Shining Light Tells the Good Story 24

DEATH DEFEATED

1It was now sunrise on the first day of the week. The women who had prepared the spices and oils were on their way to the burial cave. 2When they arrived, they saw that the large stone in front of the cave had been rolled away. 3They went inside, only to find the body of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was gone!

4They were standing there in amazement and wonder when suddenly two men appeared beside them dressed in shining white outfits. 5The women, trembling with fear, fell down to the ground on their faces.

The men said, “Why do you look for the living in the place of the dead? 6He is not here. He has returned to life. Do you not remember what he told you in Circle of Nations (Galilee)? 7That the True Human Being would be turned over to the ones with bad hearts. They would put him to death on the cross, but he would come back to life on the third day.”

8Then the women remembered what he had said. 9They hurried back to tell the eleven message bearers and the others what they had seen and heard. 10There was Strong Tears (Mary) of the village of Creator’s High Lodge (Magdala), Woman of His Goodwill (Joanna), and Brooding Tears (Mary) the mother of He Takes Charge (James), and other women with them.

These women told the message bearers and the others what they saw with their own eyes. 11But the men did not believe the women, thinking it was only empty talk.

12But Stands on the Rock (Peter) ran to the burial cave. He bent down to look inside and saw strips of cloth lying there, but no sign of the body of Creator Sets Free (Jesus). He then walked away wondering what had happened.

THE ROAD TO WARM SPRINGS

13On the same day, two of the followers of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) were walking to Village of Warm Springs (Emmaus), seven miles out from Village of Peace (Jerusalem). 14As they walked along, they were talking about all that had happened. 15Creator Sets Free (Jesus) came alongside them as they walked, 16but their eyes were kept from seeing who he was.

17He said to them, “What are you talking about?”

They stopped walking and a look of sadness fell over their faces. 18One of the men, Honored by His Father (Cleopas), answered him, “How can you not know about the things that have happened in Village of Peace (Jerusalem)? You must be coming from far away.”

19“What things are you talking about?” he asked.

“About Creator Sets Free (Jesus) from Seed Planter Village (Nazareth). He was a prophet from the Great Spirit, with powerful medicine, who did many good things among all the people. 20The head holy men and other leaders handed him over to the People of Iron (Romans) to be put to death on the cross. 21We had hoped that he would free the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) from the People of Iron (Romans). It is now the third day since they killed him on the cross, 22-23but today some women told us an amazing story. Early this morning they went to his burial cave and found that his body was not there. They told us about visions of spirit-messengers who told them he was alive! 24Some of our men went to see with their own eyes and found the empty cave, but they did not see Creator Sets Free (Jesus).”

25“Why are your hearts so slow to believe the words of the prophets?” he said. 26“It should be clear to you that the Chosen One would suffer first before he would be lifted up and honored above all.”

27So Creator Sets Free (Jesus) told them his story, beginning with Drawn from the Water (Moses) and all the prophets. He showed them how all the ancient Sacred Teachings were written about the Chosen One and pointed the way to him.

They still did not know it was Creator Sets Free (Jesus) talking to them.

28As they entered the village, he walked on as if to go farther. 29They said to him, “Please, stay with us. It is late, and the sun will soon set.”

So he went into the lodging house with them. 30When they sat down to eat a meal together, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) took some frybread into his hands. He gave thanks and broke it, giving each of them a piece. 31Suddenly, their eyes were opened and they knew who he was, but he vanished right in front of them.

32The men looked at each other in wide-eyed wonder and said, “It felt like our hearts were on fire when he was talking with us on the road, showing us the meaning of the Sacred Teachings!”

33They got up without finishing their meal and walked back to Village of Peace (Jerusalem) as fast as they could, for the sun was setting. They found where the eleven had gathered together with the others.

34They were saying, “Our Wisdomkeeper is alive! He has shown himself to One Who Hears (Simon).”

35So the two men told them what happened on the road and how their eyes were opened when Creator Sets Free (Jesus) broke the frybread into pieces.

THE MESSAGE BEARERS SEE HIM

36Before the men finished speaking, suddenly Creator Sets Free (Jesus) himself was standing there among them. “Peace be with you!” he said to them.

37Filled with fear, they all moved back from him, thinking he was a ghost. 38“Why are you trembling?” he asked. “Why do you doubt what your eyes see? 39Look at my hands and feet. Touch me. A spirit does not have flesh and bone, as you can see I have.”

40Then he showed them his hands and feet. 41They still could not believe their eyes, and with glad but fearful hearts they could only stare at him.

Then he said to them, “Give me something to eat.” 42They gave him some cooked fish 43and he ate it in front of them. 44As he ate, he said this to them, “When I was with you before, I told you that all the words of Drawn from the Water (Moses), the Prophets, and the Sacred Book of Songs (Psalms) must find their full meaning in me.”

45He then opened their minds so they could see the full meaning of the Sacred Teachings 46and said to them, “The Sacred Teachings foretold long ago that the Chosen One would walk a path of suffering. He would then die and rise to life on the third day.

47“It was also foretold that, beginning in the Sacred Village of Peace (Jerusalem), the good story would be told to all nations. This story will change hearts and minds and release people from their bad hearts and broken ways.

48“You, my message bearers, have seen these things with your own eyes so that you can go and tell others. 49But first you must wait in Village of Peace (Jerusalem) until I send to you the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. He will dress you in my regalia, with power coming down from the spirit-world above.”

HE RETURNS TO THE WORLD ABOVE

50Creator Sets Free (Jesus) then walked with them to House of Figs (Bethany). He lifted his hands and spoke blessing words over them, 51and as he spoke, he was taken up into the spirit-world above.

52As he went up, his followers bowed down to honor him, and then with glad hearts they returned to the Sacred Village of Peace (Jerusalem). 53Day by day they gathered at the sacred lodge, praying and giving thanks to the Great Spirit.

Aho! May it be so!

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Shining Light Tells the Good Story 24: FNVNT

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