MATTHEW 28
Jesus Is Alive
(Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-12; John 20.1-10)

The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord's angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it.  The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.

The angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross.  He isn't here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying.  Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you."

The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said, "Don't be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there."

Report of the Guard

While the women were on their way, some soldiers who had been guarding the tomb went into the city. They told the chief priests everything that had happened.  So the chief priests met with the leaders and decided to bribe the soldiers with a lot of money.  They said to the soldiers, "Tell everyone that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole his body while you were asleep.  If the governor hears about this, we will talk to him. You won't have anything to worry about."  The soldiers took the money and did what they were told. The Jewish people still tell each other this story.

What Jesus' Followers Must Do
(Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49; John 20.19-23; Acts 1.6-8)

Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet him.  They saw him and worshiped him, but some of them doubted.  Jesus came to them and said:
I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth!  Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

LUKE 24
Jesus Is Alive
(Matthew 28.1-10; Mark 16.1-8; John 20.1-10)

Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices that they had prepared.  When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance,  they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think. Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them.  The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive?  Jesus isn't here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you,  'The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.' "  Then they remembered what Jesus had said.

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women were the ones who had gone to the tomb. When they returned, they told the eleven apostles and the others what had happened.  The apostles thought it was all nonsense, and they would not believe.

But Peter ran to the tomb. And when he stooped down and looked in, he saw only the burial clothes. Then he returned, wondering what had happened.

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
(Mark 16.12,13)

That same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to the village of Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.  As they were talking and thinking about what had happened, Jesus came near and started walking along beside them. 16But they did not know who he was.  Jesus asked them, "What were you talking about as you walked along?"

The two of them stood there looking sad and gloomy.  Then the one named Cleopas asked Jesus, "Are you the only person from Jerusalem who didn't know what was happening there these last few days?"
"What do you mean?" Jesus asked.

They answered:
Those things that happened to Jesus from Nazareth. By what he did and said he showed that he was a powerful prophet, who pleased God and all the people.  Then the chief priests and our leaders had him arrested and sentenced to die on a cross.  We had hoped that he would be the one to set Israel free! But it has already been three days since all this happened.

Some women in our group surprised us. They had gone to the tomb early in the morning, but did not find the body of Jesus. They came back, saying that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that he is alive.  Some men from our group went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But they didn't see Jesus either.

Then Jesus asked the two disciples, "Why can't you understand? How can you be so slow to believe all that the prophets said?  Didn't you know that the Messiah would have to suffer before he was given his glory?"  Jesus then explained everything written about himself in the Scriptures, beginning with the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets.  When the two of them came near the village where they were going, Jesus seemed to be going farther.  They begged him, "Stay with us! It's already late, and the sun is going down." So Jesus went into the house to stay with them.

After Jesus sat down to eat, he took some bread. He blessed it and broke it. Then he gave it to them.  At once they knew who he was, but he disappeared.  They said to each other, "When he talked with us along the road and explained the Scriptures to us, didn't it warm our hearts?"  So they got right up and returned to Jerusalem.

The two disciples found the eleven apostles and the others gathered together.  And they learned from the group that the Lord was really alive and had appeared to Peter.  Then the disciples from Emmaus told what happened on the road and how they knew he was the Lord when he broke the bread.

What Jesus' Followers Must Do
(Matthew 28.16-20; Mark 16.14-18; John 20.19-23; Acts 1.6-8)

While Jesus' disciples were talking about what had happened, Jesus appeared and greeted them.  They were frightened and terrified because they thought they were seeing a ghost.  But Jesus said, "Why are you so frightened? Why do you doubt? Look at my hands and my feet and see who I am! Touch me and find out for yourselves. Ghosts don't have flesh and bones as you see I have."

After Jesus said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  The disciples were so glad and amazed that they could not believe it. Jesus then asked them, "Do you have something to eat?"  They gave him a piece of baked fish.  He took it and ate it as they watched.

