The Resurrection

Luke 24

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothing. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the earth.

The men said to them, “Why are y’all seeking the living among the dead? He is not here—but he has risen! Y’all must remember what he told y’all when he was still in Galilee, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Humanity be delivered into the hands of sinful humans, be crucified, and on the third day rise again?’”

Then they remembered his words, and when returned from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who were telling these things to the apostles. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they didn’t believe them. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen. Then he left, marveling at what had happened.

On the Road to Emmaus

On that very day, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about all the things that had happened. While they were discussing and debating these things, Jesus himself approached and walked with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are these matters y’all are batting back and forth as y’all walk?” Then they stopped and looked very sad.

One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked them.

They replied, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene. He was a prophet, powerful in deed and word before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Also, some women from out group amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning, and when they didn’t find his body, they came back saying that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said. But they didn’t see him.”

He said to them, “O foolish people, slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them the things written about himself in all the Scriptures.

As they came approached the village where they were going, Jesus acted as though he were going farther.

But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over.”

So he went in to stay with them. When he had reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but then he vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he was speaking to us along the way, and while he was opening the Scriptures to us?” They got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “It’s true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told the story of what happened on the road, and how they recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.

Jesus Keeps Appearing

While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with y’all.”

But they were startled and terrified, and they thought they were seeing a ghost.

He said to them, “Why are y’all troubled? Why do doubts arise in y’all’s heart? Y’all, look at my hands and my feet—it is truly me! Y’all can touch me and see, about a ghost wouldn’t have flesh and bones as y’all can see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

While they were still marveling and in disbelief because of their joy, he said to them, “Do y’all have anything to eat here?” They gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I told y’all while I was still with y’all, that it is necessary for everything written about me in the Paw of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms to be fulfilled.”

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached in his name to all ethnic groups, beginning at Jerusalem. Y’all are witnesses of these things. And look! I am sending the promise of my Father upon y’all. But y’all are to wait in the city of Jerusalem until y’all are clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus Ascends

Then Jesus led out them to the vicinity of Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven.

Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.