Salome

40Some women were watching from far away. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

NoteMagdalene means she came from a town called Magdala. James is called "the younger" so people knew which James was meant.

41These women had followed Jesus in Galilee and taken care of him. Many other women had come with him to Jerusalem.

(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

1The day of rest was over. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought sweet spices. They wanted to put the spices on Jesus' body.

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

NoteThe day of rest was Saturday. Jewish people did no work on that day, so the women waited. Sweet spices were things that smelled good, like perfume. People put them on a dead body to show love and care. Mary Magdalene was a woman Jesus had helped, and she followed him.

2Very early on Sunday morning, just as the sun came up, they went to the tomb.

And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

NoteFor these people the week started on Sunday, so Sunday was the first day. A tomb was a small room cut into rock. A dead body was laid inside it.

3They said to each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the door of the tomb?"

And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

NoteA big flat stone was rolled across the door of a tomb to close it. It was so heavy that one person could not move it.

4Then they looked up. The stone was already rolled away. And it was a very big stone.

And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5They went inside the tomb. A young man in a long white robe was sitting on the right side. The women were frightened.

And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

NoteThe King James Bible says the women were "affrighted." That is an old word. It simply means they were frightened.

6He said to them, "Do not be frightened. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was killed on a cross. He is alive again. He is not here. Look at the place where they laid him.

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

NoteNazareth was the small town where Jesus grew up. A cross was two wooden beams. Soldiers nailed a person to it to kill him.

7Now go and tell his followers, and tell Peter. Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you."

But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

NoteHis followers were the friends who traveled with him and learned from him. Galilee was the part of the country where Jesus grew up and taught. Peter was one of his closest friends.

8The women hurried out and ran from the tomb. They were shaking, and they were amazed. They were so afraid that they told no one anything.

And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.