Sunday School Lesson
April 20
Lesson 8 (KJV)
Christ Dies and Rises to New Life
Devotional Reading: Hebrews 2:1–13
Background Scripture: Matthew 27:24–28:10
Matthew 27:39–40, 45–54
39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, this man calleth for Elias.
48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49 The rest said, let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, truly this was the Son of God.
Matthew 28:1–10
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, all hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Key Text
As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.—Matthew 28:9
Costly Sacrifices
Unit 2: Christ’s All-Sufficient Sacrifice
Lessons 6–9
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Summarize Matthew’s account of the crucifixion and resurrection.
2. Identify and explain allusions to and quotes of the Old Testament in this account.
3. Sing with classmates a hymn or praise song that celebrates the resurrection.
How to Say It
Aramaic Air-uh-may-ik.
Arimathaea Air-uh-muh-thee-uh (th as in thin).
Eli (Aramaic) Ee-lo-eye. lama (Aramaic) lay-muh or lah-mah.
Magdala Mag-duh-luh.
Magdalene Mag-duh-leen or Mag-duh-lee-nee.
sabachthani (Aramaic) Suh-back-thuh-nee.
Introduction
A. Still the Most Amazing Story
No story hits us like the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. It has the full range of human tragedy: betrayal, injustice, and courage. It is filled with mystery and irony. It evokes deep sympathy for its characters. It contrasts the power of vested interests with the power of Almighty God. It confronts our greatest enemy, death. Its ending is astonishing. But as we experience it, we realize how necessary the story’s conclusion is. For some of us, we’ve known the Easter story for as long as we can remember. Others who became Christians more recently can still recall their vivid reaction when they first heard it. During the Easter season, we get a chance to listen to that story again as if it’s our first time. It is a story that is ever new—the story of how God made new life available to a lost and sinful humanity.
B. Lesson Context Following Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ (the Messiah), Jesus began to warn His disciples of His coming death and resurrection (Matthew 16:13–23; 17:22–23; 20:17–19). His disciples, however, failed to comprehend (John 20:9). In a series of trials featuring biased testimonies, Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion (Matthew 26:57–68; 27:11–26).
Crucifixion was a brutal form of execution. Roman authorities reserved it to make an example of the most notorious criminals, striking fear in the population. Those condemned to it were tied or nailed to a wood frame in a prominent public place. Left to the elements and loss of blood, the crucified person would die slowly of blood loss, respiratory failure, and exposure while being subjected to public ridicule. As today’s lesson opens, that is the state in which we find Jesus.
I. The Death of the King
(Matthew 27:39–40, 45–54)
A. Forsaken by People (vv. 39–40)
39. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads.
The parallel account of Matthew 27:39–40 reads almost the same (Mark 15:29–30); the parallel in Luke 23:35 is more abbreviated. This verse is also similar to Psalm 22:7 (compare Psalm 109:25).
40a. And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself.
This mockery is based on Jesus’ prediction in John 2:19–20. Jesus was indeed on record as promising to raise the temple … in three days were it to be destroyed. But “he spake of the temple of his body” (John 2:21). Jesus is not recorded as saying that He would destroy the temple in Jerusalem. Thus, the accusation thou that destroyest the temple came from the lips of false witnesses (Matthew 26:60–62; Mark 14:58). To speak against a temple in the ancient world was to invite a death penalty (Jeremiah 26:1–11).
What Do You Think?
What should you do when you come across a misinterpretation of Jesus’ teaching?
Digging Deeper
What are some contexts in which you would answer that question differently?
40b. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
The taunt if thou be the Son of God, come down mirrors Satan’s words during Jesus’ temptation at the start of His ministry (Matthew 4:3). This challenge can be seen as the final effort by the tempter to thwart God’s plan.
Interestingly, the designation the Son of God was used by others to describe Jesus, but never from the lips of Jesus himself. Jesus was called Son of God by both demons and worshippers (Matthew 8:29; 14:33); a voice from Heaven was heard to say, “This is my beloved Son” (3:17). Jesus’ preferred self-designation was “Son of man” (8:20; 9:6; etc.).
