My Stories

 

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

 

                        This wonderful story is found in the Bible in the Gospel of John, Chapter 20.  Just before the sun began to slowly creep over the hills and light up the day with its brightness and warmth, there was a sudden rumble and shaking of the earth.  As the ground moved with the earthquake, the huge stone moved away from the front of the cave where Jesus had been buried. 

 

        It was Sunday morning - three days after Jesus had died on the cross and been buried in the dark, cool tomb.  An angel of the Lord from heaven whose clothes were white as snow sat upon the stone.  The soldiers who were guarding the grave fainted and fell down afraid and when they woke again and saw that Jesus' body was gone, they quickly ran away. 

 

         As the sun was just rising overhead, Mary Magdalene and some other women were on their way to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body with some more spices and Mary said, "Who will move away the stone for us.  We're not strong enough."  As they got closer to the cave, Mary saw that it was open and she ran away to get Peter and John. "They have taken away the Lord Jesus out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him," she said.  Peter and John ran quickly to the cave.  They stopped when they got to the entrance, looked in and slowly went inside.  There they saw the grave clothes that had been wrapped around Jesus.  They were folded neatly in a pile.  His face cloth was rolled up in a place by itself.  Jesus’ body was gone!  John then knew that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead, just like He said He would.  After the men left, Mary then went in.  She  bent down and looked into the cave crying. 

 

        Two angels dressed in white robes were sitting where Jesus had been laying and they said to her, "Woman, why are you crying?"  "Because they have taken away my Lord and I don't know where they've put Him", she said.  And when she had said this, she turned around and walked out of the cave and into the garden, and then she saw Jesus standing there outside.  But she didn't know who He was.  And He said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?"  She thought He was the gardener and she said, "Sir, sir, if you've carried Him away, tell me where you've taken Him and I will go there and get Him!"  And Jesus then said her name "Mary", and then she looked at Him and then she knew who He was.  "Rabboni, Teacher" she said to Him.  It was Jesus!  He was alive!  Mary wasn't sad anymore.  She knew that Jesus was stronger than death.  He had risen from the dead just as He had promised. 

 

         This was the first Easter Sunday morning.  What a glorious resurrection day!  That night, when all 11 of Jesus’ friends, called disciples, were together, Jesus appeared also to them.  He ate and he drank with them.  He wanted them to see Him so they would know for sure that He was alive.  He wanted them to tell others. 

 

        Jesus wants us to tell our friends that He is alive.  His resurrection is true. Go tell your friends!