Running to the Tomb
“Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” John 20:3-9
Peter and John are stoked. They are amazed at what Mary Magdalene has just told them about the tomb being empty. It had been a fast three days earlier that everyone saw Joseph of Arimathea wrap the body of Jesus and lay it in a brand-new tomb.
Peter and John run. They run to verify the amazing story of the resurrection. After running to ensure the validity of the empty tomb, verse 8 says: “he saw, and believed.” What John saw and believed was that Jesus was gone, the resurrection took place, just as He had said.
Many Christians would say they “believe.” Our issue today is that we take that “belief” for granted. Since the resurrection is life changing, eternity changing, and is the single most monumental moment in history, you would think we would have a higher regard for Jesus and the salvation He purchased for us on the Cross. This moment of victory is unparalleled by anything else in life. Anything.
Even while we “believe” many of us are not as enthusiastic about the Cross, the Resurrection, and of Jesus as we ought to be. How many Christians will make it to Easter Sunday on time? How many will be late? How many will show up at all? How many will have an inner excitement visible on the outside with facial expressions of peace, joy, and satisfaction in Jesus? We tend to “run” everywhere else: “Run” to the store. “Run” to the Doctor or to the school event. We “run” to sporting events and more!
We should run to the empty tomb Easter Sunday and every Sunday. The Christian church celebrates the resurrected Lord Jesus every Sunday. That is why the old “Sabbath Day” of worship was moved to Sunday. Because Jesus rose on the first day of the week. We should congregate with other Christians to worship the resurrected Lord. We should be quick to priorities celebrating our faithful God and praising His Son for what He did on the Cross and in the Tomb for us.
We may not need to physically run to church, but we should have the same drive and energetic spirit to stop everything else to praise the Lord. Go to church this Sunday with the same emotions of jubilation and amazement that Peter and John had that very first resurrection day!
EDC Christian 