13. “Lessons in discipleship” Mark 16:1-20

LEARNING THAT JESUS IS ALIVE

1. You can’t follow a dead Jesus

- He’s not going anywhere

a) That’s the route to disillusionment, despair and defeat

i) The disciples smelled death and fled (14:50)

ii) Jesus has forewarned them (14:27,28)

iii) Peter wouldn’t hear of it (14:29,31)

iv) When death is near, Peter denies he ever knew Jesus (14:71)

v) When Jesus dies, Peter’s nowhere to be seen

b) If Jesus isn’t alive, we’ve got no good news

i) We need a Saviour who not only dies for sin but rises again

ii) If He’s a preacher who fizzled out, He failed

iii) Paul understood the issue well (1 Cor. 15:17,20)

iv) Two sad disciples (Lk. 24:17-24)

2. You can follow a living Saviour

- He’s going places

a) The resurrection proves Christ’s promises are true (6)

- see Matt. 28:6

- remember the 3 specific teaching statements (8:31; 9:31; 10:32,33)

b) The resurrection brings peace and joy (12,13)

- think about Jn. 20:19-21; Jn. 16:21,22; Lk. 24:31,32,34

c) The resurrection gives disciples a message (15,16)

d) The resurrection ensures power to serve (20)

- see Acts 1 and 2

TALKING POINTS

13. LEARNING THAT JESUS IS ALIVE Mark 16:1-20

1. Why do we need a Saviour who, not only dies as a sacrifice for sin, but raises again? Think about the significance of 1 Cor. 15:17.

2. What does the fact that Jesus is alive mean to you?

3. How would you reply to someone who said, `I can’t see why it’s important that Jesus should have risen from the dead. He was a good man wasn’t He? Even though He was martyred He left us a good example and some wonderful teaching to follow. Surely that’s enough.’?

4. A former Chief Justice of England, Lord Darling, once said: “In its favour as a living truth, there exists such overwhelming evidence, positive and negative, factual and circumstantial, that no intelligent jury in the world can fail to bring a verdict that the resurrection is true.”

Starting with Acts 2:32 and 1 Cor. 15:3-8, seek to compile evidence that Jesus is alive.

Books that help: “Who Moved the Stone” by Frank Morison;

“The Day Death Died” by Michael Green, IVP;

“The Resurrection - Fact or Fiction” by Richard Bewes, Lion.

5. Read John 16:20-22 and John 20:19-21.

Why does the resurrection of Jesus bring peace and joy?

6. What encouragement do we receive from Jesus’ command and promise after the resurrection in Matt. 28:18-20? See also Mark 16:20; Heb. 13:5-6.