The RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST
** JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE **
The religious leaders feared that disciples of Jesus would steal His body and claim that He had risen from the grave. They asked Pilate for soldiers to guard them tomb. Four Roman soldiers were assigned to guard the tomb of Jesus, day and night.
An angle of the Lord came down and rolled back the stone. The Roman soldiers were so afraid they became as dead men. Later, three women came bringing spices to put on the body of Jesus, according to their custom. When they arrived at the tomb, they found the stone rolled away. An angel spoke to them and said,
"Fear not.... for I know that you seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come see the place where the Lord lay."
Matthew 28:5,6
The women saw that the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb.
They were puzzled and frightened. They ran to tell the disciples.
The name of one of the women who saw the empty tomb was Mary Magdalene. When she met Peter and John, she told them what had happened. Peter and John ran to the tomb. They, too found the tomb empty except for the graveclothes.
*** JESUS APPEARED TO MARY MAGDALENE ***
Later, Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb. As she was standing outside the tomb weeping, the Lord Jesus appeared to her. At first she thought that He was the gardener. She said, " Sir, if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have laid Him." Jesus said, "Mary, " She turned and recognized Him. She exclaimed. "Master!"
*** JESUS APPEARED TO HIS DISCIPLES ***
That night ten of the disciples met in a closed room. They were talking about the strange things that had happened that day. Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, was not with them.
Suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst. He said, " Peace be unto you." They were frightened. They thought that perhaps they were seeing a ghost or a spirit. But the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see ; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see Me have."
Jesus was alive! The disciples could hardly wait to tell Thomas the wonderful news of Jesus" resurrection. But when they told Thomas, he did not believe them. Thomas said, "Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe."
*** JESUS APPEARED TO THOMAS ***
Eight days later, the disciples were again in the same room. This time Thomas was with them. Again the Lord Jesus appeared to them saying,"Peace be unto you." Jesus said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas did not doubt any longer. He worshipped Jesus saying, "My Lord and my God!"
The Lord Jesus said, " Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."
*** JESUS APPEARED TO OVER 500 BELIEVERS ***
The Lord Jesus appeared on earth for forty days after His resurrection. He was seen by many people. The Bible records ten or more times when Jesus appeared to His people. On one occasion, He appeared to over 500 believers at one time. The people to whom Jesus appeared had no doubts about His being alive. They saw Him and talked with Him personally. They knew that He was alive!
***JESUS ASCENDED BACK INTO HEAVEN ***
Just before He ascended back into Heaven, the Lord Jesus appeared to His disciples on a mountain in Galilee, Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, " All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth," Matthew 28:18
What an amazing statement this is ! Just a few days before, Jesus had died a shameful death on a Roman cross. Now, as the risen Christ, He tells His disciples that He has been given all power in Heaven and in the earth. Jesus then gave His disciples this command:
" Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
Mark 16:15
The word, "gospel" means "good news." The "good news" is that Christ died for our sins and rose again from the dead to be our living Savior. Jesus told His disciples to preach this good news to every person. Jesus then gave them a wonderful promise. He said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20
Note: This article taken from the booklet entitled:"The New Life In Christ"
