After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who, for fear of the Jews, was a secret disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate if he could take Jesus' body. Pilate gave him permission. Nicodemus, who went to Jesus at night, was with Joseph. He brought myrrh and aloes. They took the body of Jesus, wound it in linen cloth, and prepared it with the spices as was the Jewish burial custom. In the place where He was crucified there was a new sepulchre in the garden area. There they laid Jesus.
20. Early on the first day of the week, when it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the sepulchre. She saw that the stone had been taken away from the entrance. She ran to find Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. She said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the sepulchre and we do not know where they have laid Him. Peter and the other disciple started toward the sepulchre. They began running together. But the other disciple, having outrun Peter, arrived at the entrance first. Stooping down, he looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there but he did not go inside.
When Peter came, he went into the sepulchre, saw the linen cloth and the scarf that covered His head. The scarf was not lying with the linen cloth, but was folded separately in a place by itself. Then the other disciple went inside and he saw, and believed. At this time they did not know the words of scripture: He must rise again from the dead. They returned home.
But Mary stood outside at the entrance and was weeping. As she wept, she stooped down, looked into the sepulchre, and saw two angels in white. They sat, one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said, They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him.
After she said this, she turned and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus. He said to her, Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for? Thinking that this was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried Him somewhere, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said, Master.
Jesus said to her, Do not touch me because I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to the disciples and tell them, I am going to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Mary Magdalene ran and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and gave them His message. In the evening of that first day of the week, where the disciples were assembled with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said to them, Peace be to you. When He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as my Father has sent me, even so send I you. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the nailprints, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.
Eight days passed. The disciples were inside with the doors closed and Thomas was with them. Then Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said, Peace be to you. Then He said to Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands; and put you hand into my side. Do not doubt but believe. Thomas said to Him, My Lord and my God. Jesus said, Thomas, because you have seen me you believe. Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe.
And many other signs truly did Jesus do in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you will have life through His Name.