Walks and Words of Jesus Part 34

And, behold, the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of G.o.d. And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him, stood afar off, beholding these things; among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome, the mother of Zebedee's children; (who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and _that_ they might be taken away.

Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water. And he that saw _it_ bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

And after this, when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, there came a rich man of Arimathea named Joseph, an honorable counsellor, _and he was_ a good man, and a just: (the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) _he was_ of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of G.o.d, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews. This _man_ went in boldly into Pilate, and begged that he might take away the body of Jesus.

And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead; and calling _unto him_ the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew _it_ of the centurion, then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered unto Joseph. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound _weight_. And when Joseph had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore in his own new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock: because of the Jews' preparation _day_; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed. And that day was the preparation and the sabbath drew on.

And the women also, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, _the mother_ of Joses, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and sitting over against the sepulchre, beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make _it_ as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

CHAPTER LXXVI.

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS--SCENES, ETC.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the _mother_ of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and annoint him.

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn towards the first _day_ of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre, at the rising of the sun. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead _men_.

And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way quickly, and tell his disciples, and Peter, that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said unto you: lo, I have told you.

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre, with fear and great joy; for they trembled and were amazed; and did run to bring his disciples word: neither said they anything to any _man_; for they were afraid.

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were a.s.sembled 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 secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Now upon the first _day_ of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain _others_ with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pa.s.s, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in s.h.i.+ning garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down _their_ faces to the earth, they said unto them, 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, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

CHAPTER LXXVII.

MARY MAGDALENE AND OTHERS VISIT THE SEPULCHRE.

The first _day_ of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, 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 sepulchre and we know not where they have laid him.

It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary _the mother_ of James, and other _women that were_ with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, _and looking in_, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home, (Peter) wondering in himself at that which was come to pa.s.s.

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, _and looked_ into the sepulchre, and seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other 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.

(Now when _Jesus_ was risen early the first _day_ of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.) And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw 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 have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her,

Mary.

She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni: which is to say, Master. Jesus said unto her,

Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and _to_ my G.o.d, and your G.o.d.

_And_ she went and told the disciples that had been with him, as they mourned and wept, that she had seen the Lord, and _that_ he had spoken these things unto her. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

CHAPTER LXXVIII.

JOURNEY TO EMMAUS--INCREDULITY OF THOMAS.

After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, that same day, as they walked, and went into the country, to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem _about_ threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

And it came to pa.s.s, that, while they communed _together_ and reasoned, 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 manner of communications _are_ these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?