An Unusual Funeral
Notes
Transcript
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.
The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.”
So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.
Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money
and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’
If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.”
They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.
The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate
and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’
So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”
“You have a guard of soldiers,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.”
They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.