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THE EASTER
STORY The Resurrection The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased embalming spices. Early the following morning, just at sunrise, they carried them out to the tomb. On the way they were discussing how they could ever roll aside the huge stone from the entrance. But when they arrived they looked up and saw that the stone -- a very heavy one -- was already moved away and the entrance was open! So they entered the tomb -- and there on the right sat a young man clothed in white. The women were startled, but the angel said, "Don't be so surprised. Aren't you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified? He isn't here! He has come back to life! Look, that's where his body was lying. Now go and give this message to his disciples including Peter: "'Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!'" The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, too frightened to talk. Later that day he appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn't recognize him at first because he had changed his appearance. Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief -- their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him alive from the dead. Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had said they would find him. There they met him and worshipped him -- but some of them weren't sure it really was Jesus! He told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this -- that I am with you always, even to the end of the world." Luke 16:1-8, 12, 14 illustration by Richard Hook 1=Triumphal Entry...2=The
Last Supper...3=Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet...
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