What If It’s True?

Several friends were talking in a restaurant when the conversation came around to dying.

“What If

It’s True?”

EASTER REALITIES #4

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Easter Realities

They asked each other what they would like people to say about them at their funerals.

“WHAT IF IT’S TRUE?”

Le ade r ’s Guide

Part 1 IDENTIFY THE CURRENT ISSUE

Note to Leader: Provide each person with the Par ticipant ’s Guide

The first said, “I’d like them to talk about my career successes and all the good I did for people during my lifetime of hard work.”

included at the end of this study.

Several friends were talking in a restaurant when the conversation came around to dying.

They asked each other what they would like people to say about them at their funerals. The

The second said, “I’d like someone to tell what a great husband and father I was and how much I loved my family and my family loves me.”

first said, “I’d like them to talk about my career successes and all the good I did for people

during my lifetime of hard work.” The second said, “I’d like someone to tell what a great

The third, a Christ Follower said, “I’d like someone to say, ‘His body just moved!’”

husband and father I was and how much I loved my family and my family loves me.” The

third said, “I’d like someone to say, ‘His body just moved!’”

That’s the story of Easter.

Jesus was dead from crucifixion on Friday, and on Sunday morning, his body moved!

his body moved! Listen to the record written by Luke, the physician and historian. Read

Listen to the record written by Luke, the physician and historian. Read

Luke 24:1–35 NIV

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

.

If what I just read to you is true, then it is, by far, the most important event in human history.

When Jesus rose from the dead it potentially changed EVERY human life!

What if Jesus had not risen from the dead?

Discussion Starters:

[Q] Gowing up, what was the best thing about Easter?

[Q] How do you think the people around you regard the Resurrection story?

[Q] What does it matter if Jesus did rise from the dead? What if Jesus had not risen

from the dead?

Part 2 DISCOVER THE ETERNAL PRINCIPLES

1. Easter morning began with unbelief, but what if . . . ?

What a stunning story! The dead Jesus came back to life again—that is, if he actually died.

Some have suggested that he almost died but not quite, and that his followers nursed him

Some have suggested that he almost died but not quite, and that his followers nursed him back to full health and strength.

back to full health and strength. That makes little sense. Beat a man until his body is raw and

That makes little sense.

Beat a man until his body is raw and bleeding.

bleeding. Nail him to a cross for six hours. Run a spear up under his ribs and through his

Nail him to a cross for six hours.

Run a spear up under his ribs and through his organs.

organs. Have his death certified by professional executioners whose careers and lives

Have his death certified by professional executioners whose careers and lives depended on the prisoner being dead.

depended on the prisoner being dead. Bury him for three days. Then nurse him back to

Bury him for three days.

normal? He was dead. Dead.

Then nurse him back to normal health?

Church, He was dead! Dead!

Somehow, spectacularly, supernaturally, Jesus came to life again.

But his family, friends, and followers had a difficult time:

followers had a difficult time: “[T]hey did not believe the women, because their words

Luke 24:11 NIV

11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

The whole idea that Jesus was alive again was

seemed to them like nonsense” (). The whole idea that Jesus was alive again was

The whole idea that Jesus was alive again was simply crazy to them.

simply crazy to them.

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Easter Realities

There was, however, one who was willing to check the situation out for himself.

“WHAT IF IT’S TRUE?”

Le ade r ’s Guide

Peter got up and ran to the tomb to see if Jesus’ body was gone.

There was, however, one who was willing to check the situation out for himself. Peter got up

Although he still wasn’t fully convinced, we must admire his open-mindedness.

and ran to the tomb to see if Jesus’ body was gone. Although he still wasn’t fully convinced, we

When everyone around you has a settled opinion, it takes a lot of courage to research the facts for yourself.

must admire his open-mindedness. When everyone around you has a settled opinion, it takes a

Peter must have thought: It can’t be true—but what if it is?

lot of courage to research the facts for yourself. Peter must have thought: It can’t be true—but

What if the impossible has happened?

what if it is? What if the impossible has happened? What if God overruled death and brought Jesus

What if God overruled death and brought Jesus back to life?

back to life? That was Easter morning.

That was Easter morning.

2. Easter evening brought hopelessness, but what if . . . ?

What does this tell you about Jesus’ followers at that time?

[Q] What convincing resurrection evidence did God leave for doubters? Make a list.

[Q] What conversation might the women have had on the way back from the tomb?

