The Easter Story

A summary of What

happened next

SundayThe women go to the tomb

to anoint the body – it is gone!

Jesus has risen from the dead!

Some days later…

Jesus meets with groups of people to show them he is

risen!He meets two disciples on

the road to ‘Emmaus’.

Days later…

Jesus explain that he must return to God. He ‘Ascends’

and is lost to their sight.

Days later…

The Holy Spirit (which Jesus promised) comes to the disciples during the

Jewish festival of Shavu’ot (Pentecost)

Main Events

1. Resurrection2. Woman at the Tomb

3. Emmaus4. Ascension5. Pentecost

BackgroundIn Jewish custom the body of the deceased was buried as soon as possible after death. It would be wrapped in cloth and placed on a

stone ‘slab’ within a burial cave or hollowed out part of a hill. Caves were often prepared for this purpose. Perfumes and spices

were placed around the body to keep it smelling fresh as it decayed.

The body would be left in the tomb for a year or more until the flesh had decayed away and only the bones were left. The bones would be collected carefully and then placed in a stone box called an ossuary. The ossuary had to be big enough to hold the longest

bone of the body – the thigh bone – so no bones were ever broken.

lk 24:1-12On 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. 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 over to the hands of sinners, 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.

lk 24:1-12

• As they set off, do they think Jesus will have risen?

• On the way do they expect to find an empty tomb?

• When they get to the tomb what do they think has happened?

• What is the moment when they suddenly believe?

The Nicene CreedI believe in one God,the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,of all things visible and invisible.I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the Only Begotten Son of God,born of the Father before all ages.God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;

through him all things were made.For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,

he suffered death and was buried,and rose again on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures.He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the deadand his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sinsand I look forward to the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Your task

In groups, look the Nicene Creed. Then find, annotate and explain the

statements that reflect the beliefs the women had.