196 THE RESURRECTION. a hundred pounds weight. And they took down the body of Jesus, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth [which] Joseph bought, with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury; and Joseph laid it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of a rock, where never man had yet lain, in a garden, in the place where Jesus was crucified. And he rolled a great stone against the door of the tomb, and departed. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses, sitting over against the sepulchre, beheld where he was laid. And the women who had come out of Galilee, followed after, and beheld the tomb and how his body was laid. And they returned and prepared spices and ointments. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. Now on the morrow, which is after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was yet alive, After three days I rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest haply his disciples come and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: and the last error will be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a guard go, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, the guard being with them. 137. The Resurrection. Matt. 28: 1-8. OW late on the Sabbath day, as it began Now to dawn toward the first day of the week, while it was yet dark, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome and Joanna and the other women came to see the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, that they might anoint him. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was as lightning, THE RESURRECTION. 197 and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men. And the women came to the tomb when the sun was risen. And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? for it was exceeding great. And looking up they see that the stone is rolled back. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear ye not; for I know that ye seek Jesus who hath been crucified. He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And they entered into the tomb and found not the body of the Lord Jesus; and it came to pass while they were perplexed thereabout they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a dazzling white robe and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, he said unto them, Ye seek Jesus the Nazarene who hath been crucified. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying that the Son of man must be delivered up unto the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. But go tell his disciples and Peter, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Lo, I have told you. And they remembered his words, and they went out and fled quickly from the tomb, with fear and great joy; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, and ran to bring his disciples word. Mary Magdalene runneth therefore and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. And they ran both together and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; 198 66 HE SHEWED HIMSELF ALIVE." and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again unto their own home. 138. "He Shewed Himself Alive." Matt. 28: 9-15. Mark 16: 9-18. Luke 24: 12-49. John 20: 11-29. OW when he was risen early on the first Now day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven devils. But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I as HE SHEWED HIMSELF ALIVE." 199 cend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, as they mourned and wept, I have seen the Lord; and how that he had said these things unto her. And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved. And the women ran to bring his disciples word. And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me. And they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them. Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come to pass. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day. And behold, after these things, he was manifested in another form unto two of them that had been with him, as they walked and were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem. And they communed with each other of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, while they communed and questioned together, that Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad. 200 66 HE SHEWED HIMSELF ALIVE." And one of them, named Cleopas, answering said unto him, Dost thou alone sojourn in Jerusalem and not know the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we hoped that it was he that should redeem Israel. Yea and beside all this, it is now the third day since these things came to pass. Moreover certain women of our company amazed us, having been early at the tomb; and when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. And certain of them that were with us went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. And he said unto them, O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village whither they were going, and he made as though he would go further. And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them. And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread, and blessed : and breaking it, he gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him: and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusa |