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The Disciples Discover the Empty Tomb
John 20:3-8 (The Message): 3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed.
Luke 24:12 (NIV) Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
As we examine the witnesses to Easter, we always have to consider the circumstantial evidence, the physical pieces of the event. The empty tomb was not only proof of the Resurrection, but also a silent witness of the greatest event of our faith. Peter and John saw the same thing, the same open tomb, the linen strips and head cloth lying in place of a body, not ripped apart and lying askew, as one would assume. At that moment, John believed, and Peter left bewildered. (Luke 24:12)
How does that happen, how do two disciples of Jesus experience the same glorious moment and come away with different reactions ? I think maybe it is how they got there and what they were carrying with them.
Imagine, John came to the empty tomb from a place of great sadness, yet great love, and perhaps a great hope, for he had stood at the foot of the Cross and had listened to all Jesus had said there. Peter, well, Peter came carrying a lot more guilt than hope. His denials were still very fresh, and perhaps not yet confessed. Two different mindsets resulted in two different reactions. John left the tomb convinced, overjoyed, eager and ready to proclaim his hope in the Risen Lord. Peter left with his questions, fear and shame unresolved. It would take a later chat with Jesus by the lakeside to find wholeness.
At this Station, I find myself confronted with a couple of questions:
How do I approach the empty tomb of Jesus With hope, joy, expectation, love? Moreover, do I “come running ,” eager to see Jesus?
What am I carrying with me when I get there? Am I carrying some unresolved conflict, unconfessed sin, unexamined motives, doubt, guilt and unbelief?
As followers of Jesus, every day we get up and we approach the empty tomb, seeking the Risen Lord. How our daily walk goes depends on how we leave there and share our lives with others. If you can, get things resolved with Jesus before you leave, before you take another step. Otherwise, you will stumble through the day just as conflicted as the day before. If you find that too difficult, or perhaps are shackled with doubt, take heart, for sooner, rather than later, Jesus will come to you. He certainly will, because you are His, and in some way or fashion He will draw you back to His presence, to a deeper faith and wholeness.
Just know that you can toss all that stuff in with the grave clothes and walk away in Joy, and… Peace.
Phil Parsons
Colossians 3:1-4 (The Message) So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. 3-4 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.