Chapter Eight | The power to save
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him. Stepping forward to meet them, he asked, Whom are you looking for? Jesus of Nazareth they replied. I am he, Jesus said. Jesus identified himself. And as he said I am he, they all fell backward to the ground!
Meanwhile, all his disciples deserted him and ran away. There was a young man following along behind, clothed only in linen night shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, they tore off his clothes, but he escaped and ran away naked. Jesus was led to the high priests home where the leading priests, other leaders, and teachers of religious law had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed far behind and then slipped inside the gates of the high priests courtyard. For a while he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire. | Meanwhile, Peter was below in the courtyard. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest noticed Peter warming himself at the fire, she looked at him closely and then said, You were one of those with Jesus, the Nazareth Peter denied it. I dont know what you are talking about, he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three 0clock. At about three 0clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, Eli, Eli lema sabachthani? Which means, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?... | Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn into two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead after Jesus resurrection. They left the cemetery, went into the Holy City of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, Truly, this was the Son of God!
The Third Day
Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shock with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women dont be afraid! He said, I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isnt here! He has been raised form the dead.
Chapter Nine | Praise, prayer and fasting
Praise
I will thank you, LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O most High... Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
We praise you, LORD, for all your glorious power. With music and signing we celebrate your mighty acts.
The LORD is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving
Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise him. Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for Him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing new songs of praise to him, play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. For the word of the LORD holds true and everything he does is worthy of our trust. He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth. | The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command.
I will praise the Lord at all times. | I will constantly speak his praise | I will beast only in the Lord
As it is in heaven
And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it! The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones-jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. Twenty-four thrones surrounded him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads. And from the throne came flashes of lighting and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven lamp stands with burning flames. They are the seven spirits of God. In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. | In the centre and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings had the form of a lion, the second looked like an ox; the third had a human face, and the fourth had the form of an eagle with wings spread out as though in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying. | Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come. Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the one sitting on the thrown, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one who lives forever and ever. And they lay their crown before the throne and say. You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything. And it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.