Part 40

When Peter came, he went into the sepulchre, saw the linen cloth and the scarf that covered His head. The scarf was not lying with the linen cloth, but was folded separately in a place by itself. Then the other disciple went inside and he saw, and believed. At this time they did not know the words of scripture: He must rise again from the dead. They returned home.

But Mary stood outside at the entrance and was weeping. As she wept, she stooped down, looked into the sepulchre, and saw two angels in white. They sat, one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. They said to her, Woman, why do you weep? She said, They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid Him.

After she said this, she turned and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know it was Jesus. He said to her, Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for? Thinking that this was the gardener, she said, Sir, if you have carried Him somewhere, tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away. Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said, Master.

Jesus said to her, Do not touch me because I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to the disciples and tell them, I am going to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Mary Magdalene ran and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and gave them His message. In the evening of that first day of the week, where the disciples were assembled with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said to them, Peace be to you. When He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be to you; as my Father has sent me, even so send I you. When He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger into the nailprints, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.

Eight days passed. The disciples were inside with the doors closed and Thomas was with them. Then Jesus appeared and stood in their midst. He said, Peace be to you. Then He said to Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands; and put you hand into my side. Do not doubt but believe. Thomas said to Him, My Lord and my God. Jesus said, Thomas, because you have seen me you believe. Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe.

And many other signs truly did Jesus do in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you will have life through His Name.

21. After this, Jesus revealed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. Seven of His disciples were gathered together: Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, James and John who were the sons of Zebedee, and two others.

Simon Peter said to the group, I am going fishing. They said to him, We will go with you. They went out and got into a fishing boat. They were out all night and caught nothing.

At dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. Then Jesus called to them, Children, have you caught anything? They answered, No. Jesus said, Cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. When they threw the net over the right side, they were unable to draw it in because of the number of fish in the net. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord.

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he drew up his fishing robe and dove into the water. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net with the fish. They were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they climbed out of the boat, they saw a charcoal fire already laid with fish. And there was also bread. Jesus said, Bring the fish you caught.

Simon Peter went over and dragged in the net full of one hundred and fifty three large fish. Yet, even though there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, Come and dine. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, Who are you? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came to each one and served the bread and fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples.

After they finished the breakfast, Jesus turned to Simon Peter and said, Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these? Peter said to Him, Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my lambs. Then He said to him a second time, Simon, son of John, Do you love me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my sheep.

He said to him yet a third time, Simon, son of John, Do you love me? Peter was upset because He asked a third time, Do you love me? He answered Jesus, Lord, You know all things. You know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will clothe you and carry you where you do not want to go. Jesus said this to signify by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After Jesus said these words, He said to Peter, Follow me.

Then Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. This was the disciple who leaned on Jesus' breast at supper, and who also asked, Lord, who is he who betrays you? Peter, now seeing him, said to Jesus, Lord, what about him? Jesus said, If I want him to stay until I come, what concern is that of yours? You follow me.

Then the saying spread among the others that that disciple would not die. Yet, Jesus did not say, he will not die but, if I want him to remain until I come, what concern is it of yours?

This is the disciple who testifies to these things, and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true. There are many other things that Jesus did that, if they were all told, I do not think the whole world could contain all the books that would be written.

Amen. -----

edited by Lightheart www.PracticeGodsPresence.com/gospel/

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