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The Resurrection

Explore the accounts and their meaning in Scripture.

1. 1. The empty tomb - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 28:1-10

   ¹ Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

   ² Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky and came and rolled away the stone from the door and sat on it.

   ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

   ⁴ For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.

   ⁵ The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

   ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.

   ⁷ Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”

   ⁸ They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

   ⁹ As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

   ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Matthew recounts the angel’s announcement and the women’s encounter with Jesus; fear gives way to a commission to tell others.

   Reflect

   • What do the women receive and communicate?

   Put it into practice

   Listen carefully to a testimony before responding.

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2. 2. The announcement in Luke - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Luke 24:1-12

   ¹ But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

   ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

   ³ They entered in, and didn’t find the Lord Jesus’ body.

   ⁴ While they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing.

   ⁵ Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. The men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

   ⁶ He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee,

   ⁷ saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and the third day rise again?”

   ⁸ They remembered his words,

   ⁹ returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

   ¹⁰ Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles.

   ¹¹ These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.

   ¹² But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   The women find the empty tomb and remember Jesus’ words; the disciples initially reject their account.

   Reflect

   • How do Jesus’ words help the women understand what they find?

   Put it into practice

   Distinguish what you know, doubt and need to investigate.

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3. 3. Mary Magdalene - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   John 20:1-18

   ¹ Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

   ² Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”

   ³ Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb.

   ⁴ They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

   ⁵ Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he didn’t enter in.

   ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,

   ⁷ and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.

   ⁸ So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed.

   ⁹ For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

   ¹⁰ So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

   ¹¹ But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,

   ¹² and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

   ¹³ They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.”

   ¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.

   ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, 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, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”

   ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

   ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Mary searches in tears and recognizes Jesus when he calls her; she receives a commission, not merely private comfort.

   Reflect

   • How does Mary Magdalene move from searching for Jesus to announcing that she has seen him?

   Put it into practice

   Value the voice of someone whose testimony is often overlooked.

   Next lesson →

4. 4. Road to Emmaus - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Luke 24:13-35

   ¹³ Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.

   ¹⁴ They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.

   ¹⁵ While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them.

   ¹⁶ But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

   ¹⁷ He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”

   ¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?”

   ¹⁹ He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;

   ²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

   ²¹ But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

   ²² Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;

   ²³ and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

   ²⁴ Some of us went to the tomb and found it just like the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

   ²⁵ He said to them, “Foolish people, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

   ²⁶ Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?”

   ²⁷ Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

   ²⁸ They came near to the village where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.

   ²⁹ They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them.

   ³⁰ When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave it to them.

   ³¹ Their eyes were opened and they recognized him; then he vanished out of their sight.

   ³² They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?”

   ³³ They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,

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

   ³⁵ They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jesus listens to two travelers’ disappointment and reads Scripture with them; recognition leads them back to the community.

   Reflect

   • How does the Emmaus travelers’ understanding of Jesus change?

   Put it into practice

   Listen to someone’s disappointment without rushing to answer.

   Next lesson →

5. 5. Jesus appears to the disciples - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   John 20:19-29

   ¹⁹ When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

   ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

   ²¹ Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

   ²² When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

   ²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

   ²⁴ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.

   ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

   ²⁶ After eight days, again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”

   ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

   ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

   ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Jesus visits fearful disciples and addresses Thomas’s questions; the account joins peace, mission and faith.

   Reflect

   • How does Jesus approach fear and doubt?

   Put it into practice

   Make space for an honest question in your community.

   Next lesson →

6. 6. Witnesses of the resurrection - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   1 Corinthians 15:3-8

   ³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

   ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

   ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

   ⁶ Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.

   ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

   ⁸ and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul passes on a tradition about death, burial, resurrection and appearances; the message is received testimony shared with others.

   Reflect

   • Why does Paul name different people who saw the risen Jesus?

   Put it into practice

   Distinguish a claim from the testimony supporting it.

   Next lesson →

7. 7. Why the resurrection matters - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   1 Corinthians 15:12-22

   ¹² Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

   ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.

   ¹⁴ If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith also is in vain.

   ¹⁵ Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised.

   ¹⁶ For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised.

   ¹⁷ If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.

   ¹⁸ Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

   ¹⁹ If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

   ²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep.

   ²¹ For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.

   ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

   Read the full chapter

   Understanding the passage

   Paul examines the consequences of denying resurrection; he connects Christian hope with Christ and those who have died.

   Reflect

   • Why does Paul regard resurrection as essential to Christian hope?

   Put it into practice

   Summarize Paul’s argument in your own words.