Jesus could indeed have come down from the cross, but He chose not to (compare Matthew 26:53). In choosing to stay there and die, He offered His life as the sacrifice of atonement (or propitiation; see last week’s lesson) as He diverted the punishment for human sin onto himself, the sinless one (see 2 Corinthians 5:21).
B. Feeling Forsaken by God (vv. 45–50)
45. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
Matthew 27:41–44 (not in today’s lesson) documents further ridicule aimed at Jesus. When we come to Matthew 27:45, the story shifts to a broader scene. Parallels to Matthew 27:45–50 are Mark 15:33–37; Luke 23:44–46; and John 19:28–30.
The darkness that came over all the land was likely not an eclipse of the sun, as we understand that to mean when the moon moves between the sun and the earth. This is for two reasons. First, a normal eclipse of the sun lasts no more than 15 minutes; this darkness lasted three hours. Second, a normal eclipse of the sun requires a new moon. However, Jesus was crucified during Passover at full moon (see Leviticus 23:5–6; Psalm 81:3).
This darkness, then, is of supernatural origin. The literal, physical darkness that occurred suggests a deeper application: in the Bible, the presence of darkness reveals God’s displeasure (example: Exodus 10:21–23). Since there is no natural explanation for the darkness, it can be considered a supernatural event orchestrated by God as a direct reaction to those who mocked the Messiah.
46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
We come to one of the seven cries by Jesus from the cross, also recorded in Mark 15:34. The cry is in Aramaic, which is a later form of the Hebrew language. The words come from the beginning of Psalm 22, previously noted. Having been surrounded by taunts and darkness for hours, Jesus was enduring a separation from the Father in order to bear the punishment for humanity’s sins (Matthew 1:21; 20:28; 26:28).
What Do You Think?
Without giving direct advice, how would you counsel someone who feels forsaken by God?
Digging Deeper
What spiritual disciplines help you sustain faith in God during times when it feels like He is distant?
47. Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, this man calleth for Elias.
One of God’s names in the ancient Hebrew language is Elohim. When this word occurs in a “construct” sense (that is, combined with another word), one or more letters on the end of Elohim may be dropped off in the process of attaching another word; two examples of this are Exodus 15:2 and Numbers 22:18. Psalm 22:1, which Jesus was quoting, is of course the most important example. Here is the root of the misunderstanding on the part of some of them that stood there. They heard the Aramaic word Eli not as a cry to “my God” but as a calling on the name of the long-ago prophet Elias (that is, Elijah). There had been two previous misunderstandings regarding Elijah (Matthew 16:14; 17:10–13), and this is a third one.
48. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
We don’t know the motive behind the action that we read here (compare Psalm 69:21). If the one performing the action was hostile toward Jesus, then this act of giving him to drink was a continued mockery in some way. If the one performing the action was sympathetic, it may been intended as an act of kindness. What is called vinegar is a cheap kind of wine vinegar of the day (compare Mark 15:36–37; Luke 23:36; John 19:29).
49. The rest said, let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. The phrase let be indicates some impatience on the part of the mocking bystanders. They don’t want the action of satisfying Jesus’ thirst to interfere with anything else Jesus had to say or to otherwise distract from the appearance of Elias (Elijah).
50. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. The words Jesus cried out with a loud voice are recorded in Luke 23:46: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” John 19:30 further records Jesus as having said, “It is finished” as He died. This verse highlights two key aspects: first, Jesus maintained enough physical strength until His death to shout. Second, He remained in control of His life to the very end.
C. Surrounded by Signs (vv. 51–54)
51a. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.
Though Jesus appeared to have been abandoned by God, Matthew offers signs establishing the opposite. The veil of the temple separated the temple’s holy place from the most holy place. Only the high priest could pass behind that curtain to enter the most holy place—and that just once a year—to offer the sacrificial blood on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 26:31–34; 30:10; Leviticus 16:1–34; 23:27–28; Hebrews 9:3). As the three hours of darkness were supernatural in origin, so was this tearing of the temple curtain from the top to the bottom (also Luke 23:45). The significance of this event is explained in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 9:11–12, 24; 10:19–20).
Phone Books, Curtains, and Hearts
A strongman feat of yesteryear was to tear a thick phone book in half. There was a technique to doing so, but strength was still necessary. If you saw a thick phone book torn in half, you would automatically presume someone “with muscle” made it happen.
