His Last Week Part 9

THE EARTHQUAKE.

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men.

THE EMPTY TOMB.

Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him."

Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in.

Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb: and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again unto their own home.

THE APPEARANCE TO MARY.

But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, "Woman, why weepest thou?"

She saith unto them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."

When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, "Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?"

She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, "Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."

Jesus saith unto her, "Mary."

She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, "Rabboni"; which is to say, "Teacher."

Jesus saith to her, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father; but go unto my brethren, and say to them, 'I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and my G.o.d and your G.o.d.'"

Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and that he had said these things unto her.

THE APPEARANCE TO THE WOMEN.

And the women which had come with him out of Galilee came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they were saying among themselves, "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?"

and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he saith unto them, "Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified; he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.'"

And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

And behold, Jesus met them, saying, "All hail." And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him.

Then saith Jesus unto them, "Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me."

REPORT OF THE WATCH.

Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pa.s.s.

And when they were a.s.sembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers, saying, "Say ye, 'His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.' And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care."

So they took the money and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day.

THE APPEARANCE AT EMMAUS.

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was three-score furlongs from Jerusalem. And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pa.s.s, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

And he said unto them, "What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk?"

And they stood still, looking sad. And one of them, named Cleopas, answering, said unto him, "Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pa.s.s there in these days?"

And he said unto them, "What things?"

And they said unto him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before G.o.d, 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 hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel. Yea, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pa.s.s. Moreover, certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not."

And he said unto them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?"

And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. And they constrained him, saying, "Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent."

And he went in to abide with them. And it came to pa.s.s, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it, he gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

And they said one to another, "Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?"

And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon." And they rehea.r.s.ed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread.

THE APPEARANCE TO THE DISCIPLES.

When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and saith unto them, "Peace be unto you."

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit. And he said unto them, "Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having."

And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, "Have ye here anything to eat?"

And they gave him a piece of broiled fish. And he took it, and ate before them.

Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be unto you: as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit: whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."

AFTER THE RESURRECTION DAY.