John 20:1-191The 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. 2Then 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. 3Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 10Then the disciples went away again unto their own home. 11But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13And 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. 14And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15Jesus 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. 16Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17Jesus 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. 18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:1‑19)
I HAVE told you of two Marys: Mary, the mother of Jesus, and another Mary, the sister of Lazarus. But there was still another, called Mary Magdalene. She came very early to the grave of Jesus, before the other women came. She looked into the grave, but saw no angels. So she came running back and told Peter and John that Jesus was not in His grave. ‘I am afraid,’ said Mary Magdalene, ‘that some wicked people have taken Him away, and that we shall not be able to find Him.’
So Peter and John began to run as fast as they could, but John ran the faster and he came first to the grave. He stooped down and peeped in, and he saw the clothes lying in the grave. Soon afterward Peter came and went down into the grave. He saw the clothes neatly folded, and the cloth that was round Jesus’ head lying in a place by itself. Then John went in too, and he remembered what Jesus had said about being alive again.
‘It is all true,’ thought John, ‘He is alive and has left His grave.’
Then Peter and John came out of the grave and went to their own house. But they saw no angels, nor did they see Jesus. Where was Mary Magdalene all this time?
She was standing crying near the grave. She was alone, because Peter and John had gone home.
At last she stooped down and looked into the grave, and she saw a beautiful sight: two angels. One of them was sitting where Jesus’ head had been, and the other where His feet had been!
The angels said to Mary, ‘Why are you crying?’ But still she went on crying; she said, ‘Some people have taken away the Lord Jesus, and I cannot find Him.’
When she had said this, she heard a man behind her saying, ‘Why are you crying?’
She did not know who it was that spoke to her. She thought it might be the gardener. She thought this man might have taken away the body of Jesus. She wanted to know where the man had put the body so that she could take it away.
The man said ‘Mary!’ She knew that voice and, turning round, she looked and saw that it was Jesus. How glad she was to see her Lord and Master, whom she loved!
But Jesus could not stay with her. He told her to go and tell His dear disciples that He was alive. ‘I am soon going up to My Father in heaven, but I shall see My disciples first.’
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples. They were all crying, but they would not believe what Mary said.
Mary was glad that she had gone to look for Jesus. She was the first of all the people who saw Jesus after He was alive again.
And why is Mary full of fears?
Her eye, why so bedimmed with tears
While gazing on that grave?
She cannot find the body there
Of One who lives, who’s standing near,
Whose arm from death can save.
‘Why weepest thou?’ the Savior cries.
‘I’ve lost my Lord,’ she quick replies,
And thinks not it is He.
He speaks again. His voice she knows;
And now her heart with joy o’erflows
Her dearest Lord to see.
His body dead she once had sought
Within the tomb, and little thought
Of this supreme delight.
Oh, vain were all her anxious fears,
And vain were all her bitter tears,
That flowed both day and night.
And is not He forever near,
Although His voice we cannot hear,
Or see His glorious face?
Yes, over us His wings are spread,
And blessings still are gently shed,
For He fills every place.
Questions
How many Marys have I told you about?
Who came very early to the grave of Jesus?
Which two disciples ran to the grave of Jesus?
Who came there first?
Which of them went into the grave first?
What did Peter and John see in the grave?
Did John believe that Jesus was alive again?
Did Peter and John see Jesus in the grave?
Who did they see in the grave?
Who stood alone, crying, near the grave?
What did she see when she looked in?
Why did Mary Magdalene cry?
Who was the man who spoke to her kindly?
Was He the gardener?
Did Jesus stay with Mary?
Who was the first person that saw Jesus after He was alive again?
The happiness of the righteous:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn: