The first day of the week, while darkness still held sway,
Mary Magdalene arose before the break of day;
She came unto the tomb and saw with grieving eyes
The stone was rolled away — the sepulchre open lies.
She ran in haste to Simon Peter and the one
Whom Jesus loved, and cried, “They have the Master taken!
We know not where they laid Him — our beloved One!”

Then Peter and the other disciple swiftly ran;
The younger reached the tomb before the older man.
He stooped and looked, saw linen cloths that lay inside,
Yet entered not; but Peter, bold, stepped in with stride.
He saw the linen cloths, and saw the napkin too,
Not lying with the cloths, but wrapped and set anew —
A silent witness folded in its place apart,
As if the risen Lord had left with measured art.

The other disciple then went in, beheld, believed;
For as yet they knew not the Scripture that received
That He must rise again from death’s cold, silent hold.
Then they returned unto their homes, the story told.

But Mary stood without the tomb, and wept alone;
She stooped and looked again into the empty stone.
Two angels in white sat where the body lay —
One at the head, the other at the feet that day.
“Woman, why weepest thou?” they gently asked of her.
“They have taken away my Lord,” she answered clear,
“And I know not where they have laid Him — this my fear.”

She turned herself, and saw a figure standing near,
Yet knew Him not — supposed He was the gardener there.
“Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” He said.
Supposing still it was the gardener, she pled:
“Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid
My Lord, that I may take Him — let not His body fade.”

Then Jesus spoke her name: “Mary!” — soft and clear.
She turned and cried in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” — drawing near.
“Touch Me not,” He said, “for I am not yet ascended
Unto My Father; but go tell My brethren, intended
To say: I ascend unto My Father and your Father,
To My God and your God — the same for one another.”

Mary Magdalene came and told the glad report:
“I have seen the Lord!” — with joy her heart did court.
That evening, the same day, the doors were shut for fear
Of the Jews; the disciples gathered, trembling here.
Then Jesus came and stood among them, in their midst,
And said, “Peace be unto you” — the words they sorely missed.
He showed His hands and side; the disciples then were glad
When they saw the Lord — their sorrow turned to joy unclad.

Again He said, “Peace be unto you; as the Father sent Me,
Even so send I you.” Then, breathing on them gently,
He said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost this hour;
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted with power;
Whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

But Thomas, called Didymus, was not with them when
The Lord appeared; the others told him, yet again
He said, “Except I see the print of nails in hands,
And thrust my hand into His side, I will not understand.”

Eight days later, doors again were shut; the Lord once more
Stood in their midst and said, “Peace be unto you” as before.
Then to Thomas: “Reach hither thy finger — see My hands;
Reach hither thy hand and thrust it into My side — understand.
Be not faithless, but believing.” Thomas then replied,
“My Lord and my God!” — in worship, awe, and pride.

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed;
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.”
Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence
Of His disciples, which are not written in this sentence;
But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
The Son of God, and that believing ye might have life in His name — the highest.

O glorious dawn! The tomb could not confine
The Word made flesh who conquered death’s dark shrine.
He rose triumphant, breathing peace and power,
And sent His own to carry forth the hour
Of grace and truth to every tribe and tongue,
That all who believe might join the ransomed throng.
From Mary’s tears to Thomas’ glad confession,
The risen Lord brings faith beyond all question.

Proclaim abroad the resurrection story,
From shore to shore, from age to age the same;
The risen Christ, the King of endless glory,
Abides with us—Emmanuel His name.
Hallelujah! Death has lost its sting;
The Lord is risen—let the heavens ring!