Text: John 20:1–18
Jesus’ followers found his tomb empty, three days after his crucifixion. Later, Jesus appeared to many people, proving he was alive. His prophesy of resurrection was confirmed, the prophesies of the Old Testament rang true, and the faith of his followers was justified. This proclaimed a victory over death, the sacrifice for the sins of all, and the message of compassion, love and forgiveness.
The Question: Where are you in the picture? – How do you move forward after the Resurrection?
NRSV
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the
tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to
Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them,
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid
him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were
running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen
wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen
wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the
tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the
scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the
tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying,
one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you
weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where
they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing
there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you
weeping? Whom are you looking for?”
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away,
tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to
her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my
brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my god and
your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the
Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
(John:20.1–18)