“Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany. Now before the feast of the passover when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.”
Jesus said to His disciples, "Ye know that after two days is the passover and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified". As He sat at meat in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box and poured it on His head and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. But when His disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, "To what purpose was this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor." Then said Judas Iscariot, which should betray Him, "Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor?" When Jesus understood it, He said unto them, "Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon Me. Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but Me ye have not always. She hath done what she could. For in that she hath poured this ointment on My body, she did it for My burial. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel is preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”
The chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the people assembled together unto the palace of the high priest who was called Caiaphas. They consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety and kill Him. They said, “Not on the feast day lest there be an uproar among the people". Then entered Satan into Judas, surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. He went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them and when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. He said, "What will ye give me and I will deliver Him unto you? They covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. From that time he sought how he might conveniently betray Him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
Then came the day of unleavened bread when the passover must be killed. He sent Peter and John saying, "Go and prepare us the passover that we may eat." They said unto Him, "Where wilt Thou that we prepare?" He said unto them, "Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. Ye shall say to the goodman of the house, "The Master says, My time is at hand. Where is the guestchamber where I shall eat the passover with My disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished; there make ready." They went and found as He had said unto them and they made ready the passover. In the evening He comes with the twelve. And when the hour was come, He sat down and the twelve apostles with Him and He said unto them, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer.”
As they ate, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified and said, "Verily, verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. I speak not of you all; I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture might be fulfilled: He that eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me. Now I tell you before it come that when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am He. Behold, the hand of him that betrays Me is with Me on the table. Truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined; but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had never been born." The disciples looked on one another, doubting of whom He spake and they began to inquire among themselves which of them it was that should do this thing. They were exceeding sorrowful and began every one of them to say unto Him, "Lord, is it I?" Then Judas which betrayed Him said, "Master, is it I?" He said unto him, "Thou hast said.”
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him that he should ask who it should be of whom He spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast said unto Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "He it is to whom I shall give a sop when I have dipped it." When He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot the son of Simon and after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, "That thou doest, do quickly." Now no man at the table knew for what intent He spake this unto him. He then having received the sop went immediately out; and it was night. Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified and God is glorified in Him.
If God be glorified in Him, God shall also glorify Him in Himself and shall straightway glorify Him.”
As they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake it and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Likewise after supper He took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying, "Drink ye all of it; for this is My blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
There was also a strife among them which of them should be accounted the greatest. He said, "Ye shall not be so. Who is greater, he that sits at meat or he that serves? is not he that sits at meat? but I am among you as He that serves. Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.”
In John chapters 13-16 we have what is known as Jesus' "upper room ministry". This consists of His washing of the disciples' feet; a new commandment that ye love one another; His leaving them and coming again; abide in His love; obey His Word for full joy; sending of another Comforter, the Holy Spirit; work of the Spirit; full joy by dependence; prayer to the Father in the name of the Son "for the Father Himself loves you"; joy in communion; unity, separation, service and love; Glory. The 17th chapter is His prayer to the Father on our behalf.
When they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. Then said Jesus unto them, "All ye shall be offended because of Me this night. For it is written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." Peter answered and said to Him, "Though all shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended." The Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." He said unto Him, "Lord, though all shall be offended yet will not I. I am ready to go with Thee both into prison and to death." He said, “I tell thee, Peter, that this night before the cock crow twice, thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest Me." He spake the more vehemently, "If I should die with Thee, I will not deny Thee in any wise." Likewise said all the disciples.
He said unto them, "When I sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, lacked ye anything?" and they said, "Nothing." Then said He unto them, "But now he that has a purse, let him take it and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. For I say unto you that this that is written must yet be accomplished in Me And He was numbered with the transgressors for the things concerning Me have an end." And they said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords." He said unto them, "It is enough.”
Jesus went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron where was a garden named Gethsemane into which He entered and His disciples. Judas also which betrayed Him knew the place for Jesus often resorted there with His disciples. He said to His disciples, "Sit ye here, while I shall pray." He took with Him Peter and James and John and began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy and said unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death; tarry ye here and watch with Me." And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast and kneeled down and prayed, saying, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from Me; nevertheless not what I will, but what Thou wilt.”
There appeared an angel unto Him from heaven strengthening Him. Being in an agony, He prayed more earnestly saying, "Oh My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me except I drink it, Thy will be done." And His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. He came and found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy and says to Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? Watch and pray lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak." He left them and went away again and prayed the third time, saying the same words. When He rose up from prayer and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow and said to them, "Why sleep ye? rise and pray lest ye enter into temptation.”
