The Book of the Resurrection of Christ by Bartholomew the Apostle 2

1[…] Addressing the dead body of Jesus Death saith, 'Who art Thou?' 'What art Thou?' '[There is none] stronger than Thou.' 'Thou hast disturbed me exceedingly.' 'I who am wont to destroy every one [hast Thou] destroyed. And now behold, I do not know what Thou art in this form.'

2Then Jesus removed the napkin which was on His face, and He looked in the face of Death, and laughed at him. Now as Death gazed on the Saviour as He was laughing at him, he became greatly disturbed; and he fled away back, and fell down upon the earth, with his six sons. And again Death rose up, and walked towards the dead body of Jesus, and he was greatly afraid and trembled and shook; now his little ones went away back. And again Jesus looked in the face of Death, and laughed. And again Death said unto Him, 'Who art Thou? Shew me. Is it possible that Thou art the first-born of the Father, the Holy Lamb? Surely Thou art not He! … I know Thee …'

3[…] 'I know Who Thou art; Thou art He to Whom those who are in Amente cry out, saying: "O thou Good God, Merciful and Compassionate, have mercy upon us who are shut up in prison. Send Thou to us Thy beloved Son, so that He may shew compassion upon us, and be merciful unto us. Do this, O God, and take us into Thy kingdom." Tell me, Who art Thou? For Thou art not … that I should be ashamed before it. Thou art not a mighty man that I should hold Thee in fear. And Thou art not an old man that I should be ashamed before Thee because of Thy honourable grey hairs, and Thou art not a child that I should be ashamed before Thee because of Thy tender years, and Thou art not a person whose life hath been brief that I should be ashamed because of Thy tender age, and Thou art not a bridegroom that I should be in fear of Thy bridal state. Of such as these I am master.'

4These things did Death say to the dead body of the Son of God, and he certainly did not know that It was the Great King, our Saviour, Who was more (i.e. greater) than all the kings upon the earth, and Who had come to us out of heaven, and had given us life again. For he had said, 'Thou art not a mighty man,' but he did not know that the dead body was the Power which was stablished firmly …, and that It had come in littleness for our salvation. He was not a mere child, [but had arrived] at manhood, for the sake of the [world?].