The Empty Tomb
He Is Not Here
John 20:1-18about 2 minutes to read aloud
Very early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She saw that the heavy stone had been rolled away.
She ran to Peter and John. "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." The two disciples ran and saw the linen cloths lying there, but Jesus was gone.
Mary stood outside the tomb, weeping. She looked in. Two angels in white sat where the body of Jesus had been. "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She turned. A man was standing there. She thought He was the gardener. "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where."
Jesus said to her, "Mary." She knew His voice. "Rabboni," she said — which means Teacher.
"Go to My brothers," Jesus said, "and tell them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God." Mary went. "I have seen the Lord." The Lord was risen, just as He said.
Questions to talk about
Who came first to the tomb of Jesus?
Show the answer
Very early, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb.
Who did Mary first think the risen Jesus was?
Show the answer
Mary thought the man in the garden was the gardener — until He said her name.
What did Jesus tell Mary to do?
Show the answer
'Go to My brothers,' Jesus said. 'Tell them I am going to My Father and your Father.'
The lesson
The grave could not keep Him. The Lord is risen, and everyone who is in Him will rise, too.
