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10. The Life of Paul

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©2007 David A. Jones.
All rights reserved.

OBJECTIVES:  To teach
1. The importance of the Resurrection.
2. The resurrection is a fact duly witnessed and proven.
3. That it is not enough to hear the Word of the Lord. It must be believed and obeyed.
4. That the prophesies of the resurrection have been fulfilled proving that we can believe that other prophecies will also be carried out.
5. That the promise of life that has been given us depends on the resurrection. “Because I live, you shall live also.” John 14:19.

SCENE No. 1.  Outside the sepulchre.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- The opening of the tomb by the angel frightened the guards, making them shake and become as dead men.
- Afterwards the soldiers went to the city to tell their story to the Jewish leaders, who gave them money to spread a lie about what had happened.
Cmt. The leaders believed the soldiers’ story while the disciples doubted what the woman later on recounted.  - The women had  worried about who would take away the great stone that covered the entrance to the sepulchre.
- It proved to be an unnecessary concern, one produced by  their lack of faith, for an angel had already removed the stone.
- The women named in Mark 16:1 had risen very early in the morning to buy the spices and ointments for anointing the body of Jesus.
- It was evidence of their great love to Him, but they arrived too late.
- Due to their lack of faith, they had not understood when Jesus said prior to His death that He would rise again, and thus could not carry out their desire.
Apl. This contrasts with Mary of Bethany who perceived that Jesus would rise from the dead very soon, so she anointed Him BEFORE His death. She had believed His word.
Apl. It is not enough to hear the words of the Lord Jesus.  One must also understand and believe them.
Apl. We must act upon our understanding as each opportunity arises, as did Mary.

SCENE No. 2.  Inside the tomb.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- Two apostles, Peter and John, notified by Mary Magdalene, reach the sepulchre.
- It is interesting to compare the possible thoughts of these two disciples.
- Peter´s last contact with the Lord Jesus was when he denied Him.
- John was the disciple who was given the charge of caring for the mother of the Lord and was present at Calvary to the end.
- It is noteworthy that they find the graveclothes all in order, proving that the Lord had come out of them without unwinding them. (His resurrected body could pass through solid material without a problem, as also happened when He appeared to His disciples despite the doors of the room being shut.)
- The napkin that had been about His head is found set aside and folded up, showing a definite action, carefully done as if to say “I need it no longer”.
- It also shows it was not done in any hurry, as would have happened had the body been stolen, so that action disproves the story the Jews were telling.
- Mary Magdalene returns to the Garden also and remains there.
- Both disciples “went away again unto their own home. BUT Mary ...” (John 20:10 y 11)
- Her great devotion is rewarded by the appearance of the Lord Jesus, whom she at first believes to be the gardener.
Apl. The Saviour of the world can be very near without a person realizing it.
- He speaks to her with kindness and sends her to tell the disciples, who have not seen Him yet.
1. Mention briefly the Lord’s appearing to the two on the road to Emmaus. (It is not known if they were two men or husband and wife).
2. The news of the Lord’s resurrection was of such importance that it had to be made known immediately.
3. The arrival of the two disciples from Emmaus would encourage the disheartened ones in Jerusalem.  Apl. It is sufficient that one or two in a group of discouraged persons receive some encouraging information, which if  received with faith, can be used to encourage the rest.

SCENE No. 3.  In the Upper Room.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- Thomas is absent when ten of the disciples meet behind doors tightly closed for fear of the Jews.
- Without opening the door, the Lord enters the upper room, His resurrected body being capable of doing things our bodies can not.
Cns. Dimensions besides those of space and time exist which, although not perceived by our mortal bodies, will be discovered when our bodies are changed at the coming of the Lord
- The time had come to prove to these distrustful disciples that the Lord truly was alive and active.
Cns. One big difference between Christianity and religions of the past and present is a living Lord Jesus, not a dead founder or prophet.
- The Lord appears to these disciples to give them peace, for they are upset and perplexed about what has been happening and about the future.
- He shows them His hands and His side, evidences of the suffering He went through to obtain our peace.
Cns. The Lord Jesus is in Heaven today bearing in His resurrected body the marks of His crucifixion. See Rev. 5:6, “a Lamb as it had been slain”.
- The Lord tells the disciples what they are to do in the future and gives them the Holy Spirit so they will have power to carry out His will.
Lsn. All service for the Lord must be carried out in dependence on the Holy Spirit.
- The Holy Spirit would come in His fullness at Pentecost, ten days after the Lord ascended to Heaven, but meanwhile He does not leave them alone.  He gives them power to serve.  See John 20:22.
Apl. Previously the Lord has said, “Because I live, ye shall live also”,   John 14:19. These words now became a reality, for they are confirmed before their eyes.  He is alive and life with Christ in heaven is assured.

SCENE No. 4
DEVELOPMENT OF THE LESSON:
- Suggested VISUALS:
A figure representing Jonah being vomited on shore. The great fish, representing Jonah’s “sepulchre”.
The resurrected Lord. The angel proclaiming “He is risen”.
The words “As Jonas was three days and three nights  in the whale’s belly.. “
The words (separated from the above words) “So shall the Son of man be three days and   three nights in the heart of the earth.”
The empty tomb, the Lord’s sepulchre.
- The well known story of Jonah was used by the Lord to foretell how long He would remain in the grave.  Matt. 12:40.
- Once he had returned to this life, Jonah went and preached a  message of life to Nineveh.
Apl. The Lord Jesus sent His own to preach the message of eternal life.
- Since what was foretold about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus has been completely fulfilled, we can be sure that other promises will also be accomplished.
Ex. The second coming of Christ.