The Empty Tomb

Post Lenten Read

Easter (1)- The Empty Tomb

Prayer

Heavenly Father, on this Easter day, we come before You to learn, listen, communion, and fellowship at Your feet. Today, we looked back and commemorate Jesus Christ’s death and Resurrection 2000 years ago. Speak to us as only You can. Your servants will listen, hear, and obey, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

John 20:1-10

Verses 1-3, 1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 Therefore 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 don’t know where they have laid him!” 3 Therefore, Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. 

Reflection

     Mary Magdalene came to the tomb very early on Easter Sunday when it was still dark. She ‘saw’ the tombstone rolled away, met Peter and John, and falsely concluded that tomb raiders had stolen the Lord’s body. 

Verses 4-5, 4 They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. 5 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in. 

Reflection

     Peter and John ran together but John outran Peter and arrived to the tomb first. Peter ‘saw’ the linen cloths from outside the tomb, but did not go inside. Greek for ‘saw’ is ‘blepo,’ which means a casual glance. John ‘saw,’ but did not notice anything significant.

Verses 6-7, 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.

Reflection

Peter arrived and went inside the tomb and ‘saw’ the linen cloths lying on the floor. Greek for ‘saw’ is ‘theoreo,’ which means seeing intentionally to formulate a theory. Peter ‘saw’ the body linens and the head linens in separate locations but could not understand their significance. 

Verses 8-10, 8 So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

Reflection

     After this, John also went inside the tomb and ‘saw’ the linen cloths. Greek for ‘saw’ is ‘aido,’ which means to see with understanding. John ‘saw’ the empty ‘cocoon’, understood, and believed that Jesus had Risen and His body had passed out from the linen cloths.

     On Good Friday, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped up Jesus’ body with linen strips and covered them with myrrh and aloes from head to toe. When the spices dried up, the linens strips hardened and solidified into a cocoon-like structure. 

     John was the first disciple to believe in the Resurrection.

     Application

On Easter, three people ‘saw’ and came out with different opinions. Mary ‘saw’ and came to a false conclusion. Peter ‘saw’ but could not understand its significance. John ‘saw’, understood, and believed the Lord had Resurrected.

What about you? What did you see from the Easter narrative?  Did you see the Risen Christ through the eyewitness account of Apostle John and believe?

The Gospel was written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His Name, John 20:31.

     Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Easter. Thank You that 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ Rose from the dead to prove that He God. Help us to see you with the eyes of faith through the Gospel of John. Thank You for the gift of salvation and eternal life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.