Wednesday, April 11, 2012
John 20:3-8 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. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.
THE VIEW OF THE TOMB: FROM THE EMPTY TOMB
Why did God send an angel to roll away the stone from the door of the tomb? It wasn't merely because the women needed a hand since theirs were full of spices.
Why did the Holy Spirit instruct the gospel writers to describe the inside of the empty tomb? It's because our gracious God would like each of us to investigate, to look and see the evidence for ourselves. He wants us to notice that the grave clothes were not found haphazardly scattered on the floor of the tomb as would have been the case if His body were hurriedly stolen away by his disciples. He wants us to see that the linen cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' cold, dead, head had been neatly folded up and set aside as if by one who no longer had need of it.
It was not as Mary Magdalene supposed, "They have taken away the Lord and we do not know where they have laid him." No one carried Jesus' dead body away in an attempt to hide it from the generations to come. If only they had remembered what He said (John 10:17-18): "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."
Jesus body wasn't carried away. He, awakened from death, arose under His own power.
Jesus lives! We have in the empty tomb of Jesus yet another proof that God keeps His promises. Yes, and if Jesus said he would rise and did -- surely He will keep all of His other promises too, including calling us forth from our graves.
He is risen! Hallelujah!
