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?
Who do you identify with?
Many people resonate with Thomas because he wants physical proof to settle his doubts, or the Emmaus disciples who are processing grief and confusion while Jesus walks right beside them. If you’ve ever felt overlooked but were given a big responsibility, you might see yourself in the women at the tomb.
2.	The women are the first to proclaim the good news of the resurrection. What might this mean for us today?
The women as first witnesses
In that culture, a woman’s testimony wasn’t legally valid. By choosing them, God shows that the Gospel subverts social hierarchies. Today, it reminds us that God uses unlikely messengers and that no one is excluded from proclaiming the truth based on status or gender.
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?
Recognition and God’s Nature
Why the delay? Their grief may have blinded them, or Jesus’ "glorified body" was different.
About God: It suggests God is often present in the ordinary (a traveler, a gardener, a stranger on the beach) rather than just the spectacular.
How he is known: He is usually recognized through personal contact, calling Mary by name, breaking bread with the two disciples, or showing his wounds to Thomas.
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?
Specific Instructions & Commissioning
To the women: "Go and tell my brothers" (Communication/Sharing).
To the disciples (Great Commission): "Make disciples of all nations" (Growth/Education).
To Peter: "Feed my sheep" (Pastoral care/Service).
To the group: "Peace be with you... Receive the Holy Spirit" (Living in peace/Empowerment).
Our job: Our "job" isn't just to believe, but to actively participate in sharing the news and caring for others.
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?
Walking the Road to Emmaus
This is a personal one. Often, people realize Jesus was there only in hindsight (the "burning hearts" feeling). It’s common to feel his presence during a crisis through the kindness of a stranger or a sudden sense of peace after a period of struggle.
NEXT STEPS 
1.	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?
Imagining the "Idle Tale"
If you were there, you wouldn't be thinking about "Easter Sunday" or a holiday—you would be in the middle of a trauma response.
Initial Shock: The disciples had just watched their leader be executed. To hear he was "gone" from the tomb would first feel like a cruel prank or grave robbery.
The Emotional Weight: You might feel a mix of skepticism (like the disciples in Luke 24:11 who thought it was an "idle tale"), terror (like the women in Mark 16:8), and a flickering, dangerous hope.
The Response: Many would likely do exactly what Peter did: run to the tomb to see for themselves, caught between wanting it to be true and being afraid to be disappointed again.
2.	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? 
 Similarities and Differences
•	Consistent Core: All four agree that the tomb was found empty early on the first day of the week, and that women were the primary first witnesses.
•	Varying Perspectives: The differences (like the number of angels or specific women) are what scholars often call "eyewitness variation"—different people noticing different details in a chaotic, high-stakes moment.
•	Theological Focus: 
o	Matthew emphasizes Jesus' authority. 
o	Mark captures the shock. 
o	Luke  focuses on the disciples' doubt and subsequent verification. 
o	John provides a deeply personal encounter with Mary Magdalene.
•	Favorite/Least Favorite: Many people love John’s version for its intimacy—when Jesus says "Mary " and she recognizes him. 
•	Some find Mark's original ending (v. 8) frustrating because it ends in fear, while others find it the most honest reaction to something so supernatural.
•	How God Speaks: These different "voices" remind us that God meets people exactly where they are—whether they need a logical explanation (Luke), a personal touch (John), or a reminder of His power (Matthew).
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.