Text Study for Sunday, April 20, 2025

Easter

Reading: Luke 24:1-12

Connecting Question

Tell about a time you were genuinely surprised. What happened?

Prayer for Illumination

Everlasting God, the whole universe sings a new song of praise: the rivers clap their hands, the hills ring out for joy. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us voices ready to cry out for justice and proclaim resurrection joy wherever your Spirit leads us. In Jesus' name we boldly pray. Amen.

CONTEXT

What a week! Jesus has ridden to Jerusalem on a colt as people acclaim him as king, then he enters the Temple and drives out people who had set up markets there. In the Temple, Jesus speaks about the destruction of the Temple, the persecution that will afflict his followers, the siege of Jerusalem, and his future return as the glorified “Son of Man.” He celebrates Passover with his disciples, at which Jesus says that the bread and wine are his body and blood. Judas, prompted to act by Satan, secretly offers to betray Jesus. Jesus offers final teachings to his disciples and tells Peter that he will deny him three times. At the Mount of Olives, Jesus prays and submits himself to God’s will. A group of chief priests, temple officers, and elders arrives to arrest Jesus and take him to the high priest’s house. Outside, Peter denies having any association with the prisoner Jesus three times. A council of Jewish leaders interrogates Jesus then accuses him before the Roman governor, Pilate. First Pilate, then Herod Antipas, question Jesus until at last Pilate grants the leaders’ and crowd’s demands that Jesus be crucified. Jesus is crucified between two outlaws, one of whom turns to Jesus and is promised a place in Paradise. Jesus dies quoting Psalm 31:5 (“Into your hand I commit my spirit”), and a Roman centurion declares Jesus’ innocence. Joseph of Arimathea places Jesus’ corpse into a never-used tomb carved into rock. A group of women who were among Jesus’ followers discover his tomb empty on the first day of the new week.

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

From Dr Matt Skinner at EntertheBible.org:

A main focus of Luke’s Gospel is the nature of the salvation that Jesus Christ provides. Because Jesus encounters a wide variety of people in Luke, this Gospel offers a glimpse into the different facets of salvation–its spiritual, physical, and social dimensions. Because Jesus speaks many parables in Luke, this Gospel also becomes a source for deep reflection about the nature of God’s reign and the ways of living faithfully in this world.

Look at the Book

What is a favorite Easter tradition in your life?
Do you have a favorite Easter hymn or song?
Maundy Thursday celebrates the Lord’s Supper and the new commandment (a new mandate). Which one speaks to you this Holy Week?
Good Friday honors Jesus’s death in a solemn way. Why might people want to skip this stop during holy week?
Holy Saturday can be celebrated with an “Easter Vigil.” Some churches light a “new fire” outside the sanctuary and process in. Baptisms are often celebrated. Have you experienced this before?
Open to Luke 24. Who were the first witnesses of the resurrection? Why does this matter?
What is the good news in Luke 24:5-7?
Verse 8 is powerful. What do the women do? What sacrament do we celebrate every other week in worship where we “practice” remembering?
Who was present when the news was announced in verse 9-10?
Notice who is named and the order in the last few verses. What do we know about them?
What’s happening in verse 11? How has the testimony of women been discredited in other ways today? What might be Luke being trying to say given that he names the women?
How do you try to “live” Easter?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?

Taking it Home

Easter is a core promise of being a Christian. How might it give someone confidence to live courageously today?

God of the promise, you call your people together into your one mission in Christ’s name. Make us brave, grant us peace, challenge our expectations, and empower us to truly follow your Spirit’s lead. You are our one God who calls us together as one people, and we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Grow Guide | April 20, 2025