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The book of Luke is perhaps
as reliable of a historical document as any piece of ancient literature we
have from Caesar to Shakespeare. Luke begins his book this way:
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the
things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us
by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully
investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to
write an orderly account for you,
so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught. Luke 1:1-4 (NIV)
THE STORY
After prophesying he would die and rise on the third day
(mathematically impossible given these prophecies thousands of years before),
Jesus hung on the cross for sins he did not commit and died fulfilling AS the
atonement - the payment - that God had allowed through the Hebrew LAW as a
consequence for their lying, immorality and even denial of Him. A LAMB
was normally slaughtered upon which those sins would be cast. And the
person who gave the Lamb would have the ability to walk, talk and relate to a
God so PERFECT that man's BEST efforts stink to him with compromise, immorality
and deviousness. His followers - who were certain Jesus would take over
POLITICALLY were devastated that this MAN who promised HEALTH, FINANCIAL
CERTAINTY and LIFE FOREVER not only did not lead them to take over the SYSTEM ,
but didn't even lift a finger in His Own defense.
BUT
THEN...
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CONTENTS
The Story
The Messianic
Prophecies
SEE
the flash movie
Where
does the name "Easter"
come from?
How can we be sure
of our future resurrection?
Is
the resurrection important?
Need
to encourage someone?
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Luke 24:1-53
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the
women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.
2 They found the
stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they entered, they did not find the body
of the Lord Jesus.
4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly
two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
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5 In their fright the women bowed down with their
faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the
living among the dead?
6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he
told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
7 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands
of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"
8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all
these things to the Eleven and to all the others.
10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother
of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
11 But they did not believe the women, because
their words seemed to them like nonsense.
12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb.
Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went
away, wondering to himself what had happened.
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a
village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
14 They were talking with each other about everything
that had happened.
15 As they talked and discussed these things with
each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;
16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, "What are you discussing
together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast.
18 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?"
19 "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.
20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over
to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21 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.
22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They
went to the tomb early this morning
23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us
that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and
found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and
how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things
and then enter his glory?"
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets,
he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they
were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
29 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.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took
bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized
him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32 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?"
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.
There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34 and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen
and has appeared to Simon."
35 Then the two told what had happened on the way,
and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus
himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they
saw a ghost.
38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and
why do doubts rise in your minds?
39 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."
40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands
and feet.
41 And while they still did not believe it because
of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to
eat?"
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
44 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."
45 Then he opened their minds so they could
understand the Scriptures.
46 He told them, "This is what is written: The
Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be
preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 I am going to send you what my Father has
promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on
high."
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of
Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was
taken up into heaven.
52 Then they worshiped him and returned to
Jerusalem with great joy.
53 And they stayed continually at the temple,
praising God. (NIV)
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