3.31.24 Huddle
Opening Discussion
- When have you had an encounter with the Lord that shaped or changed your life?
Shortened Version
Read John 20:1-10
1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.
- What are some elements of this story that show the realistic responses of Mary Magdalene and the disciples?
- At first, why didn’t Jesus’ closest followers understand that He had risen from the dead?
- Why do some people doubt the resurrection actually happened?
- How does this account of the resurrection point to it being true?
Read John 20:11-18
11 But Mary stood outside the tomb,crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,”Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?”
Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
- What were some things that had to happen for Mary to believe that Jesus really had come back from the dead?
- It wasn’t until Jesus said Mary’s name that she recognized Him. Why do you think that is?
- Are there any doubts or questions you have about the resurrection of Jesus?
- What can you do this week to seek out those answers like Mary did?
Discipleship Questions
- How does the resurrection of Christ set Christianity apart from every other religion?
- What are some ways Jesus coming back to live should change your everyday life?
- Who can you talk to about Jesus coming back to life this week?
Extended Version
Read John 20:1-10
1 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”
3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8 The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9 For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.
- What are some elements of this story that show the realistic responses of Mary Magdalene and the disciples?
- At first, why didn’t Jesus’ closest followers understand that He had risen from the dead?
- Why do some people doubt the resurrection actually happened?
- How does this account of the resurrection point to it being true?
- Why didn’t the disciples understand the scriptures about Jesus rising from the dead?
- What do you do when you don’t understand what you read in the Bible?
- How can you seek out answers to things you don’t understand?
- What’s one question about the Bible that you can start looking for answers for this week?
Read John 20:11-18
11 But Mary stood outside the tomb,crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,”Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?”
Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”
17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
- What were some things that had to happen for Mary to believe that Jesus really had come back from the dead?
- It wasn’t until Jesus said Mary’s name that she recognized Him. Why do you think that is?
- What are some ways people have missed God working in their lives?
- When have you felt abandoned by the Lord, but then looking back you can see how He was working through that situation?
- Are there any doubts or questions you have about the resurrection of Jesus?
- What can you do this week to seek out those answers like Mary did?
Discipleship Questions
- How does the resurrection of Christ set Christianity apart from every other religion?
- What are some ways Jesus coming back to live should change your everyday life?
- Who can you talk to about Jesus coming back to life this week?
Memorize it!
John 20:1
On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.
Prayer
This week for prayer time, spend some time worshiping the Lord for coming back to life. Thank Him for those things in your life that are now different and free because of His death, burial, and return to life.