Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

When the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, along with Salome, bought sweet spices to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, they arrived at the tomb just as the sun was rising.

They stood before the entrance, wondering who could possibly roll away the large stone that blocked their way. But as they looked closer, they saw that the stone had already been moved, and a young man in white garments sat to one side, causing them great alarm.

"Don't be afraid," he said to them. "You're looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified – he's risen! Take a look at the place where they laid him." He then instructed them to go tell his disciples and Peter that Jesus would meet them in Galilee, just as he had promised.

The women hastily left the tomb, still trembling with fear and amazement. They were too afraid to share their incredible news with anyone else. Meanwhile, on that same first day of the week, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene – the very person from whom he had delivered seven demons.

Overjoyed, she rushed back to his disciples and shared her encounter with him. However, when they heard about Jesus' resurrection and her eyewitness account, they refused to believe it.

Later that same day, Jesus revealed himself in a different form to two of his followers as they walked through the countryside. But again, they didn't take their story seriously and chose not to share it with anyone else.

As the disciples sat together at a meal, Jesus appeared once more – this time to all eleven of them. He scolded them for their unbelief and hard hearts, pointing out that they hadn't trusted those who had seen him alive after his resurrection.

He then declared: "Whoever believes in me and gets baptized will be saved. But whoever doesn't believe will face condemnation." Jesus also warned them about the signs that would accompany those who put their faith in him – they would cast out demons, speak new languages, handle snakes without harm, drink poison without being harmed, and lay hands on the sick to heal them.

After speaking these words, Jesus ascended into heaven where he took his rightful place at God's right hand. The disciples then went forth to share the good news everywhere, with the Lord working powerfully among them and confirming their message through miraculous signs that followed him.