This is recorded in all four Gospels, each writer
emphasising different aspects. The following attempts to dovetail them into
one narrative. The chronology is what seems most likely. All the events are
included, which shows that while there may be some minor variations in the
order in which they actually took place, there is no conflict in the separate
accounts. The precise activities of the disciples on the resurrection morning
are the most difficult to set in order. The facts themselves are, of course,
all totally accurate.
The headings in Bold Italics are not part of the NIV text.
For clarity on a few occasions the New International Version text has been
slightly changed. e.g. 'they' has been replaced by '[the women]'. All such
changes are enclosed in square [brackets] to differentiate it from the NIV text that sometimes uses () brackets. e.g.
'Thomas (called Didymus) ...'
| Jesus leads disciples to the Mount of Olives | |
| Math 2630 Mk 1426 Lu 2239 Jn 181 |
When Jesus had finished praying and they had sung a hymn, Jesus went out as usual crossing the Kidron valley to Gethsemane in the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. |
| Jesus withdrew and prayed | |
| Math 2636-46 Mk 1432-42 Lu 2240-46 |
[Jesus] said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray. Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He took Peter with James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, about a stone's throw beyond them, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. So he left them and went away once more and being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" |
| Jesus arrested | |
| Math 2647-56 Mk 1443-52 Lu 2247-53 Jn 182-12 |
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. He knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. With him was a large crowd carrying lanterns and armed with swords and clubs, also a detachment of soldiers with some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss? Friend, do what you came for." [Then he asked the soldiers,] "Who is it you want?" "Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "I am he," Jesus said. When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, "Who is it you want?" And they said, "Jesus of Nazareth." "I told you that I am he," Jesus answered. "If you are looking for me, then let these men go." This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: "I have not lost one of those you gave me." When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me? Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this is your hour - when darkness reigns. For this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." All the disciples deserted him and fled. Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. |
| Jesus taken to Annas | |
| Jn 1813,14 | They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people. |
| Peter disowns his Master | |
| Math 2669,70 Mk 1454,66-68 Lu 2254b-57 Jn 1815-18 |
Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus at a distance. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in. It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. One of the servant girls of the High Priest looked closely at him and said, "You also were with that Nazarine, Jesus." "I am not," Peter replied, "I don't understand what you're talking about." Then he went out to the gateway. |
| Annas questions Jesus | |
| Jn 1819-24 | Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said." When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" he demanded. "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?" Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. |
| Sanhedrin seek evidence Jesus confirms that he is Messiah Death sentence |
|
| Math 2659-68 Mk 1453,55-65 Lu 2263-71 |
The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?" And they said many other insulting things to him. At daybreak the council of the elders of the people [the whole Sanhedrin], both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. They were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward, but their statements did not agree. Finally two came forward and declared, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days'." Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others blindfolded him, slapped him and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?" |
| Peter denies knowing Jesus | |
| Math 2671-75 Mk 1469-72 Lu 2258-62 Jn 1825-27 |
A little later another girl saw him and said to the people
there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." He denied it again, with
an oath: "I don't know the man!"
About an hour later one of the high priest's servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove? Surely you are one of them, for your Galilean accent gives you away." Then Peter began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"Just as he was speaking a rooster crowed twice. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. |
| Judas returns money | |
| Math 273-10 | When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied, "that's your responsibility." So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the coins and said, "It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money." So they decided to use the money to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me." |
| Jesus taken to Pilate | |
| Math 272,11-14 Mk 151-5 Lu 231,2 Jn 1828-37 |
Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to the Jews and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you." And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king." Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders [outside], he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge - to the great amazement of the governor. |
| Pilate sends Jesus to Herod and is returned | |
| Lu 234-12 Jn 1838 |
Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends - before this they had been enemies. |
| Crowd choose Barabbas | |
| Math 2715-21 Mk 156-11 Lu 2313-19 Jn 1839,40 |
While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." Pilate went out again to the Jews and said, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. Now it was the governor's custom at the Passover to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release, Barabbas or Jesus, the king of the Jews, who is called Christ?" But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. So the crowd shouted back, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us! Give us Barabbas!" |
| Pilate has Jesus flogged and tries to set him free |
|
| Math 2722,23 Math 2727-30 Mk 1512-14 Lu 2320-23 Jn 191-15 |
"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?"
Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he
committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The governor's soldiers took
Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company around him. They
stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown
of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and
knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.
They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and
again. Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing
him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against
him." When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe,
Pilate said to them, "Here is the man!" As soon as the chief priests and
their officials saw him, they shouted, "Crucify! Crucify!" But Pilate answered,
"You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against
him." The Jews insisted, "We have a law, and according to that law he must
die, because he claimed to be the Son of God." When Pilate heard this, he
was even more afraid, and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come
from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. "Do you refuse to speak
to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or
to crucify you?" Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were
not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you
is guilty of a greater sin." From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free,
but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of
Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar." When Pilate heard
this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known
as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of
Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour. [Roman time - 6
a.m.] "Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews. But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!" "Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked. "We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered. Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him." But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. |
| Pilate washes his hands | |
| Math 2724-26 Lu 2324,25 |
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released Barabbas, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. |
| Jesus mocked | |
| Math 2731 Mk 1515-20 Jn 1916 |
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. |
| Jesus led out to Golgotha | |
| Math2732-34,38 Mk 1521,22,25,27 Lu 2326-33 Jn 1917,18 |
Carrying his own cross, Jesus went out, and as they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' Then 'they will say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"' For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed at the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they were crucified, one on each side and Jesus in the middle. It was the third hour. [Hebrew time - 9 a.m.] |
| King of the Jews Crucified | |
| Math 2737 Mk 1526 Lu 2338 Jn 1919-22 |
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews." Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." |
| Insults from all | |
| Math 2739-44 Mk 1529-32 Lu 2334-39 |
Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God, the Chosen One'." The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" |
| One criminal saved | |
| Lu 2340-43 | But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." |
| Cast lots for his clothes | |
| Math 2735,36 Mk 1524 Lu 2334b Jn 1923,24 |
Sitting down, (the soldiers) kept watch over him there. They took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." So this is what the soldiers did. |
| John cares for Mary | |
| Jn 1925-27 | Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," And to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. |
| Darkness for 3 hours | |
| Math 2745 Lu 2344 |
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over
all the land.
