John Outruns Peter - John 20:4

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”, and in chapter twenty and verse four of his book John shared how he “did outrun Peter” where we read:

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.

The verse begins, “So they ran both together:” John began with the words, “so they ran” which means “therefore, then, wherefore and on this account they, Peter and John, made haste with one another” “both together” or “the two of them assembled with each other”. John shared how “Peter and John” “ran” with one another toward the tomb where Jesus was laid.

The verse goes on to say, “... and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.” John continued with words, “and the other disciple” or “and the other student, pupil and attendant of Jesus” “did outrun Peter” which means “ran before Peter whose name means a little rock or stone”, “and came first” or “and arose and appeared primarily, in first place, chiefly or principally” “to the sepulcher” which means “toward the cenotaph, grave or tomb” where Jesus was buried. John shared how he outran “Peter” and appeared “first” at the tomb of Jesus.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how “Peter and John” made haste toward the tomb where Jesus was buried. For whatever reason, John thought his readers should know that he outran Peter and appeared “first” at the grave. Regardless of his reason, both “John and Peter” came to the place where Jesus' body was buried. Jesus was not there because He was “risen from the dead” even as He told His disciples and everyone who hears Him. God loves people, and His purpose for sending Jesus was to die for the sins of the world and to be raised from the dead so people might have a personal relationship with Him. Let all who read these words “run” to the empty tomb of Jesus and believe in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time John shares how, “he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying”, 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".