The Women at the Tomb
When the Sabbath day ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to buy sweet-smelling spices. They planned to use these spices to prepare Jesus's body for burial, as was their custom. Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun was coming up, the three women walked to the tomb where Jesus had been placed. As they made their way there, they worried about a problem they hadn't thought of before. They asked each other, "How will we move the heavy stone that's blocking the entrance to the tomb?" But when they arrived and looked toward the tomb, they discovered something amazing. The stone had already been rolled away from the entrance, even though it was so large and heavy that the women never could have moved it themselves. The women stepped inside the tomb, and what they saw there startled them greatly. A young man was sitting on the right side of the tomb, wearing a brilliant white robe. Fear shot through them at this unexpected sight. The young man spoke to them in a gentle voice: "Don't be afraid. I know you're looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the one who was nailed to the cross and killed. But he has come back to life! He's not here anymore. Look, you can see the exact spot where his body was placed. Now go quickly and tell his followers—especially make sure to tell Peter—that Jesus is going ahead of them to Galilee. When they get there, they will see him with their own eyes, just as he promised them before." The women immediately left the tomb and ran away as fast as they could. Their whole bodies were shaking, and their minds were spinning with confusion and wonder. They were so overwhelmed by fear and amazement that they didn't speak a word about what had happened to anyone they met along the way.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Early on Sunday morning, after Jesus had come back to life, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. This was the same woman from whom he had cast out seven evil spirits. She hurried to find the disciples and others who had been close to Jesus, who were deep in grief and crying over his death. When she told them the incredible news that Jesus was alive and that she had actually seen him with her own eyes, they refused to believe her story.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
After this happened, Jesus appeared to two of his followers, but he looked different than before. They were walking along a road out in the countryside when they saw him. These two disciples hurried back to tell the other followers what they had experienced, but the others refused to believe their report either.
The Great Commission
Later, while the eleven disciples were sharing a meal together, Jesus suddenly appeared among them. He confronted them sharply about their stubborn refusal to believe and their closed hearts, because they had not trusted the reports of those who had already seen Him alive after His death. Then Jesus gave them their mission: "Go out into the entire world and tell the good news to every person alive. Anyone who believes this message and is baptized will be rescued from judgment, but anyone who refuses to believe will face condemnation." Jesus continued, "Those who believe will be given miraculous powers as proof of their faith. Using my authority, they will force evil spirits to leave people. They will speak in languages they have never learned. They will be able to handle deadly snakes safely, and if they accidentally drink poison, it will not hurt them. When they place their hands on sick people, those people will be healed."
The Ascension
After Jesus finished speaking with them, he was lifted up into heaven and took his place at God's right hand. The disciples then went out into all the world to preach the good news. As they proclaimed God's message, the Lord worked alongside them, proving that their words were true through the miraculous signs that happened wherever they went.