College and Career: 2nd QTR 2013

By Emily Ellis

College and Career is the young adult quarterly directed toward students ages 18–24. The lessons are designed to address the unique experiences of African- American young adults as they venture into the world of higher education and work.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Jan 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781589426351

Book preview

PROMISES KEPT

Unifying Topic: The Lord Appears

LUKE 24:36-53

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: LUKE 24:36-53

Luke 24:36-53

RESOURCES

The New National Baptist Hymnal, 21st Century Edition, #102 (NNBH #71); God’s Promises Bible (Luke 24:36-53); Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School

Main.Thought

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44, KJV)

INTRODUCTION

Promises are an important part of life, but we often find that promises are difficult to keep. Marriage, for example, is a promise of love and commitment between a man and a woman, but divorce rates are at a record high in the US. Why? Broken promises. When we become Christians, we promise to love God and follow His commands, but most people would agree that the Church is on a steady moral decline. Why? Broken promises. Whom can we trust then? Although people may fail us at times, we can rest in the promises of God. He will never let us down.

The last quarter ended with a lesson about Jesus’ appearance to two Disciples on the road to Emmaus. Our lesson for today picks up where that one ended. When the two Disciples realize who Jesus is, they go to tell the others. In today’s lesson text, Jesus Himself appears to the Disciples to confirm that the promise of the resurrection has indeed been fulfilled.

EXPOSITION

I.  PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION (Luke 24:36-43)

The two Disciples find the others and tell them what they had seen on the road to Emmaus when suddenly Jesus himself stood among them (v. 36, NIV). Luke does not mention that the doors are locked when Jesus appears as does John’s Gospel (John 20:19). Jesus defies human limitations by appearing to His disciples. When they see Him, they are startled and frightened (Luke 24:37, NIV). On the one hand, this isn’t surprising because Jesus simply appears before them, which is sure to catch anyone off guard. On the other hand, the two Disciples had just told the others that Jesus was risen, so they shouldn’t have been as surprised as they were. Scripture tells us that they think they have seen a ghost. Jesus knows this so He assures them that He is not a ghost and encourages them to look at His wounds and touch them. He is real and standing before them.

Life.Point

God will fulfill all of the promises He makes to us; His word is true.

Lesson.Point

Jesus promises the Disciples that He will resurrect from the dead, but they do fully understand this promise until He appears to them.

Section I

Why are the Disciples frightened to see Jesus standing before them?

Section II

Can you think of places in the Old Testament where Jesus’ coming was foretold?

Whereas at first the Disciples stood in disbelief, startled and frightened, after seeing Jesus’ wounds they are full of joy and amazement (v. 41, NIV). Knowing that they need more proof, Jesus asks the Disciples for some food. If Jesus were a ghost, He would not have needed to eat. But since He is flesh and bones, He asks for food.

II. FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE (Luke 24:44-49)

Jesus confirms in verse forty-four that His ministry, death, and resurrection have fulfilled the Scripture—what we know today as the Old Testament. There are more scholars and even church parishioners who believe that the Old Testament is no longer relevant today. But Jesus Himself said that He came to fulfill the Law, the writings of the Prophets, and the Psalms; therefore, we cannot read the New Testament apart from the Old Testament or vice-versa. The early Church did not have the Gospels or the writings of Paul, which came later. So when Jesus opens the minds of the Disciples to understand the Scripture, it is to understand the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Why would Jesus have wanted them to understand these things if His coming made them irrelevant? Jesus knows that His coming can only be understood in full if one knows the Scriptures. In fact, Paul makes the bold claim that The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’ So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith (Gal. 3:8-9, NIV). Even today, we will only understand the fullness of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection if we understand the Old