Morning at the Tomb
TRANSLATION
(1) Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been moved from the entrance. (2) So she came running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him.”
(3) So Peter and the other disciple set out, going toward the tomb. (4) They were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (5) Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen fabric lying there, yet he did not go in. (6) Then Simon Peter came after him and entered the tomb. He saw the linen fabric lying there (7) as well as the cloth which had been wrapped around Jesus’ head not lying with the linen fabric but folded up in a separate place. (8) Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also entered, and he saw and believed. (9) They still didn’t understand from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. (10) Then these disciples returned to where they were staying.
OBSERVATIONS
This first part of John’s account of Jesus’ resurrection contains many important repetitions. “Tomb” occurred seven times (vss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, & 8), three forms of “run” (“ran” in vs. 2 and “running” and “outran” in vs. 4), the name, “Simon Peter,” three times (vss. 2, 3, & 6), “the other disciple” referring to the author four times (vss. 2, 3, 4, & 8), the phrase, “reached the tomb first,” twice (vss. 4 & 8), three references to “the linen fabric” (vss. 5, 6, & 7) and twice with “lying there” (vss. 5 & 6), and two uses of “entered” (vss. 6 & 8). Clearly, it took some time for the truth of Jesus’ resurrection to penetrate the disciples’ minds and hearts.
OUTLINE
I. Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty and ran to tell the disciples. (1 & 2)
II. Peter and John ran to the tomb and likewise found it empty. (3-10)
IDEA STATEMENT
At first even Jesus’ closest followers struggled to grasp the significance of the empty tomb.
APPLICATION
John’s explanation, “…for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead” (vs. 9), helps us understand why Jesus’ disciples had such a difficult time accepting the miracle of his resurrection. Only when the Lord graciously opened their eyes could they finally grasp what had taken place. Jesus’ gentle rebuke of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken,” (Lk. 24:25) reinforces this truth.
We do well to remind ourselves of what the Old Testament authors had to say regarding resurrection. At least two passages should immediately come to our minds. First, we should remember the confident hope Job expressed in the midst of great suffering: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. Therefore, my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices” (Job 19:25 & 26). We should also call to mind David’s testimony in one of his messianic psalms: “My flesh also rests secure, for you will not abandon my soul in Sheol, nor will you allow your holy one to undergo decay” (Ps. 16:9 & 10).
Jesus during his earthly ministry referenced yet another passage we must consider when he told the religious leaders who were seeking a sign from him: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Mt. 12:39 & 40). While Jesus’ rising from the dead was an unanticipated surprise both to his enemies and to his friends, we can conclude, when we consider the Old Testament references to resurrection as well as his own promises of returning after three days in the grave, that Jesus’ followers should not have been so startled when confronted with evidence of his resurrection.