Read John 20:3-10. Circle the word(s) that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Reflections on the Word.
What do we expect to see at the gravesite of our loved ones? We see a tombstone with a name, dates, and a few words inscribed on it, perhaps a faded symbol or picture of them. There’s not much to see at the gravesite.
What did John and Peter hope to see as they went to the tomb? As far as we know, none of the disciples were at the burial of Jesus. It is likely the women talked about where the tomb was over the Sabbath or Mary told them the general location of it.
What did they see? The stone rolled back and the burial cloth on the stone slab. The burial cloths and face cloth were lying there. The text says this, “6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen” (NIV).
Both John and Peter saw something unusual, even supernatural. The burial strips were undisturbed. They probably recalled Lazarus coming out of the grave and that he needed help to be unbounded from the linin strips. How can the burial strips be there on the slab and the body gone? If Jesus faked his death and was revived, the burial cloths would be on the floor. If thieves stole the body, they would have taken the wrapped body or toss the burial wrappings all over the tomb’s floor. John and Peter must have been astonished at these events and had a lot to think about as they walked back home. Did they remember the words of Jesus that he would rise in three days?
There’s going to be a Resurrection Day. Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected, but He won’t be the only one. All of us in Christ who have physically died will rise again and we will be with the Lord forever and ever. I wonder what unbelieving friends and family members will think on that Day when believers are raptured to be with the Lord or finding empty caskets. Will they consider that their loved ones are with the Lord and that the claims of the Bible are true? If we haven’t already, share the hope of the resurrection that we have in Christ with our friends and family. Even in death, our empty tombs and clothes lying in the coffins can bear witness to the goodness, greatness, and faithfulness of our God.
-Kingston