April 22
“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’ Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead,” John 20:1-9.
Who were the people referred to in the text above? It included Mary Magdalene, the disciple Peter, and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. Bible scholars and the church fathers have assumed that the disciple whom Jesus loved was the disciple John.
Mary Magdalene was with several other women hurrying out to the grave while it was still dark. When the women saw that the gravestone had been rolled away, Mary Magdalene did not proceed with the other women, but turned around and ran back to report to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Mary Magdalene meant well, but she was giving the disciples a false report!
This reminds us that when we speak about the Christian faith, we should always present the facts as recorded in Scripture. We should not circulate our personal pious opinions.
Although Mary Magdalene was not reporting the facts, it did move Peter and the other disciple to go to the tomb in a hurry. The other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first, but he did not go inside the tomb immediately. He just stooped down and looked in, and he saw the linen burial cloths lying there without a body. Simon Peter came, following the disciple whom Jesus loved, and he did not hesitate to go into the tomb. He took note of the linen burial cloths and also the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The head cloth was not lying with the other linen burial cloths, but it was neatly folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also, and he saw and believed.
Do any of the burial cloths have any significance? Indeed! If Jesus’ body had been stolen, the cloths would not have been neatly folded and laid aside. Thieves are always in a hurry, and thieves would hardly have taken a naked body, or have wasted time unwrapping it first! The Jews tried to circulate the false rumor that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the body. We need only to ask, “Where had the disciples been since the crucifixion?” They were not anywhere near the grave. They were in hiding, for fear of the Jews!
However, why did the disciples and Jesus’ other followers have doubts? “As yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” Why do people have doubts today? They do not know the Scripture, or they refuse to believe and trust God’s Word as it is recorded in Scripture.
The Holy Spirit brings us to faith and keeps us in the faith through the Scriptures. Through the Law of the Lord, He shows us our sins. Through the Word of the Gospel, the message of God’s great love and forgiveness, He brings us to believe and trust in Jesus, God’s Son and our Savior, who suffered and died on Calvary’s cross to wash away our sins. When He cried out from the cross, “It is finished!” He had completed the work for our redemption. After the crucifixion, His body was buried by two faithful followers, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. It was placed in the tomb, but not to stay. On the third day, He triumphantly rose from the dead. And He promises us that our bodies will also be raised on the Last Day. Believe, and make these blessings your own!
“On the third morn He rose again, Glorious in majesty to reign;
Oh, let us swell the joyful strain! Alleluia!
He closed the yawning gates of hell; The bars from heaven’s high portals fell.
Let songs of praise His triumph tell! Alleluia!” Amen.