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M ATTHEW 28
page 893
of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across
the entrance and left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene
and the other Mary were sitting across from the
tomb and watching.
The Guard at the Tomb
62 The next day, on the Sabbath,* the leading
priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They
told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver
once said while he was still alive: ‘After three
days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request
that you seal the tomb until the third day. This
will prevent his disciples from coming and
stealing his body and then telling everyone he
was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll
be worse off than we were at first.”
65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it
the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and
posted guards to protect it.
The Resurrection
Early on Sunday morning,* as the new
day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and
the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For
an angel of the Lord came down from heaven,
rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face
shone like lightning, and his clothing was
as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with
fear when they saw him, and they fell into a
dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t
be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for
Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is
risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And
now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has
risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of
you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb.
They were very frightened but also filled with
great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples
the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus
met them and greeted them. And they ran to
him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.
28
27:62 Or On the next day, which is after the Preparation.
28:1 Greek After the Sabbath, on the first day of the week.
28:19 Or all peoples.
10 Then
Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go
tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they
will see me there.”
The Report of the Guard
11 As the women were on their way, some of the
guards went into the city and told the leading
priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the
elders was called, and they decided to give the
soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers,
“You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the
night while we were sleeping, and they stole
his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll
stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.”
15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what
they were told to say. Their story spread widely
among the Jews, and they still tell it today.
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going
to the mountain where Jesus had told them to
go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him—
but some of them doubted!
18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have
been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these
new disciples to obey all the commands I have
given you. And be sure of this: I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.”
• Self-Esteem
M ATTHE W 28:20
Think of who said these words—Jesus
Christ, the Son of the living God, he who
took part in Creation and who was from
the beginning. He promised to go with us
personally and to go with us always—to
the end of the age or end of the world.
Would you spend every moment of every
day with someone you did not value?
Christ has placed on you incredible
value by promising you the power of his
personal presence.