He Saw And Believed

 

 Jn 20:1-9

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

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 came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, 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.)

Can we imagine the shock and confusion the empty tomb presented to the stunned women, Peter and we presume, John?  We take the story for granted, having been brought up as believers, but to them this was definitely a FIRST!  We celebrate this event for fifty days for it changed the course of human living, of our understanding of who we are, how much God loves us and what he calls us to be. The Risen Jesus is the template for each of us. May we take some time to ponder this amidst our church attendance, and family gatherings. Let not this GREAT TRUTH be overshadowed by the commercialism of Easter Bunnies, Baskets, colored eggs and new clothes."He saw and believed."  Christ is risen and so are we, not the Easter Bunny!

Bro. Rene

Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of new life in you. May I never take it for granted but live it with joy and confidence. Amen. Alleluia!