to Go“Go and make disciples of all nations”“Go to my brothers and say to them…”
Message FocusGlobal mission, baptizing, teachingPersonal message: Jesus’ ascension and relationship
Authority Given“All authority… has been given to me”Implied (based on relationship, not command)
Relationship HighlightedDisciples as followersDisciples as “my brothers” and God as “your Father”
Scope of MissionUniversal and long-termImmediate and relational
ResponseDisciples obey and worship Jesus (v.17)Mary goes and tells the disciples (v.18)

👣 1. What do you notice about who Jesus entrusts with these messages?

  • How does Mary’s role encourage us today in our own calling to speak about Jesus?

🌍 2. How do these commissions reflect different stages of mission?

  • Is there a difference between announcing the resurrection and making disciples? How do they connect?

💡 3. What’s the significance of Jesus calling the disciples “my brothers” in John 20?

  • How does this new relationship with God as “your Father” affect the way we live and share our faith?

Acts 1:4–11: The Ascension of Jesus

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

🔥 1. Waiting for the Promise (vv. 4–5)

  • Why do you think Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem instead of acting right away?
  • What does this tell us about the relationship between waiting and being empowered by the Holy Spirit?
  • How do you personally respond to seasons of waiting in your spiritual life?

🤔 2. Misunderstood Expectations (v. 6)

  • The disciples asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” What does their question reveal about their understanding of Jesus’ mission?
  • How do our own expectations about what God should do sometimes differ from His actual plan?
  • Have you ever misunderstood what God was doing in your life—only to see His purpose later?

⚡ 3. The Power and Purpose (v. 8)

  • What does it mean to “receive power” from the Holy Spirit? How is that different from worldly power?
  • Jesus commissions them to be His witnesses—starting local and expanding globally. What does this look like practically in our lives today?
  • Which of these “mission fields” (Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, ends of the earth) feels most like your calling right now?

⬆️ 4. The Ascension and the Angels (vv. 9–11)

  • Why do you think Jesus ascended in full view of the disciples rather than simply disappearing?
  • The angels say, “This same Jesus… will come back in the same way.” How does the promise of Jesus’ return shape the way you live today?
  • Do you think the disciples were tempted to keep “looking into the sky”? What does that say about our own tendency to focus on what we’ve lost rather than what we’re called to do?

🪞 Personal Reflection

  • In what ways do you feel called to be a witness of Jesus in your current season of life?
  • What would it look like for the Holy Spirit to empower your everyday life and relationships?
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