Jesus' Resurrection

After Jesus was crucified, the unbelieving Jewish leaders went to Pilate and said, "This man Jesus said he would rise from the dead after three days. We would like you to order the tomb to be guarded so that his disciples cannot come and steal the body and then say he has risen from the dead." Pilate gave them permission, so they sealed the stone at the entrance of the tomb and placed guards there to make sure no one could steal the body.

The day after Jesus was crucified and buried was a Sabbath, a day of rest for the Jewish people, so His followers and friends stayed home that day. Very early the morning after the Sabbath, at sunrise, several women went to Jesus' tomb to put burial spices on His body. As they walked along, they wondered together how they would get the stone rolled away from the door.

Suddenly, at the tomb there was an earthquake. An angel of the Lord appeared from heaven, as bright as lightning. He rolled away the heavy stone that was covering the entrance to the tomb, and sat on it. The soldiers who were guarding the tomb were so terrified that they shook and fell to the ground like dead men.

The angel told the women, “Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus, but He is not here. He has risen from the dead, just like He said He would! Look in the tomb and see.” The women looked into the tomb, and saw where Jesus had been lying. His body was not there!

Then the angel told the women, "Tell the disciples that Jesus has risen from the dead, and he is going before you into Galilee."

The women were full of fear and great joy as they ran to tell the disciples the good news.

On the way, Jesus appeared to them, and they worshiped Him. Jesus said, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell the disciples that I will see them in Galilee."

Later that day, two of Jesus' followers were going to a nearby town. As they walked, they were talking together about the strange things that had happened in Jerusalem, including Jesus’ death. They wondered if Jesus was really the Savior.

As they walked along, Jesus came up and started talking to them, but they did not recognize Him. He asked what they were talking about, and they told Him about all the terrible things that had happened the last couple of days. They thought He was a stranger who had not heard about it.

When He heard their discussion, Jesus began explaining to them what the Scriptures said about the Messiah. He helped them understand that the prophets had not only foretold the Messiah's coming, but they also had said that He would suffer and be killed, and He would rise again on the third day.

When they reached the village where they were headed, the two disciples invited Jesus to stay with them, since it was almost night. When they sat down to eat, Jesus picked up a loaf of bread, thanked God for it, then broke it to share it with them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened and they recognized that He was Jesus. Immediately, He disappeared.

The two men immediately took off running back to Jerusalem and told the disciples that they had seen Jesus alive.

As they were talking suddenly, there was Jesus, right in the middle of them. He showed them his wounds from the crucifixion to prove that it was really Him. He talked with them and let them touch Him to see that He really had a body.

He even ate bread and fish in their presence. He explained to them what the prophets had said about Him, so they could understand everything that had happened to Him. The disciples believed and worshiped Him.

For forty days, Jesus stayed on the earth, and He appeared to his disciples and followers many times, teaching them about the kingdom of God. One time, He appeared to 500 people at one time!

When it was nearly time for Jesus to return to heaven, He said, “Wherever you go, make disciples of all the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. I will be with you always. Stay in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.”

After He said these things, Jesus was taken up to heaven, where He sat down at the right hand of God to rule His kingdom from heaven.