The Empty Tomb

1Ona the first day of the weekb Mary Magdalenec came to the tombd early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stonee had been removed from the tomb. 2So she went running to Simon Petera and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb,b and we don’t know where they’ve put him! ”

3At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. 5Stooping down, he saw the linen clothsa lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. 7The wrappinga that had been on his head was not lying with the linen clothsb but was folded up in a separate place by itself. 8The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. 9For they did not yet understand the Scripturea that he must riseb from the dead.c 10Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

11Buta Mary stood outside the tomb,b crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12She saw two angelsa in white sitting where Jesus’s bodyb had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? ”

“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,”a she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”

14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.a 15“Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking? ”

Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic,A “Rabboni! ” — which means “Teacher.”a

17“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascendeda to the Father.b But go to my brothersc and tell them that I am ascending to my Fatherd and your Father, to my Gode and your God.”

18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord! ”a And she told them whatA he had said to her.

The Disciples Commissioned

19When it was evening on that first day of the week,a the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”b

20Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side.a So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me,a I also send you.”b 22After saying this, he breathed on thema and said,A “Receive the Holy Spirit.b 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”a

Thomas Sees and Believes

24But Thomasa (called “Twin”A), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord! ”

But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails,a and put my hand into his side,b I will never believe.”c

26A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”a

28Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God! ”

29Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed.A Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”a

The Purpose of This Gospel

30Jesus performed many other signsa in the presence of his disciples that are not writtenb in this book.c 31But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah,a the Sonb of God,a c and that by believing you may have life in his name.d