Jesus Is Raised from the Grave (A)
20 It was the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene came to the grave early in the morning while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been pushed away from the grave. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and the other follower whom Jesus loved. She said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the grave. We do not know where they have put Him.”
3 Then Peter and the other follower went to the grave. 4 They ran but the other follower ran faster than Peter and came to the grave first. 5 He got down and looked in and saw the linen cloths but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came and went into the grave. He saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The white cloth that had been around the head of Jesus was not lying with the other linen cloths. It was rolled up and lying apart by itself. 8 Then the other follower, who had come first, went in also. He saw and believed. 9 They still did not understand what the Holy Writings meant when they said that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then the followers went back again to their homes.
11 Mary stood outside the grave crying. As she cried, she got down and looked inside the grave. 12 She saw two angels dressed in white clothes. They were sitting where the body of Jesus had lain. One angel was where His head had lain and one angel was where His feet had lain. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord. I do not know where they have put Him.”
14 After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 He said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought He was the man who cared for the garden. She said to Him, “Sir, if you have taken Jesus from here, tell me where you have put Him. I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned around and said to Him, “Teacher!” 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to Me. I have not yet gone up to My Father. But go to My brothers. Tell them that I will go up to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God!” 18 Mary Magdalene went and told the followers that she had seen the Lord. She told them the things He had said to her.
Jesus Was Seen by His Followers—Thomas Was Not There
19 It was evening of the first day of the week. The followers had gathered together with the doors locked because they were afraid of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “May you have peace.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the followers saw the Lord, they were filled with joy.
Jesus Sends His Followers to Preach (B)
21 Then Jesus said to them again, “May you have peace. As the Father has sent Me, I also am sending you.” 22 When Jesus had said this, He breathed on them. He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you say that people are free of sins, they are free of them. If you say that people are not free of sins, they still have them.”
Thomas Does Not Believe Jesus Is Raised from the Dead (C)
24 Thomas was not with them when Jesus came. He was one of the twelve followers and was called the Twin. 25 The other followers told him, “We have seen the Lord!” He said to them, “I will not believe until I see the marks made by the nails in His hands. I will not believe until I put my finger into the marks of the nails. I will not believe until I put my hand into His side.”
Jesus Was Seen Again by His Followers—Thomas Was There
26 Eight days later the followers were again inside a house. Thomas was with them. The doors were locked. Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “May you have peace!” 27 He said to Thomas, “Put your finger into My hands. Put your hand into My side. Do not doubt, believe!” 28 Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you believe. Those are happy who have never seen Me and yet believe!” 30 Jesus did many other powerful works in front of His followers. They are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. When you put your trust in Him, you will have life that lasts forever through His name.