Some Followers Find Jesus’ Tomb Empty
(Mt. 28:1–10; Mk. 16:1–8; Lk. 24:1–12)
1Early on Sunday morning Mary Magdalene went to the tomb
2So Mary ran to Simon Peter and the other follower (the one Jesus loved very much). Mary said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We don’t know where they put him.”
3So Peter and the other follower started going to the tomb.
4They were both running, but the other follower ran faster than Peter. So the other follower reached the tomb first.
5The follower bent down and looked in. He saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in.
6Then Simon Peter came from behind him. Peter went into the tomb. He saw the pieces of linen lying there.
7He also saw the cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up and laid in a different place from the pieces of linen.
8Then the other follower went in. This was the follower that had reached the tomb first. He saw what had happened and believed.
9(These followers did not yet understand from the Scriptures
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
(Mk. 16:9–11)
10Then the followers went back home.
11But Mary stood outside the tomb,
12Mary saw two angels dressed in white. They were sitting where Jesus’ body had been. One angel was sitting where Jesus’ head had been, and the other angel was sitting where Jesus’ feet had been.
13The angels asked Mary, “Woman, why are you crying?” Mary answered, “Some people have taken away {the body of} my Lord. I don’t know where they put him.”
14When Mary said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus.
15Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Mary thought that this was the man that takes care of the garden. So Mary said to him, “Did you take Jesus away, sir? Tell me where you put him. I will go and get him.”
16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Jewish language,
17Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me. I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my brothers (followers) and tell them this: ‘I am going back to my Father and your Father. I am going back to my God and your God.’”
18Mary Magdalene went to the followers and told them, “I saw the Lord!” And she told them the things Jesus said to her.
Jesus Appears to His Followers
(Mt. 28:16–20; Mk. 16:14–18; Lk. 24:36–49)
19The day was Sunday. That same evening the followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Then Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus said, “Peace be with you!”
20After Jesus said this, he showed the followers his hands and his side. The followers were very happy when they saw the Lord.
21Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you! The Father sent me. In the same way, I now send you.”
22After Jesus said that, he breathed {on the followers} . Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23If you forgive people’s sins, then their sins are forgiven. If you don’t forgive people’s sins, then their sins are not forgiven.”
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24Thomas (called Didymus) was not with the followers when Jesus came. Thomas was one of the twelve.
25The other followers told Thomas, “We saw the Lord.” Thomas said, “I will not believe it until I see the nail holes in his hands. And I will not believe until I put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side.”
26A week later the followers were in the house again. Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus said, “Peace be with you!”
27Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and start believing.”
28Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
29Jesus said to Thomas, “You believe because you see me. Those people that believe without seeing me will be truly blessed.”
Why John Wrote This Book
30Jesus did many other miracles
31But these things are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Christ,