Understanding Easter
On the 27th April the Draw Nearer Group met at St. Laurance Church Annexe. Church End,
Ansley, to start a new four session study which I have called Understanding Easter.
This first session will look at the Evidence for the Resurrection, for watch the notes can be found below.
Als, at the end of the meeting notes, you will find, a section names – Between Sessions Study.
Our next Draw Nearer Group meeting is on the 11th May at St. Wilfrid’s Church Barn, at 7p.m for 7.30.
Understanding Easter – Session 1 – St. Laurence Church Annexe –
Evidence for the Resurrection
A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.
He would either be a lunatic . . . or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse.
By C. S. Lewis,
(From Mere Christianity)
Introduction
For many of us, there were two stories in our childhood that captured the essence of Easter. Like the rails of a train track, the duo never intersected but ran in parallel tandem through our memories. The first was the story of the Easter Bunny. We heard tales of the happy white rabbit, dressed in human clothes, who would fill empty baskets with all sorts of our favourite chocolate candies . . . if we behaved ourselves throughout the year.
The other rail was more serious. It was the story of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross in a grotesque manner known as a crucifixion on Good Friday, but then miraculously rose from the grave on Easter Sunday to show his power over sin, death, and hell. Easter would likely find us dressed in our Sunday finest, attending a church service (whether we were regular church attenders or not), and returning home to baskets of melting chocolate while we waited for the family’s traditional Easter dinner. If we were lucky, there would be an after-dinner Easter egg hunt featuring colour-dyed, hard-boiled eggs.
The Easter Bunny and the resurrection of Jesus. One is decidedly childish, while the other represents the most profound event to ever occur in human history, But for many people today, believing Jesus’ claims that he was the Son of God—and that he actually rose from the dead on the third day—is like believing the big magical bunny is real. They doubt whether the Gospel accounts can be trusted and prefer to pass off the story as a legend or mere mistake.
So, what proof do we have that Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection actually took place? How can we know that he actually was executed and died on a Roman cross those many years ago? And what does the reality of Jesus’ resurrection mean in our lives? In this first session, we will start to dig into these issues by examining the events surrounding Good Friday and, in particular, the Roman execution-style murder that took place that day.
Pair up with another group member, ideally someone you don’t know that well, and briefly talk about the following questions:
- What was Easter like for you as a child? What was the best part for you?
- What was the worst part for you?
- What are some of your favourite Easter memories? How big a role did the resurrection of Jesus play in your typical Easter celebrations?
- Now that you are an adult, do you celebrate Easter any differently than you did as a child? What changes have you made in the way you celebrate?
Notes
Some have claimed there is no scriptural text in which Jesus said explicitly he was divine. But just because Jesus didn’t make this claim directly doesn’t mean he didn’t make it at all.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus’ claims to divinity were crystal clear to his audiences—as if he had said outright, “I am God.” For instance, in John 10:30, Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one,” which caused his opponents to accuse him of blasphemy.
Christianity is an investigate-able religion. While the origins of many world religions are lost in the mists of history, Christianity makes specific claims about events that occurred in time and space—right there in the first century.
When we scrutinize the data of history, we find four facts that establish convincingly that Jesus rose from the dead—which we can call “the four Es.” The first E stands for execution—Jesus was truly dead after being executed by the Romans at the behest of the Jewish leaders.
Before he was crucified, Jesus was flogged by Roman soldiers. In fact, he was evidently flogged two separate times. The Greek word used to describe the flogging indicates a punishment inflicted after a death sentence has been pronounced.
Because of the terrible effects of this beating, there’s no question Jesus was already in serious-to-critical condition even before the nails were driven through his hands and feet.
Group Discussion
Once the video has concluded, break into small groups for a time of discussion. Ideally, the group should be no less than four people and no more than six. Don’t be shy—grab your chair and circle up! Find someone who will become your partner over the next few weeks. If you’re married and your spouse is in the group, you’ve got the option of choosing him or her, or you may opt for someone completely different. If not your spouse, it’s be st for women to choose another woman and men to choose another man. Get your new partner’s cell phone number and email so you can connect during the week. .
