THE RESURRECTION

Matthew 28

After the Sabbath, at dawn

On the First Day of the Week,

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary

Went to look at the Tomb.

2 THERE 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.

3 HIS APPEARANCE WAS LIKE LIGHTENING,

AND HIS CLOTHES WERE WHITE AS SNOW.

4 THE GUARDS WERE SO AFRAID OF HIM

THAT THEY SHOOK AND BECAME LIKE DEAD MEN.

5 The Angel said to the women,

'DO NOT BE AFRAID,

For I know that you are looking for Jesus,

Who was Crucified.

6 HE IS NOT HERE;

HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID.

Come and see the Place where He lay.

7 THEN 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.'

8 So the women hurried away from the Tomb,

AFRAID YET FILLED WITH JOY,

AND RAN TO TELL HIS DISCIPLES.

9 SUDDENLY JESUS MET THEM.

'GREETINGS,' He said.

They came to Him, Clasped His feet

AND WORSHIPED HIM.

10 Then Jesus said to them,

'DO NOT BE AFRAID.

GOD AND TELL MY BROTHERS TO GO TO GALILEE;

THERE THEY WILL SEE ME.'

The Guards' Report

11 While the women were on their way,

Some of the Guards went into the City

And reported to the Chief Priests

Everything that had happened.

12 When the Chief Priest had met with the Elders

And Devised a Plan,

They gave the Soldiers a Large Sum of Money,

13 Telling them,

'YOU ARE TO SAY,

HIS DISCIPLES CAME DURING THE NIGHT

AND STOLE HIM AWAY WHILE WE WERE ASLEEP.'

14 If this Report gets to the Governor,

We will Satisfy him

And keep you out of trouble.'

15 So 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

16 Then the Eleven Disciples

Went to Galilee, to the mountain

Where Jesus had told them to go.

17 WHEN THEY SAW HIM,

THEY WORSHIPED HIM;

BUT SOME DOUBTED.

18 Then Jesus came to them and said,

'ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH

HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.

19 THEREFORE GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS,

BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,

20 AND TEACHING THEM TO OBEY

EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.

AND SURELY I WILL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS,

TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE.'

(Matthew 28)