April 23, 2025
Easter - Part 3
John 20:3-5
04/23/2025
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and
they were going toward the tomb.
4 Both of them were running together, but the other
disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths
lying there, but he did not go in. (ESV)
From the first Easter, the Christian Church has depended on
the eyewitnesss accounts of the disciples and faithful women who
first saw the empty tomb. The witnesses of the resurrection,
writing to various audiences, each experienced the events
differently. Mary Magdelene and the women expected the tomb to
be sealed with the large stone over the door. Peter and John
expected the tomb to be open. Each author wrote of their
experiences, of their discoveries, proving that the Gospel
accounts are accurate histories of the events of that morning.
So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they
were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running
together, but the other disciple outran Peter and
reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he
saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
These details enhance the credibility of the witnesses.
Maybe it doesn't matter to our salvation who was the faster
runner, but knowing that John beat Peter to the tomb helps us
understand the events. John looked in but did not enter. He saw
the linen shroud and the face covering lying in the tomb. Had
Jesus's body been stolen, certainly the robbers would have taken
the expensive shroud, even if blood stained, to maximize their
profits.
John saw that Mary Magdalene's report was true, the stone
was removed from the door and the tomb no longer held Jesus'
body. He couldn't explain what he saw, but knew that Mary's
account was accurate. He also had no idea where Jesus was, what
happened to His remains.
Where do we look for Jesus? Not in the tomb, for the tomb
is empty. We look for Him where He promises to be found, in the
inspired and perfect Word of God and in the sacraments He gave
the Church. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Amen.