Youth Search The Scripture Lesson: 73
TOPIC: RESURRECTION OF CHRIST AND THE GREAT COMMISSION
Text: Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-53
Memory Verse: "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved
Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46, 47).
Christ,
our sacrificial Lamb, was killed and buried to fulfill Scriptural prophecy. He
rose from the dead on the third day and gave us victory over sin and death.
Question
1: Why is Christ's resurrection important to the Christian faith?
The
teaching on Christ's resurrection is pivotal in the gospel mess age. Any gospel
message that undermines the resurrection of Christ is vain (1 Corinthians
15:12-14). It is also the seal and the theme of the gospel message of Christ.
Immediately after His resurrection, Jesus charged His disciples with the great
commission of preaching the gospel of salvation from sin through His redemptive
work. To day,all
saved youths who believe in Jesus and the power of His resurrection have the
man date to share the gospel of salvation from sin with their friends and un
saved family members.
THE
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST (Matthew 28:1-15;Mark 16:1-10; Luke 24:1-10;Psalm 16:10;
Acts 13:34,35; Philippians 3:10; 1Corinthians 6:14;Romans 8:11)
"And,
beh old, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from
heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it"
(Matthew 28:2). The physical manifestation of the power of God through the
earthquake and the rolling of the great stone from the entrance of the grave of
Jesus by the "angel of the Lord" was a clear indication that God was
involved in the resurrection of His Son. The resurrection of Christ from the dead
was made possible by the power of God. The women in our text came to the sepulchre
very early on the first day of the week to discover the wonder of Christ's
resurrection. They had prepared sweet spices to anoint the body of Jesus, only
to find the tomb empty. Christ's resurrection is very central to God's plan of
salvation for mankind. God, therefore, ensured that Christ rose from the dead
without experiencing decay in the grave. The Roman soldiers could not stop His
resurrection. "And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as
dead men'(Matthew 28:4). Christian youths can rest assured that if they live righteously,
they too will partake in the future resurrection of the saints.
Question
2: How can Christian youths partake in the future resurrection of the saints?
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall
also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you"
(Romans 8:11). Today, the power. Of resurrection can quicken our mortal body to
live victoriously over sin and the flesh. THE
DISPLAY
OF DOUBT BY CHRIST'S DISCIPLES (Matthew 28:16,17; Mark 16:11-14;Luke 24:11-46;Mark 9:31,32)
Christ, before His death, had on many occasions His disciples of how the Jews
would kill Him and how He would resurrect on the third day (Matthew
26:1,2,32;Mark 8:31;9:9,31;10:33,34;Luke 9:22,44).Apart from this, prophecies
in the Old Testament attested to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His
eventual resurrection (Genesis 3:15; Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). With this prior
knowledge, one would have thought that the disciples were better informed of Christ's
crucifixion, death, burial and resurection,but they received the news as
"idle tales, and they believed them not"(Luke 24:11). This display of
doubt attracted the displeasure of Christ who pronounced them as "fools,
and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke
24:25).The Scriptures recorded that the disciples did not understand Christ's teachings
about His death and resurrection and were afraid to ask Him (Mark 9:31,32; Luke
9:44,45).However, the story changed when Jesus berated them and showed them His
hands and feet.
Christian
youths are therefore called to note that their attitude and response to the
word of God is central to benefiting from it.
Question
3: What should believing youths do to profit from the word of God?
To
benefit from the word of God, Christian youths should do the following: (1)
Read and study the Bible (2) Meditate on the Scriptures (3) Obey instructions
from the Bible (4) Attend Bible study or Search the Scriptures classes and (5)
Believe scriptural promises and apply them to their lives. The soldiers who
guarded the sepulchre were eye witnesses of Christ's resurrection. They, however,
took counsel with the chief priests and elders to lie that Jesus' disciples came
to steal Him away in the night while they slept,
having collected "large money" from them. The Scripture declares
"But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death" (Revelation 21:8).Children of God are to reject any form of
enticement to pervert the truth. Sadly, some Christian youths are rejecting the
truth because of mundane and fleshly gratifications which will lead them to
eternal regret unless they repent. Repentance from sin and acceptance of Jesus
as Lord and Saviour remains the only way out of spending eternity in hell-fire.
They should be resolute like Daniel not to defile themselves (Daniel 1:8); and declare
their stand like Joseph: “There is none greater in house than I; neither hath
he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then
can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"(Genesis 39:9).
THE
PROCLAMATION OF THE GREAT COMMISSION (Matthew 28:18-20;Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47 53,John 15:16;Romans
10:13-15; 2 Timothy 4:1,2; 1 Corinthians 9:16)
Question
4:What is the Great Commission?
"And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned" (Mark16:15,16). The Great Commission is the
mandate given by Christ to His disciples to preach the gospel of salvation from
sin through His sacrifice on the cross at Calvary to every creature. Jesus
charged the disciples that "repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in his name". The preaching of the gospel must emphasise repentance
from sin. The gospel is the heartbeat of God who is "not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). It
is total turning away from sin and Satan to serve the living God. Repentance should
also be proclaimed in "his name" signifying that Jesus should be the
central focus in the preaching of the gospel. Preachers of the Great Commission
must avoid projecting their denomination, pastors and even contemporary world
events more than Jesus who gave His life as an atonement for our sins. Jesus
also commanded that those who believe in the gospel message be baptized.
Partaking in water baptism makes new believers in Christ to openly identify
with Christ in His death, burial resurrection (Romans 6:4). New believers are also
to be taught the word. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I
have commanded you: and, lo, lam with you always, even unto the end of the
world. Amen'" (Matthew 28:20). This underscores the place of follow-up in
the Great Commission. Converts should be systematically exposed to all the
requirements of their new found faith and be established in a Bible believing
Church. "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry
ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high"
(Luke 24:49). To effectively carry out this mandate, the disciples need to be
endued with the power of the Holy Ghost.
This power came upon the be livers on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
Question
5: Why is the baptism in the Holy Ghost essential in preaching the gospel?
