Finding Faith

Scripture: John 20:3-10  (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. 6 Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, 7 while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. 8 Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—9 for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. 10 Then they went home. (John 20:3-10 NLT)

Mary found Peter and John, got them out of bed, and told them that the stone was rolled away and Jesus’ body was gone. They ran as fast as they could to the empty tomb and John, probably the younger of the two, got there first! He looked in and saw the strips of linen cloth Joseph and Nicodemus had wrapped Jesus’ body in. Just then Peter arrived and went right into the tomb. As Peter stood there, leaning forward with his hands on his thighs, trying to catch his breath, he saw the cloths that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body, and the other cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head and covered his face, seemingly carefully folded and laid aside. Then John came in, and saw, and believed!

None of Jesus’ disciples expected the tomb to be empty! They had spent the past 36 hours stunned, grieving, discouraged, just beginning to have the conversations about what to do next. Following Jesus had been their life for more than three years and now he was gone. Suddenly, terribly, wrenchingly, gone! Jesus had told them he would be crucified and would be resurrected on the third day. He had pointed out the scriptures that told of Messiah’s death and resurrection. But they just hadn’t understood!

Over the next hours and days, they would all Find Faith! John Found Faith in the empty tomb. It all came together for him and he believed Jesus was alive again! Mary met Jesus in the Garden and believed. Jesus appeared in a locked room and some believed. Thomas, who doubted the others’ stories, believed when Jesus showed him the wounds in his resurrected body. One way or another they all believed, they all Found Faith! We also believe! We’ve Found Faith through their stories and our experiences with the living Jesus Christ! Hallelujah, What a Savior!

Prayer:

Father, Thank you for making a way for them and for us to Find Faith! Amen!