AGENDA – WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD

OPENING PRAYER - Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to read and study Your Word. Please guide our thoughts and open our hearts to understand the truths You want to reveal. In Jesus' name, Amen.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – We Have Seen the Lord
POINT OF INTEREST - Because of this incident, Thomas is often called "Doubting Thomas." But Thomas gets a bad rap. All he wants is what the other disciples already had—the privilege of seeing and touching Jesus. 
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – THE ROAD TO EMMAUS 
POINT OF INTEREST - The gospels are emphatic that Jesus' resurrection was bodily. They are clear that Jesus is not a ghost or a vision. This is why Jesus eats food, and the disciples touch him: Ghosts can't eat or be touched! Even though the gospels are clear that the resurrection was physical, Jesus still does very surprising things like appear out of nowhere and enter into rooms that are locked and shuttered.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – JESUS APPEARS IN GALILEE
SCENIC VIEW - These instructions by Jesus are often called "The Great Commission" since they summarize what Jesus commissions his disciples to do to continue his work. Yet Jesus' disciples do not carry out this work alone. Jesus promises to be with them always, a reminder that he is the one prophesied in Isaiah, "Emmanuel," God is with us (Matthew 1:23).
POINT OF INTEREST - Jesus asks Peter the same question three times. This recalls Peter's triple denial of Jesus before his death (John 18:17-27). Peter is given a chance to affirm Jesus three times, just as he had previously denied him three times.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – JESUS' ASCENSION
SCENIC VIEW - After Jesus' Ascension, the disciples just stand around, staring up at heaven. Two men in white robes, messengers from God, are there to remind them that standing and staring at heaven is a waste of time—they have work to do. The rest of the book of Acts will tell the story of what happens once the disciples get moving and follow through on Jesus' commission to them.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – PAUL'S ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS
Scripture Citations 
JOHN 12:1, 9-12 | 18:28b-19:16a 
MARK 11:1-21, 27 | 12:28-34 | 12:38-40 | 13:1-13 14:1-11 | 15:21-32a | 15:33-47 
MATTHEW 21:33b-46 | 26:17-35 | 26:59-68 | 27:1-2
LUKE 21:1-4 | 22:39-62 | 23:39-43
QUESTIONS FOR THE JOURNEY 
1.	In this chapter, we hear the stories of a number of different people who experience the death and resurrection of Jesus: the women who visit the tomb, Peter, Thomas, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and others. Who do you most identify with in this story, and why? 
2.	The women are the first to proclaim the good news of the resurrection. What might this mean for us today?
3.	In many of Jesus' resurrection appearances, his disciples do not immediately recognize him. Why do you think this is? What might this say to us about God? What do you notice about how Jesus is made known to them? 
4.	Each time Jesus appears to the disciples after his resurrection, he gives them instructions and commissions them. Look back at each of Jesus' appearances. What are the specific things that Jesus tells his disciples to do each time? What might these instructions say to us about our job as Jesus' disciples? 
5.	Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus and walks alongside the disciples as a companion on their journey. When have you especially felt Jesus "walking with you" in your journey? What was that like? Did you recognize Jesus while you were walking, or did you notice his presence only in hindsight?
These questions dig deep into the heart of the Easter narrative and how it bridges the gap between ancient history and our daily lives. Here are some thoughts on these themes:
1. Identifying with the Characters
Most people find themselves in Thomas or the Emmaus disciples.
•	Thomas represents the honest doubter—someone who loves Jesus but has been burned by grief and needs a tangible "sign" to believe again.
•	The Emmaus disciples represent those who are "downcast" because things didn't go according to their plan.
•	Peter resonates with anyone who has failed or made a mistake and is looking for a chance at restoration.
2. The First Proclamation by Women
In the first century, a woman’s testimony was often not legally valid in court. By choosing women to be the first witnesses, the story suggests that God’s kingdom operates on a different logic than the world’s power structures.
•	Today, this reminds us that no one is "disqualified" from sharing the truth based on social status, gender, or background. It challenges us to listen to voices that society might otherwise overlook or silence.
3. Recognition and the Nature of God
The disciples’ failure to recognize Jesus (thinking he’s a gardener or a traveler) is fascinating.
•	Why? It suggests that the resurrected Jesus is the same, yet "more." He isn't just a resuscitated corpse; he is transformed.
•	What it says about God: God often shows up in the "ordinary" or the "stranger." He doesn't always announce himself with lightning bolts; he appears in a shared meal or a quiet conversation.
