NARRATOR 1: Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away, so she ran off to Simon Peter and the other disciple (the one Jesus loved) and told them:
MARY MAGDALENE: The Lord has been taken from the tomb! We don’t know where they have put him!
NARRATOR 2: At that, Peter and the other disciple started out on their way toward the tomb. They were running side by side, but then the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
NARRATOR 1: He did not enter but bent down to peer in and saw the wrappings lying on the ground. Presently, Simon Peter came along behind him and entered the tomb.
NARRATOR 2: He observed the wrappings on the ground and saw the piece of cloth that had covered the head not lying by the wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
NARRATOR 1: Then the disciple who had arrived first at the tomb went in. He saw and believed.
NARRATOR 2: Remember, as yet they did not understand the scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
NARRATOR 2: Peter and the beloved disciple left, but Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.
ANGELS: Woman, why are you weeping?
MARY MAGDALENE: They have taken Jesus away, and I do not know where they have laid him.
NARRATOR 1: Then Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was he.
JESUS: Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?
NARRATOR 2: Mary thought Jesus was the gardener.
MARY MAGDALENE: Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him.
JESUS: Mary!
MARY MAGDALENE: Rabbouni!
NARRATOR 1: This word means teacher.
JESUS: Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my friends and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
NARRATOR 2: Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples.
MARY MAGDALENE: I have seen the Lord!
John 20.1-18
Sunday Readings: Acts 10.34, 37-43; Colossians 3.1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5.6-8; John 20.1-9, (10-18)