REFERENCE TEXTS : MATT. 28: 1-10; MK. 16: 1-14; LUKE 24: 1-35
To resurrect means to come back to life after death. Jesus’ power over death was confirmed by His resurrection. The four gospel writers – Matthew, Mark and Luke gave the accounts of Jesus’ resurrection.
The Account Of Resurrection In Matthew (Matthew 28: 1-8)
The resurrection story of Jesus Christ in St. Matthew’s gospel holds that early in the morning , on the day after the Sabbath(Sunday), Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James went to the tomb. There was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. The appearance of the angel was lightning and his raiment as white as snow. This created great fear in the guards.
The resurrection story of Jesus Christ in St. Matthew’s gospel holds that early in the morning , on the day after the Sabbath(Sunday), Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James went to the tomb. There was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. The appearance of the angel was lightning and his raiment as white as snow. This created great fear in the guards.
The angel said to the women ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He has risen as He said.’ The angel further invited the women to come and see where He was laid. The angel finally directed the women to go quickly and tell His disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead , and to further inform them that Jesus was going before them to Galilee where they would see Him.
Mark’s Account of the Resurrection (Mark 16: 1-8)
After the Sabbath following the day Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome brought spices in order that they might anoint Jesus in tomb. They went to the tomb during the sunset, on Sunday morning, the first day of the week. They wondered who would help them roll away the stone covering the tomb of Jesus. On arrival, they found that the large stone had been rolled away.
On getting to the tomb, the women were amazed to see a young man dressed in a white cloth, sitting on the right side of the tomb. He told them that Jesus was not there but risen. The angel also showed them where Jesus was laid and directed them to go and inform His disciples and Peter that they would see Jesu in Galilee, as He had earlier told them.
Luke’s Account of the Resurrection (Luke 24: 1-11)
On the first day of the week, the woman who followed Jesus from Galilee took the spices which they had prepared and went to the tomb of Jesus in order to anoint His body. However, on getting to the tomb, they found thestone rolled away and nothing in the tomb.
Mark’s Account of the Resurrection (Mark 16: 1-8)
After the Sabbath following the day Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome brought spices in order that they might anoint Jesus in tomb. They went to the tomb during the sunset, on Sunday morning, the first day of the week. They wondered who would help them roll away the stone covering the tomb of Jesus. On arrival, they found that the large stone had been rolled away.
On getting to the tomb, the women were amazed to see a young man dressed in a white cloth, sitting on the right side of the tomb. He told them that Jesus was not there but risen. The angel also showed them where Jesus was laid and directed them to go and inform His disciples and Peter that they would see Jesu in Galilee, as He had earlier told them.
Luke’s Account of the Resurrection (Luke 24: 1-11)
On the first day of the week, the woman who followed Jesus from Galilee took the spices which they had prepared and went to the tomb of Jesus in order to anoint His body. However, on getting to the tomb, they found thestone rolled away and nothing in the tomb.
While the women were afraid by what they saw, two men stood in dazzling apparel. As the women wer frightened, and bowed their faces to the ground, the spoke to them saying, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?’The men reminded them of the Jesus’earlier revelation about His crucifixion and resurrection. The women remembered His words, and as they came back , they told what had happened to the eleven apostles and to the others. The women who went to the tomb and brought the the news of the resurrection were Mary Magdalene, Joana, Mary the mother of James and others. The apostles received the news of resurrection of Jesus , as presented by the women, with doubt.
The Importance Of The Resurrection Of Jesus To The Christian Faith. 1 Cor. 15: 3-8, 12-20.1. Christ resurrection is the basis of Christian faith. If there was no resurrection, there would not be any Christianity.
2. The resurrection of Christ teaches christians that there is life after death.
3. The resurrection shows Jesus as the Saviour of the world.
4. Jesus’resurrection made the disciples to be courageous and bold in the spreading of the gospel.
5. It provides hope for christians about eternal life – a hope that the Lord we are serving is alive.
6. By His resurrection, Jesus won a victory over death.
7. We can now believe all He had taught because it has been fully known that His words actually came from God, He is truly God.
8. His resurrection saved the faith of the christians.
9. Christ arose and ascended to glory. The same glory awaits Christians since Christ as the second Adam is a life-giving Spirit.
