*John 20:1-18
Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb, tells Peter and the beloved disciple, and then encounters the risen Jesus.
- The Empty Tomb:
- Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene visits Jesus’ tomb and finds the stone rolled away.
- Alarmed, she runs to tell Simon Peter and another disciple (the one whom Jesus loved) that Jesus’ body has been taken.
- Peter and the Beloved Disciple Investigate:
- Peter and the beloved disciple rush to the tomb.
- The beloved disciple arrives first but does not enter; instead, he peers in and sees the linen cloths lying there.
- Peter then arrives, enters the tomb, and also sees the linen cloths, along with the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head, neatly folded.
- The beloved disciple follows, enters the tomb, sees the evidence, and believes that Jesus has risen, though he does not fully understand the scriptural prophecy of resurrection.
- Mary’s Encounter with Angels:
- After Peter and the beloved disciple leave, Mary stands outside the tomb weeping.
- As she weeps, she bends to look into the tomb and sees two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had lain.
- They ask her why she is crying, and she explains her distress over Jesus’ missing body.
- Jesus Appears to Mary:
- Turning around, Mary sees a figure she does not initially recognize, thinking him to be the gardener.
- Jesus asks her why she is crying and whom she is seeking.
- When He calls her by name, “Mary,” she recognizes Him and turns to Him, saying “Rabboni” (which means Teacher).
- Jesus instructs her not to cling to Him, as He has not yet ascended to the Father, but to go and tell His disciples that He is ascending to His Father and their Father, to His God and their God.
- Mary Announces the Resurrection:
- Mary Magdalene goes to the disciples with the news, saying, “I have seen the Lord,” and tells them what Jesus said to her.
20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.