[Q] Why didn’t all the disciples go—run, even—to check the tomb?

[Q] What might Peter have been “wondering” (v. 12) as he went away from the tomb?

[Q] Have you always believed the Resurrection? If so, why? If not, what helped your

unbelief?

Optional Activity: Like Christmastime, Easter weekend is a time when nonchurchgoers

look for church services to attend. So, invite those around you. Pray

together as a group for those you’d like to ask. You could even take time together as a

group to write up some personal invitations.

Teaching Point Two: Easter evening brought hopelessness, but what if . . . ?

Late on Easter afternoon, two people were walking west on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

Emmaus. They were full of the news of the day. It seemed that all of Jerusalem was talking

They were full of the news of the day.

It seemed that all of Jerusalem was talking about what had happened.

about what had happened. Jesus was famous. He had been crucified where everyone could

Jesus was famous.

He had been crucified where everyone could watch.

watch. Everyone knew he was dead—some were grateful to be done with him and others were

Everyone knew he was dead—some were grateful to be done with him and others were grieving their loss—but everyone knew he was dead.

grieving their loss—but everyone knew he was dead.

Now there were stories that his body was missing and claims that he had come back to life.

Some remembered that Jesus had predicted this would happen. Others recalled his earlier

Some remembered that Jesus had predicted this would happen.

miracles and figured that if anyone could do this Jesus was the one. For this pair it was too

Others recalled his earlier miracles and figured that if anyone could do this Jesus was the one.

For this pair it was too much to hope—too farfetched, too impossible.

much to hope—too farfetched, too impossible. It was more the delusions of deep grief than

It was more the delusions of deep grief than anything close to the truth.

anything close to the truth. They had trusted that Jesus was the Savior everyone needed. They

They had trusted that Jesus was the Savior everyone needed.

They had joined his cause.

had joined his cause. They believed in him as being sent from God. All their hopes were

They believed in him as being sent from God.

All their hopes were shattered when the Romans killed Jesus.

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Easter Realities

They didn’t want to get their hopes back up just to be disappointed all over again.

“WHAT IF IT’S TRUE?”

Le ade r ’s Guide

shattered when the Romans killed Jesus. They didn’t want to get their hopes back up just to

be disappointed all over again.

As they walked and talked, a fellow traveler came alongside them.

They should have recognized him but didn’t.

recognized him but didn’t. Perhaps they were blinded by the bright sun low in the western

Perhaps they were blinded by the bright sun low in the western sky; perhaps it was just too unbelievable for them to recognize who the traveler was.

sky; perhaps it was just too unbelievable for them to recognize who the traveler was. When

When the two travelers finally recognized who this was—when they realized Jesus was alive—they rushed the seven miles back to Jerusalem in the dark to tell Jesus’ followers the news.

the two travelers finally recognized who this was—when they realized Jesus was alive—they

Luke 24:34 NIV

34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

).

rushed the seven miles back to Jerusalem in the dark to tell Jesus’ followers the news. “It is

3. Easter makes us confront whether the Resurrection is true and then demands that we act on that belief.

true!” they said, “The Lord has risen!” ().

I think there is are a couple of possibilities:

[Q] Why don’t you think the travelers recognized Jesus?

Jesus’ body looked different

[Q] “[B]eginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said

in all the Scriptures concerning himself ” (v. 27). What did Jesus explain? As a group,

make a list of all you think Jesus might have referenced for these two.

[Q] When have your eyes been opened to Jesus through intimate fellowship with him?

When did your heart last “burn within” while learning from Jesus? How can you create

that kind of time to hear from him this week?

Teaching Point Three: Easter makes us confront whether the

Resurrection is true and then demands that we act on that belief.

What if it really is true?

Perhaps you have no doubt. You are convinced that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay for your sins.

of God who died on the cross to pay for your sins. You believe. You’ve declared your belief to

You believe. You’ve declared your belief to God.

God. You have committed to Jesus as your Savior from sin and Lord of your life. You know

You have committed to Jesus as your Savior from sin and Lord of your life.

it’s true!

You know it’s true!

If it’s true that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, then everything Jesus taught must also be true.

