Standing at the Tomb of Jesus

"Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb" (John 20:1)

Imagine for a moment, beloved, that you are standing at the tomb of Jesus within hours following His resurrection. And imagine how you personally would react to the stone standing off to the side and the entrance to the tomb open and accessible to you. How would you respond? What would you do?

Three separate people at least visited the tomb that morning and in their reactions to the stone rolled back and the empty tomb we discover how people today in our world tend to respond to the good news of the risen Christ. Note first how Mary Magdalene responded following the visit of Peter and John to the tomb:

"But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb" (v.11)

The Greek word parakupto means "stoop down near or by" something and let's us know that hers was a "cursory" glance into the tomb. This is the look of a casual bystander. She had no intention of looking further but, in her grief, merely glanced toward the open tomb. Today so many people hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, but do so with distracted hearts, not really taking in the true message of grace.

Peter's view, however, was entirely different. As he arrived at the tomb following the more fleet of foot John, he went immediately inside:

"Simon Peter therefore also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he beheld the linen wrappings lying there..." (v.6)

The Greek word theoreo means "look at, examine closely" and is the word from which our English "theory" comes. Peter and John had run to the tomb because they had not believed Mary's report. So Peter went into the tomb as an "investigator," one looking for facts to prove his supposition that Jesus was still dead. His was the concentrated look of one who investigates thoroughly, yet without belief. And today lost people will hear the gospel message again and again, perhaps in church services and perhaps without, but still without responding in faith to the message they have come to know so well.

John's view was even more distinct from either Mary's or Peter's. He had followed Peter's bold move and gone into the tomb himself. He too looked around inside the burial vault:

"So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb entered then also, and he saw and believed" (v.8)

The Greek word horao means "see with perception or understanding." John saw all that Peter saw within the empty tomb, yet his seeing led to spiritual discernment and the sure conviction that Jesus had clearly risen from the dead, just as He had said that He would do. His was the look of one convinced by the evidence and established on personal faith. How thankful we are today for those who truly hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, are convicted of personal sinfulness, and convinced that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God, and who put their trust in Him as Savior and Lord.

What is your reaction going to be as you too, through the experience of another Easter holiday, "stand at the tomb of Jesus," beloved? Will your experience of this holy day be casual, gaining from you just a cursory look or thought, a passing glance and then on with life as usual? Or perhaps you will be one who traditionally concentrates on the message of Easter, respectfully and reverently, yet without allowing that message to touch your heart personally? Hopefully, yours will be the response of a convicted and convinced listener, a worshiper who opens his or her heart fully to Jesus Christ and to all that He can bring to you. We are all "standing at the tomb" in this season. What will our world see our reaction to be?

Ron