Author: Bryan Gibson

Weekly Bulletin
October 10, 2021

“He Is Risen, As He Said”
by Clarence R. Johnson
The following text from Matthew 28:1-8—be sure to absorb every word.
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightening, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 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.’ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word” (Matthew 28:1-8).
The earthquake mentioned in verse 2 may be the same one Matthew had already referred to in 27:51, or it may be a second one. It seems to have occurred at the time of His resurrection.
Matthew tells us the visit of the women to the tomb occurred as the day “began to dawn.” Mark says, “They came to the tomb when the sun had risen” (Mark 16:2). Luke says it was “very early in the morning” (Luke 24:1). John tells us, “On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark” (John 20:1). If this is the same occasion, as most likely it is, the four accounts are reconciled by simply recognizing that she left home “while it was still dark”; but by the time she arrived at the tomb, “the sun had risen.”
Luke tells us these women, on Friday or Preparation Day when Jesus was crucified, had “observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared” (Luke 23:54-24:1). In these few verses, Luke covers the entire time period Jesus was in the tomb—from late Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning.
Skeptics suggest that perhaps the women had forgotten where Jesus was buried and accidentally went to the wrong tomb. In this way, they try to account for the empty tomb. But Matthew, Mark, and Luke are all careful to point out that the women had carefully observed how and where Jesus was buried. They did not go to the wrong tomb. Jesus came forth from the dead! We serve a risen Savior, who gave Himself a ransom for our sins, and came back from the dead as He had promised.
Hallucination Theory
by Bob Waldron
Some say all the appearances of Jesus to His disciples after the third day were mere hallucinations. If so, they all had the same hallucination, even though they did not expect to see any such thing (John 20:19-20). The Roman guards must have had at least a similar hallucination (Matthew 28:2-4). And one of Jesus’ most bitter enemies, Saul of Tarsus, must have seen this same hallucination on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6, 17). In fact, more than 500 brethren must have had the same hallucination at once (1 Corinthians 15:6).
This theory could not be true because Jesus went to great effort to prove to His disciples He was not an hallucination (Luke 24:36-43). He ate with them; He showed them His wounds; He even told them to feel His wounds (John 20:27).
Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with power...by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

Contact Information
	P.O. Box 680872 / Prattville, AL 36067
	(334) 365-5887 / (334) 868-0801
	prattmont@gmail.com / prattmontchurchofchrist.org

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The Prattmont Church of Christ is just what the name suggests, a church that belongs to Christ. We are not a denomination; we are simply a group of Christians trying very hard to practice the teachings of our Head, Jesus Christ. The New Testament offers a complete pattern for what each local church should be like—its organization, its worship, its work, etc. We are committed to following that pattern. We cordially invite you to attend our services. We would also welcome any comments or questions about this bulletin.

TIMES OF SERVICES:
Sunday
Bible Classes………...9 A.M.
Worship 10:00 A.M.
Worship/Bible Study..5 P.M.
Wednesday:
Bible Study 7:00 P.M.