Resurrection

Resurrection
John 20:3-10

3 Peter [Petros] therefore [oun] went forth [exerchomai] , and [kai] that other [allos] disciple [mathetes] , and [kai] came [erchomai] to [eis] the sepulchre [mnemeion] .
4 So [de] they ran [trecho] both [duo] together [homou] : and [kai] the other [allos] disciple [mathetes] did outrun [protrecho] [tachion] Peter [Petros] , and [kai] came [erchomai] first [protos] to [eis] the sepulchre [mnemeion] .
5 And [kai] he stooping down [parakupto] , and looking in, saw [blepo] the linen clothes [othonion] lying [keimai] ; yet [mentoi] went he [eiserchomai] not [ou] in [eiserchomai] .
6 Then [oun] cometh [erchomai] Simon [Simon] Peter [Petros] following [akoloutheo] him [autos] , and [kai] went [eiserchomai] into [eis] the sepulchre [mnemeion] , and [kai] seeth [theoreo] the linen clothes [othonion] lie [keimai] ,
7 And [kai] the napkin [soudarion] , that [hos] was [en] about [epi] his [autos] head [kephale] , not [ou] lying [keimai] with [meta] the linen clothes [othonion] , but [alla] wrapped together [entulisso] in [eis] a place [topos] by itself [heis] [choris] .
8 Then [tote] [oun] went in [eiserchomai] also [kai] that other [allos] disciple [mathetes] , which [ho] came [erchomai] first [protos] to [eis] the sepulchre [mnemeion] , and [kai] he saw [eido] , and [kai] believed [pisteuo] .
9 For [gar] as yet [oudepo] they knew [eido] not [oudepo] the scripture [graphe] , that [hoti] he [autos] must [dei] rise again [anistemi] from [ek] the dead [nekros] .
10 Then [oun] the disciples [mathetes] went away [aperchomai] again [palin] unto [pros] their own home [heautou] . KJV-Interlinear

3 Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they were going to the tomb. 4 And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter, and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes. NASB

Just a quick note regarding the movie just released today, 'Passion of the Christ.' A great film and definitely a must see picture. The tear drop falling from heaven was a phenomenal plus to the movie. I'll say no more so as not to spoil it for you.

Mary has been to the tomb, looked in and saw no one. She ran back to where Peter and John were, told them the brief story, 'The tomb is empty Someone has taken the body somewhere.'

Peter and John are now off on a run toward the tomb. Why are they running? Their reaction is more out of reflex, for they have no purpose for running to an empty tomb. Just that it is there, and like a magnet they are drawn to the place where Jesus' body was laid three days earlier.

Luke 24:12
12 [But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at that which had happened.] NASB

Luke describes more of Peters reaction when he entered the tomb. He saw only the burial cloths and nothing more. John, however looked in and not only saw the burial cloths but he saw how they were laid out on the table or platform where Jesus was laid.

The burial wrappings were made of fine linen. If a thief had entered the tomb, he would not have unwrapped a dead body and then run off with a naked dead body. Besides if that had happened, then the wrappings would be tossed off into the corner. Anyway, a thief would have taken the only thing of value, the costly linen. Secondly, the linen was not unwrapped from the body but laid there as though the body it was once wrapped around simply vanished from within the linens. The face cloth was rolled up and placed neatly but separate and apart from the other wrappings. These things John noticed, and as our passage states, John saw and believed. Peter on the other hand saw only the wrappings, not how they were laid on the platform, and went off wondering about it all. Peter saw but did not grasp the situation. John saw and believed that something supernatural had happened, but both lacked an understanding of the resurrection.

Mary followed along behind Peter and John, and arrived a second time right after Peter and John had already been there. The other women, who went to the tomb originally with Mary Magdalene, probably remained there when Mary went running back to tell Peter and John, and were there when Peter and John arrived and when they left, and were still there when Mary finally returned to the tomb.

Peter and John arrived and saw and then went back to where they were staying in or near Jerusalem. Probably in Bethany as before. They did not remain near the tomb to ponder the possibilities of the situation. However the women remained there for a little while, and that stay will present them with some additional revelation concerning the missing body - the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The summary of all of this? These folks who have been with Christ for a very long time now, still lacked the fundamental understanding, of the meaning and purpose of the crucifixion. Though having been taught over and over, again and again for many months and even years they were still lacking in understanding. This can be true of anyone who, though they attend a church or a study of some kind, but do not pay attention quite as closely as they should.

Most folks sort of float through life on their spiritual cloud, and get detached from reality to some extent, then when reality hits them between the eyes, they don't understand. They think they understand when things are going well in their life, but when things are going well, our faith is not tested quite the same as when life becomes more difficult for us.

Therefore, forewarned. Take your Bible study more seriously. Memorize verses so as to begin practicing keeping doctrine in front of your thoughts. Monitor your fellowship status more frequently and confess to the Father (that's God the Father) more frequently so as to maintain better continuity in your fellowship status. And most important, begin considering your responsibilities (learn them first) in your spiritual life and begin maintaining them on a daily basis. Continue your daily studies and little by little your eyes will be opened up more and more as time goes by. Finally when difficulties strike, then you will be prepared and you will coast through them.

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