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Pete Stearns | April 24, 2022

We hope this guide will help you take the good news you hear today into your daily lives.

This week, Pete will dive into Matthew 28, looking at how both the women and the guards reacted to the reality of the empty tomb, and what the women's response means for us today as we seek to share the Gospel. 

Key Scripture Passages

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdaleneand the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Matthew 28:1-15 (NIV)

Responding to the Resurrection

Guards: Believe, Flee, Suppress

Women: Believe, Worship, Share

Where does our hope come from?

Powers of the World (High Priests): Distort, Discredit, Control

Powers of Heaven (Jesus): Rejoice, Affirm, Commission

Reflection: How do you respond to your belief?

In your time alone with God, spend some time praying over or journaling about the following questions.

How do you see the world tempting you to “Distort” your belief?

How do you see the world tempting you to “Discredit” your belief?

How have you “Suppressed” the good news of Jesus’ Resurrection in your life?

How does it feel to recognize that Jesus rejoices, affirms and commissions your belief?

How will you find one way to “SHARE” the good news of the resurrection this week?