- Do you have any doubts that Jesus clearly claimed that he was God? Are the statements covered in the video teaching evidence enough, or do you need further convincing? Be honest about your questions. That’s why we’re meeting!
- Now that you’ve heard the teaching on the crucifixion of Jesus, did you find this type of execution was more painful and graphic than you previously believed? Why or why not?
- What part of the execution of Jesus made the biggest impact on you as you heard it presented? Why do you think it affected groups for a time of you the way it did?
- What other questions have you had about whether Jesus actually claimed to be God? What questions have you had about claimed that he was whether he really died on the cross—or even existed at all?
How did this week’s teaching help address these concerns?
Closing Prayer
Conclude your group discussion time with a few minutes for prayer. Share one another’s needs and requests and offer them up to God. Nothing will bring your group together quicker than knowing you have brothers and sisters who care enough about issues you raise to bring them before the Lord for his answers and his direction.
Between-Sessions – Personal Study
Reflect on the content you’ve covered this week by engaging in any or all of the following between-sessions personal study. The time you invest will be well spent, so let God use it to draw you closer to him. At your next meeting, share with your group any key points or insights that stood out to you as you spent this time with the Lord.
Stu
Study God’s Word
A good place to start our investigation into the resurrection is with
Jesus’ claims to be God. This week, examine Mark’s account of Jesus’ trial before the high priest. Note what Jesus says in this passage and how the high priest responds:
Mark Chap: 14 (NIV)
56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:
58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ ”
59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”
61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked
64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death.
What stands out to you in this passage that you didn’t notice previously?
One way to highlight and personalize the Scriptures is to use a technique called paraphrasing, where you rewrite the verses using your own words. By doing this, you can interact with the text in an intimate way. Take your time with this exercise. Start with a brief prayer, asking the Lord to help you as you work through the text. Next, take a few minutes to read through the entire passage again slowly and carefully. Then, begin your paraphrasing.
Write down a few statements to summarize how it felt to interact with the text in this way. Weave in some of this week’s lessons along with the insights you are gleaning personally
Put It into Practice
Take sometime this week to think about how the material you are covering with your group can make a difference in the way you live life. In the New Testament book of James, the author implores to be doers of God’s Word and not hearers only. The real test of is important to us is how well we integrate it into our lives.
Can you put into a single sentence why it is important that Jesus unmistakable claims in the Gospels that he is God? Can do the same for the execution of Jesus?
How does this week’s lesson impact the way you would share your faith with someone else?
What is the biggest truth you learned this week? Write it down.
What are two more concepts that emerged from your study
For many of us, coming to grips with the agony Jesus went through on our behalf is an emotional experience. The best way to deal with those emotions is to allow them to flow. Using the space provided on the next page, take a few minutes and compose a letter to Jesus, expressing what it means that he went through this for you and, most of all, thanking him for enduring it for your sake
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Between-Sessions – Personal Study – Session 1
After last night’s first session, I would like you all to take some time in Personal Study. Please reflect on the session 1.
The time
At our next meeting on the 11th May at Arley Church Barn, please share with your group any key points or insights that stood out to you as you have spent this time with the Lord.
Study God’s Word
A good place to start our investigation is with Jesus’ claims to be God.
During the next fortnight, please, examine Mark’s account below, of Jesus’ trial before the high priest.
Please note what Jesus says in this passage and how the high priest responds:
Mark Chap: 14 (NIV)
56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:
58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ ”
59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?”
61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked
64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death.
———————————————————-
What stands out to you in this passage that you didn’t notice previously?
———————————————————-
One way to highlight and personalize the Scriptures, I find, is to use a technique called paraphrasing, where you rewrite the verses using your own words. By doing this, you can interact with the text in an intimate way.
Please take your time with this exercise. Start with a brief prayer, asking the Lord to help you as you work through the text. Next, take a few minutes to read through the entire passage again slowly and carefully. Then, begin your paraphrasing.
Write down a few statements to summarise how it felt to interact with the text in this way.
Take in, some of Session 1’s teaching, along with the insights you are gleaning personally
God’s blessing and I may see you on the 11th May at St. Wilfrid’s Church Barn, Arley.