Examine – John 20:1-10

• Q. When you hear the phrase, “the first day of the week” what comes to mind? 
  
  • Discuss. 
  • Most likely you think of Monday and the work week. 
  • Yet before Christ’s resurrection made Sunday special, it was simply the first day of the week.
• Q. Why is it important to examine the biblical account of the resurrection? 
  
  • Give time to answer. 
  • The resurrection is central to the Christian faith. As Paul said, “if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith” (1 Cor 15:14). 
  • Because many people try to attack the resurrection. We need to know the biblical account so we can respond to objections.
  • For example: Some people argue that the accounts disagree on the number of women who went to the tomb (cf. Jn 20:1, Mt 28:1, Lk 24:5). However, John doesn’t say that “only” Mary went to the tomb. Furthermore, Jn 20:2 reads “we don’t know” which clearly indicates that Mary Magdalene wasn’t the only one there.
  • The vast  number of objections are resolved by reading the accounts themselves as the Scripture provides the answers.
• Q. What stands out to you about their reactions to the situation (Mary, Peter, John)?
  
  • Give time to discuss. 
  • They didn’t immediately connect the empty tomb to what Jesus had said. The women thought someone had taken the body, not that He had risen from the dead. 
  • There was a sense of urgency. They wanted to know what had happened so they ran with no concern for what people would say or do.
  • They essentially were doing an investigation. They were carefully looking to see what had happened. Again, they had not connected what was happening to the words of Jesus. 
  • John believed, yet he didn’t fully understand everything.

Questions – John 20:11-13

• Q. How would you describe Mary Magdalene’s words and actions in these verses? What do they show us about her?
  
  • Discuss. 
  • Grieving. She was greatly affected by the absence Jesus’ body. They had come there for a reason, to properly dress the body for burial. She wanted to show the proper respect for Jesus, but now she can’t.
  • Devoted. Mary Magdalene had been delivered by Jesus. She had been freed of seven demons (Lk 8:2). Now she was desperately looking for “my lord” (Jn 20:13). 
  • Mistaken. She still didn’t see the significance of the empty tomb. She didn’t realize that Jesus was alive. 
• Q. How would you describe the angels’ conversation with Mary? 
  
  • Give time to answer. 
  • Respectful. The word “woman” was a term of respect, a polite form of address. 
  • Purposeful. They weren’t seeking information. They wanted Mary to realize that Jesus is alive.

Witness – John 20:14-18

• Q. Have you ever missed something that was right in front of you? How does that happen?
  
  • Give time to respond.
  • Perhaps you were distracted, thinking of something else.
  • Maybe you were expecting something different. 
• Q. How could Mary have not recognized Jesus standing there?
  
  • Discuss
  • She was likely distracted by her grief. 
  • She seemed to still be thinking that Jesus was dead, so she assumed that person was someone else, maybe the gardener (Jn20:15). 
  • Perhaps she was prevented from recognizing Him, much like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:16). 
• Q. Read John 10:3-4. How do these verses help us understand Mary’s response to her name being called? 
  
  • Give time to answer.
  • When Jesus called her name she recognized the voice of the Shepherd.
  • A personal encounter with Jesus changes everything.
  • Mary obeyed the words of Jesus just like the sheep follow Him because they know His voice.