The Father Raises His Son
The women reach the tomb at dawn and find it open, the guards like dead men, and an angel saying his Father has raised him. The soldiers are paid to say the body was stolen. On a Galilee mountain some still doubt, yet all are sent to every nation.
28 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2Suddenly a great earthquake struck, for an angel of our Father came down from heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He isn't here—he's risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. 7Go quickly, tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead. Look, he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there. Listen, I have told you."
8So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
9Suddenly Jesus met them, saying, "Greetings!" They came to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus told them, "Don't be afraid. Go, tell my brothers to leave for Galilee—they will see me there."
The Guards' Cover Story
11While on the way, some guards entered the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12After meeting with the elders and forming a plan, they paid the soldiers a large sum, 13telling them, "Say: His disciples came at night and stole him while we slept. 14If this reaches the governor, we'll persuade him and keep you free of trouble." 15They took the money and did as they were told; this report spread among the Jews to this day.
The Father's Commission to All Nations
16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.
18Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the persons of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, a a v19 Traditionally 'in the name of.' The Greek onoma means the whole person; FHB reads 'persons' — three Persons, one God. 20teaching them to obey all I've commanded you. Remember, I'm with you always, to the end of the age."
