This psychic reading given by Edgar Cayce at the Edmonds' home on Pennsylvania Ave., Norfolk, Va., this 5th day of April, 1936, in accordance with request made by those present.

Present: Edgar Cayce; Gertrude Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Minnie Barrett, Esther Wynne, Hannah Miller, Florence & Edith Edmonds, Frances Y. Morrow, Hugh Lynn Cayce, Helen Ellington and Ruth LeNoir. Also Margaret Wilkins, Albert White, Alice Harris, Myrtle Demaio, Nellye Twiddy and Elizabeth Perry.

TEXT

1. GC: As we approach this Easter season our thoughts turn naturally toward the Biblical accounts of the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. We seek at this time through this channel information dealing either with a completion of the historical account or interpretation and explanation of the full meaning of the resurrection which will help us to better understand and appreciate it.
2. EC: Yes. In seeking ye shall find. In the experience of each soul that has named the name of the Christ, this should be a season of rededication of self as being a true messenger of His in and among men.
3. In seeking, then, to know more of that, as to those here, much may be revealed to those that in their inner selves experienced that material period when HE, Jesus, walked in the earth.
4. But for what purpose is this season observed, that caused or called for such a sacrifice that life might be made manifest? Is it not fitting that to those here, to those there in that land, it came at that particular season when life in its manifestations was being demonstrated in the material things about each soul?
5. How, why, was there the need for there to be a resurrection? Why came He into the earth to die the death, even on the Cross? Has it been, then, the fulfilment of promise, the fulfilment of law, the fulfilment of man's estate? Else why did He put on flesh and come into the earth in the form of man, but to be one with the Father; to show to man HIS (man's) divinity, man's relationship to the Maker; to show man that indeed the Father meant it when He said, "If ye call I will hear. Even though ye be far away, even though ye be covered with sin, if ye be washed in the blood of the lamb ye may come back."
6. Then, though He were the first of man, the first of the sons of God in spirit, in flesh, it became necessary that He fulfil ALL those associations, those connections that were to wipe away in the experience of man that which separates him from his Maker.
7. Though man be far afield, then, though he may have erred, there is established that which makes for a closer, closer walk WITH Him, through that one who experienced all those turmoils, strifes, desires, urges that may be the lot of man in the earth. Yet He put on flesh, made HIMSELF as naught - even as was promised throughout, to those who walked and talked with God.
8. In the history, then, of the resurrection as ye have recorded in part, may it be so interpreted that those here, now, that experienced (through that period of their advent) His suffering, may - as Andrew, Martha, Naomi, Loda [?], Elois [?], Phoenix [?], Phoebe [?] - again see those days. Though there were fears from the elements without, from the political powers that made for fears of body and mind, there were the rememberings that HE had given, "Though ye destroy this temple, in three days it will rise again."
9. And then as He hung upon the Cross, He called to those that He loved and remembered not only their spiritual purposes but their material lives. For He indeed in suffering the death on the Cross became the whole, the entire way; THE way, THE life, THE understanding, that we who believe on Him may, too, have the everlasting life. For He committed unto those of His brethren not only the care of the spiritual life of the world but the material life of those that were of his own flesh, his own blood. Yea, as He gave his physical blood that doubt and fear might be banished, so he overcame death; not only in the physical body but in the SPIRIT body - that it may become as ONE with Him, even as on that resurrection morn - that ye call thy Eastertide.
10. It is that breaking forth from the tomb, as exemplified in the bulb of the tree of nature itself breaking forth from the sleep that it may rise as He with healing in its very life, to bring all phases of man's experience to His Consciousness - that indeed became then the fulfilling of the law.
11. On what wise, then, ye ask, did this happen in materiality? Not only was He dead in body, but the soul was separated from that body. As all phases of man in the earth are made manifest, the physical body, the mental body, the soul body became as each dependent upon their own experience. Is it any wonder that the man cried, "My God, my God, WHY hast thou forsaken me?"
12. Each soul comes to stand as He before that throne of his Maker, with the deeds that have been done in the body, in the mind, presenting the body-spiritual before that throne of mercy, before that throne of the Maker, the Creator, the God.
13. Yet as He, the Father, hath given to each of you, "I have given my angels charge concerning thee, and they shall bear thee up, and thou shalt not know corruption."
14. This He demonstrated in the experience of thy Brother, thy Savior, thy Jesus, thy Christ; that would come and dwell in the hearts and lives of you all - if you will but let Him, if you will but invite Him, if you will but open thy own heart, each of you, that He may enter and abide with you.
15. Hence when those of His loved ones and those of His brethren came on that glad morning when the tidings had come to them, those that stood guard heard a fearful noise and saw a light, and - "the stone has been rolled away!" Then they entered into the garden, and there Mary first saw her RISEN Lord. Then came they of His brethren with the faithful women, those that loved His mother, those that were her companions in sorrow, those that were making preparations that the law might be kept that even there might be no desecration of the ground about His tomb. They, too, of His friends, His loved ones, His brethren, saw the angels.
16. How, why, took they on form? That there might be implanted into their hearts and souls that FULFILMENT of those promises.
17. What separates ye from seeing the Glory even of Him that walks with thee oft in the touch of a loving hand, in the voice of those that would comfort and cheer? For He, thy Christ, is oft with thee.
18. Doubt, fear, unbelief; fear that thou art not worthy!
19. Open thine eyes and behold the Glory, even of thy Christ present here, now, in thy midst! even as He appeared to them on that day!
20. What meaneth the story of the Christ, of His resurrection, of the man Jesus that walked in Galilee, without that resurrection morn?
21. Little, more than that of the man thou thinkest so little of, that though his body-physical touched the bones of Elisha he walked again among men!
22. Dost thou believe that He has risen? How spoke Thomas? "Until I see, until I have put my hand in his side where I saw water and blood gush forth, until I have handled his body, I will NOT believe."
23. Ye, too, oft doubt; ye, too, oft fear. Yet He is surely with thee. And when ye at this glad season rededicate thy life, thy body, thy mind to His service, ye - too - may know, as they, that He LIVES - and is at the right hand of God to make intercession for YOU - if ye will believe; if ye will believe that He is, ye may experience. For as many as have named the name, and that do unto their brethren the deeds that bring to them (to you) that closeness, oneness of purpose with Him, may know - ye, too - in body, in mind, that He LIVES TODAY, and will come and receive you unto Himself, that where He is there ye may be also.
24. Crucify Him not in thy mind nor in thy bodily activities. Be not overcome by those things that are of the earth-earthy. Rather clothe thy body, thy mind, with the thoughts, the deeds, the privileges that His suffering as a man brought to thee, that He indeed might be the first of those that slept, the first of those that came in the flesh, that passed through all those periods of preparation in the flesh, even as thou.
25. But if ye would put on Him, ye must claim His promises as thine own. And how canst thou claim them unless ye in thine own knowledge, thine own consciousness, HAVE done - do do from day to day - that thy heart has told and does tell thee is in keeping with what He has promised?
26. For thy Christ, thy Lord, thy Jesus, is nigh unto thee - just now!
27. We are through.

Edgar Cayce Readings © 1971, 1993, 1994, 1995 by the Edgar Cayce Foundation