Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. (John 20:8-9)

He Saw And Believed

Thursday night was a very difficult time for John. He was in the garden with Jesus when Judas brought a mob of soldiers and Jewish leaders to arrest Jesus. John watched as they put Jesus in chains and dragged Him away. All through the night, Jesus was taken from the Jewish courts to the Roman courts early in the morning. Suddenly the word was spread Jesus was condemned to die with two other men. In disbelief, John watched Jesus carry His cross to the place outside the city where executions took place. As John, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and other women stood and watched, the Roman soldiers stripped Jesus of his clothing and nailed Him to a cross. Tears streamed down their faces as they stood helplessly.

Hours went by as Jesus struggled on the cross. Very few words could be uttered by Jesus. Sometime during the suffering, Jesus addressed His mother and then asked John to care for her. A slight nod from John came as his heart broke watching Jesus die. It was not long, and the body of Jesus went limp. The Teacher was dead. He who had raised the dead breathed His last. The Rabbi of the disciples had given up His life. Weeping, sobbing, and beating their breasts, the faithful walked away. No one dared approach the cross to touch the body of Jesus. Returning to their homes, the sobs and cries could be heard. Mary retraced the more than thirty years she had been a mother to God’s Son. John reflected on his short time with the Master from the first time He called John from his father’s fishing boat.

The night was spent talking about Jesus, His teachings, His stories, and His life. The Sabbath came, and the previous night’s events hung heavy on the hearts of the faithful. It would be the longest day of their lives. Word had come that Nicodemus and Joseph had secured the body of Jesus from Pilate and buried the Lord in the new tomb of Joseph. Inquiries were made to the location of Joseph’s tomb. Plans were made following the Sabbath to go to the tomb before the fourth day to prepare the body of Jesus properly. The women made all the provisions. Saturday night was an anxious night. Then Sunday came.

Early on the first day of the week, the women gathered their provisions of spices to prepare the body of Jesus. Coming to Joseph’s tomb, they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Entering the tomb, the women found the tomb empty. Mary Magdalene ran back to the city to the home of Peter and told Peter and John the body of Jesus was missing. Peter and John immediately run to the tomb, John pausing on the outside while Peter runs in. John enters the tomb and believes that Jesus has risen from the dead. It was a defining moment for John.

What makes the story of John’s appearance at the tomb is John writing about his own experience. He writes in the third person as the “other disciple” who ran ahead of Peter to the tomb. John declares his belief in the resurrection when he sees the empty tomb and believes. It was a simple faith that needed a trust and love for His Savior to lead the beloved disciple to proclaim his belief in the risen Christ. Time would reveal the scriptures teaching of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but John was satisfied. He did not fear the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene was distraught at where the body of Jesus was, but John had a reassuring faith.

Having faith in the will of God, whether John understood everything he needed to know, was all that John needed to trust in the plan of where Jesus was. So much would be revealed in the days to come. John’s life was forever changed the day he went into the empty tomb and did not find Jesus. That same day will come to you when you see the power of the empty tomb and believe.