He is Risen. Those three words are
showing up everywhere today. Before heading out to church and back to back
feasts with family, (not sure if it is traditional, but I’m already full
thinking about all of the food on our agenda today) I wanted to read the story
in full. So, without commentary, I thought I’d share it here. The
following comes from the New International Version of the Bible. 

Matthew 28

The Resurrection

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.  
2There was a
violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going
to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 
3His appearance was
like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 
4The guards were so
afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 

5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that
you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 
6He is not here; he
has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 
7Then go quickly
and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you
into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid
yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 
9Suddenly Jesus met
them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and
worshiped him. 
10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers
to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the
city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 
12When the chief
priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a
large sum of money, 
13telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the
night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 
14If this report
gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of
trouble.” 
15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And
this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where
Jesus had told them to go. 
17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to
them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. 
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
20and teaching them
to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to
the very end of the age.”

 

Happy Easter 


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