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, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, 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.)
A footrace ensued between two very anxious and excited loving Apostles. Mary’s prior announcement to them that their Lord body had been taken from the tomb rang in their ears and propelled their steps. We can only imagine that her words overwhelmed them - taking them both by surprise and wonder – not knowing exactly what to think. Surely their thoughts must have run as fast their feet – had someone taken His body? Were Jesus’ often repeated predictions of His resurrection True? Could it possibly be that their deep sorrow would somehow turn to abundant joy? Perhaps King David’s words in Psalm 30 now rushed through their thoughts even though surely beforehand in their sadness they had missed meditating upon its promise:
5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalms 30:5 (NIV)
Paul had not yet written for them to ponder - as we on this side of the cross get to - that every promise of God was made a “Yes” in Christ:
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor 1:20 (NIV)
The disciples had often been dull and slow in their understanding of Jesus’ Words. What their heart’s desired superseded what their ears had heard – they wanted the glory without the cross – the heavenly kingdom without the cost. Don’t we as modern day followers of our Lord fall into that same pattern as well? We decide what would be best for us and we pray to that end. We even become upset when God doesn’t fulfill our “perfectly ordered plans” exactly as we see fit. We embrace the instantaneous and kick against the pain of true growth which will make us more like Christ. The pain and suffering of the Lord Jesus was a necessity for our freedom – for all the promises to be a “Yes”. And so it is with us who believe in Christ – there is the cost of the cross:
23 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26 (NIV)
Often distinguished by Jesus from the rest by special favors – being part of His inner sanctum - it is befitting that Peter and John would be the only ones of our Lord’s disciples to actually enter His empty tomb. They would have been the closest to the Lord and more willing to take the lead – they certainly wanted to check out with their own eyes what had been reported to them – no hearsay would suffice. A great sense of Christ’s love for us will kindle our love for Him and we discover this in both Peter and John.
John gets to the tomb first and gazes rather than goes in – Peter goes further still making more of an exact discovery of their findings – one outrunning the other, one out-daring the other. What they saw was more than worth their efforts – no enemy or thief in removing the Lord’s body would have taken such great pains in removing the linen clothes in which our Lord was wrapped. Interestingly as well, the linen cloths wrapped around the body with myrrh would have stuck to it like pitch. Considering the spices used in wrapping His body, the amount of linen would have been more than likely no small heap. The clearest evidence of an orderly and deliberate transaction, however, was discovered in the napkin which had been tied around Jesus’ head, and was folded neatly in another place. Certainly this was an indication of order without hurry and haste which would have accompanied a robbery.
Flashes of Truth must have come across John’s mind as we are told that he “believed”- being the first of our Lord’s followers to believe in His resurrection. It is a curious fact that we are told both Peter and John forgot their Lord’s predictions while His enemies - Caiaphas and his wicked companions remembered them:
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." Matt 27:62-64 (NIV)
Christ had left His grave clothes behind – rising never to die again unlike Lazarus who had come forth out of his tomb bound up in them because he would die again.
“The second Adam must die and rise again, in order to win back what the first Adam lost.” John Charles Ryle
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Cor 15:20-22 (NIV)