24:1 | At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared. |
24:2 | They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, |
24:3 | so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus. |
24:4 | They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this. Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there. |
24:5 | The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship. The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? |
24:6 | He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee |
24:7 | that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?" |
24:8 | Then they remembered Jesus' words. |
24:9 | They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest. |
24:10 | Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, |
24:11 | but the apostles didn't believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up. |
24:12 | But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that's all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head. |
24:13 | That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. |
24:14 | They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. |
24:15 | In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. |
24:16 | But they were not able to recognize who he was. |
24:17 | He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?" They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. |
24:18 | Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?" |
24:19 | He said, "What has happened?" They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. |
24:20 | Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. |
24:21 | And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. |
24:22 | But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb |
24:23 | and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. |
24:24 | Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus." |
24:25 | Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? |
24:26 | Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?" |
24:27 | Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. |
24:28 | They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on |
24:29 | but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. |
24:30 | And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. |
24:31 | At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared. |
24:32 | Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?" |
24:33 | They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, |
24:34 | talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up--Simon saw him!" |
24:35 | Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread. |
24:36 | While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you." |
24:37 | They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. |
24:38 | He continued with them, "Don't be upset, and don't let all these doubting questions take over. |
24:39 | Look at my hands; look at my feet--it's really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this." |
24:40 | As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. |
24:41 | They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true. He asked, "Do you have any food here?" |
24:42 | They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. |
24:43 | He took it and ate it right before their eyes. |
24:44 | Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled." |
24:45 | He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. |
24:46 | He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, |
24:47 | and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations--starting from here, from Jerusalem! |
24:48 | You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. |
24:49 | What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high." |
24:50 | He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands he blessed them, |
24:51 | and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven. |
24:52 | And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. |
24:53 | They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes. |