Sunday – Jesus Journeys with the Two: Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-17
Emmaus was 7.5 miles from Jerusalem. They either were headed home, or planned to stay at an inn, for they invited Jesus to stay the night (Luke 24:29). They were engrossed with sorting out the recent events and meaning of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. Jesus drew near, saw they were sad, and asked about their conversation, but they were blinded to recognizing Him. The Bible doesn’t reveal why Jesus specifically appeared to these two.

Monday – Perplexed: Luke 24:18-20
These two men, both devoted followers of Jesus, are astonished

Primary Texts: Luke 24:13-43; Mark 16:12-14; John. 20:19-31

Memory Verse: Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30-32

Introduction:

Emmaus, now the modern-day town called El-Kubeibeh, lies seven miles to the northwest of Jerusalem. Two of

Sunday – First Arrival at the Tomb: Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-3; Luke 24:1-3; John 20:1-2
Very early, on the first day of the week, the women completed their preparation, purchased more spices, and properly mixed them to make an unguent to anoint the bandages in which Jesus’ body was rolled. Harmonizing these verses, they came to the tomb while it was still dark, but beginning to dawn, arriving at the tomb to continue in faithful service. Imagine their shock to find the large stone rolled away, and the tomb empty! Mary Magdalene, without entering the tomb or hearing the angel’s

Primary Texts: Matthew 28:1-15; Mark 16:1-11; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-18

Memory Verse: But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7

Introduction:

There is controversy over the differences in the four gospel

Sunday – Breaking the Legs: John 19:31-33
The Jews were not preparing for the regular weekly Sabbath, but for an additional day of rest, a “high day,” that occurred during the Passover week. Clearly Jesus was not crucified on a Friday; and since there were never two Sabbaths in a row, it is obvious He was crucified on a Wednesday. Because the High Day Sabbath was approaching, the decision was made to hasten their deaths by breaking their legs. When they got to Jesus, it was apparent He was already dead, so they didn’t break His legs, thus fulfilling the

Primary Texts: Matthew 27:57-66; John 19:31-42

Memory Verse: “Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard. Matthew 27:64-66

Introduction:

If it hadn’t been for Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, the body

Sunday – Humiliation & Beating: Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-19
By their acts of mockingly exalting Christ and bowing in false worship to Him, the Roman soldiers were attempting to shame Him as part of the crucifixion ritual. It could be argued, however, that Jesus couldn’t really have felt humiliated, since He had already humbled Himself to the condemnation of death. Had He not already “laid down His life” in His spirit, humbling Himself to the ultimate mission of dying for the sins of the world? Had He not already given what they were now trying to take from Him? Yet,

Primary Texts: Matthew 27:27-56; John 19:17-30

Memory Verse: And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. John 19:17-19

Introduction:

The cross was the most disgraceful and one of the cruelest instruments of death ever utilized to put criminals to death. The Romans, who borrowed

Sunday – Jesus Stands Before Pilate: Matthew 27:11-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-5; John 18:32-38; 19:1-12
Under Roman law, Pilate had ultimate authority to conduct the trial of an accused, examine the evidence, question witnesses, make his declaration of guilt or innocence, and declare the final sentence. Roman trials had three parts: interrogation; arraignment; sentencing. In the interrogation phase, Pilate’s question revealed that the Jews had charged Jesus with claiming to be a King. Making such an accusation amounted to Jesus being charged with treason against Caesar and such was punishable by death. Jesus admitted He was King of the Jews,

Primary Texts: Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:16

Memory Verse: Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.” John 18:37-38

Introduction:

Pontius Pilate was Roman