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Takeaways:

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a religious event - it’s the turning point of human history.

The Cross

The irony of this scene is that the truly guilty people were those accusing Jesus - and the only truly innocent person was the one who died.
Jesus didn’t just die as an example - He died as a substitute.
The cross shows how serious sin is, but also how deep God’s love is.
“It is finished” means the debt is paid.
Because of the cross, Jesus redeems our past - sin is forgiven, shame is covered, and our stories are not defined by what we’ve done.

The Empty Tomb

Mary and Mary are the first to witness the resurrection. They saw Jesus on the road and were sent to tell the disciples.
This is why the resurrection matters: The resurrection is victory over sin and death, it proves Jesus is who He said He is, it launches new creation, and it is historically and theologically significant, but, it is also personally significant for you.

The Great Commission

The mission is disciple-making. A disciple sounds like Jesus, acts like Jesus, and treats others like Jesus.
We go with His presence. Jesus says, “I am with you always.”
The Kingdom's future is secure. Jesus will return and we get to invite others into Jesus’ eternal kingdom.
Because of the Great Commission, the Kingdom is advancing, and we get to carry this story into the world.

Jesus changed the world forever. Jesus didn’t just enter history - He redefined it.

The cross redeems our past, the resurrection renews our present, and the Great Commission reorients our future.

The cross says we are forgiven, the resurrection says we are made new, and the commission says we are sent.

Discussion Questions:

How does the tearing of the temple veil illustrate a new access to God?
Why do you think Christians sometimes struggle with shame even after they are forgiven?
Does the idea of living on mission with a group of people sound better to you than trying to do it alone? Why?
How does life sometimes get in the way of carrying out the Great Commission of Jesus?