Jesus said to them, "While I was still with you, I told you that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Books of the Prophets, and in the Psalms had to happen."  Then he helped them understand the Scriptures. He told them:
The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death.  They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened.  I will send you the one my Father has promised, but you must stay in the city until you are given power from heaven.

Jesus Returns to Heaven
(Mark 16.19,20; Acts 1.9-11)

Jesus led his disciples out to Bethany, where he raised his hands and blessed them.  As he was doing this, he left and was taken up to heaven.  After his disciples had worshiped him, they returned to Jerusalem and were very happy.  They spent their time in the temple, praising God.

JOHN 20
Jesus Is Alive
(Matthew 28.1-10; Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-12)

On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus' favorite disciple and said, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don't know where they have put him."
Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.  They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first.  He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.

When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth.  He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face.  It was rolled up and in a place by itself.  The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed.  At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life.  So the two of them went back to the other disciples.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(Mark 16.9-11)

Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb.  She was still weeping, when she stooped down and saw two angels inside.  They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been.  One was at the head and the other was at the foot.  The angels asked Mary, "Why are you crying?" 
She answered, "They have taken away my Lord's body! I don't know where they have put him."

As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there.  But she did not know who he was.  Jesus asked her, "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?"
She thought he was the gardener and said, "Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him."
Then Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to him, "Rabboni." The Aramaic word "Rabboni" means "Teacher."
Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father.  But tell my disciples that I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God."
Mary Magdalene then went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. She also told them what he had said to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples
(Matthew 28.16-20; Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49)

The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room.  Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them and showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy.

After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, "I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me."
Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven.  But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven."

Jesus and Thomas

Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them.  So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger.  I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!"

A week later the disciples were together again.  This time, Thomas was with them.  Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!"
Thomas replied, "You are my Lord and my God!" 
Jesus said, "Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!"

Why John Wrote His Book

Jesus worked many other miracles for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book.  But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God.  If you have faith in him, you will have true life.

ACTS 10:34-43

Peter then said:
Now I am certain that God treats all people alike.  God is pleased with everyone who worships him and does right, no matter what nation they come from.  This is the same message that God gave to the people of Israel, when he sent Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, to offer peace to them.

You surely know what happened everywhere in Judea.  It all began in Galilee after John had told everyone to be baptized.  God gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus from Nazareth.  He was with Jesus, as he went around doing good and healing everyone who was under the power of the devil.  We all saw what Jesus did both in Israel and in the city of Jerusalem.  Jesus was put to death on a cross.  But three days later, God raised him to life and let him be seen.  Not everyone saw him.  He was seen only by us, who ate and drank with him after he was raised from death. We were the ones God chose to tell others about him.

God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead.  Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name.

PSALM 33
Sing Praises to the LORD

You are the LORD's people.
Obey him and celebrate!
He deserves your praise.
Praise the LORD with harps!
Use harps with ten strings
to make music for him.
Sing a new song. Shout!
Play beautiful music.

The LORD is truthful;
he can be trusted.
5He loves justice and fairness,
and he is kind to everyone
everywhere on earth.
The LORD made the heavens
and everything in them
by his word.

He scooped up the ocean
and stored the water.
Everyone in this world
should worship and honor
the LORD!
As soon as he spoke
the world was created;
at his command,
the earth was formed.

The LORD destroys the plans
and spoils the schemes
of the nations.
But what the LORD has planned
will stand forever.
His thoughts never change.
The LORD blesses each nation
that worships only him.
He blesses his chosen ones.
The LORD looks at the world
from his throne in heaven,
and he watches us all.
The LORD gave us each a mind,
and nothing we do
can be hidden from him.

Mighty armies alone
cannot win wars for a king;
great strength by itself
cannot keep a soldier safe.
In war the strength of a horse
cannot be trusted
to take you to safety.
But the LORD watches over
all who honor him
and trust his kindness.
He protects them from death
and starvation.

We depend on you, LORD,
to help and protect us.
You make our hearts glad
because we trust you,
the only God.
Be kind and bless us!
We depend on you.