“Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.” (Joh 20:8-9 AV)
At first, these two verses seem contradictory. In verse eight, John testifies that when he came to the empty tomb, he believed that Jesus had risen from the dead. Yet, verse nine says they did not believe because the scriptures concerning His resurrection were not known as yet. So, which is it? Our clue is in one little pronoun. John uses ‘they’ instead of ‘we’. If John is pointing out his faith as opposed to the faith of the other ten, then it would appear he was the first to connect Old Testament passages regarding the resurrection of the Messiah to what they witnessed that morning. Like Peter mentioned in an earlier entry, I don’t think this was intended to be a criticism. Rather, I think one point John is trying to make is that being the beloved of Christ afforded him certain blessings. The first being that he alone never betrayed nor offended Christ in fleeing his side. In fact, he was at the foot of the cross and received the charge to care for Mary. Second, because he loved Chris the most, he struggled with his faith the least. John could see the promise of the resurrection and believe the empty tomb meant that Jesus was alive.
Devotion is a great protection against fear and temptation. Marriage is a testament to this fact! There was a commercial many years ago with two octogenarians holding hands as they strolled through a early winter park. It might have been a commercial for hallmark or something like that. It was an early winter scene with some fall leaves still on the trees and the ground. But there was also a dusting of wet snow on the ground. This couple was walking hand in hand, enjoying the day. I think the husband might have had a cane. There was a golden glow from the sun as the camera followed their stroll. At first, you don’t know they are holding hands. But as they move along, further from the camera, you see it. They are holding hands, walking together, one holding the other up, simply enjoying the moment. There is no fear of one leaving the other. There is no temptation to pursue someone else. Hand in hand. Inseparable. Walking as one. I have noticed that the older my wife and I get, the more we tend to do just the same. It isn’t like it was when we were very young. The PDA means something far deeper. Holding hands in one’s old age is a statement. Not a hope. When you are young and hold hands, it is founded on the hope of forever love. In the golden years, it is a statement of devotion, born through the years of trials and blessings. It is a statement that nothing conquered their devotion. And nothing ever will.
John could see and accept something the other ten could not because he loved the LORD more than they did. He could connect the dots and stand on the promise that Jesus made to them before His death. John could rest at ease because his Savior had kept His word. Gone was all anxiety he felt at the pinnacle of Golgotha. Gone was the sorrow he felt three days prior. Gone was the fear that all they had sacrificed might have been for naught. Gone was the worry that they would have to preach the gospel of a dead God. John was the first to understand and believe the resurrection. Why? Because he loved Jesus the most. Three and a half years of devoted service and learning were the foundation of that love. He surrendered it all to love and follow Jesus. He strove to obey and trust Him. When that particular Sunday morning came, he remembered what Jesus had said. He remembered the Bible verses Jesus used to point to His resurrection. A flood of relief came over him when he understood and believed that his Savior lived! If we struggle to believe, follow, and obey, perhaps it is no more complicated than the depth of love we have for Jesus. Love Him more, and we will realize untold blessing because of that love.
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