Jesus is Essential
John 20:3–7: Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.
Why did John outrun Peter? Perhaps John was younger than Peter. But there is also a spiritual lesson here: Peter had not yet reaffirmed his devotion to Christ, and therefore his “spiritual energy” was low. Isaiah 40:31 says that those who wait on the Lord “shall run and not be weary,” but Peter had rushed ahead of the Lord and disobeyed Him. Peter’s sin affected his feet, his eyes, his lips (He denied the Lord.)
They saw the burial wrappings lying in the shape of the body, but the body was gone! The graveclothes lay like an empty cocoon. The napkin (for the face) was carefully folded, lying by itself. It was not the scene of a grave robbery, for no robbers could have gotten the body out of the graveclothes without tearing the cloth and disarranging things. Jesus had returned to life in power and glory and had passed through the graveclothes and the tomb itself! 1
Walking with Jesus
I hope He has marveled you, from His miraculous birth to His soul-saving resurrection. He did all that just for you. Will you now live your life just for Him? I hope these devotional studies have helped to strengthen your faith, hope, and love in Jesus and in His Everlasting Word.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
The discovery of an empty tomb is celebrated everyday by every Christian.
Praying
Lord, thank You for the dramatic way You conquered death for all of us.
1. Walvoord, John F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary.
