C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

John xx. 1–31

By John Wycliffe (c. 1324–1384)

AND in one day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the grave, when it was yet dark. And she saw the stone moved away from the grave. Therefore she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to another disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith to them, They have taken the Lord from the grave, and we wis not, where they have laid him. Therefore Peter went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the grave. And they twain run together, and that other disciple ran before Peter, and came first to the grave. And when he stooped, he saw the sheets lying, natheless he entered not. Therefore Simon Peter came pursuing him, and he entered into the grave, and he saw the sheets laid, and the napkin that was on his head, not laid with the sheets, but by itself wrapped in to a place. Therefore then that disciple that came first to the grave, entered, and saw, and believed. For they knew not yet the scripture, that it behoved him to rise again from death. Therefore the disciples went eftsoon to themselves. But Mary stood at the grave with outforth weeping. And the while she wept, she bowed her, and beheld forth in to the grave. And she saw two angels sitting in white, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus was laid. And they said to her, Woman, what weepest thou? She said to them, For they have taken away my lord, and I wot not, where they have laid him. When she had said these things, she turned backward, and saw Jesus standing, and wist not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith to her, Woman, what weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She guessing that he was a gardener, saith to him, Sire, if thou hast taken him up, say to me where thou hast laid him, and I shall take him away. Jesus saith to her, Mary. She turned, and saith to him, Raboni, that is to say, Master. Jesus saith to her, Nill thou touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say to them, I go to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God. Mary Magdalene came, telling to the disciples, That I saw the Lord, and these things he said to me. Therefore when it was eve in that day, one of the sabbaths, and the gates were shut, where the disciples were gathered, for dread of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood in the middle of the disciples, and he saith to them, Peace to you. And when he had said this, he shewed to them hands and side; therefore the disciples joyed, for the Lord was seen. And he saith to them eftsoon, Peace to you: as the Father sent me, I send you. When he had said this, he blew on them, and said, Take ye the Holy Ghost: whose sins ye forgive, they be forgiven to them; and whose ye withhold, they be withholden. But Thomas, one of the twelve, that is said Didymus, was not with them, when Jesus came. Therefore the other disciples said, We have seen the Lord. And he said to them, But I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger in to the places of the nails, and put mine hand in to his side, I shall not believe. And after eight days eftsoon his disciples were with in, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, while the gates were shut, and stood in the middle, and said, Peace to you. Afterward he saith to Thomas, Put in here thy finger, and see mine hands, and put hither thine hand, and put into my side, and nil thou be unbelieveful, but faithful. Thomas answered, and said to him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith to him, Thomas, for thou hast seen me, thou believedest: blessed be they that see not, and have believed. And Jesus did many other signs in the sight of his disciples, which be not written in this book. But these be written, that ye believe, that Jesus is Christ, the son of God, and that ye believing have life in his name.

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