On the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus had been laid. She had seen the crucifixion and burial, and now she came with a heavy heart, expecting to find the body of her Lord. But as she approached, she noticed that the stone sealing the tomb had been rolled away. Her heart raced with fear and confusion. She ran to find Peter and John, telling them that the tomb was empty and that Jesus’ body was gone.
Peter and John hurried to the tomb. They saw the linen cloths lying there, but Jesus was nowhere to be found. They were amazed and perplexed, but Mary stayed behind, weeping. As she stood there, she saw two angels in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been. “Woman, why are you weeping?” they asked. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I do not know where they have put him.”
Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. “Woman, why are you weeping?” he asked. “Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” At that moment, she recognized his voice and turned to him, exclaiming, “Teacher!” Jesus told her not to cling to him, for he had not yet ascended to the Father. Instead, he instructed her to go and tell his disciples that he was alive and would ascend to the Father.
Mary Magdalene, filled with joy and awe, went to the disciples and told them everything. She became the first witness of the resurrection, bringing hope and the good news that Jesus had conquered death.