“A Journey with John” Day 30: The empty tomb (John 20:1-31)

Last time, our guide took us to witness more of Jesus’ trial before Pilate, after which, Jesus’ was taken to be crucified. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus then took His body, prepared it for burial, and put His body in a garden tomb.

Before embarking on today’s journey with our guide, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:

>Two other men who were crucified on either side of Jesus

>Joseph of Arimathea - along with Nicodemus, prepared Jesus‘ body for burial

Let’s now head out with our guide for today’s journey:

As we reenter the scene, we find that it is the first day of the week and Mary Magdalene has discovered that Jesus’ body is missing from the tomb. She goes and tells Peter and the disciple Jesus loved (our guide!), what she has observed. They run to the tomb, also finding it empty. They then return home, with Mary staying at the tomb. While continuing to weep over Jesus, Mary peeks back into the tomb and sees two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus’ head and feet would have been. When they ask why she is weeping, she responds then turns to see Jesus, standing there, but does not recognize Him. She also tells Him that she is crying because Jesus’ body is missing. When Jesus calls her name, she recognizes that it is He. Jesus then tells her to go tell the other disciples that He is alive and is ascending to His Father and God, and their Father and God. Mary goes and does as she was told. Afterwards, Jesus appears to some of the disciples and shows His wounds to them. He then says He is sending them out as He had been sent. Then, breathing on them, He says that they will receive the Holy Spirit. Thomas, not being among the disciples who see Jesus, refuses to believe, unless he touches the holes in His hands and the wound in His side. Surely enough, Jesus appears again to the disciples when Thomas is there. Jesus then has Thomas to feel of His wounds, causing Thomas to declare Jesus as Lord and God. Our guide then tells us that all of this was recorded so that other people could believe in Jesus and receive life in His name.

Our highlighted verses for today:

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”

‭‭John‬ ‭20‬:‭1‬-‭3‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬, ‭10‬-‭17‬, ‭19‬-‭22‬, ‭24‬-‭25‬, ‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

Can you identify with Thomas’ reluctance to believe Jesus is alive? If so, in what ways?

Next time, our journey with our guide will come to an end. But I think we get to have breakfast with the risen Savior before our guided journey comes to an end.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!