Jewish tradition holds that the curtains (veils) that marked off the most holy place were from 3½ to 4 inches thick! Consequently, the veils were so heavy that it took 300 priests to hang them. To have seen one of these curtains ripped top to bottom would cause gasps and cause people to imagine the strength necessary to have done so. Only someone with superhuman strength could tear such a veil—God Almighty!
Our friends and family who have not embraced the gospel might need time to accept the gospel due to their reluctance or uncertainty. We can and must tell the story, but ultimately, it’s the Word of God, which is “sharper than any twoedged sword,” that will cut through the resistance (Hebrews 4:12). How did that happen for you? —R. L. N
51b. And the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.
The earthquake similarly points to divine action. God was clearly at work. In the Old Testament, earthquakes frequently signified God’s presence and sometimes divine judgment (examples: Judges 5:4–5; Psalm 114:7–8; Joel 3:16). Therefore, the first-century crowd witnessing the crucifixion would likely have understood this association.
52–53. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Matthew alone tells us of this additional sign. As his description continues, we understand this sign occurred not immediately as Jesus died but a few days later, after his resurrection. The designation the holy city refers to Jerusalem (Matthew 4:5).
54. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, truly this was the Son of God.
A centurion was a Roman soldier who commanded a unit known as a “century” in a legion of the Roman army; each “century” consisted of about 80 men. The centurion noted here was likely the one in charge of the crucifixion detail. Processing all he had experienced, the centurion sided against the mockers. His declaration, Truly this was the Son of God, stems from his fear-driven response to the supernatural occurrences around him. Jesus’ disciples had a similar response when Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm (Matthew 14:28–33).
What Do You Think?
What evidence for Christ do you find best to use when sharing the gospel?
Digging Deeper
How would you respond to a fellow Christian who believes a “testimony” approach to evangelism is better than an approach based on historical evidence?
II. The Resurrection of the King
(Matthew 28:1–10)
A. The Grave Opened (vv. 1–4)
1. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
A long-held view is that the passage of days in the ancient Jewish calendar are marked from sunset to sunset (Leviticus 23:32). Therefore, most students recognize that the sabbath would have ended at sunset on the day before the action we see here. The women don’t set out for their task until the first day of the week (Sunday) is in view. Sabbath was a day of rest (Luke 23:56).
Their designation as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary reveals their key roles in Matthew’s passion narrative. They were present at Jesus’ crucifixion and saw where He was buried (Matthew 27:55, 61). Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus from the early days of His ministry. Jesus had delivered her from demon possession (Luke 8:2). We remind ourselves that “Magdalene” is not a surname in the modern sense. Rather, it designates this particular Mary as being from Magdala.
The “other” Mary was the mother of James and Joses (Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:47) and possibly the wife of Cleophas (John 19:25). Though the other Gospels name additional women (Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10), Matthew may have focused on these two because of their prominence among those of Jewish background who first read his Gospel.
By the evil initiative of the Jewish leaders and the compassion of Joseph of Arimathaea, Jesus’ body was not left as long on the cross (Matthew 27:57–58; John 19:31). Joseph had provided the tomb, and the two women named Mary were eyewitnesses to the interment (Matthew 27:59–61). Because the Sabbath would begin a short time after Jesus’ death, His body could not be properly prepared for burial without violating the commandment not to work on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8–11).
What Do You Think?
How would you react to a claim that early morning is the best time for connecting with God?
Digging Deeper
What biblical examples of connecting with God at other times of the day can you cite?
2. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
Again, an earthquake signaled divine action, given the result we see here. The angel rolled back the stone from the door not to let Jesus out but to let Jesus’ followers in. They needed to see the tomb empty. The resurrected Lord could enter or exit a locked room without opening the door (example: John 20:19–20, 26–27). He did not need the stone to be moved for His own benefit.
3. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. There is no mistaking this angel for a human! His face and clothing are bright with light, suitable for supernatural encounters (Matthew 17:2; Luke 9:29; Acts 1:10).
4. And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. The Roman governor Pilate had agreed to set a guard at the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from removing His body and declaring He had been raised from the dead (Matthew 27:62–66). These are the keepers noted here. The fact that they became as dead men is similar to John’s reaction to seeing the ascended Jesus in Revelation 1:17.
