Early on the same Easter morn some women came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. In the way they said to one another: Who shall roll us away the stone from the tomb? When they came to the tomb, they saw that the stone was rolled away. One of the women, named Mary Magdalene, ran to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, and said: They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid Him. The other women went into the sepulchre, where an angel in white raiment was sitting, and he said: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth. He is not here; He is risen.—When they had left, Peter and John came to the tomb. They went in and saw the linen clothes; but Him they found not. And they went away again. Then came Mary Magdalene again to the tomb, and stood outside and wept. And Jesus appeared unto her and said: Woman, why weepest thou? She knew Him not, but supposed Him to be the gardener, and said: Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus said: Mary! Then she knew Him and said: Master! Jesus answered: Go unto my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and your Father! And she came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. (The Gospels.)
[97. Jesus Appears to His Disciples]
The same day two disciples were going from Jerusalem to a village named Emmaus. And they communed with each other of all those things which had happened. Then Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. He said: What are ye speaking about, and why are ye looking so sad? They answered: Art thou alone a stranger in Jerusalem, and knowest not the things which are come to pass there in these days? The chief priests and our rulers have crucified Jesus of Nazareth. But He was a prophet mighty in deed and word, and we hoped that it was He who should redeem Israel. And this is now the third day since these things came to pass. Moreover, certain women, having been early at the tomb, came and told that the tomb was empty, and that they had seen a vision of angels, who said that He was alive. And certain disciples went to the tomb, and found it even so as the women had said; but Him they saw not. Jesus answered: O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe what Moses and the prophets have said! Behooved it not Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory? And He interpreted to them all that was written concerning Himself.
When they drew nigh unto Emmaus, He made as though He would go farther. And they constrained Him, saying: Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to abide with them. But when He sat down with them to meat, He took bread, blessed it, and broke it, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him. But He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another: Was not our heart burning within us while He spoke to us in the way, while He opened to us the Scriptures? And they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the apostles gathered together, and told them the things that happened in the way, and how He was known of them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24:13-25.)
While they were speaking, Jesus stood in the midst of them and said unto them: Peace be unto you! They were terrified, for they knew Him not. But He showed them His hands and His feet, and they were glad.—But Thomas was not with them. When the others said: We have seen the Lord, he said: Except I shall put my finger in the print of the nails in His hands, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.
After eight days His disciples were again assembled, and the doors were shut. Then Jesus again stood in the midst of them and said: Peace be unto you! Unto Thomas He said: See my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side, and be no longer faithless, but believing! Thomas said: My Lord and my God! Jesus answered: Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:19-29.)
[98. The Ascension of Jesus]
During forty days Jesus showed Himself several times to the apostles and spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He was also seen by others, once by five hundred brethren. He showed Himself to the eleven apostles on a mountain in Galilee, and said: All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Forty days after His resurrection, on the day afterwards called Ascension Day, He appeared to them for the last time. He led them out to the Mount of Olives, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them; and while He blessed them, He parted from them, and was carried up into heaven; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
And while they were looking into heaven, two men stood by them in white apparel and said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld Him going into heaven. (Matt. 28:16-20; Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:1-2.)