Jesus was buried before the Sabbath began at sunset on Friday, and Pilate put four Roman guards at the tomb. The Sabbath ended at sunset on Saturday.
Before the sun was up Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb with more spices and ointments for Jesus’ body. They asked each other, “Who is going to roll the stone away from the tomb for us?” Suddenly there was another huge
earthquake. An angel of the Lord rolled the stone away and sat on it! The Roman guards at the tomb were so scared they fell down on the ground in a faint.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid. I know you’re looking for Jesus, but He’s not here. He Is risen just like He said He would be. Don’t you remember what He said? ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinful men, be crucified, and three days later rise to life’.” Then the angel said, “Come, see where He was lying. Then go tell the disciples he’s going to Galilee ahead of you, and you will see Him there. Now don’t forget what I’ve told you.” So the women ran off to find the disciples.
When the women left, some of the guards at the tomb went back to the chief priests and told them what happened. Then the religious leaders gave the soldiers a lot of money and told them, “You have to say that His disciples came and stole
the body while you were asleep.”
When the women found the disciples they told them everything that had happened. Many of the disciples did not believe them. But Peter and John went racing to the tomb. John got there first because he ran faster, and he peeked inside, but he did not go in. When Peter got there, he went straight inside the tomb. He saw the strips of cloth Jesus’ body was wrapped in, but there was not a body inside the wrappings anymore! Then John went inside too. They both saw that the tomb was empty, and they believed!
They returned to the other disciples and told them what they had seen. The disciples were all amazed that Jesus had risen. Later that day Jesus suddenly appeared among the disciples where they were hiding, but Thomas was not present. When the others told him about it, he said, “I will not believe until I see the nail marks in his hands and put my hand in his side.”
Later, while the disciples were in the upper room with the door locked, Jesus suddenly appeared among them. He said, “Peace be among you. Thomas, come, see my hands and put your hand in my side. Stop doubting and believe!” Thomas said, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus answered, “You have seen and believed, but blessed are those who do not see and yet believe.”