While He yet spake Judas, one of the twelve, came and with him a great multitude with lanterns and torches and with swords and staves from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. He that betrayed Him gave them a sign, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He: hold Him fast." Judas went before them and drew near to Jesus and said, "Hail, Master" and kissed Him. Jesus said to him, "Judas, Friend, wherefore art thou come; betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?”
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth and said to them, "Whom seek ye?" They answered Him, "Jesus of Nazareth". Jesus said to them, "I AM." Judas also which betrayed Him stood with them. As soon then as He had said "I AM", they went backward and fell to the ground. Then asked He them again, "Whom seek ye?" and they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am; if therefore ye seek Me, let these go their way," that the saying might be fulfilled, which He spake, "Of them which Thou gavest Me I have lost none.”
They laid their hands on Him and took Him. Jesus answered and said, "Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves to take Me? I was daily in the temple teaching and ye took Me not; but this is your hour and the power of darkness." All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.
When they which were about Him saw what would follow, they said unto Him, "Lord, shall we smite with the sword?" Then, Simon Peter having a sword, drew it and smote the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus said, "Suffer ye thus far" and He touched his ear and healed him. Then said Jesus unto Peter, "Put up thy sword into the sheath; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to My Father and He shall presently give Me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it must be? The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it?”
They all forsook Him and fled. There followed Him a certain young man having a linen cloth cast about his naked body. The young men laid hold on him and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him and led Him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas which was the high priest that year. As soon as it was day, they led him away to Caiaphas into their council where the scribes and elders were assembled.
Simon Peter followed Jesus afar off into the high priest's palace and went in to see the end. The servants and officers stood there and warmed themselves and Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
The high priest then asked Jesus of His disciples and of His doctrine. Jesus answered him, "I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple whither the Jews always resort and in secret have I said nothing. Why askest thou Me? ask them which heard Me what I have said unto them; behold, they know what I said." When He had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, "Answerest Thou the high priest so?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou Me?" The chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put Him to death and found none. For many bare false witness against Him but their witness agreed not together.
The high priest arose and said unto Him, "I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven".
Then the high priest rent his clothes saying, "He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy. What think ye?
They all condemned Him to be guilty of death. Then did they spit in His face and buffeted Him; others smote Him with the palms of their hands. When they had blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him saying, "Prophesy, who is it that smote Thee?" And the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands. Many other things blasphemously spake they against Him.
Then the damsel which kept the door beheld Peter as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon Him and said, "Thou wast also with Jesus of Nazareth. Art not thou also one of this Man's disciples?" But he denied, saying, "I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest." He went out into the porch and the cock crew. As Simon Peter stood and warmed himself, a maid saw him again and began to say to them that stood by, "This is one of them." They said therefore unto him, "Art not thou also one of His disciples?" He denied it again and said, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off said, "Did I not see thee in the garden with Him?" They that stood by said again to Peter, "Surely thou art one of them; thou art a Galilean and thy speech agrees thereto." He began to curse and to swear, saying, "I know not this Man of whom ye speak," and the second time the cock crew. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said unto him, "Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice." Peter went out and when he thought thereon, he wept bitterly.
When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death; and when they had bound Him, the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate. Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall lest they should be defiled but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them and said, "What accusation bring ye against this Man?" They answered and said, "If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee." Then said Pilate unto them, "Take ye Him and judge Him according to your law." The Jews therefore said unto him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death," that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spake, signifying what death He should die. They began to accuse Him, saying, "We found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King.”
Then Judas, which had betrayed Him, when he saw that He was condemned, repented himself and brought the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? see thou to that." He cast down the pieces of silver in the temple and went and hanged himself. The chief priests took the silver pieces and said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury because it is the price of blood". They took counsel and bought the potter's field to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called "The field of blood". Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by the prophet, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter's field as the Lord appointed Me.”
Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked Him, saying, "Art Thou the King of the Jews?" Jesus said unto him, "Thou sayest." When He was accused of the chief priests and elders He answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto Him, "Nearest Thou not how many things they witness against Thee?" And He answered him not a word, insomuch that the governor marveled greatly. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and the people, "I find no fault in this Man." They were the more fierce saying, "He stirreth up the people teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.”
As soon as Pilate knew that He belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also at Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see Him of a long season because he had heard many things of Him and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him. He questioned Him in many words; but Jesus answered him nothing. The chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him and Herod with his men of war set Him at naught and mocked Him and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him again to Pilate. The same day Herod and Pilate were made friends together; for before they were at enmity between themselves. After they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him and put His own raiment on Him.
Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said unto them, "Ye have brought this Man to me as one that perverts the people. I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this Man touching those things whereof ye accuse Him no, nor yet Herod. I sent you to him; and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him: I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." They were instant with loud voices requiring that He be crucified. The voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. The soldiers platted a crown of thorns and put it on His head and a reed in His right hand. They put on Him a purple robe and bowed the knee before Him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they smote Him with their hands. They spit upon Him and took the reed and smote Him on the head.
