[Dean's World] Dean: Easter

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Posted by Dean:
Easter
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1176065056.shtml


   On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women
   took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the
   stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not
   find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this,
   suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside
   them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the
   ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living
   among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told
   you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be
   delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third
   day be raised again.'" Then they remembered his words.

   When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the
   Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the
   mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the
   apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words
   seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the
   tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves,
   and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

   Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus,
   about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other
   about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these
   things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with
   them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

   He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"

   They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas,
   asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the
   things that have happened there in these days?"

   "What things?" he asked.

   "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful
   in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and
   our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they
   crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to
   redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this
   took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the
   tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came and told
   us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then
   some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women
   had said, but him they did not see."

   He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to
   believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ[b] have
   to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with
   Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all
   the Scriptures concerning himself.

   As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted
   as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with
   us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in
   to stay with them.

   When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke
   it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they
   recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each
   other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us
   on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

   They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the
   Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, "It is
   true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon." Then the two told
   what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them
   when he broke the bread.

   While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among
   them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

   They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said
   to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?
   Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a
   ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

   When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while
   they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked
   them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of
   broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

   He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you:
   Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of
   Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."

   Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He
   told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise
   from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins
   will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
   You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my
   Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed
   with power from on high."

   When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his
   hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and
   was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to
   Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple,
   praising God.

   ---The Gospel According to Luke, chapter 24