The Life Story of Jesus

The Account from Matthew

The greatest man who ever lived was born in Bethlehem and his name was Jesus. Now Jesus was the Son of God sent down to us to show us the way to a happy eternal life. Many followed but others ignored him. He performed many miracles and healed many people. This incredible story begins when Jesus first gets baptized.

The Baptism of Jesus

Then Jesus came to a city called Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to avoid him saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment the gate to heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a loud thundering voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was very hungry. The Devil came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you,and they will lift you up in their hands,so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Don’t put the Lord your God to the test.’”Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended to him.

The Calling of the First Disciples

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus heals the Sick

Now we get in to where Jesus heals every one Galilee and does a few extra things while he was there. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

The Beatitudes

So now we Jesus is getting more popular across the region which leads us into our next chapter which is the Beatitudes which is one of the biggest sermon Jesus ever told at one time. Its called the Sermon on the Mount and many people came to hear him speak. We wont go through the whole sermon but he does talk about a couple of things like Giving to the needy, and Love for enemies, this sermon pretty much gives us instruction on how to live our lives the right way.

The Man With Leprosy

When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

The Faith of the Centurion

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Jesus Heals Many

Again we see Jesus healing many people so far he’s healed many people and were not even halfway through his life yet. So you can see why many people followed him. Lets get back to the story shall we? When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Jesus Calms the Storm

Here we see Jesus perform one of many miracles he did that doesn’t involve sick people. Lets read on to find out what he did. Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

The Healing of a two Demon possessed Men

When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one even dared to go that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all that had happened, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they did not believe him and so they pleaded with him to leave their region.

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

The Calling of Matthew

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but to call the sinners.”

A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman

While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment. When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd went outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.

Jesus Heals the Blind and Mute

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”“Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. I will not list all the instructions Jesus gave to his disciples but he basically told them to do the same things he was doing. To heal people and to teach them the gospel.

Jesus and John the Baptist

After Jesus had instructed his twelve disciples. John in prison had heard what Christ was doing so he sent his disciples out to ask him, “Are you the one we should be expecting or is it someone else?” Then Jesus answered them with a long lecture trying to let them figure out the answer on their own.

Lord of the Sabbath

At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus and Beelzebub

Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Parables

Now for a while Jesus is talking to a crowd by the lake and began to tell them thing in many parables. He tells them about six parables. Then after he was done their moved on to his hometown and began teaching to them in synagogues.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Now we come to another great miracle where Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Jesus took the loaves of bread and fish and gave it to the people and after that they were full. Everyone was amazed at the miracle Jesus performed.

Jesus Walks on Water

When the disciples were on the lake keeping watch Jesus appeared to them walking on water. “Its a ghost” they cried. Then Jesus said to them “Do not be afraid for it is I.” Then Jesus said “come”. Then Peter got out of the boat and started to walk on water then he saw the wind and was scared then he started to drown. “Lord save me!” he cried. Then Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Then he got him in the boat and went on.

The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Jesus Predicts His Death

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

The Transfiguration

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

Here Jesus tells his disciples who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and he also tells them a couple of parables and teaches them a lesson. So still Jesus is preaching the words of wisdom. Then a little later he is still talking to them and again predicts his death and heals two Blind men. As you can see the miracles are still happening.

The Triumphal Entry

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:“Say to Daughter Zion,‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.

Jesus at the Temple

All that happened here was Jesus overturned the moneychangers who were sinning in the temple and drove them out. Then he tells his disciples about the Fig tree and then he tells them a lot more parables. Until his disciples ask him what will the signs of the end of the age be so Jesus explains this to them and tells them the day and hour are unknown. And then tells them a few more parables. Then Jesus tells them he knows the elders and chief priests are planning a plot to kill him and he tells his disciples.

The Lords Supper

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus Predicts Peters Denial

Jesus told peter by the end of the night you will disown me three times but Peter told Jesus he would never do such a thing but Jesus knew he would.

Jesus Arrested

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Before the Sanhedrin

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent .The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”“He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

Around 2000 thousand years ago, the biggest crucifixion in the history of mankind happened on Mt. Calvary. They called it the death of Jesus Christ. This story begins when Peter ( a disciple of Jesus.) was sitting in the courtyard, and a girl came up to him saying, “You were also with Jesus”. But Peter denied and said “I have no idea what your talking about.” Knowing that he had lied he went out to the gateway where another girl saw him and said so all the people could hear,”This fellow was also with Jesus.” Once again Peter denied with an oath,”I don’t know the man!” After a while those who were standing went up to Peter and said “Surely you are one of them. Your accent gives you away.” But then he began to swore to them saying”I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him earlier. “Before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.” Then realizing what he had done, he went outside the gate and wept for hours.

Ch.2 Jesus before Pilate

Later in the courtroom where Jesus was the governor asked Jesus “Are you the king of the Jews.” Jesus replied “Yes it is as you say.” Then Pilate (the judge) asked him “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply not even to the governor, priest, or elders. Now it was the governor’s turn to release a prisoner. At that time they had an evil prisoner named Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered around Pilate he asked them, “ Which one of these do you wish me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ”? “Barabbas” the crowd shouted. “Then what shall I do with this man who is called Christ?” Pilate asked the crowd.“Crucify him!” they shouted. Then Pilate asked “Why what crime has he committed? But they shouted even louder now “Crucify him!” When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd and said “I am innocent of this man’s blood he is now your responsibility. ” Then they released Barabbas and had Jesus flogged. Then handed him over to be crucified.

Ch.3 The Soldiers Mock Jesus

Then the governor’s soldiers took him to a place called the Praetoriun and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on his naked body. Next they twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. Then they took a staff and struck him on the head many times until the blood came from his head and dripped down his beaten body. Then the Roman soldiers took off his robe and put clothes on him. Then they led him away to be crucified.

Ch.4 The Crucifixion

As they were going out they met a man from Cyrene named Simon and they forced him to carry the cross. Then they came to a place called Golgotha. There the soldiers offered Jesus wine mixed with gall but he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Then they sat and watched him and above his head was the written charge against him: This is Jesus, The King of the Jews. Two robbers were crucified with him one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by shouted insults at him, shaking their heads and saying “ You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the sun of God!” Even the chief priests hurled insults at him. “ If he comes down from the cross we will believe in him.” In the same way the robbers who were hung with him insulted him.

Ch.5 The Death of Jesus

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. At about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice “Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani?”-which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of those standing around him heard this they said, “He is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar and put it on a stick and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes too save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud thundering voice he gave up his spirit. At that time the curtain of the temple was split in two. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. After Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed “Surely he was the Son of God.”

The Burial of Jesus

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite of the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir” they said sternly , “we remember that while he was sill alive that deceiver said’ After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard.

The Resurrection

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lighting, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has rise from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his blistered feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me,”

Ch.2 The Guards’ Report

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. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 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.

Ch.3 The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”