Chapter 28
Verses 1- 15 Read the Bible verses.
As the Sabbath ended and dawn (sunrise) was starting, it was the first day of the week which would have been Sunday–Mary Magdalene and other Mary came to the tomb. This other Mary may have been the mother of James and Joseph since she was there before.
Another earthquake happened, and an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven and rolled away the stone.
His face and body was shining bright and it was white as snow.
The Roman soldiers were so afraid they were shaking and fell down like dead men.
The angel talked to the women and said, “Don’t be afraid, I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.” “He is not here, he is risen.”
“Come see where he lay.”
“Go quickly, tell his disciples that he is risen and he goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him.”
Jesus told the disciples that was what he would do before he was killed. Matthew 26:32
The women left the tomb. They were afraid and also full of joy. They ran to tell the disciples.
As they were on the way, Jesus met them. He said, “Hello” They came and held him by the feet and worshipped.
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brethren (disciples) to go to Galilee and they will see me there.”
The women went on their way to tell the disciples.
The Roman, soldiers who were standing watch, went to the priest to tell them what happened. They told them about the earthquake, the angel, and how they fell down like dead men.
The Jewish leaders gave the soldiers a lot of money not to say anything about what happened.
The Jewish leaders told them to say another made-up story–that they fell asleep and while they were asleep the disciples came and took the body.
They also told the soldiers, “If Pilate finds out about it, we will talk to him for you.”
There was good reason for the soldiers to worry about Pilate.
The priests paid a lot of money to get the soldiers to say they fell asleep.
There was a rule for a Roman soldier. Do not fall asleep when you are on duty or you will be killed if you do.
People knew this rule. People were going to find it hard to believe that a Roman soldier fell asleep on the job. And they would find it even harder to believe that they got away with it and did not die.
Everyone would wonder about such a story right away.
Verses 16- 20 Read the Bible verses.
The 11 disciples gathered together in Galilee on a mountain where Jesus told them to go.
When they saw him, they worshipped him. Some doubted that it was really Jesus. John 20: 24-29 Thomas doubted.
Jesus said to them. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and teach all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Spirit). Teach them to obey all things I have taught you.”
“I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”