Truth Exposed 72 The Resurrection – The witness of Peter and John, John 20: 1-9. (518)

If John had ended with chapter 19, we would only be left with the end that comes to all mankind. A burial. Instead, he continues with witnesses at the grave site.

Let’s have a look at: The Resurrection (John 20:1-29)
specifically, The witness of Peter and John (20:1-9)

it happened on the first day. Technically this day starts at evening on the Sabbath, but from other Gospels we know the women came at dawn on the first day.

While it was still dark. The EBC suggests that while the other women (not mentioned by John) lingered, Mary immediately ran to find the disciples. However, the reality the other Gospels suggest is that all the women fled in terror.

Mary raced to Peter and John to bring them the disturbing news that the body of Jesus was missing.

Who took the body? “They” did.

Who are “they”? Mary was probably frantic and assumed that it was the enemies of Jesus.

We don’t know. This phrase indicates that there were other women, even though John only mentions Mary by name.

The two disciples reacted swiftly. The EBC suggests that if they had anything to do with taking the body, they would’ve been less concerned and less likely to act.

running is most often used in Scripture either as metaphor, or relating to a sporting event. According to EBC, the only other passage that refers directly to running is Matthew 28:8. It relates how the women ran from the tomb to tell the disciples about the resurrection. In this case the disciples ran, with “the other” presumably being John running ahead.

another time that comes to mind is when the father ran to the prodigal son. He was willing to cast aside any dignity in the race to restore his lost son.

As mentioned in verse one, Mary saw the open tomb. Once John arrived, he saw (blip, a cursory glance) the grave clothes, but hesitated to go in. Was it because he thought the body was still wrapped inside the clothes? Was his hesitation out of respect for the dead, or not wishing to defile himself by contact with the dead?

the slightly slower Peter had no inhibitions about entering the tomb, and it was after he entered that he saw (experienced) the graveclothes. Possibly his thought was of curiosity, as in why a grave robber would’ve stolen the body, and left the empty close.

The description of Peter’s witness continues:

Peter noticed that the head cloth was lying separately from the rest.

John may have arrived first, but now his fear or hesitancy is overcome. He also saw (used his eyes, or looked) and believed. Although the correct wording is that he was believing, might be more accurate to say that he was knowing because the is now a first-hand witness to the event.

they didn’t know the Scripture, or writing. The main point of Jesus returning to his disciples is to spend plenty of time walking them through all the Scriptures that prophesy about him.

Stay tuned for upcoming installments to learn what happens next, and what Jesus teaches his disciples.

PS: Nathan has a special five-minute thought at the end of the episode that may be helpful to some of our listeners, concerning the second coming of Jesus.

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