Women at the Resurrection

womenresurrection-smallJesus is Alive | Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20:1-20

Jesus was killed by men who did not believe he was the Son of God. His body was placed in a tomb. On the third day after his death, several women got the spices they had prepared to anoint his body and went to the tomb. They found the large stone rolled away. When they entered they did not find the body of Jesus.

Mary Magdalene went running to tell the disciples, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!” At the tomb the other women saw two angels in bright clothing. In fear they bowed down with their faces to the ground. The angels said, “Why do you look for the living here among the dead? He is not here; he has risen. Remember his words?” Then the women remembered.

The disciples did not believe Mary Magdalene. Two ran to the tomb to see what happened, and when they saw it was empty, they believed. They went back to their homes, but Mary Magdalene returned and stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw the two angels in white clothing, seated where Jesus’ body had been. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She replied, “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.”

While she was speaking she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. “Woman,” Jesus said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Mary thought this was the gardener speaking to her. “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “MARY!” She cried out, “DEAR TEACHER!” Jesus said, “Do not cling to me for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am returning to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.”

Mary Magdalene went to those who had been with Jesus, as they mourned and wept, and told them the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her. For 40 days, Jesus appeared to many people and continued to teach them. Then he ascended into heaven to be with God.

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