Verses 1-10
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The women went to the tomb expecting that Jesus was dead. And when they realized that He was risen, they had fear and great joy.
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We can know that we are living as if Jesus is still dead if we walk around in sadness. But if we knew and fully believed that Jesus is alive, we also would be full of godly fear and great joy.
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Let's not “seek the living among the dead” (Luke 24:5). In other words, don't think that you'll find and experience Christ in meaningless, dead, or wasteful things. Why live your life for meaningless things, as if Jesus isn't alive, if you believe that His is alive? Because you believe, live with conviction! Seek Him and find Him in obedience to His Word and in fellowship with believers doing the same. Live like Jesus is alive, because He is!
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Verse 7. Also, move quickly to encourage other believers about the resurrection of Christ, and boldly preach that Jesus is risen!
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Verses 11-15
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This passage tells of the absurdities of those who try to deny the resurrection.
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For a Roman soldier to sleep on watch was punishable by death.
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And there is no way that these soldiers would have been able to stay asleep, if in fact they were asleep, through all the noise and commotion involved in breaking a body out of a sealed, stone tomb.
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If anything, disbelief in the resurrection is absurd, as there is plenty of evidence and reason for us to come to know and believe it.
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Have confidence in your faith, and know that the resurrection of Jesus is a provable, historical fact!
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Verses 16-17
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Some of Jesus' own disciples still had doubts even as eye-witnesses of the risen Christ. Jesus did not reject them, but He encouraged them to believe (John 20:27).
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If Jesus' twelve disciples had doubts, it's understandable for us to struggle with doubt today. God won't reject you for having some doubt, even as a sincere believer.
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Just know that doubt is common, and it can be overcome. Work on growing your faith and you will grow out of doubt!
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Verses 18-20
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Jesus has authority everywhere, so let's produce more followers of Jesus everywhere! We have His power backing us up!
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To make disciples:
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Preach the gospel so that people will repent and believe,
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Baptize them,
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Then teach them to believe and do everything that Jesus taught to His own disciples. This teaching should continue perpetually. Such is discipleship.
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