The Jerusalem 5K Run

Scripture Reads:

"Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone has been rolled away from the entrance. She rand and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings laying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciples who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed -- for until then they still hadn't understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must raise from the dead. Then they went home."

John 20:1-10


These verses are often read during the Easter season. Pastor after Pastor preaches on it as we remember the death of Christ and how He arose from the dead to provide victory over death. There is a verse in these ten verses that sparked a question in my mind the other day. Verse 4 reads:

"They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first."

I have read this verse often and I just fly by it as if it holds no importance. The other day something hit me. I believe there is a reason that John mentions that Peter was behind the other disciple.

When I was a kid, I often did things that were wrong. I would get in trouble by my mother and she would often speak the words "Wait until your father gets home!" I knew that when my father got home, I would be punished. The time between my mom spoken word and my dad's arrival was not a pleasant time. I didn't look forward to my father coming home nor did I look forward to what would happen when He did make it home.

I believe Peter was the same way. He had "gotten in trouble" in his mind. He had denied Christ at a vital time. He wasn't looking forward to going to see a risen Christ. He wasn't looking forward to possibly seeing Christ. He didn't want the "punishment" of his betrayal.

Oh how often do we sin and not ask for forgiveness and seek into repentance because we are afraid of the punishment. We are afraid of coming in contact with a risen Christ that hates sin.

How often do we not want to run as fast as we can to the empty tomb because we are afraid of what is there, or isn't?