How near is God? by Gary Rose

The man who baptized me, Max T. Neel, used to say that: "God is closer than hands or feet and nearer than breathing." For a long time, I wondered where he got this from, then I finally realized that it was embedded in Paul's sermon on Mars hill...

Acts, Chapter 17 (World English Bible)

  ²²  Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.  ²³ For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.  ²⁴ The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands,  ²⁵ neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.  ²⁶ He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,  ²⁷ that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  ²⁸ ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ (emphasis added, vss. 27f.)   ²⁹ Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. ³⁰ The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,  ³¹ because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.” 

  ³²  Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.” 

  ³³  Thus Paul went out from among them.  ³⁴ But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.  

From the above passage and the picture a question naturally occurs to me: 

How does one move from God?

2 Corinthians, Chapter 4 (WEB)
 ³ Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;  ⁴ in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.   (emphasis added vs. 4)  ⁵ For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;  ⁶ seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The answer is.. 

the god of this world (a.k.a. Satan) has blinded their minds.

The result is...

While everyone is "not far" from God, Christians are very close to HIM. So close in fact, that they are described as being "in Christ".....

 Ephesians, Chapter 1 (WEB)

 ³  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;  ⁵ having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,  ⁶ to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved,  ⁷ in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,  ⁸ which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,  ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him  ¹⁰ to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;  ¹¹ in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; ¹² to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:  ¹³ in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  ¹⁴ who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. 

 

So, how do we get "into Christ"?

Galatians, Chapter 3 (WEB)

²¹ Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.  ²² But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  ²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  ²⁴ So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  ²⁶ For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.  ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  (Emphasis added 27f.) ²⁹ If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to promise. 

and

Romans, Chapter 6 (WEB)

 ³ Or don’t you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  ⁴ We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.  ⁵ For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;  ⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.  ⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin.  ⁸ But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;  ⁹ knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!  ¹⁰ For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.  ¹¹ Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I like how the apostle James puts it...

James, Chapter 4 (WEB)

 ⁶ But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  ⁷ Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  ⁹ Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.  ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Be humble, submit to God in baptism, get into Christ- and stay very, very close to God!! And whatever you do- don't move!!!

Bible Reading February 23-25 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading  February 23-25 

(World English Bible)

Feb. 23

Exodus 4

Exo 4:1 Moses answered, "But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, 'Yahweh has not appeared to you.' "

Exo 4:2 Yahweh said to him, "What is that in your hand?" He said, "A rod."

Exo 4:3 He said, "Throw it on the ground." He threw it on the ground, and it became a snake; and Moses ran away from it.

Exo 4:4 Yahweh said to Moses, "Put forth your hand, and take it by the tail." He put forth his hand, and laid hold of it, and it became a rod in his hand.

Exo 4:5 "That they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

Exo 4:6 Yahweh said furthermore to him, "Now put your hand inside your cloak." He put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow.

Exo 4:7 He said, "Put your hand inside your cloak again." He put his hand inside his cloak again, and when he took it out of his cloak, behold, it had turned again as his other flesh.

Exo 4:8 "It will happen, if they will neither believe you nor listen to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.

Exo 4:9 It will happen, if they will not believe even these two signs, neither listen to your voice, that you shall take of the water of the river, and pour it on the dry land. The water which you take out of the river will become blood on the dry land."

Exo 4:10 Moses said to Yahweh, "Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue."

Exo 4:11 Yahweh said to him, "Who made man's mouth? Or who makes one mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Isn't it I, Yahweh?

Exo 4:12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall speak."

Exo 4:13 He said, "Oh, Lord, please send someone else."

Exo 4:14 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Moses, and he said, "What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Also, behold, he comes forth to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.

Exo 4:15 You shall speak to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.

Exo 4:16 He will be your spokesman to the people; and it will happen, that he will be to you a mouth, and you will be to him as God.

Exo 4:17 You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you shall do the signs."

Exo 4:18 Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, "Please let me go and return to my brothers who are in Egypt, and see whether they are still alive." Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace."

