John 20 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Early on Sunday morning Mary Magdalene went to the tomb {\cf2\super [261]} \{where Jesus’ body was\}. It was still dark. Mary saw that the large stone \{that covered the entrance\} was moved away.

² So Mary ran to Simon Peter and the other follower (the one Jesus loved very much). Mary said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb. We don’t know where they put him.”

³ So Peter and the other follower started going to the tomb. {\cf2\super [262]}

⁴ They were both running, but the other follower ran faster than Peter. So the other follower reached the tomb first.

⁵ The follower bent down and looked in. He saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he did not go in.

⁶ Then Simon Peter came from behind him. Peter went into the tomb. He saw the pieces of linen lying there.

⁷ He also saw the cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up and laid in a different place from the pieces of linen.

⁸ Then the other follower went in. This was the follower that had reached the tomb first. He saw what had happened and believed.

⁹ (These followers did not yet understand from the Scriptures {\cf2\super [263]} that Jesus must rise from death.)

¹⁰ Then the followers went back home.

¹¹ But Mary stood outside the tomb, {\cf2\super [264]} crying. While she was crying, she bent down and looked inside the tomb.

¹² Mary saw two angels dressed in white. They were sitting where Jesus’ body had been. One angel was sitting where Jesus’ head had been, and the other angel was sitting where Jesus’ feet had been.

¹³ The angels asked Mary, “Woman, why are you crying?”

¹⁴ When Mary said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me. I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my brothers (followers) and tell them this: ‘I am going back to my Father and your Father. I am going back to my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the followers and told them, “I saw the Lord!” And she told them the things Jesus said to her.

¹⁹ The day was Sunday. That same evening the followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Then Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus said, “Peace be with you!”

²⁰ After Jesus said this, he showed the followers his hands and his side. The followers were very happy when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you! The Father sent me. In the same way, I now send you.”

²² After Jesus said that, he breathed \{on the followers\}. Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. {\cf2\super [266]}

²³ If you forgive people’s sins, then their sins are forgiven. If you don’t forgive people’s sins, then their sins are not forgiven.”

²⁴ Thomas (called Didymus) was not with the followers when Jesus came. Thomas was one of the twelve.

²⁵ The other followers told Thomas, “We saw the Lord.” Thomas said, “I will not believe it until I see the nail holes in his hands. And I will not believe until I put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side.”

²⁶ A week later the followers were in the house again. Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus said, “Peace be with you!”

²⁷ Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and start believing.”

²⁸ Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said to Thomas, “You believe because you see me. Those people that believe without seeing me will be truly blessed.”

³⁰ Jesus did many other miracles {\cf2\super [267]} that his followers saw. Those miracles are not written in this book.

³¹ But these things are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Christ, {\cf2\super [268]} the Son of God. Then, by believing, you can have life through his name.