The next day, the sun shone brightly, the sky was blue and cloudless, reflecting God's glory. As the women neared the tomb, they saw that the stone, which had been used as a door had been rolled away. Scared, the women made a beeline for the tomb, dropping their spices and perfumes along the way. When they reached the tomb, they slowed, for fear of not seeing Jesus inside. Mary Magdalene stuck her head in first and screamed. The body was gone! Jesus was gone! Someone had taken him!
The women cried. A blinding light flashed and two men approached. The women cried out in fear, then bowed their heads. The men shouted, "Why are you searching for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
Delighted, the women rushed from the tomb to relay the good news to the apostles. Sadly, the men believed the words were just a bunch of codswallop and didn't believe them. Peter was different. Peter ran to the tomb and found the linens, wondering what had happened to the body.
-----
Meanwhile, two men were on a path, traveling to Emmaus, a nearby village. They were chatting about the recent events, when a man came behind them and kindly asked, "What are you two discussing?"
One man, by the name of Cleopas, asked him, "Man, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem, who has not heard of the recent events these days?"
"What things?" the man asked, acting confused, but knowing.
"Why, about Jesus of Nazareth," the other stated, "He was a prophet. A powerful speaker. A doer of miracles. The chief priests and our rulers handed the man over to be sentenced to death. He was crucified. We had surely hoped and believe that he would be the one to redeem Israel. It is the third day since all has taken place. On this day, women went to the tomb where Jesus rested, but his body wasn't there! They claim to have seen angels in the tomb, who told them that Jesus was supposedly alive. Well, some of our companions went to the tomb also and it was as the women said, his body was gone!"
The man smiled and said, "How foolish you are! You are slow to believe all the prophets have spoken! Didn't the Messiah suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
The man then told them all he knew of Jesus, from the words of Moses and all of the prophets. He explained all that was in the scriptures about the Messiah.
When they had reached the spot the two men were staying at, the stranger bid them farewell and started moving along his way. The men called out to him, "Won't you stay with us? It is nearly evening, the day is almost over."
The man grinned broadly and entered the house with the two men.
The three sat around a solid wooden table with a plate of bread in front of the stranger. The man took a loaf of bread, gave thanks and broke it. He began to give it to the man and their eyes were opened. The man had disappeared.
The two men looked at the empty chair in awe. Their jaws had dropped. Their eyes had widened. They looked at each other simultaneously, then back to the chair. One asked incredulously, "Weren't our hearts burning within us while He chatted with us along the road and told us of the Scriptures?"
In an instant, the men had vacated their chairs. They sprinted all the way to Jerusalem, to search for the Eleven. When they had finally found the Eleven and those with them, they assembled together. The men cried out, "It is true! The Lord has risen!"
The Eleven were confused. The men explained how Jesus had walked with them and told them of the Scriptures. They told of Jesus sitting with them at the table. They told of Jesus breaking the bread and their eyes being opened to discover who the man really was.
As the men talked of the events, Jesus himself stood among them. He stated, "Peace be with you."
Those assembled were frightened. Believing that they had seen a ghost, they cowered. Jesus calmly said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your mind? Look at my hand and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh. A ghost does not have bones. I have flesh and bones; I am no ghost!"
The men saw his hand and feet. They still did not believe. Jesus asked, "Do you have anything to eat?"
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
After he had finished eating, he said, "This is what I had 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 that they might understand the Scriptures.
"This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations; beginning at Jerusalem. You are witness 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."
Jesus led them out to the vicinity of Bethany and raised his hands, blessing them. In the process of blessing them, he left and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy in their hearts. They continually stayed at the temple and praised God.
One man, by the name of Cleopas, asked him, "Man, are you the only one visiting Jerusalem, who has not heard of the recent events these days?"
"What things?" the man asked, acting confused, but knowing.
"Why, about Jesus of Nazareth," the other stated, "He was a prophet. A powerful speaker. A doer of miracles. The chief priests and our rulers handed the man over to be sentenced to death. He was crucified. We had surely hoped and believe that he would be the one to redeem Israel. It is the third day since all has taken place. On this day, women went to the tomb where Jesus rested, but his body wasn't there! They claim to have seen angels in the tomb, who told them that Jesus was supposedly alive. Well, some of our companions went to the tomb also and it was as the women said, his body was gone!"
The man smiled and said, "How foolish you are! You are slow to believe all the prophets have spoken! Didn't the Messiah suffer these things and then enter his glory?"
The man then told them all he knew of Jesus, from the words of Moses and all of the prophets. He explained all that was in the scriptures about the Messiah.
When they had reached the spot the two men were staying at, the stranger bid them farewell and started moving along his way. The men called out to him, "Won't you stay with us? It is nearly evening, the day is almost over."
The man grinned broadly and entered the house with the two men.
The three sat around a solid wooden table with a plate of bread in front of the stranger. The man took a loaf of bread, gave thanks and broke it. He began to give it to the man and their eyes were opened. The man had disappeared.
The two men looked at the empty chair in awe. Their jaws had dropped. Their eyes had widened. They looked at each other simultaneously, then back to the chair. One asked incredulously, "Weren't our hearts burning within us while He chatted with us along the road and told us of the Scriptures?"
In an instant, the men had vacated their chairs. They sprinted all the way to Jerusalem, to search for the Eleven. When they had finally found the Eleven and those with them, they assembled together. The men cried out, "It is true! The Lord has risen!"
The Eleven were confused. The men explained how Jesus had walked with them and told them of the Scriptures. They told of Jesus sitting with them at the table. They told of Jesus breaking the bread and their eyes being opened to discover who the man really was.
As the men talked of the events, Jesus himself stood among them. He stated, "Peace be with you."
Those assembled were frightened. Believing that they had seen a ghost, they cowered. Jesus calmly said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your mind? Look at my hand and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh. A ghost does not have bones. I have flesh and bones; I am no ghost!"
The men saw his hand and feet. They still did not believe. Jesus asked, "Do you have anything to eat?"
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.
After he had finished eating, he said, "This is what I had 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 that they might understand the Scriptures.
"This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations; beginning at Jerusalem. You are witness 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."
Jesus led them out to the vicinity of Bethany and raised his hands, blessing them. In the process of blessing them, he left and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy in their hearts. They continually stayed at the temple and praised God.
Finish.
That turned out quite well. I am definitely happy with it.
Stupid italics won't shut off.....whatever.
I know it really wasn't my best writing ever, but being the procrastinator that I am, I had put it off too long. I was bored tonight and decided I would finish this up. I have plenty more writings I have done in the recent weeks to post also. I keep a notebook with me at all times. It's falling apart, literally, but I never part with it. I don't know what I'd do without it! Wow....totally ran into a long dialogue there. My bad.
Anyway, I have relatives over, so Zechariah is sleeping on the couch and decided that he wants to go to bed, so I'm being forced off of the couch, off of my computer and upstairs. Whatever, I should be in bed anyways.
God Bless,
Angela
That turned out quite well. I am definitely happy with it.
Stupid italics won't shut off.....whatever.
I know it really wasn't my best writing ever, but being the procrastinator that I am, I had put it off too long. I was bored tonight and decided I would finish this up. I have plenty more writings I have done in the recent weeks to post also. I keep a notebook with me at all times. It's falling apart, literally, but I never part with it. I don't know what I'd do without it! Wow....totally ran into a long dialogue there. My bad.
Anyway, I have relatives over, so Zechariah is sleeping on the couch and decided that he wants to go to bed, so I'm being forced off of the couch, off of my computer and upstairs. Whatever, I should be in bed anyways.
God Bless,
Angela
