Mary Magdalene

25Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister. Mary the wife of Cleophas was there, and Mary Magdalene.

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

NoteMany women in that time were named Mary. "Magdalene" tells us which one. It means she came from a town called Magdala.

26Jesus saw his mother. He saw the follower he loved standing beside her. He said to his mother, "Woman, here is your son."

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

NoteCalling his mother "Woman" sounds rude to us today. In their language it was a polite and gentle way to speak.

27Then he said to that follower, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the follower took her into his own home.

Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

1It was the first day of the week. Very early, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been rolled away from it.

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

NoteA tomb was a small room cut into rock. A dead body was laid inside it. A big round stone was rolled across the doorway. Magdalene means Mary came from a town called Magdala. The first day of the week was our Sunday.

2So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other follower, the one Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We do not know where they put him."

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

NoteSimon Peter and Peter are the same man. He had two names, like a nickname.

3So Peter and that other follower started out for the tomb.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4Both men ran together. The other follower ran faster than Peter and got there first.

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5He bent down and looked in. He saw the linen cloths lying there. But he did not go inside.

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

NoteLinen is a smooth, strong cloth. A dead body was wrapped in long linen strips before burial.

6Then Simon Peter came up behind him. He went right into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there.

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7The cloth that had been around Jesus' head was not with them. It was rolled up in a place by itself.

And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8Then the other follower went in too, the one who got there first. He saw, and he believed.

Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9Until then they had not understood what the Scriptures said. God's book said that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

NoteThe Scriptures are the holy writings of God's people. They were written long before Jesus was born.

10Then the two followers went back to their homes.

Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11But Mary stayed outside the tomb, crying. While she cried, she bent down and looked inside.

But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12She saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus' body had been. One sat where his head had been. The other sat where his feet had been.

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

NoteAngels are messengers that God sends to people.

13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" She said, "They have taken my Lord away. I do not know where they put him."

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.

NoteCalling a person "Woman" was not rude back then. It was an ordinary, gentle way to speak.

14Then she turned around. She saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know it was him.

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15Jesus asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener. She said, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you put him. Then I will go and get him."

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

NoteThe tomb was in a garden. So Mary thought this man took care of the plants there.

16Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned to him and said, "Rabboni!" That word means "Teacher."

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

NoteRabboni is a word from the language Mary spoke. It means "my teacher" and shows great love and respect. Mary said this word in Hebrew. Hebrew is the name of the language her people spoke.

17Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me. I have not yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and tell them this: I am going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Note"My Father" means God. When Jesus says "my brothers," he means his followers, not his family.

18Mary Magdalene went and told the followers, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them everything he had said to her.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.