[Hebrew time - Noon to 3 p.m.] |
| Last words of Jesus | |
| Math 2734 Math 2746-50 Mk 1523,34-37 Lu 2346,47 Jn 1928-30 |
At about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." Knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar mixed with gall was there. They filled the sponge and put it on a stalk of the hyssop plant and offered it to Jesus to drink. But after tasting it, he refused to drink it. Then Jesus said, "It is finished," and he called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. |
| Temple veil torn in two, Sun shone again Earth shook and tombs opened |
|
| Math 2751,54 Mk 1538,39 Lu 2345,47 |
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" |
| Pierced, but legs not broken | |
| Jn 1931-37 | Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced." |
| Many women witnesses | |
| Math 2755,56 Mk 1540,41 Lu 2348,49 |
When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him stood at a distance, watching these things. Many women, who had followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem to care for his needs, were there. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome the mother of Zebedee's sons. |
| Joseph given body of Jesus | |
| Math 2757-61 Mk 1542-47 Lu 2350-56 Jn 1938-42 |
At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. It was the Jewish day of Preparation. Now there was a man named Joseph from the Judean town of Arimathea, a member of the Council, a good and upright man. He was waiting for the kingdom of God and had himself become a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. He had not consented to their decision and action. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so he gave the body to Joseph. Then accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night, they took the body down. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. So taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. They placed the body in a tomb cut in the rock and rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were sitting there opposite the tomb. They saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. |
| A Guard is posted at the Tomb | |
| Math 2762-66 | The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. |
| On the first day of the week | |
| Math 281 Mk 161-3 Lu 241,10 Jn 201 |
When the Sabbath was over, very early, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and Salome [prepared] spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Just after sunrise, [while] they were on their way to the tomb they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" |
| An angel rolls back the stone | |
| Math 282-4 | There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. |
| Women first at the tomb | |
| Math 285-8 Mk 164-8 Lu 242-9 Jn 201,2 |
But when [the women] looked up, they saw that the stone,
which was very large, had been rolled away. Mary Magdalene ran to tell Simon
Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved.
[The others] entered the tomb, [but] did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them on the right side. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground. [One of] the angels said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. Why do you look for the living among the dead? See the place where they laid him. He is not here; he has risen!, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again'." Then they remembered his words. Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. |
| Peter and John go to the tomb | |
| Lu 2411,12 Jn 202-10 |
[Meanwhile] Mary told the disciples [Peter and John], "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" So Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there by themselves, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Wondering to himself what had happened he went away. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes. |
| Mary meets her risen Lord | |
| Jn 2011-17 | But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'." |
| Jesus instructs the frightened women | |
| Math 289,10 | Suddenly Jesus met [the women who had fled from the tomb]. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." |
| The guards are bribed | |
| Math 2811-15 | While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. |
| Disciples told, but did not believe | |
| Mk 169-11 Lu 2411 Jn 2018 |
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were mourning and weeping with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. But they did not believe [Mary or] the [other] women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. They did not believe it. |
| Risen Jesus revealed to two from Emmaus | |
| Mk 1612,13 Lu 2413-33 |
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called
Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other
about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things
with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they
were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, "What are you discussing together
as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them,
named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not
know the things that have happened there in these days?" "What things?" he
asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful
in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our
rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And
what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition,
some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but
didn't find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of
angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb
and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." He said
to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that
the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things
and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,
he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if
he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it
is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it
and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized
him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not
our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened
the Scriptures to us?" They got up, returned at once to Jerusalem and reported
it to the Eleven* and those with them assembled together who said, "It is
true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon. Then the two told what
had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognised by them when he broke
bread. But they did not [really] believe them either.
[* Losing Judas, the 12 had become ‘the Eleven'. John still refers to them as ‘the Twelve'. Jn 2024 Note also that Thomas was not with them.] |
| Jesus appears to disciples | |
| Mk 1614 Lu 2434-49 Jn 2019-25 |
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself
came and stood among them, [though] the doors were locked for fear of the
Jews. [He] said, "Peace be with you!" They were startled and frightened,
thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why
do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself!
Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
[And] he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal
to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. While they still did
not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have
anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took
it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, "This is what I 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 they could understand the Scriptures. After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Now Thomas, (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." |
| Thomas Believes | |
| Jn 2026-29 | A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." |
| Disciples go to Galilee | |
| Math 2816-19 | Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." |
| Jesus appears to disciples while fishing | |
| Jn 211-14 | Afterwards Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish,, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. |
| Jesus speaks to Peter | |
| Jn 2115-23 | When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." Because of this, the rumour spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?" [The disciples then returned to Jerusalem.] |
| Last Instructions | |
| Mk 1615-18 Lu 2446-49 Act 14-8 |
[Jesus] told them, "This is what is written: 'The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.' I am going to send you what my Father has promised which you have heard me speak about. but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." [Then] they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." |
| Disciples witness the Ascension of Jesus | |
| Mk 1619 Lu 2450-53 Act 19-12 |
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven, he sat at the right hand of God and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. |