B. The News Announced (vv. 5–7)
5–6a. And the angel answered and said unto the women, fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
As the angel told Joseph at the beginning of Jesus’ story to fear not (Matthew 1:20), this angel tells the women the same. The wondrous scene they witnessed fulfilled Jesus’ promise to be raised from the dead (16:21–28; 17:22–23; 20:19; etc.). Jesus’ mysterious promise to die and rise again is now more apparent. It happened not as anyone expected but precisely as he said.
6b. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The emphasis on the empty tomb counters any notion that Jesus’ followers were only experiencing a “spiritual” resurrection of Christ. Jesus’ physical resurrection involved the coming to life again of His physical body. The place where the Lord lay was vacant!
7. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
The disciples, who had abandoned Jesus in the garden (Matthew 26:47–56), were to be the first whom the women were to tell of His resurrection. He had warned them they would fail, yet promised to meet them afterward in Galilee (26:31–32). The angel was saying nothing new but was reaffirming Jesus’ previous declarations. Key among these is the declaration ye shall see him. Jesus’ resurrection was not an invisible event in the minds and hearts of the disciples. It was a physical event in space and time: the resurrected Jesus seen by many (1 Corinthians 15:6).
C. The Lord Recognized (vv. 8–10)
8. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
The women were filled with fear from such a close encounter with God and joy at what God had done. They obeyed the angel’s words implicitly, running—an uncommon act for grown people in their time—to tell the other followers of Jesus.
34,000 Emotions?
Quick: How many emotions can you name in less than a minute? Most of us can list several, such as happiness, anger, fear, sadness, joy, disgust, and surprise. That was the list proposed by psychologist Paul Eckman in the 1970s. To this list of “basic six emotions” has been added many more over the subsequent decades. One researcher now proposes that there are 34,000 emotions or combinations of emotions!
Reaction to a situation can be unpredictable when two or more emotions are experienced together, at the same time. Experiencing joy and fear simultaneously, the reaction of the women at the tomb was to obey immediately as they were instructed to “go quickly, and tell” (Matthew 28:7). Sometimes, powerful emotions can keep us from doing what we should. But the women were not paralyzed into inaction—quite the opposite! How often does fear keep you from talking to someone about Jesus? —C. S.
9. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, all hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
The angel commanded the women to tell his disciples that Jesus was alive, and they were on their way to do so without having yet seen Him alive for themselves! But it wasn’t long before they received personal confirmation as Jesus himself met them, with the women reacting as we read here. Though silent, their reaction to seeing Jesus showed recognition and reverence, affirming that even in His resurrected body, Jesus deserved the same worship as before His death (compare Matthew 2:11; John 9:37–38; 20:28). They offered to Jesus the honor due only to God. Soon, they would be joined by many more (Matthew 28:17).
10. Then said Jesus unto them, be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Jesus repeats the angel’s encouragement and instructions regarding Galilee. A key aspect of Jesus’ message is His enduring love for His disciples. Despite their fearful abandonment of Him during His crucifixion and their absence at the tomb, Jesus continued to refer to them as His brethren. Again, this is nothing new; it’s a reaffirmation of what He said before His death (Matthew 26:32; etc.). John 21 records the results of that gathering.
What Do You Think?
How do you determine when it’s time for action rather than worship and vice versa?
Digging Deeper
How would you respond to the claim that the Christian life is either action or worship?
Conclusion
A. Retaining Amazement
The grind of daily life can distract us from the most profound truths—we humans tend to allow “the urgent” to take priority over “the important.” That’s why Christians must continually remind themselves of the importance of what God has done. By repetition, we remember. In remembering, we restore the eyesight of faith to its proper and primary focus.
Against every expectation but in accord with every divine promise, Jesus died and rose from the dead. Let’s hold the glorious amazement of those events in our hearts daily and forever.
B. Prayer
God of wonder, power, and love, we thank You that Jesus died and rose for us. Grant that His desires for our new life may also be our desire. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
C. Thought to Remember
Focus on the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Standard Publishing. KJV Standard Lesson Commentary® 2024-2025 (pp. 775-791). David C Cook. Kindle Edition.