3-10Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.
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He went in and believed. We are told that the linen cloths were neatly folded because if grave robbers had taken the body, they wouldn't have bothered to fold the cloths, but rather would have thrown them about. Regardless, even with this evidence, it is a giant leap of faith to say that he believed Jesus was risen from the dead. How many other thoughts might have rushed through his mind, I don't know. But he saw and believed.
We are called to take the same leap of faith. We often find ourselves staring into a tomb. It might even feel like we are standing in one. But we see evidence, through the outreach of a church or the love of a friend, that points to a greater love, and we are called to believe. We need to believe. We need to recognize and understand what is at work in our lives, and realize that the tomb in which we are standing is not a permanent place for us. Only by seeing and believing can we burst forth from the tomb and go tell others what we have seen, that Jesus Christ, Lord of Heaven and Earth, has raised us from the dead.
Blessings
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