There is a God
Bradon: Recently, Jon’s plant died in his office. It just didn’t have the proper environment to survive.
Jon: Yeah, it had enough water good soil. I kind of wish that plant was still alive!
Bradon: Unlike your plant, today we learn that Jesus has risen from the dead.
Jon: This is easily my favourite story!
Discussion Episode
Matthew 26-28
About the Story
Bradon: Before we get into the heart of the story today, many things led up to the event that we will talk about today.
Jon: A couple of days before the Jewish festival or holiday Passover, the religious leaders met and made plans to kill Jesus. They were jealous of Jesus and how popular he had become. Also, Rome occupied and controlled Israel. Many thought of Jesus as a rebel against the Roman empire. This idea of Jesus would have created a lot of unnecessary conflict in the eyes of religious leaders who learned to benefit from their relationship with the Roman leaders.
Bradon: A pretty strange event happened that week when Jesus was visiting with a friend named Simon. A woman came into the home and poured costly perfume all over Jesus’ head. Now what’s strange is Jesus’ response he says to his disciples, who are irritated about the woman wasting something so valuable, that she is preparing his body for burial.
Jon: That is a strange moment. Now something a little more sinister. Judas Iscariot, one of two disciples named Judas, goes to the leading priests and agrees to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of Silver. Judas knew they didn’t like Jesus and probably suspected they were planning on doing something to Jesus, so he took advantage of the situation to make some money.
Bradon: I couldn’t imagine how much that must have hurt Jesus. This brings us to what’s known as the last supper. It’s the last meal Jesus ate with his disciples. At this meal, Jesus tells his disciples that Judas would betray him. Then he does something a little strange, predicting his death again. He pulls bread apart and says it’s like his body would soon be broken for their benefit. Then he takes some wine and says it’s like his blood which confirms the covenant between God and his people.
Jon: A Covenant is a commitment sometimes by one person to another or by two people to each other. Ok, a couple more things, Jesus predicts Peter’s denial of Jesus, and then Jesus and his disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prays and asks God to change the plans. You can see Jesus, the person scared and anxious about what will happen. Still, he is committed to obeying God the Father no matter what.
Application
Jon: Jesus has risen from the dead! Think about this. Jesus was fully dead. He even predicted his own death. I think that is incredible!
Bradon: He didn’t just predict his death, but he also indicated that he would come back to life – which he did! Jesus has risen from the dead. He is alive today! Mark 16:19 tells us where Jesus went after he rose back to life and left earth. ‘When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. ‘
Jon: This is important. Jesus died then came back to life, but he didn’t die a second time. He just went to heaven and took his rightful place there. Jesus has risen and is alive today!
Bradon: This is what allows everyone to put their trust in Jesus! He is alive today, and he is even more powerful than death! Jesus brings life to all, and he offers that life to all who ask.
Jon: In fact, in a conversation recorded in John 14:6 with one of his disciples, Thomas. He says this. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
Bradon: Jesus has risen from the dead. He is alive today and offers everyone eternal life with him! What an incredible story today!
