1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- What do you think was going through Mary’s thoughts and emotions as she walked to the tomb that morning? As she ran to tell the disciples?
- What is the most startling/surprising/impactful thing that has ever happened to you? Who is the first person you told? How much detail do you remember about that “thing?” (Do you kind of have a video tape of it in your mind?) How does that impact the reliability of the resurrection eye-witness testimonies?
- She tells Peter and John, “They” have taken the Lord – who do you think she meant by “THEY”?
- “Seeing is believing,” so the saying goes. Peter and John both ran to see for themselves. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who believe even though they have not seen.” The Resurrection is the most important truth in Christianity. When did you personally “see” it as a foundational truth in your own faith? What could you do to strengthen your “faith” in the resurrection and your ability to talk about it, so that it is a core component of your witness to your faith in Jesus as Messiah and God?
- Why do you think there is such detail about what they saw in the tomb?
- John saw and believed. . . What do you think he believed at this point?
- Why do you think Peter and John did not “understand” from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead?
Prayer
Gracious God and Father in heaven, the resurrection of Jesus is one of the foundational truths of my faith. Thank you for the eye-witness testimonies because, through their descriptions, I can imagine the scene as they went to the empty tomb. Fill me with heartfelt joy and confident hope as I face the challenges of my life knowing that Jesus defeated sin, death and the power of the devil. Make me bold in my witness to Jesus’ love and the forgiveness he won for me. Move me to run and tell people about what Easter means to me.
Greek Word of the Day
English Word: dead | Transliterated Word: Nekros
Nekus (a corpse); dead (literal or figurative; also as noun): – corpse, dead, death, died.
Family Engagement Activity
“They did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” Do a Bible search for “third day” stories and events in the Old Testament. Imagine the hearts and minds of the disciples as the Holy Spirit “brought to their remembrance” things that Jesus had said and made connections to Old Testament themes and prophecies for the first time! Make a list of Biblical things you still want to understand. Don’t try to understand all of them at once. Commit to tackle just one. Read and study it until you put what you learn into the foundation of your faith.
Going Activities To Consider
“They did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.” Do a Bible search for “third day” stories and events in the Old Testament. Imagine the hearts and minds of the disciples as the Holy Spirit “brought to their remembrance” things that Jesus had said and made connections to Old Testament themes and prophecies for the first time! Make a list of Biblical things you still want to understand. Don’t try to understand all of them at once. Commit to tackle just one. Read and study it until you put what you learn into the foundation of your faith.