The resurrection1As dawn broke on the Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb.2Suddenly the earth shook violently and an angel of the Lord came from heaven, rolled back the stone that covered the tomb entrance and sat on it.3He appeared radiant with clothes that were brilliantly white.4The guards were so terrified that they shook with fear and then fell to the ground as if dead.5The angel spoke to the women: "There is no need to fear, for I know that you have come looking for Jesus who was crucified.6He is no longer here; He has risen from the dead, as He promised He would. Come and you can see the place where His body lay.7Then go at once and give His disciples this message: 'Jesus has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you to Galilee where He will meet with you.'" The angel added: "I came to give you this message."8So the women ran from the tomb, afraid and yet filled with joy, to relay the message to Jesus' disciples.9Suddenly Jesus was there before them. "Rejoice!" He said to them. They fell before Him, took hold of His feet and worshipped Him.10Then Jesus told them: "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee, where they shall see Me."11Meanwhile, some of the guards went to the city to report to the chief priests about all that had happened.12The chief priests then met with the other religious leaders to devise a plan. They bribed the soldiers with a large sum of money13and told them: "You are to say that during the night His disciples came and stole His body while we were sleeping.14If the governor hears about this, we will speak to him on your behalf so that you are not punished."15The soldiers accepted the money and said what they were told to say. As a result this fabrication has been spread widely among the Jews, even to this present day.The disciples commissioned to go16The eleven disciples went to the mountain in Galilee were Jesus had instructed them to go.17When they saw Him they worshipped Him, but some still had doubts.18Jesus told them: "All heavenly and earthly authority has been given to Me.19So now I tell you to go and make disciples in every nation. Baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.20Teach them to obey all that I have taught and commanded you. And be assured of this: I am always present with you, even to the end of this age."
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)