Exo 4:19 Yahweh said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return into Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead."

Exo 4:20 Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them on a donkey, and he returned to the land of Egypt. Moses took God's rod in his hand.

Exo 4:21 Yahweh said to Moses, "When you go back into Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders which I have put in your hand, but I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go.

Exo 4:22 You shall tell Pharaoh, 'Thus says Yahweh, Israel is my son, my firstborn,

Exo 4:23 and I have said to you, "Let my son go, that he may serve me;" and you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.' "

Exo 4:24 It happened on the way at a lodging place, that Yahweh met him and wanted to kill him.

Exo 4:25 Then Zipporah took a flint, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet; and she said, "Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me."

Exo 4:26 So he let him alone. Then she said, "You are a bridegroom of blood," because of the circumcision.

Exo 4:27 Yahweh said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." He went, and met him on God's mountain, and kissed him.

Exo 4:28 Moses told Aaron all the words of Yahweh with which he had sent him, and all the signs with which he had instructed him.

Exo 4:29 Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel.

Exo 4:30 Aaron spoke all the words which Yahweh had spoken to Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people.

Exo 4:31 The people believed, and when they heard that Yahweh had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Feb. 24

Exodus 5

Exo 5:1 Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.' "

Exo 5:2 Pharaoh said, "Who is Yahweh, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don't know Yahweh, and moreover I will not let Israel go."

Exo 5:3 They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to Yahweh, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword."

Exo 5:4 The king of Egypt said to them, "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!"

Exo 5:5 Pharaoh said, "Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens."

Exo 5:6 The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

Exo 5:7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

Exo 5:8 The number of the bricks, which they made before, you require from them. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

Exo 5:9 Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor therein; and don't let them pay any attention to lying words."

Exo 5:10 The taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, This is what Pharaoh says: "I will not give you straw.

Exo 5:11 Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished."

Exo 5:12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

Exo 5:13 The taskmasters were urgent saying, "Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!"

Exo 5:14 The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, "Why haven't you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?"

Exo 5:15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants?

Exo 5:16 No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, 'Make brick!' and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people."

Exo 5:17 But he said, "You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to Yahweh.'

Exo 5:18 Go therefore now, and work, for no straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!"

Exo 5:19 The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, when it was said, "You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!"

Exo 5:20 They met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

Exo 5:21 and they said to them, "May Yahweh look at you, and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."

Exo 5:22 Moses returned to Yahweh, and said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?

Exo 5:23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people; neither have you delivered your people at all."

Feb. 25

Exodus 6

Exo 6:1 Yahweh said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh, for by a strong hand he shall let them go, and by a strong hand he shall drive them out of his land."

Exo 6:2 God spoke to Moses, and said to him, "I am Yahweh;

Exo 6:3 and I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Yahweh I was not known to them.

Exo 6:4 I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their travels, in which they lived as aliens.

Exo 6:5 Moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered my covenant.

Exo 6:6 Therefore tell the children of Israel, 'I am Yahweh, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments:

Exo 6:7 and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and you shall know that I am Yahweh your God, who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Exo 6:8 I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am Yahweh.' "

Exo 6:9 Moses spoke so to the children of Israel, but they didn't listen to Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Exo 6:10 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Exo 6:11 "Go in, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land."

Exo 6:12 Moses spoke before Yahweh, saying, "Behold, the children of Israel haven't listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, who am of uncircumcised lips?"

Exo 6:13 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a command to the children of Israel, and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 6:14 These are the heads of their fathers' houses. The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the families of Reuben.

Exo 6:15 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the families of Simeon.

Exo 6:16 These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari; and the years of the life of Levi were one hundred thirty-seven years.

Exo 6:17 The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, according to their families.

Exo 6:18 The sons of Kohath: Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel; and the years of the life of Kohath were one hundred thirty-three years.

Exo 6:19 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their generations.

Exo 6:20 Amram took Jochebed his father's sister to himself as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses: and the years of the life of Amram were a hundred and thirty-seven years.