•	How he is known: Jesus is almost always recognized through an intimate action: calling Mary by her name, breaking bread with the disciples, or showing his wounds to Thomas. He is known through relationship, not just sight.
4. Instructions and Commissioning
Across the Gospels and Acts, Jesus’ post-resurrection instructions follow a pattern:
•	"Do not be afraid" and "Go tell": (To the women) Move from fear to action.
•	"Peace be with you": (To the group) Emotional and spiritual wholeness is the starting point.
•	"Feed my sheep": (To Peter) Leadership is about service and sacrifice.
•	"Go and make disciples": (The Great Commission) The message is meant to be global.
Our job: These instructions suggest that being a disciple isn't just about "believing" facts; it’s an active role involving peacemaking, caring for others, and sharing hope.
5. Walking the Road to Emmaus
The Emmaus story is famous for the "burning hearts" the disciples felt before they realized it was Jesus.
•	Hindsight: Many people find that Jesus is most visible in the "rearview mirror." You might feel alone during a crisis, but looking back months later, you see a string of "coincidences," a supportive friend, or a sudden moment of peace that you now recognize as God’s presence.
•	Companion: It shows that Jesus is interested in our process and our questions, not just our arrival at the destination.
NEXT STEPS 
•	We have heard the story of the resurrection so many times that it is familiar and unsurprising to us, but when the disciples first hear the story of the women, it "seemed to them an idle tale;" it was astonishing and unbelievable. Close your eyes and try to imagine yourself in the place of the disciples, living this story for the first time. What would you feel? How would you respond? 
•	The story of Jesus' resurrection that you read in this chapter is from the gospel of Luke. But each of the gospel writers tells the story of the resurrection in a different way. Read the four stories of the resurrection: Luke 24:1-12, Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, and John 20:1-18. What similarities do you notice? What differences stand out to you? Which version is your favorite, and why? Which version is your least favorite, and why? How does God speak to you through these different narratives?  
Imagining the first Easter requires setting aside the "familiarity" of the story and entering into the sheer confusion and trauma of the disciples.
Stepping Into the Story
If you were there for the first time, you likely wouldn't feel "hopeful"—you would feel shattered.
•	The Emotional Weight: After witnessing the brutal execution of your leader, the "idle tale" of the women would likely sound like a cruel joke or a symptom of deep grief. Your response might be one of skepticism or defensive anger, trying to protect yourself from further disappointment.
•	The Physical Reality: You are hiding in a locked room, fearing the same authorities who killed Jesus. The news of an "empty tomb" wouldn't initially mean "resurrection”it would likely mean grave robbery or further harassment.
Comparing the Four Gospel Narratives
Each writer offers a unique "camera angle" on the same central event: the tomb was empty and Jesus is alive.
Gospel	Key Features of the Resurrection Account	Distinctive Details	
Matthew 28	Dramatic and miraculous.	An earthquake, an angel rolling back the stone in front of the women, and the bribing of guards.	
Mark 16	Abrupt and mysterious.	The women flee in "trembling and astonishment" and tell no one (in the oldest manuscripts), leaving the reader to decide how to respond.	
Luke 24	Personal and conversational.	Focuses on the road to Emmaus and Jesus eating with the disciples to prove he is physically real, not a ghost.	
John 20	Intimate and theological.	Mary Magdalene’s individual encounter in the garden, Peter and the Beloved Disciple racing to the tomb, and the "Doubting Thomas" story.	
Notable Similarities & Differences
•	Similarities: All four agree it was the first day of the week, women were the first witnesses, and the stone was already rolled away (except in Matthew , where we see it happen).
•	Differences: The number of angels varies (one in Matthew/Mark, two in Luke/John). The timing is described differently (from "still dark" to "after sunrise"), though all refer to the same early morning window.
Reflection: How God Speaks Through Diversity
The existence of four different accounts suggests that God values individual perspective over a "sanitized" or "perfectly synchronized" report.
•	Favorite vs. Least Favorite: Many prefer John for its emotional intimacy (Jesus calling Mary by name) or Luke for the relatable "walking companion" on the road to Emmaus. Some find Mark their "least favorite" because of its abrupt ending, yet others love it because it forces the reader to step into the story and finish it themselves.
•	God’s Voice: These variations remind us that truth is multifaceted. Just as four people at a wedding would describe the day differently, the Gospel writers provide a "mosaic" of testimony that confirms the core event while honoring the different ways humans experience God.
CLOSING PRAYER - Lord, thank you for this time of study and for Your Word. As we leave, please help us to carry the truths we've learned into our daily lives and to live out Your teachings. May we continue to grow in faith and reflect Your love to others. Amen.