12 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.
The apostle John invites us to a wider horizon of our verse for today. In his gospel, we find him chronicling the footrace occurring between Peter and himself to the tomb upon receiving Mary Magdalene’s news that Jesus’ body was gone - giving us a much broader scope of the event. We find this scene detailed below:
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.) John 20:3-9 (NIV)
Slow to believe. Slow to believe the ladies testimony from the mouths of the angels, slow to believe the empty tomb. Slow to believe. Is it not amazing, when the day is cloudy and dark, how dull and forgetful we become of the obvious. Mary was disturbed at the empty tomb as were Peter and John – all forgetting the words of their Savior:
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matt 16:21-23 (NIV)
Fully not comprehending the Master’s plan then and certainly not comprehending it now, Peter leaves the tomb scratching his head wondering. Who would have just stolen the body and not the grave clothes - not to mention leaving them folded so neatly behind? For that matter, who moved the stone and “shooed” away the powerful Roman guards? For some peculiar reason, I find comfort in the disciple’s confusion. I guess I don’t like to be the only one left wondering. If Peter and John who had both walked so closely with Jesus could be baffled on their dark day, well, you can only imagine this modern day believer. It is easy to follow Jesus when the day is bright and rosy but let the winds and rain clouds come and it is quite another story. We are left wondering and baffled and forgetful of the promises of our Lord. Just as an unfaltering faith in the promises of God was expected from Peter and John, we, as modern day disciples, are to embrace this same faith.
“There is many a thing puzzling and perplexing to us which would be both plain and profitable if we did but rightly understand the words of Christ.” Matthew Henry
Having a firm grasp of God’s Word is monumental especially when the storms of life begin to blow. That is how we are to rest secure in Him. That is His desire for all of His children.
"Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders." Deut 33:12 (NIV)
King David’s confidence and boldness were not in himself but in the strong arm of God and His promises and provisions. The Psalms are full of his proclamations of faith. A few to encourage and strengthen us are below:
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. Psalms 27:1-3 (NIV)
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40 The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. Psalms 37:37-40 (NIV)
Remember, David’s confidence was not in the arm of flesh but in God who was his fortress and stronghold. David stood firm in the strength of his God and we are called to as well. Paul tells us in First Corinthians:
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 14 Do everything in love. 1 Cor 16:13-14 (NIV)
Adding in Philippians where his source of power derives:
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 (NIV)
“Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the earth, glorify Himself in thy weakness, and magnify His might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.” Charles H. Spurgeon