Truths Upon Truths

Change was brought when Jesus died, let’s see what happens next eh?   John 20:1-10.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, -while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Perusing Scripture

Jesus was buried, by Joseph and Nicodemus if you recall.   Burial is simply one part in a series of visit to the tomb.  So here was Mary Magdalene coming to visit the tomb three days later.  At least I think it was three days later as Jesus was buried Friday and now is the first day of the week, so it could be Sunday or Monday… depending on how you figure what the first day is. 

Anyways, she’s there visiting the tomb.  It’s still dark out.  She sees the stone rolled away and immediately ran to talk to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.

She told them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

This led Peter and the other disciple to run to the tomb, Peter coming in second place.  The other disciple stooped to look in, saw the clothes but didn’t go in.   Peter arrived and went right in. 

He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

The other disciple followed Peter in.  He saw the clothes, the empty tomb and believed. 

Then we get this one: for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Question Answered

I went to Matthew Henry to gain some understanding because of that line didn’t make any sense.   This is what Henry says: 

John got the start of Peter in believing. Peter saw and wondered (Lu. 24:12 ), but John saw and believed. ….But what was the reason that they were so slow of heart to believe? The evangelist tells us, as yet they knew not the scripture, that is, they did not consider, and apply, and duly improve, what they knew of the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. The Old Testament spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah; they believed him to be the Messiah; he himself had often told them that, according to the scriptures of the Old Testament, he should rise again; but they had not presence of mind sufficient by these to explain the present appearances.

Interesting eh?

Thoughts in My Head

I can almost see their confusion you know?  They’d heard the teachings of Jesus, they knew that their was something deeper but they just didn’t gras it.  John caught a glimpse and believed, but didn’t fully know what he believed.   Peter caught that same glimpse and wondered about the more than.

It’s like me.

I read the scriptures, I often don’t grasp all there is to it.  But, then I read something and my belief is deepened even though I don’t always fully grasp why.

Do you ever have that?  I’m sure I’m not the only one.  It’s why we keep rereading the scriptures isn’t it.  More truths unfold as we read God’s Word.  It’s amazing. Truths upon truths.