Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor
John 20:1–8
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.
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The Story of Two Brothers
A moment of
The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. Luke 15:12
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A pattern of
…the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. Luke 15:13
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A moment of
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. Luke 15:14
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A moment of
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. Luke 15:15–15
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The Pivot Point
When he came to his senses… Luke 15:17a
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A decision to
I will set out and go back to my father… Luke 15:18a
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Luke 15:20–24
20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
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Luke 15:28–32
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
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Small Group Questions
- How did/are you planning on celebrating the resurrection of Jesus this year?
- What evidence do you believe supports the validity of the Resurrection of Jesus?
- Read Luke 15: 11-31 out loud. Where do you find yourself in the story? Care to share?
- If you know Jesus as your Savior, how did your salvation moment come about?
- How do you respond to the phrase “Jesus was running for a runaway”?
- How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?