The Story of Easter
Luke 23:50-24:53 (KJV)
And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor;
and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel
and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself
waited for the kingdom of God.
This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that
was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the
preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
And the women also, which came with him from Galilee,
followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they
returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day
according to the commandment.
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the
morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had
prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed
thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to
the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not
here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be
crucified, and the third day rise again.
And they remembered his words, and returned from the
sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of
James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the
apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them
not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld
the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that
which was come to pass.
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village
called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they
talked together of all these things which had happened.
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together
and reasoned, 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 manner of
communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering
said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the
things which are come to pass there in these days?
And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto
him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word
before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers
delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted
that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to
day is the third day since these things were done.
Yea, and certain women also of our company made us
astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body,
they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that
he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and
found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered
these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning
himself.
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went:
and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him,
saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And
he went in to tarry with them.
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took
bread, and blessed it, and brake, and 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, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way,
and while he opened to us the scriptures?
And they rose up the same 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 told what
things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst
of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and
affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do
thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands
and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said
unto them, Have ye here any meat?
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an
honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake
unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which
were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms,
concerning me.
Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that
repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:
but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on
high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and
blessed them.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted
from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to
Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and
blessing God.
Amen. |
