INTRODUCTION

Jesus had been crucified, had died, and had been buried in a garden tomb. The hopes of His followers had been shattered. Then on the third day, when the women went to the sepulcher to anoint His body with spices, they found the tomb was empty. An angel in white announced the glorious news, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:6).

THEME THOUGHTS

It has been the aim of Satan since the beginning of time to bring all humanity into his ranks. Ever since the downfall of man in the Garden of Eden, the fight of right against wrong has been raging in this world. But God has made ample provision for the salvation of man’s immortal soul.

It is this provision that will be taken up in this study of “God’s Cure for Sin.” In Genesis 3:15 we see the first beam of light for lost humanity pointing toward Christ, the Redeemer of man. A key lesson in this quarter deals with God offering His own Son as a substitute for mankind.

Woven into this quarter are lessons covering the events leading up to Easter. We will explore the message and hope of the Resurrection as the foundation of the Gospel, and will learn how one can be enabled to walk in newness of life. We will also study some of the results of salvation and the benefits it brings into one’s life.

May God bless you as you explore His plan for the redemption of man.

SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES

Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-9

QUESTION

1. Was it necessary for the stone to be rolled away from the tomb in order for Jesus to come forth? Explain, using John 20:19 as a reference. If not, then why did the angel come down from Heaven to roll back the stone?
2. Using Matthew 27:66 and 28:2,4, describe how the visible effects of the Resurrection showed that Jesus was victor over the efforts of the chief priests, the Roman government, and nature.
3. What particular point of the Easter story does Mark 15:43-46 and John 19:31-34 establish? How does John 20:20 prove that He rose from the dead?
4. What is the great importance of the Resurrection of Christ to the Christian and the Church today?
5. To whom did Jesus first personally appear after His resurrection? Who else saw Him alive that first day? See Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-18,34 and John 20:19.
6. Using the following Scriptures, what were the different reactions of those who were told of His resurrection?
   • Matthew 28:8
   • Matthew 28:9; John 20:16
   • Matthew 28:11-15
   • Mark 16:11; Luke 24:11; John 20:25
   • Luke 24:12
   • Luke 24:22-23
   • John 20:8
7. What had Jesus done to prepare His disciples for the shock of His death and resurrection? See Matthew 16:21; Mark 9:9-10 and Luke 9:21-22; 24:6-8,44.
8. In considering the events of the first Easter, what do we have today that helps us to believe that Jesus is alive? See John 20:31. What might we conclude with regard to our responsibility to believe?