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Behold, there was a great earthquake… for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky… and came and rolled away the stone from the door… and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook and became like dead men.
Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene (from whom he had cast out seven demons). She went early (while it was still dark) to the tomb …and saw the stone taken away. Therefore she ran to Simon Peter (and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved) and told those who had been with him as they mourned and wept, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord… out of the tomb… and we don’t know where they have laid him!” Therefore, Peter and the other disciple got up, went out, and ran toward the tomb. They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying… yet he didn’t enter in. But then, Simon Peter came following him – stooping and looking into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen cloths lying by themselves, and the cloth that had been on his head not lying with the linen cloths (but rolled up in a place by itself). So, then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in… and he saw and believed. He departed to his home, wondering what had happened (for as yet they didn’t know the Scripture – that he must rise from the dead). So, the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping.
So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb and she saw two angels in white …sitting (one at the head, and one at the feet) where the body of Jesus had lain. They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She (supposing him to be the gardener) said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, (“Teacher!”) Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me… for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father… but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her… they disbelieved. As the sun had risen… Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James), Salome and some others came to see the tomb… bought spices which they had prepared that they might come and anoint him. They were saying among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” (For it was very big.) Looking up, they found that the stone was rolled back… away from the tomb. They entered into the tomb and didn’t find the Lord Jesus’ body. While they were greatly perplexed about this… behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. They saw a young man sitting on the right side (dressed in a white robe), and they were amazed. Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. The angel(s) answered the women, “Don’t be afraid… don’t be amazed – for I know that you seek Jesus (the Nazarene) who has been crucified. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men… and be crucified… and the third day rise again? Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. But, go quickly and tell his disciples (and Peter), ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold he goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him (as he said to you).’ Behold, I have told you.” They remembered his words and fled… quickly returned from the tomb with fear and great joy. Trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone. For they were afraid, and ran to bring his disciples word, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.
As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.” Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles. These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.
Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they were assembled with the elders (and had taken counsel) they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers, saying, “Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.” So, they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews and continues until today.
After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them as they walked on their way into the country. Behold, they were going that very day to a village named Emmaus (which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem). They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near and went with them… but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?”
One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things which have happened there in these days?” He said to them, “What things?”
They said to him, “The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene… who was a prophet… mighty in deed and word before God and all the people… and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death… and crucified him. But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes (and besides all this) it is now the third day since these things happened. Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb… and when they didn’t find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of us went to the tomb and found it just like the women had said… but they didn’t see him.”
He said to them, “Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. They came near to the village where they were going, and he acted like he would go further. They urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening and the day is almost over.” He went in to stay with them. When he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them. Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight. They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?” They went away that very hour… returned to Jerusalem… found the eleven gathered together (and those who were with them) saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. They didn’t believe them, either.
When therefore it was evening on that day (the first day of the week), and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled (for fear of the Jews)… as they said these things… Jesus himself came and stood in the middle among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” But they were terrified and filled with fear and supposed that they had seen a spirit. He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands, and his side, and his feet. While they still didn’t believe (for joy) and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. He took them and ate in front of them. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning me must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations (beginning at Jerusalem). You are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me… even so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
Source Text Prioritization:
- Matthew 28:1-15
- John 20:1-23
- Mark 16:1-13
- Luke 24:1-49
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