The Risen Life

20 On the first day of the week, early in the morning, while it was still dark, Mary of Magdala went to the tomb, and saw that the stone had been removed. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter, and to that other disciple who was Jesus’ friend, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Master out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him!’ 3 So, Peter started off with that other disciple, and they went to the tomb. 4 The two began running together; but the other disciple ran faster than Peter, and reached the tomb first. 5 Stooping down, he saw the linen wrappings lying there, but did not go in. 6 Presently Simon Peter came following behind him, and went into the tomb; and he looked at the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the wrappings, but rolled up on one side, separately. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, went inside too, and he saw for himself and was convinced. 9 For they did not then understand the passage of scripture which says that Jesus must rise again from the dead. 10 The disciples then returned to their companions.

11 Meanwhile Mary was standing close outside the tomb, weeping. Still weeping, she leant forward into the tomb, 12 and perceived two angels clothed in white sitting there, where the body of Jesus had been lying, one where the head and the other where the feet had been. 13 ‘Why are you weeping?’ asked the angels. ‘They have taken my Master away,’ she answered, ‘and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14 After saying this, she turned round, and looked at Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 ‘Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ he asked. Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary answered, ‘If it was you, Sir, who carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away myself.’

16 ‘Mary!’ said Jesus. She turned round, and exclaimed in Hebrew, ‘Rabboni!’ (or, as we should say, “teacher”). 17 ‘Do not hold me,’ Jesus said, ‘for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers, and tell them that I am ascending to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God.’ 18 Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Master, and that he had said this to her.Titleless Section Break

19 In the evening of the same day – the first day of the week – after the doors of the room, in which the disciples were, had been shut because they were afraid of the religious authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you’; 20 after which he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Master. 21 Again Jesus said to them, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me as his messenger, so I am sending you.’ 22 After saying this, he breathed on them, and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit; 23 if you remit anyone’s sins, they have been remitted; and, if you retain them, they have been retained.’Titleless Section Break

24 But Thomas, one of the Twelve, called “The Twin,” was not with them when Jesus came; 25 so the rest of the disciples said to him, ‘We have seen the Master!’

‘Unless I see the marks of the nails in his hands,’ he exclaimed, ‘and put my finger into the marks, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’ 26 A week later the disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. After the doors had been shut, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Place your finger here, and look at my hands; and place your hand here, and put it into my side; and do not refuse to believe, but believe.’ 28 And Thomas exclaimed, ‘My Master, and my God!’

29 ‘Is it because you have seen me that you have believed?’ said Jesus. ‘Blessed are they who have not seen, and yet have believed!’Titleless Section Break

30 There were many other signs of his mission that Jesus gave in presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book; 31 but these have been recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God – and that, through your belief in his name, you may have life.

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21 Later on, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. 2 It was in this way, – Simon Peter, Thomas, who was called “The Twin,” Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two other disciples of Jesus, were together, when Simon Peter said, 3 ‘I am going fishing.’

‘We will come with you,’ said the others. They went out and got into the boat, but caught nothing that night. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus came and stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was he. 5 ‘My children,’ he said, ‘have you anything to eat?’

‘No,’ they answered. 6 ‘Cast your net to the right of the boat,’ he said, ‘and you will find fish.’ So they cast the net, and now they could not haul it in because of the quantity of fish. 7 The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Master!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Master, he fastened his coat round him (for he had taken it off), and threw himself into the sea. 8 But the rest of the disciples came in the boat (for they were only about a hundred yards from shore), dragging the net full of fish. 9 When they had come ashore, they found a charcoal fire ready, with some fish already on it, and some bread as well. 10 ‘Bring some of the fish which you have just caught,’ said Jesus. 11 So Simon Peter got into the boat and hauled the net ashore full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and yet, although there were so many, the net had not been torn. 12 ‘Come and have breakfast.’, Jesus said. None of the disciples dared ask him who he was, because they knew it was the Master. 13 Jesus went and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish too. 14 This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples after he had risen from the dead.Titleless Section Break

15 When breakfast was over, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than the others?’

‘Yes, Master,’ he answered, ‘you know that I am your friend.’

‘Feed my lambs,’ said Jesus. 16 Then, a second time, Jesus asked, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’

‘Yes, Master,’ he answered, ‘you know that I am your friend.’

‘Tend my sheep,’ said Jesus. 17 The third time, Jesus said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, are you my friend?’ Peter was hurt at his third question being “Are you my friend?”; and exclaimed, ‘Master, you know everything! You can tell that I am your friend.’

‘Feed my sheep,’ said Jesus. 18 ‘In truth I tell you,’ he continued, ‘when you were young, you used to put on your own clothes, and walk wherever you wished; but, when you have grown old, you will have to stretch out your hands, while someone else puts on your clothes, and takes you where you do not wish.’ 19 Jesus said this to show the death by which Peter was to honour God, and then he added, ‘Follow me.’ 20 Peter turned round, and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following – the one who at the supper leant back on the Master’s shoulder, and asked him who it was who would betray him. 21 Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, what about this man?’

22 ‘If it is my will that he should wait until I come,’ answered Jesus, ‘what has that to do with you? Follow me yourself.’ 23 So the report spread among his followers that that disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say that he was not to die, but said ‘If it is my will that he should wait until I come, what has that to do with you?’Titleless Section Break

24 It is this disciple who states these things, and who recorded them; and we know that his statement is true.Titleless Section Break

25 There are many other things which Jesus did; but, if every one of them were to be recorded in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not hold the books that would be written.