John Enters the Sepulcher - John 20:8

John the apostle wrote how, “the first day of the week came Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and saw the stone taken away from the sepulcher. Then she ran, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then came Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself”, and in chapter twenty and verse eight of his book John shared, “then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher” where we read:

Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed.

The verse begins, “Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, ...” John began with the words, “then went in also” which means “at that time entered even so and indeed” “the other disciple” or “the other student, pupil and attendant of Jesus who was John”, “which came first to the sepulcher” which means “who arose and appeared to the cenotaph, grave or tomb”. John shared how he also entered into the “tomb” after “Simon Peter” even though John had arrived at the “sepulcher” before him.

The verse goes on to say, “... and he saw, and believed.” John continued with the words, “and he saw” or “and he, John, observed, beheld and noticed”, “and believed” which means “and trusted and had confidence”. John shared how he observed the “linen cloths” and “handkerchief” lying in the tomb like “Simon Peter” did and “believed” that Jesus was not there.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how “John” himself entered into the tomb after “Peter”, and he noticed the “linen clothes” and “handkerchief” lying even as “Peter” had seen. At this point, John “believed” that the body Jesus was gone even as “Mary Magdalene” told them. God desires for every person to know that His Son Jesus is risen from the grave and has provided a way for mankind to be saved and forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life with God. Let all who read these words imagine finding the “linen cloths” and “napkin” of Jesus lying by themselves and testifying to the fact that Jesus is “risen”, and then submit to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time John shares how, “they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".