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 in chapter twenty and verse five of his book John shared how, “he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying” where we read:
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
The verse begins, “And he stooping down, and looking in, ...” John began with the words, “and he stooping down” which means “and he, John, bowed forward or leaned over”, “and looking in” or “and carefully inspecting and becoming acquainted with what was inside the tomb” did the following. John shared how he bent down and peered within the tomb where Jesus was buried.
The verse continues, “... saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.” John added the words, “saw the linen clothes lying” or “beheld, observed and noticed the strips of linen cloth used for swathing the dead were lain down”; “yet went he not in” which means “but and still he, John, did not enter the tomb”. John shared how he observed the burial clothes lying where Jesus was laid, but he did not enter the tomb.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how John bent over and looked into the tomb where Jesus was buried. He observed the “linen cloths” used to swath Jesus' body lying there, but he did not enter the tomb to look closer. John observed the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus from the grave, and when the stone was no longer blocking the entrance and the “linen strips” were by themselves in the tomb, it puzzled John. God's desire is to have everyone know that Jesus is raised from the grave and back to life again. His death on the cross paid for the sins of mankind and secured forgiveness for everyone who believes and trusts in Him. His resurrection made a way for people to live eternally with God. Those who carefully examine these details revealed to His disciples and “Mary Magdalene” respond best when they submit themselves to Jesus who alone is able to provide them with resurrected and everlasting life.
Next time John shares how, “then came Simon Peter following him”, 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".
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