Day 36, On The Road To Pentecost: YET

John 20:1-10

The resurrection is the crowning act in the story of Jesus.  After his death, his followers were almost in disbelief that he could really be dead.  Friday night and all-day Saturday, they grieved, questioned, and mourned.  It was the resurrection that got them out of their sorrow, sadness, and distress.  The way John tells the story leaves no doubt as to this truth.

When John and Peter heard that the tomb was empty they ran to it.  I’m not sure what they were expecting to see when they got there but they got there in a hurry.  John stopped outside the tomb and looked.  Peter, however, being Peter after all, rushed into the tomb without hesitation.  What they saw in the tomb is remarkable.  John says they, “saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself” (vs. 6-7).  Apparently, Jesus took the time to remove the clothing of death and burial, place them neatly to the side, dress himself in the clothing of victory and heaven, and walked away from the tomb alive.  

Over the next fifty days Jesus would revealed himself to be alive.  Until the resurrection the key word describing Jesus’ followers was the word, “yet.”  Death is a powerful word, indicating, to most people, an ending and conclusion.  So, when John and Peter went to the tomb it was said of them, “As yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead” (vs. 9).  After the empty tomb and self-revelation of Jesus to them, everything changed.  It would take a while for it all to soak in but make no mistake about it, what he saw (or didn’t see) in that tomb changed the disciple, John.  For him there was no longer a “yet.”  It would take Peter a bit longer to get it, but he got it, as well as the other disciples, and a myriad of people to whom Jesus revealed himself to be alive.  By His grace, people all over the world today are coming alive in the life of the resurrected and now living Lord, Jesus Christ. 

There is a hymn from the twentieth century that says it well. May it be our testimony.

I serve a risen Savior; He’s in the world today. 

I know that He is living, Whatever men may say. 

I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer; 

And just the time I need Him He’s always near.  

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,  

Lift up your voice and sing  Eternal hallelujahs 

To Jesus Christ the King! 

The Hope of all who seek Him, 

The Help of all who find, 

None other is so loving, So good and kind.                  

                     (Alfred H. Ackley, 1933)