Matthew 28

Resurrection Morning

¹After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb.²Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it.³His appearance was like lightning, and his robe was as white as snow.⁴The guards were so shaken from fear of him that they became like dead men.

⁵But the angel told the women, "Don't be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.⁶He is not here! For He has been resurrected, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.⁷Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. In fact, He is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see Him there.' Listen, I have told you."

⁸So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell His disciples the news.⁹Just then Jesus met them and said, "Good morning! " They came up, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.¹⁰Then Jesus told them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see Me there."

The Soldiers Are Bribed to Lie

¹¹As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.¹²After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money¹³and told them, "Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.'¹⁴If this reaches the governor's ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble."¹⁵So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.¹⁷When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted.¹⁸Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."