LUKE 24 (NIV)
- 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 amng 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.
- But 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 from Jerusalem.
- They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
- As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himslef 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 Nazereth," 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;
- but 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 tha tthey 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 belive all that the prophets have spoken!
- Did not the Christ 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 himslef.
- 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 sayig, "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 thks, 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 figh,
- 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.