John:20

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* On the first day of the week , very early , while it was still dark , Mary of Magdala came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from it . * So she ran , as fast as she could , to find Simon Peter and the other disciple –the one who was dear to Jesus – and to tell them , »They have taken the Master out of the tomb , and we do not know where they have put Him .« * Peter and the other disciple started at once to go to the tomb , both of them running , * but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and reached it before he did . * Stooping and looking in , he saw the linen cloths lying there on the ground , but he did not go in . * Simon Peter , however , also came , following him , and entered the tomb . There on the ground he saw the cloths ; * and the towel , which had been placed over the face of Jesus , not lying with the cloths , but folded up and put by itself . * Then the other disciple , who had been the first to come to the tomb , also went in and saw and was convinced . * For until now they had not understood the inspired teaching , that He must rise again from among the dead . * Then they went away and returned home . * Meanwhile Mary remained standing near the tomb , weeping aloud . She did not enter the tomb , but as she wept she stooped and looked in , * and saw two angels clothed in white raiment , sitting one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been . * They spoke to her . »Why are you weeping ?« they asked . »Because ,« she replied , »they have taken away my Lord , and I do not know where they have put him .« * While she was speaking , she turned round and saw Jesus standing there , but did not recognize Him . * »Why are you weeping ?« He asked ; »who are you looking for ?« She , supposing that He was the gardener , replied , »Sir , if you have carried him away , tell me where you have put him and I will remove him .« * »Mary !« said Jesus . She turned to Him . »Rabboni !« she cried in Hebrew : the word means `Teacher !' * »Do not cling to me ,« said Jesus , »for I have not yet ascended to the Father . But take this message to my brethren : `I am ascending to my Father and your Father , to my God and your God .'« * Mary of Magdala came and brought word to the disciples . »I have seen the Master ,« she said . And she told them that He had said these things to her . * On that same first day of the week , when it was evening and , for fear of the Jews , the doors of the house where the disciples were , were locked , Jesus came and stood in their midst , and said to them , »Peace be to you !« * Having said this He showed them His hands and also His side ; and the disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Master . * A second time , therefore , He said to them , »Peace be to you ! As the Father sent me , I also now send you .« * Having said this He breathed upon them and said , »Receive the Holy Spirit . * If you remit the sins of any persons , they remain remitted to them . If you bind fast the sins of any , they remain bound .« * Thomas , one of the twelve –surnamed `the Twin '– was not among them when Jesus came . * So the rest of the disciples told him , »We have seen the Master !« His reply was , »Unless I see in his hands the wound made by the nails and put my finger into the wound , and put my hand into his side , I will never believe it .« * A week later the disciples were again in the house , and Thomas was with them , when Jesus came –though the doors were locked – and stood in their midst , and said , »Peace be to you .« * Then He said to Thomas , »Bring your finger here and feel my hands ; bring you hand and put it into my side ; and do not be ready to disbelieve but to believe .« * »My Lord and my God !« replied Thomas . * »Because you have seen me ,« replied Jesus , »you have believed . Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed .« * There were also a great number of other signs which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples , which are not recorded in this book . * But these have been recorded in order that you may believe that He is the Christ , the Son of God , and that , through believing , you may have Life through His name .

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