The Empty Tomb
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw the stone [already] removed from the [groove across the entrance of the] tomb.
2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to theother disciple (John), whom Jesus loved (esteemed), and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, andwe do not know where they have laid Him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple left, and they were going to the tomb.
4 And the two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and arrived at the tomb first.
5 Stooping down and looking in, he saw the linenwrappings [neatly] lyingthere;but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came up, following him, and went into the tomb and saw the linen wrappings [neatly] lyingthere;
7 and the [burial]face-cloth which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the [other] linen wrappings, butrolled up in a place by itself.
8 So the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went in too; and he saw [the wrappings and the face-cloth] andbelieved [without any doubt that Jesus had risen from the dead].
9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went back again to their own homes.
11 But Mary [who had returned] was standing outside the tomb sobbing; and so, as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb;
12 and she saw two angels in white sittingthere,one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She told them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14 After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standingthere,but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her,“Woman, why are you crying? For whom are you looking?”Supposing that He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you are the one who has carried Him awayfrom here,tell me where you have put Him, and I will take Him away.”
16 Jesus said to her,“Mary!”She turned and said to Him inHebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her,“Do not hold Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene came, reporting to the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that He had said these things to her.
Jesus among His Disciples
19 So when it was evening on thatsameday, the first day of the week, though the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said,“Peace to you.”
20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with great joy.
21 Then Jesus said to them again,“Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you[as My representatives].”
22 And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them,“Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven[because of their faith];if you retainthe sinsof anyone, they are retained[and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].”
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve [disciples], who was called Didymus (the twin), was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the marks of the nails, and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later His disciples were again insidethe house,and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors had been barred, and stood among them and said,“Peace to you.”
27 Then He said to Thomas,“Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and put out your hand and place it in My side. Do not be unbelieving, but[stop doubting and]believe.”
28 Thomas answered Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him,“Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed[happy, spiritually secure, and favored by God]are they who did not see[Me]and yet believed[in Me].”
Purpose of Writing this Gospel
30 There are also many other signs (attesting miracles) that Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these have been written so that you may believe [with a deep, abiding trust] that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the Son of God; and that by believing [and trusting in and relying on Him] you may have life in His name.