The Impact of Christ's Resurrection | Easter Bible Study Series | Mike Prah

Apr 13, 2022 | by Mike Prah

THE IMPACT OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION – Pt2 | BIBLE STUDY SERIES | MIKE PRAH

INTRODUCTION

In this study we will cover the effects of Christ's crucifixion on the disciples and the benefits of His resurrection on believers.

“After Jesus said this, He showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” John 20:20, NIV

JESUS PREDICTED HIS OWN RESURRECTION

“Jesus was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” Mark 9:31, NIV

“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.” Matthew 16:21, NLT

"The next day, on the Sabbath,[a] the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” Matthew 27:62-64, NLT

“The Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.” “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.” John 2:18-22, NLT

The arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus were shocking and devastating experiences for His disciples. Their joy, confidence and hope were suddenly terminated, crushed and shattered. They were completely disoriented, perplexed, and frustrated!

“Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous robber, that you come like this, armed to the teeth to capture me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill the prophecies about me.” Meanwhile, all his disciples had fled. There was, however, a young man following along behind, clothed only in a linen nightshirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he escaped, though his clothes were torn off in the process, so that he ran away completely naked.” Mark 14:48-52, LB

Even Peter, the bravest one among the early disciples of Jesus, who dared to follow Jesus during His trial, could only follow at a distance. Moreover, according to Jesus’ words, before a rooster crowed, he had denied Jesus three times (Luke 22:54-62).

“So they arrested Jesus and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!” After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.” Luke 22:54-62, NLT

“It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.” John 20:19, GN

WHY WERE JESUS' DISCIPLES SO FRIGHTENED AFTER JESUS WAS ARRESTED AND CRUCIFIED?

On several occasions Jesus taught His disciples what would happen to Him as His ministry drew to its close. He told them,

“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise” Mark 9:31, NIV

Why, then, did they flee and act so frightened when He was arrested?

One reason is because they didn’t understand what He was saying—but didn’t want to embarrass themselves by admitting it.

“But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him” Mark 9:32, NIV

The idea that someone might die and then come back to life again was impossible for them to grasp it.

Another reason, I suspect, is because they were overwhelmed with disappointment by Jesus’ arrest. They had hoped He would overcome the power of the Roman government and establish a new kingdom, and now their hopes of this vanished. They were also filled with fear for their own future.

It’s easy to condemn those disciples—but how often does this happen to us? How often do we doubt God’s Word and act as if it isn’t true? As believers we must believe God’s Word even though it seems impossible to us.

THE IMPACT OF CHRIST’S RESSURRECTION ON BELIEVERS

1. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN MY FAILURES ARE NOT FATAL

Jesus: “For this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” Matthew 26:28-29, NLT

“Christ died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God, filling us with God’s goodness.” Romans 4:25, LB

“If Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, NLT

“But the fact is that Christ did actually rise from the dead and has become the first of millions who will come back to life again someday.” 1 Corinthians 15:20, LB

2. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN, MY PRESENT LIFE IS MEANINGFUL

“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope God has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:18-20, NLT

Jesus’ core message to all of us is, “Follow Me.” Below are some “Follow Me” passages with blessings for Christ-followers.

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19, NIV

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” John 19:27-28, NIV

“Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man[a] to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” John 12:23-26, NLT

3. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN, MY FUTURE IS SECURED – DEATH IS NOT FINAL

“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 25:8, NIV

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, NLT

“The truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, GN

Conclusion: Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ . . .

We don’t have to be afraid of anything
We don’t have to feel that our life is out of control
We don’t have to feel helpless