Matthew Chapter 28
Showing all 20 verses for Matthew Chapter 28.
The People's Bible is written by people, for the people. Each verse below shows:
"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. "
"As the Sabbath was ending, just as the sun began to rise on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene and another woman named Mary went to look at Jesus's tomb."
I let ordinary, faithful people be the first to discover what mattered most, not the powerful or the credentialed. If you show up quietly and keep faith even in grief, don't be surprised if you're the first to see what others miss.
"And, behold, there was a 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. "
"Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away from the entrance, and sat on it."
I didn't need anyone to open a door for me to walk free of death - that stone was moved so you could see the truth for yourself. When something in your life looks permanently sealed shut, don't assume it's the end of the story.
"His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: "
"His appearance was like a flash of lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow."
I sent someone dazzling to guard the doorway between death and life, because what happened there deserved nothing less. Let yourself be struck with genuine awe sometimes - not everything needs explaining away.
"And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. "
"The guards were so terrified of him that they shook and became like dead men."
I let hardened soldiers be undone by fear while grieving women were told not to be afraid at all - strength and status don't protect you from truth, but an open heart can meet it steadily. Don't mistake toughness for readiness.
"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. "
"The angel spoke to the women: 'Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified.'"
I make sure fear is answered before anything else, because you can't take in good news while you're gripped by dread. I see exactly what you're looking for and why, even in your grief.
"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. "
"'He isn't here - he has risen, just as he said he would. Come and see the place where he was lying.'"
I told you beforehand exactly what would happen, so when it did, you'd know my words could be trusted. When I keep my promises, I want you to go back and check - the evidence is there for anyone willing to look.
"And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. "
"'Now go quickly and tell his disciples he's risen from the dead. He's going ahead of you to Galilee - you'll see him there. That's what I came to tell you.'"
I trusted these women with the very first announcement of my resurrection, sending them to my friends before I even appeared to the men. If I trust you with good news, don't sit on it - go and share it.
"And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. "
"So they hurried away from the tomb, afraid but also overjoyed, and ran to tell his disciples."
I let these women carry both fear and joy together without needing to resolve one before acting on the other. You don't have to feel calm and certain before you take the next right step.
"And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. "
"As they were on their way, suddenly Jesus himself met them and said, 'Greetings.' They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him."
I met these women in the middle of their errand, not waiting for them to arrive somewhere special first - I come to you in the middle of ordinary movement too. Let yourself respond with whatever's honest, even if that's falling to your knees.
"Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. "
"Then Jesus said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee - they'll see me there.'"
I called my scattered, frightened friends 'brothers' the moment I saw them again, not enemies or failures. However badly you think you've let someone down, I'm not holding it over you - I'm already planning where we meet next.
"Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. "
"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."
I let the very people paid to guard against my resurrection become witnesses to it instead. Even the evidence people try hardest to suppress has a way of surfacing.
"And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, "
"After the chief priests met with the elders and worked out a plan together, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money."
I watched people choose money and a cover story over facing an uncomfortable truth. Notice when you're tempted to pay a price just to avoid admitting you were wrong.
"Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. "
"They told the soldiers to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole his body while we were asleep.'"
I let this made-up story survive to be written down and examined, because a lie with holes in it eventually shows itself. Truth doesn't need to be defended by staying quiet - it can stand up to scrutiny.
"And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. "
"'And if the governor hears about this, we'll satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.'"
I saw people willing to manipulate even the ruling authorities to keep a lie alive. Watch how far a small deception can spread once people start protecting each other's cover stories instead of the truth.
"So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. "
"So the soldiers took the money and did as they'd been told, and this story is still told among the Jewish people to this very day."
I let the true story and the false story exist side by side, in full view, and left it to time to test which one held up. I'm not afraid of scrutiny or competing explanations - the truth doesn't need protecting from questions.
"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. "
"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go."
I chose a mountain again for this final meeting, the same kind of place where I once taught the crowds how to live. Wherever you meet me, expect it to shape how you're meant to act afterwards.
"And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. "
"When they saw him, they worshipped him - though some of them still had doubts."
I didn't turn away from the ones who still doubted even as they stood right in front of me - I gave them the same commission as everyone else. You don't need to have every doubt resolved before you're still welcome and still useful.
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. "
"Jesus came up to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"
I only gave this command after backing it up with everything that had just happened - my authority isn't a claim I ask you to take on trust alone. What I ask of you next comes from someone who has already proven trustworthy.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: "
"'So go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.'"
I widened my instructions from one nation to every nation, because what I'm offering was never meant to stay small. Don't assume good news is only for people who look or live like you - carry it further than feels comfortable.
"Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. "
"'Teach them to obey everything I've commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' Amen."
I promised to be with you always, right to the end - not just while you feel strong, but every single day after this one too. Whatever you're asked to carry from what I taught, you're never asked to carry it alone.