If everything Jesus taught is true, we can’t be neutral.

true. If everything Jesus taught is true, we can’t be neutral. We must be total believers or not

We must be total believers or not believers at all.

believers at all. C. S. Lewis said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, is of

C. S. Lewis said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, is of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” If the resurrection

If the resurrection of Jesus is true then we must believe fully in Jesus and follow him passionately.

of Jesus is true then we must believe fully in Jesus and follow him passionately. He is our

He is our guarantee of life after death and heaven forever.

guarantee of life after death and heaven forever. He is the assurance of God’s presence and

He is the assurance of God’s presence and blessing in this life and beyond.

blessing in this life and beyond. If Easter is true, it changes everything!

If Easter is true, it changes everything!

CLOSE: Blaise Pascal was a brilliant 17th-century French scientist and philosopher.

Jesus?

[Q] What does it really matter that Jesus rose from the dead? What does it change?

[Q] Who, in your circle of influence, needs to hear the Resurrection story from you?

When and how?

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His research and theories in mathematics, physics, economics, and social science significantly influence these modern disciplines today.

Easter Realities

“WHAT IF IT’S TRUE?”

Le ade r ’s Guide

Part 3 APPLY YOUR FINDINGS

Pascal’s Wager is one of the most famous arguments of philosophy: an argument for the existence of God.

Blaise Pascal was a brilliant 17th-century French scientist and philosopher. His research and

theories in mathematics, physics, economics, and social science significantly influence these

Stretch your minds with me to hear what Pascal said:

modern disciplines today. Pascal’s Wager is one of the most famous arguments of philosophy:

an argument for the existence of God. Stretch your minds with me to hear what Pascal said:

Pascal’s Wager

If you believe in God and he exists, you go to heaven. Infinite benefit.

God exists or doesn’t exist. Everyone must decide. If you believe in God and he exists, you go to heaven. Infinite benefit. If you don’t believe in God and he exists, you go to Hell. Infinite loss.

If you don’t believe in God and he exists, you don’t go to heaven. Infinite loss.

If you believe in God and he doesn’t exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing.In other words, those who believe in God have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

If you believe in God and he doesn’t exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing.

In other words, those who believe in God have everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Those who don’t believe in God have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

Pascal said that the smart and wise person will choose to believe in God.

The same goes for the resurrection of Jesus.

the resurrection of Jesus. We all must decide if we believe it’s true or not. If we choose not to

We all must decide if we believe it’s true or not.

If we choose not to believe, and Jesus really did rise from the dead, we have everything to lose.

believe, and Jesus really did rise from the dead, we have everything to lose. If we choose to

If we choose to believe in the truth of the resurrection, we have everything to gain—God, Jesus, eternal life, and more.

believe in the truth of the resurrection, we have everything to gain—God, Jesus, eternal life,

and more.

What would you do if, tomorrow morning, you were on your way to work, and you were the first person to come upon an accident.

You exit your vehicle and discover that everyone seems okay, a little banged up, but one person.

tell others about it! Like the women at the tomb and the Emmaus road travelers

This person was obviously dead; body twisted and broken, no pulse, no breathing, nothing but dead.

As you assist the living as best you can, you await the emergency personnel to begin treating everyone in earnest.

Once EMTs arrive they confirm what you already knew, one person is dead.

As the scene is worked, and you continue to assist, someone shouts, “Look, over here!”

You turn that direction and notice they are near the dead body, except you also notice there is movement from under the sheet that was placed over this person.

As EMTs rush to remove the sheet and offer life-saving assistance, they pull back the sheet, and there, underneath is a person you recognize, sort of.

They are wearing the same clothes as the person you and everyone else, including emergency personnel, said (KNEW!) was dead.

They had the same color hair, except now it wasn't matted with blood.

You slowly come to realize, this person is not dead, but alive!

Not just alive, but alive and WELL!

Do you think you would tell that story to someone for the rest of your life?

What do we do when someone rises from the dead?

did. We run and tell our friends. Easter is a perfect, comfortable time to start the

We tell others about it!

Like the women at the tomb and the Emmaus road travelers did.

We run and tell our friends.

Easter is a perfect, comfortable time to start the conversation with someone at work, in your family, or in your neighborhood: “So, I’ve been reading about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection . . . what do you think about all that?”

conversation with someone at work, in your family, or in your neighborhood:

Ask God to go ahead of you and pave the way.

“So, I’ve been reading about Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection . . . what do you

if you’re here today and you have never really accepted the risen Jesus as your Savior, come receive Him into your life; begin to live for Him!

think about all that?” Ask God to go ahead of you and pave the way.

Let us pray...