“So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen clothes lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen clothes lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen clothes but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” John 20:3-9
On the greatest morning in history, at the very cusp of the event that changes everything, and fixes mankind’s great dilemma, eradicates the curse of death, and elevates Jesus Christ above all men, the disciples still don’t really know what’s happening. The reality of the resurrection – and our singular need of it – is slow to occur to Peter and John. They get there, John being first probably due to his youth, and aren’t sure what they’re looking at.
What they see is indeed an empty tomb. Peter, after that desultory performance on the night of Jesus’ arrest, where he cowered from all, even from a young girl, receding into the blackness of that wretched night, and denied the Lord thrice, has recovered his boldness. He rushes into the tomb. Many commentators have fixated on the linen clothes and tried to deduce from the description here by what manner Jesus had risen. The thing is, Scripture doesn’t bother to tell us about that at all and, tellingly, there were no witnesses to it. When He was crucified, the world saw it; when He rose, not a human eye beheld it.
The thing to note from all this is that the linen cloths and face cloth were arranged so that they would know He was risen. Jesus had no need of the stone to be pushed aside. That was merely done so that the women and disciples could see the empty tomb for themselves. God wanted them to see it and He wants us to see it now. And we should look once again because it’s the point upon which Paul builds the gospel in Romans, saying that Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection. The empty tomb with the grave clothes left there, folded and useless, are for our eyes. If the Romans had moved the body, the linen would have gone with it. And if Jesus wasn’t raised then we are most to be pitied because we have our faith in a man who died in vain.
The greatest questions of life are met – and answered – by peering into that dark sepulcher. It’s one thing to say that Jesus Christ died for sin and took our punishment upon Himself. Anyone could actually try and do that – yes, a madman, but they could do it. Of course, few would dare to face the agony and pain of a crucifixion. Even the real prospect of a whipping would likely do away with such vainglorious imaginings. The true test, though, is here. That death couldn’t hold Him shows that the cross was sufficient. A dead Jesus Christ on that Sunday morning would mean a delusional humanist died between two criminals. But a risen Christ means that He is the Son of God and was fit to make the ransom payment – His righteousness for our sin. The empty tomb and risen Christ are the physical proof of the theological principles of Christianity.
John and Peter were slow to understand all this as even we are today. We still struggle in our every day with this knowledge – the astonishing depth of it, and the magnificent enormity of the truth that our sin debt is paid and that we’re free. Oh, how much depression and anxiety are banished from the Christian life when the fullness of salvation is known! If there was one sin of yours or mine that wasn’t atoned for on the cross then that linen would still have been upon Jesus and He would still have been laying there, dead. That face cloth folded and unused is the picture of the ultimate penalty that we will never pay because of faith in Jesus Christ.
Do you struggle with a sin still in your Christian walk? Do you worry about your future? Do you have in your heart that devilish lie that you aren’t a true Christian for some reason or another? Then look! Look here. The God that saved you brings you to the tomb and shows it to you – yes, you. The stone was rolled away for you – so that you can look and see. He could have smashed it. He could have walked right through it. Instead, the Roman seal is broken, the guards are scattered, and the impossible is accomplished. For you. You see, the Jesus Christ that died for your sin did so personally and then attended to the details in just this way so as to remind you that He is the God of your details too. Right down to the folded face cloth!
Often, we’re confused by salvation because we know something supernatural has occurred within us, yet tomorrow we have to go to work, take the trash out, pay bills, and deal with traffic. It can be very confusing, even disheartening, unless we understand what we’re looking at. Jesus is risen and the linen is still there. We Christians live in the amazing duality of salvation and normal life. In faith we’re children of the most-high God, redeemed by Him, assured of eternal life by the resurrection of Jesus Christ yet today turns to tomorrow, and life proceeds under the sun, so often full of weariness. This is God’s will – that we go out into the world with the good news, not that history stops yet. That day is coming and we wait for it with eagerness. So, don’t let this confuse you as it likely did Mary and the disciples.
So, why do we dabble in some sin or another? How does something like pornography or gambling or anger or greed consume us? Isn’t it simply because we don’t spend enough time marveling at this Jesus who loves us? Oh, and what a love it is. Peter, who betrayed Him not many hours ago, is brought in to see the evidence with his own eyes. Imagine what he was thinking at that moment. We imagine how each denial rushed to his mind and shame must have flooded his heart and yet there he stands, the recipient of all that grace – and so much more is to come.
God wants us to know that the resurrection isn’t an event that happened once in history and that’s that. The empty tomb changes everything, everyday. When we set our hearts to do battle with sin we err when we leave out this piece of theology. We lose the gospel when we think, “He will love me if I obey.” Do you see Peter standing there, looking on in wonder, in fear, in a thousand turbulent emotions? Yes, look. Look. That’s us – it’s you and me…sinners wondering at the incredible love of God who forgives those that betrayed Him. Jesus was raised even though Peter betrayed Him and He went to the cross even for that sin. There is no sin you can commit against Christ like what Peter did that night and yet the tomb is empty and there Peter stands.
The empty tomb isn’t a past event – it’s the great event that sets the Christian life aright. It makes sense of how to live in the gospel age. When we understand it we say, “oh, how He loves me…His love is so much, so great, so underserved that I can’t turn back to the sin that I now hate.” This is the gospel. The gospel isn’t cheap. It cost Christ the cross and we respond to that love, which was His motive power, by saying, “it’s this love that I want forever, not sin.” Have you lost your way? Has your faith grown cold? Have you grown weary? Then look to Peter and know that Christ is coming to him soon, to restore him personally, in the most intimate and perfect way. He comes for you too. Look for Him. Wait for Him. He’s always right on time. In the battle against sin, it’s Jesus that we look to rather than our own efforts since they, in the flesh, will always fail.
A sinner, Peter, stands in the tomb where his sin sent Jesus, but the tomb is empty and that’s the greatest news you can ever hear because it means that salvation is from the Lord.
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