Three Witnesses to the Empty Tomb
Luke 23:50–24:12
1. Joseph of Arimathea risked his status, wealth, and safety to boldly ask Pilate for Jesus’ body, personally handle and bury it with honor in his own tomb. What stands out to you about Joseph’s courage and costly devotion, especially given his position on the Sanhedrin and his secret discipleship up to that point? How does his example challenge us to honor the living body of Christ (the church) today—perhaps through sacrificial love, service, or stepping out in ways that feel risky?
2. The women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others) were the first to discover the empty tomb, hear the angels’ announcement (“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”), remember Jesus’ words, and faithfully proclaim the news despite initial disbelief from the apostles. In a culture where women’s testimony was often dismissed, why do you think God chose them as the first witnesses? How does this reflect Jesus’ high value for women throughout the Gospels? In what ways are we called to be like these faithful women?
3. The apostles initially dismissed the women’s report as an “idle tale,” but Peter rose, ran to the tomb, stooped to look in, saw the linen cloths lying by themselves, and went home marveling. What does Peter’s response—moving from doubt/skepticism to personal investigation and wonder—teach us about how we should handle seemingly “too good to be true” news like the resurrection? Share a time when you needed to “rise and run” toward Jesus yourself (through Scripture, prayer, or obedience) rather than relying on second-hand reports or staying paralyzed by doubt.
4. The sermon highlights these three witnesses as a complete triad (Joseph’s courageous devotion, the women’s faithful testimony, and Peter’s personal wonder) that together confirm the empty tomb and call us to live as proof that Jesus is alive today. Which of these three responses resonates most with you right now in your walk with Christ, and why? How can our small group (or our individual lives) better reflect all three—devotion in action, proclamation in words, and marveling pursuit—so that others see the resurrection power alive in us?
Luke 23:50–24:12
1. Joseph of Arimathea risked his status, wealth, and safety to boldly ask Pilate for Jesus’ body, personally handle and bury it with honor in his own tomb. What stands out to you about Joseph’s courage and costly devotion, especially given his position on the Sanhedrin and his secret discipleship up to that point? How does his example challenge us to honor the living body of Christ (the church) today—perhaps through sacrificial love, service, or stepping out in ways that feel risky?
2. The women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others) were the first to discover the empty tomb, hear the angels’ announcement (“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”), remember Jesus’ words, and faithfully proclaim the news despite initial disbelief from the apostles. In a culture where women’s testimony was often dismissed, why do you think God chose them as the first witnesses? How does this reflect Jesus’ high value for women throughout the Gospels? In what ways are we called to be like these faithful women?
3. The apostles initially dismissed the women’s report as an “idle tale,” but Peter rose, ran to the tomb, stooped to look in, saw the linen cloths lying by themselves, and went home marveling. What does Peter’s response—moving from doubt/skepticism to personal investigation and wonder—teach us about how we should handle seemingly “too good to be true” news like the resurrection? Share a time when you needed to “rise and run” toward Jesus yourself (through Scripture, prayer, or obedience) rather than relying on second-hand reports or staying paralyzed by doubt.
4. The sermon highlights these three witnesses as a complete triad (Joseph’s courageous devotion, the women’s faithful testimony, and Peter’s personal wonder) that together confirm the empty tomb and call us to live as proof that Jesus is alive today. Which of these three responses resonates most with you right now in your walk with Christ, and why? How can our small group (or our individual lives) better reflect all three—devotion in action, proclamation in words, and marveling pursuit—so that others see the resurrection power alive in us?