Pilate went forth again and said to them, "Behold, I bring Him forth to you that ye may know that I find no fault in Him." Then came Jesus forth wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!" When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him they cried out, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said unto them, "Take ye Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." The Jews answered Him, "We have a law and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard that saying he was the more afraid and went again into the judgment hall and said to Jesus, "Whence art Thou?" Jesus gave him no answer. Then said Pilate, "Speakest Thou not unto me? knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee and I have power to release Thee?" Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have no power at all against Me except it were given thee from above; therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin." From thenceforth Pilate sought to release Him but the Jews cried out, saying, "If thou let this Man go, thou art not Caesar's friend; whosoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”
Now at that feast the governor released to the people one prisoner, whomsoever they desired. They had then a notable prisoner called Barabbas which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection. The multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. Pilate answered, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?" for he knew that the chief priests had delivered Him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. Pilate answered and said again, "What will ye then that I shall do unto Him whom ye call the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Crucify Him." Then Pilate said unto them, "Why, what evil hath He done?”
Pilate brought Jesus forth and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him saying, "Have thou nothing to do with this just Man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him." But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, "Which of the two will ye that I release unto you?" They said, "Barabbas.”
It was the preparation of the Passover and about the sixth hour and he says to the Jews, "Behold your King!" They cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him." Pilate said unto them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." They were instant with loud voices requiring that He might be crucified. The voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing but rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person; see ye to it." Then answered all the people and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required and he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. They took Jesus and led Him away and He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. As they led Him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus. There followed Him a great company of people and of women which also bewailed and lamented Him. Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me but weep for yourselves and for your children. If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?”
They gave Him to drink wine mingled with myrrh and when He had tasted, He would not drink. There were also two others led with Him to be put to death. When they came to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left and Jesus in the midst. And the Scripture was fulfilled, "And He was numbered with the transgressors." It was the third hour and they crucified Him.
Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also His coat; now the coat was without seam and woven from the top throughout. They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not rend it but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says, "They parted My raiment among them and for My vesture they did cast lots." These things therefore the soldiers did and sitting down they watched Him there.
Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. The writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then the chief priests said to Pilate, "Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I am King of the Jews". Pilate answered "What I have written I have written".
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. When might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst." Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar and they filled a sponge with vinegar and put it upon hyssop and put it to His mouth. The rest said, "Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save Him.”
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said with a loud voice, "It is finished." And He bowed His head saying, "Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit." And having said thus, He gave up the ghost. Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to the bottom, the earth did quake, the rocks rent and the bodies of the saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after His resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many.
When the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus saw the earthquake and that He so cried out and gave up the ghost, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this Man was the Son of God." All the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts and returned. All His acquaintance and the women that followed Him from Galilee stood afar off beholding these things.
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 a 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 them with a spear pierced His side and forthwith came there out blood and water. He that saw it bare record and his record is true and he knows that he says true, that ye might believe. For these things were done that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "A bone of Him shall not be broken." Again, another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
Now 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 counselor who was also Jesus disciple but secretly for fear of the Jews. He was a good man and a just and had not consented to the counsel and deed of them. He also waited for the kingdom of God. This man went in boldly unto Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled if He were already dead: and calling the centurion he asked him whether He had been any while dead. When he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. Joseph bought fine linen.
There came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pound weight. Then took they down the body of Jesus and wound it in the clean linen clothes with the spices as the manner of the Jews is to bury. In the place where He was crucified there was garden and in the garden Joseph's own new tomb which he had hewn out in the rock wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher and departed. The women also which came with Him from Galilee followed after and beheld the sepulcher and how His body was laid. There was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. They returned and prepared spices and ointments and rested the sabbath day.
The 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 sepulcher 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 sepulcher sure sealing the stone and setting a watch.
There was 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. For fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men.
The first day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came very early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week. At the rising of the sun they came bringing the spices which they had prepared and certain others with them. They said among themselves, "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?" When they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
The angel answered and said unto the women, "Fear not ye for I know that ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified. Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen as He said. Remember how He spake to you when He was yet in Galilee, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again?" As they were much perplexed and afraid, they said unto them, "Come see the place where the Lord Lay. Go quickly and tell His disciples and Peter that He is risen from the dead and behold He goes before you into Galilee: there shall ye see Him as He said unto you." They remembered His words and departed quickly and fled from the sepulcher with fear and great joy and did run to bring His disciples word.
As they went to tell His disciples Jesus met them saying, "All hail" and they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them, "Be not afraid: go tell My brethren that they go into Galilee and there shall they see Me.”
