The Explanation

The sun had not been up long. Three women walked to a garden, carrying spices in their hands. Mary Magdalene was there, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome. They wanted to put sweet-smelling spices on Jesus' body. He had died on a cross, and they had seen it happen.

On the way they talked about a problem. "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" they asked each other. The stone was very big. No woman could move it alone.

But when they looked up, the stone was already rolled away. Someone had moved it. They walked into the tomb, hearts pounding, and there sat a young man in a white robe. The women were amazed, maybe even a little scared.

"Don't be amazed," he said. "You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Behold, the place where they laid him!" Then he gave them a job. "Go, tell his disciples and Peter, he goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him."

The women ran out of the tomb, trembling. They were so afraid that at first they said nothing to anyone.

But Jesus was alive. He showed himself first to Mary Magdalene, the woman he had once freed from seven demons. She ran to tell the others, but they did not believe her. Later he appeared to two men walking in the country. They told the rest, but again, no one believed.

Finally Jesus came to the eleven disciples while they were eating. He was not gentle about their doubting. He rebuked them for not believing the ones who had already seen him.

What Does This Mean?

Would you have believed the women, if you were a disciple? It sounds like a wild story, a dead man alive again. But it was true. Jesus really rose from the dead. Death could not hold him. The women saw the empty tomb with their own eyes.

This story shows real people with real fear and real doubt. That is honest. But it also shows that Jesus does not give up on people who are slow to believe. He came to the disciples anyway.

The Common Thread

Jesus had told his friends before that he would rise again. Now it happened, exactly as he said. God always keeps his promises, even the ones that sound impossible.

Then Jesus gave a huge task. "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation." This was not only for the eleven disciples. It is for everyone who believes in Jesus, even now, even you. Then Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God, as a king who has won the battle.

For You

You will not roll away a stone or meet an angel this week. But you can tell someone that Jesus is alive. Maybe your little brother, or a friend at school. You do not need fancy words. You can simply say what happened, like the women did.

And when you feel afraid to tell someone about Jesus, remember, the first followers were afraid too. Jesus was patient with them. He is patient with you.

Talk About It

Why do you think the disciples did not believe the women at first?

Who could you tell this week that Jesus is alive?

Praying Together

Dear Jesus, thank you that you rose from the dead, just like you said you would. Help us believe, even when it is hard. Give us courage to tell others that you are alive. Amen.