Easter Conspiracy: Easter/The Guards
Our Easter series has explored those who denied Christ as we have learned about the truth that is too good to be a conspiracy!
1.Have you ever thought about Jesus’ resurrection from the perspective of the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb? How has Pete’s framing of Easter from the “conspiracy angle” impacted the way you understand Jesus’ resurrection this year?
Read Matthew 28:1-4.
2. The guards are the first witnesses to the action at Jesus’ tomb. What kind of experience do you think they must have had to “become like dead men” (verse 4)?
Read Matthew 28:11-15.
3. Try to put yourself into the soldiers’ position here. How would you have responded to the chief priests’ (the Sadducees) plan?
4. In the Primer Podcast, Pete said that “You and I are those guards…we’re faced with this tension every day of our lives.” What are some areas of your life where you feel the tension between risking the “resurrection life” and safely remaining silent?
Discuss:
What areas of power, control, or comfort are you invited to let go of?
What obstacles do you have to letting go?
What encouragement do you have for each other?
5. It’s clear from Jesus’s ministry and also, of course, in his resurrection, that God is in the business of raising the dead to life. In your group, talk about an area of your life, that could use God’s death-defying, life-giving, resurrection power. Pray for each other to close your session.
(*Video available after Sunday services)