Some of the watch came into the city and showed the chief priests all the things that were done. When they were assembled with the elders and had taken counsel they gave large money to the soldiers saying, "Say ye, His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we slept. 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 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. She went and told them that had been with Him as they mourned and wept and ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher and we know not where they have laid Him." The words seemed to them as idle tales and they believed them not. Peter went forth and that other disciple and came to the sepulcher. They ran both together and the other disciple outran Peter and came first to the sepulcher. He stooping down saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then came Simon Peter following him and went into the sepulcher and saw 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 sepulcher and he saw and believed. For as yet they knew not the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own home.
But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulcher and saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him." When she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman why weepest thou?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, “Mary." She turned herself and said to Him "Rabboni", which is to say, "Master". Jesus said to her, "Touch Me not: for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren and say to them, "I ascend to My Father and your Father and to My God and your God." Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had spoken these things unto her.
After that He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about sixty furlongs. They talked together of all these things which had happened. While they communed and reasoned, Jesus Himself drew near and went with them but their eyes were holden that they should not know Him.
He said to them, "What manner of communications are these that ye have as ye walk and are sad?" One of them, Cleopas, answered, "Art Thou only a stranger in Jerusalem and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?" He said to them, "What things?" They said, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and have crucified Him. We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel: and today is the third day since these things were done. Yea and certain women of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulcher when they found not His body. They came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels which said that He was alive.
Then said He to them, "...Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at Moses and all the prophets He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. They drew nigh to the village where they went and He made as though He would have gone further but they constrained Him saying, "Abide with us for it is toward evening". He went in with them and as He ate He took bread and blessed and brake and gave to them. Their eyes were opened and they knew Him and He vanished out of their sight. And they said, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us by the way and He opened to us the Scriptures?”
They rose up the same hour and returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven gathered together and them that were with them, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed and has appeared to Simon." They told what things were done in the way and how He was known of them in breaking of bread.
The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews. Jesus Himself came and stood in the midst and said unto them, "Peace be unto you." They were terrified and affrighted and supposed that they had seen a spirit. He said to them, "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet that it is I Myself, handle Me and see for a spirit has not flesh and bones as ye see Me have." And when He had so said, He showed them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus unto them again, "Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.”
While they yet believed not for joy and wondered He said to them, "Have ye here any meat?" They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and a honeycomb. He took it and ate before them. He upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen. And He said, "These are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures and said to them, "Thus it is written and thus it behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day: and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem. Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you." He commanded them, "I send the promise of My Father upon you but tarry ye in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high".
Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." He 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.”
After eight days again His disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus, the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said, "Peace be unto you." Then said He to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger and behold My hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into My side and be not faithless but believing." Thomas answered, "My Lord and My God." Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed.”
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. When they saw Him, they worshipped Him: but some doubted.
After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias in this way. There were together Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I go fishing." They say to him, "We also go with thee." They entered into a ship immediately and that night they caught nothing.
When the morning was come, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, have ye any meat?" They answered Him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find." They cast therefore and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him and did cast himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the ship dragging the net with the fish.
As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes. Jesus said to them, "Come, dine." None of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who art Thou?" knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus took bread and gave them and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after that He was risen from the dead.
When they had dined Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?" He said, "Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." He says to him the second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?" He said to Him, "Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Lovest thou Me?" and he said to Him, "Lord, Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I love Thee." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep." When He had spoken this He said to him, "Follow Me.”
By many infallible proofs He showed Himself alive after His passion being seen of them forty days. He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of James, then of all the apostles. Last of all He was seen of Paul also.
He led them out as far as to Bethany and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. It came to pass while He blessed them, He was parted from them. While they beheld, He was taken up into heaven and a cloud received Him out of their sight and He sat on the right hand of God. They worshipped Him and while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, two men stood by them in white apparel which also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.”
Then returned they to Jerusalem with great joy from Mount Olivet and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. They went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following.
Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book: but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name. There are also many other things Jesus did, which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.”
His last promise: "Surely I come quickly!”
Our last prayer: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
His last provision: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all".
Amen!
Jesus, Thy head, once crowned with thorns,
Is crowned with glory now;
Heaven's royal diadem adorns
The mighty Victor's brow
Thou glorious light of courts above,
Joy of the saints below,
To us still manifest Thy love,
That we its depths may know.
To us Thy cross with all its shame,
With all its grace be given;
Though earth disowns Thy lowly name,
God honors it in heaven.
Who suffer with Thee, Lord, below,
Shall reign with Thee above;
Then let it be our joy to know
This way of peace and love.
To us Thy cross is life and health;
`Twas shame and death to Thee;
Our present glory, joy, and wealth,
Our everlasting stay.