Exo 6:21 The sons of Izhar: Korah, and Nepheg, and Zichri.

Exo 6:22 The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, and Elzaphan, and Sithri.

Exo 6:23 Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

Exo 6:24 The sons of Korah: Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.

Exo 6:25 Eleazar Aaron's son took one of the daughters of Putiel as his wife; and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites according to their families.

Exo 6:26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom Yahweh said, "Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies."

Exo 6:27 These are those who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt. These are that Moses and Aaron.

Exo 6:28 It happened on the day when Yahweh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt,

Exo 6:29 that Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "I am Yahweh. Speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak to you."

Exo 6:30 Moses said before Yahweh, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?" 

Feb. 22, 23

Matthew 27

Mat 27:1 Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Mat 27:2 and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

Mat 27:3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

Mat 27:4 saying, "I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? You see to it."

Mat 27:5 He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.

Mat 27:6 The chief priests took the pieces of silver, and said, "It's not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is the price of blood."

Mat 27:7 They took counsel, and bought the potter's field with them, to bury strangers in.

Mat 27:8 Therefore that field was called "The Field of Blood" to this day.

Mat 27:9 Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced,

Mat 27:10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me."

Mat 27:11 Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "So you say."

Mat 27:12 When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Mat 27:13 Then Pilate said to him, "Don't you hear how many things they testify against you?"

Mat 27:14 He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

Mat 27:15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.

Mat 27:16 They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

Mat 27:17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"

Mat 27:18 For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

Mat 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."

Mat 27:20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

Mat 27:21 But the governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"

Mat 27:22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"

Mat 27:23 But the governor said, "Why? What evil has he done?" But they cried out exceedingly, saying, "Let him be crucified!"

Mat 27:24 So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it."

Mat 27:25 All the people answered, "May his blood be on us, and on our children!"

Mat 27:26 Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

Mat 27:27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

Mat 27:28 They stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him.

Mat 27:29 They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

Mat 27:30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

Mat 27:31 When they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Mat 27:32 As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.

Mat 27:33 They came to a place called "Golgotha," that is to say, "The place of a skull."

Mat 27:34 They gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.

Mat 27:35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,

Mat 27:36 and they sat and watched him there.

Mat 27:37 They set up over his head the accusation against him written, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

Mat 27:38 Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.

Mat 27:39 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,

Mat 27:40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"

Mat 27:41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,

Mat 27:42 "He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.

Mat 27:43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "

Mat 27:44 The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

Mat 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

Mat 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Mat 27:47 Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, "This man is calling Elijah."

Mat 27:48 Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.

Mat 27:49 The rest said, "Let him be. Let's see whether Elijah comes to save him."

Mat 27:50 Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

Mat 27:51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

Mat 27:52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

Mat 27:53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

Mat 27:54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."

Mat 27:55 Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.

Mat 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Mat 27:57 When evening had come, a rich man from Arimathaea, named Joseph, who himself was also Jesus' disciple came.

Mat 27:58 This man went to Pilate, and asked for Jesus' body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.

Mat 27:59 Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Mat 27:60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut out in the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb, and departed.

Mat 27:61 Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb.

Mat 27:62 Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate,

Mat 27:63 saying, "Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: 'After three days I will rise again.'

Mat 27:64 Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He is risen from the dead;' and the last deception will be worse than the first."

Mat 27:65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can."

Mat 27:66 So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.

Feb. 24, 25

Matthew 28

Mat 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

Mat 28:2 Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it.

Mat 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

Mat 28:4 For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men.

Mat 28:5 The angel answered the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified.

Mat 28:6 He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.

Mat 28:7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you."

Mat 28:8 They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word.

Mat 28:9 As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.

Mat 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, "Don't be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me."

Mat 28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.

Mat 28:12 When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave a large amount of silver to the soldiers,

Mat 28:13 saying, "Say that his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

Mat 28:14 If this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry."

Mat 28:15 So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until this day.

Mat 28:16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.

Mat 28:17 When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.

Mat 28:18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Mat 28:19 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,

Mat 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.