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A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 46b(c)

Topic: Guilty IIc - The Great Escape

Series: Super Mario Bros. Super Show

Episode: Escape From Koopatraz

Lesson PDF link: 46b(c).pdf

Introduction

Does everyone remember what we discussed last time? Last time, we talked about the sacrifice our Lord made on the cross and what the death sentence meant for Him and then for us.

This time, we are going to talk about Jesus's escape. For Jesus our Lord, it's obvious, He doesn't have to go through that again--but there is more and we will get back to that in a little bit.

We are going to see another clip from The Super Mario Bros. Super Show from the episode called "Escape From Koopatraz."

Cartoon Show "Escape From Koopatraz" (The Super Mario Bros. Super Show):

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show: "Escape From Koopatraz": Direct link for video/webmUsing IE? Video not working? Download Windows HTML 5(WebM) video support: WebMProject.org

What do you see in the clip?

This escape makes Koopatraz history in more ways than one. No one ever had escaped from there, but there is a first time for everything because the Mario Bros. just did. Second, this made Koopatraz State Prison itself become history; it got sunk.

Our main Bible study comes out of Matthew 27: 57--58: 15 (ISV)

Mat 27:57 Later that evening, a rich man arrived from Arimathea. His name was Joseph, and he had become a disciple of Jesus.

Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus, and Pilate ordered it to be done.

Mat 27:59 So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth.

Mat 27:60 Then he placed it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out of the rock. After rolling a large stone across the door of the tomb, he left,

Mat 27:61 but Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained there, sitting in front of the tomb.

Mat 27:62 The following day (that is, after the Day of Preparation), the high priests and Pharisees gathered before Pilate

Mat 27:63 and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will be raised.'

Mat 27:64 Therefore, order the tomb to be secured until the third day, or his disciples may go and steal him and then tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' Then the last deception would be worse than the first one."

Mat 27:65 Pilate told them, "You have a military guard. Go and make the tomb as secure as you know how."

Mat 27:66 So they went and secured the tomb by putting a seal on the stone in the presence of the guards.

Mat 28:1 After the Sabbaths, around dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to take a look at the burial site.

Mat 28:2 Suddenly there was a powerful earthquake, because an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, approached the stone, rolled it away, and was sitting on top of it.

Mat 28:3 His appearance was bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

Mat 28:4 Trembling from fear, even the guards themselves became catatonic.

Mat 28:5 Responding to the women, the angel said, "Stop being frightened! I know you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Mat 28:6 He is not here. He has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying.

Mat 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there. Remember, I have told you!"

Mat 28:8 So they quickly left the tomb, terrified but also ecstatic, and ran to tell Jesus' disciples.

Mat 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" They went up to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

Mat 28:10 Then Jesus told them, "Stop being frightened! Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there."

Mat 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened.

Mat 28:12 So they met with the elders and agreed on a plan to give the soldiers a large amount of money.

Mat 28:13 They said, "Say that Jesus' disciples came at night and stole him while you were sleeping.

Mat 28:14 If this is reported to the governor, we'll personally persuade him to keep you out of trouble."

Mat 28:15 So the soldiers took the money, did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

What do these scriptures mean to you?

This event made history as well in more ways than one. First, no one had escaped in the manner in which Jesus did, although some others were resurrected according to Biblical accounts (but not quite in this manner). Jesus is the only one to stay alive after being resurrected; this is a permanent arrangement. Second, all of the religious leaders howling for Christ's blood had their plans sunk - much like Koopatraz State Prison. The tomb's power is finished; this means although we may die physically, we don't have to die spiritually. All the religious leaders can do is cover things up - this is much like politics of today; our leaders don't want to be embarrassed, so they try to save face. We know the truth, that there was nothing that could have been done to stop God's plans.

Moreover, there is another prong to God's attack on the tomb's power. To keep us in communion with Him, God did a couple of things. First, He sent the Holy Spirit to work with us to convict us on what to do.

The Bible talks about this in John 14: 25-27 (ISV)

Joh 14:25 "I have told you this while I am still with you.

Joh 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything that I have told you.

Joh 14:27 I am leaving you at peace. I am giving you my own peace. I am not giving it to you as the world gives. So don't let your hearts be troubled, and don't be afraid.

Second, God set Jesus up to be our intercessor. We can come to Him when we are in need of grace. This includes healing and forgiveness (two of God's infinite specialties).

The Bible talks about Jesus's new job in Hebrews 7: 18-28; Romans 8: 26-30. (ISV)

Heb 7:18 Indeed, because it was weak and ineffective, the former commandment has been annulled,

Heb 7:19 since the Law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is presented, by which we approach God.

Heb 7:20 Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any oath,

Heb 7:21 but Jesus became a priest with an oath when God told him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever."

Heb 7:22 In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

Heb 7:23 There have been many priests, since each one of them had to stop serving in office when he died.

Heb 7:24 But because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

Heb 7:25 Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him.

Heb 7:26 We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

Heb 7:27 He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself.

Heb 7:28 For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promised oath, which came after the Law, results in a Son who is eternally perfect.

Rom 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, since we do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words,

Rom 8:27 and the one who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, for the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to God's will.

Rom 8:28 And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together for good.

Rom 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that the Son might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Rom 8:30 And those whom he predestined, he also called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What have you learned through our lesson series called “Guilty”?

Although all people's sins are many, we have a way out of our sinful state - including our bad habits, bitter thoughts, wrong mindsets etc.

Are you ready to make the kind of history God has for you? Once you are by coming to Jesus, it will be the kind of history that will sink any enemy plan and hopefully it will also mean that you won't be the first on your block to go to Heaven because you will be enabled to take people with you. Bring the Holy Spirit to all the people, so they know and feel this infinite grace.