New Testament Stories

The First Resurrection

Now on the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. John 20:1

                              Early on Sunday after Jesus was crucified, a woman named Mary of Magdala went to His tomb. She had followed Jesus and His disciples from Galilee.

     When Mary got there it was still dark, but she could see that the stone was gone from the tomb! She ran to find Peter and John.

     "They have taken Jesus away!" cried Mary. "And we don't know where He is." The two men raced to the tomb. When they went inside, they saw the cloths that He had been wrapped in, but that was all. They didn't understand that the Scriptures said that He must die and rise again.

     Peter and John went back to their houses, but Mary stayed outside the tomb, crying. She stooped to look inside and saw two angels dressed in shining white. "Why are you crying," they asked.

     "Because someone has taken Jesus away!" she sobbed. Saying, this she turned around. Jesus was standing behind her, but she didn't recognize Him.

     "Woman, why are you crying?" asked Jesus. "Who are you looking for?"

     She thought He was the gardener, "Sir," she said, " If you took Jesus away, please tell me where He is."

     Jesus said, "Mary."

     She spun around and said, "Teacher!"

     "Don't hang on to Me, Mary." He said. "I have not yet gone to My Father. Go tell My friends that I am returning to My Father, and their Father, to My God, and their God."

     And Mary went to the disciples, and said, "I have seen the Lord!"    .