Easter Sunday
**The Sabbath has ended and the disciples are still in hiding, so the women gather what they need to complete the burial rites. Jesus has now been in the tomb for three days. When the women arrive at the tomb, the Roman guard is gone, and the tomb is open. The women enter the tomb, but the body of Jesus is gone! They encounter an angel who tells them, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here; He has risen just as He said." The women hurry back to tell the disciples.**
**HE IS RISEN!**
**Through the course of the day, and the days following, Jesus appeared to His disciples and hundreds of others before He transfigured to Heaven before them.**
**---------- RELATED SCRIPTURES ----------**
#He Is Risen
*1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week, began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.*
*5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” 8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.* **~Matthew 28:1-8**
#The Women Worship the Risen Lord
*9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”* **~Matthew 28:9-10**
#The Soldiers Are Bribed
*11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed, and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.* **~Matthew 28:11-15**
#Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
*2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead.* **~Mark 9:2-9**