Scripture

Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed.

Observation

Sunday, after the crucifixion, the women go to Jesus’ tomb. The stone has been rolled away from the entrance. Mary Magdalene goes to tell Peter. Peter and John go to the tomb, and they see the linen wrappings. John sees and believes.

Mary looks in the tomb and sees two angels. She asks them where Jesus is. Then Jesus comes up behind her, and she asks Him the same thing.

Jesus says her name, and suddenly she recognises Him. John tells her to go and tell the disciples what she has seen and that He is to ascend to the Father.

Application

They say that seeing is believing. When John and Peter saw the empty tomb, they finally understood what Jesus had meant by his teaching about the resurrection.

It seemed like impossibly good news. The Jesus who had died is now alive.

It is good news because the resurrection validates all that Jesus stands for. It shows that He has overcome sin and death. Because Christ is alive, we can share in His resurrection, and be assured that we will live forever.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the promise of eternal life. This present life is not all that I have, but I shall live with you forever. Nothing in this life can take that away from me. Amen