The Followers of Jesus Do Not Believe He Was Raised from the Dead ^(A)

⁹ (*It was early on the first day of the week when Jesus was raised from the dead. Mary Magdalene saw Him first. He had put seven demons out of her. ¹⁰ She went and told His followers. They were crying because of much sorrow. ¹¹ But they did not believe her when she said she had seen Him alive.

¹² After that He was seen again by two of His followers as they walked into the country. He did not look like He had looked before to these two people. ¹³ They went and told it to the others. The others did not believe them.

¹⁴ Later He was seen by the eleven followers as they were eating. He spoke to them with sharp words because they did not believe and their hearts were hard. And they did not believe the others who had seen Him since He had been raised from the dead.

The Followers of Jesus Do Not Believe He Is Risen ^(A)

¹³ That same day two of His followers were going to the town of Emmaus. It was about a two-hour walk from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They talked of all these things that had happened. ¹⁵ While they were talking together, Jesus Himself came and walked along with them. ¹⁶ Something kept their eyes from seeing Who He was.

¹⁷ He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk?” They stood still and looked sad. ¹⁸ One of them, whose name was Cleopas, said to Him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who has not heard of the things that have happened here these days?” ¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “What things?” They answered, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. He was the great One Who spoke for God. He did powerful works and spoke powerful words in the sight of God and the people. ²⁰ And the religious leaders and the leaders of the people gave Him over to be killed and nailed Him to a cross. ²¹ We were hoping He was the One Who was going to make the Jewish people free. But it was three days ago when these things happened.

²² “Some of the women of our group have surprised us and made us wonder. They went to the grave early this morning. ²³ They did not find His body. They came back saying they had seen angels in a special dream who said that He was alive. ²⁴ Some of those who were with us went to the grave and found it as the women had said. But they did not see Him.”

²⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish men. How slow you are to believe what the early preachers have said. ²⁶ Did not Christ have to go through these hard things to come into His shining-greatness?” ²⁷ Jesus kept on telling them what Moses and all the early preachers had said about Him in the Holy Writings.

²⁸ When they came to the town where they were going, Jesus acted as if He were going farther. ²⁹ But they said to Him, “Stay with us. It will soon be evening. The day is about over.” He went in to stay with them. ³⁰ As He sat at the table with them, He took the bread and gave thanks and broke it. Then He gave it to them. ³¹ And their eyes were opened and they knew Him. Then He left them and could not be seen. ³² They said to each other, “Were not our hearts filled with joy when He talked to us on the road about what the Holy Writings said?”

³³ Then they got up at once and went back to Jerusalem. They found the eleven followers together and others with them. ³⁴ They said, “For sure the Lord is risen and was seen by Simon.” ³⁵ Then they told what had happened on the road and how they came to know Him when He broke the bread.

Jesus Is Seen by the Other Ten Followers

³⁶ As they talked, Jesus Himself stood among them. He said, “May you have peace.” ³⁷ But they were afraid and full of fear. They thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ Jesus said to them, “Why are you afraid? Why do you have doubts in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at My hands and My feet. See! It is I, Myself! Touch Me and see for yourself. A spirit does not have flesh and bones as I have.” ⁴⁰ When Jesus had said this, He showed them His hands and feet.

⁴¹ They still wondered. It was hard for them to believe it and yet it made them happy. Then He said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave Jesus a piece of fish that had been cooked and some honey. ⁴³ He took it and ate it in front of them.