The Resurrection: Peter and John at the sepulcher.
We approach an event which bespeaks a new life for Christ and a new life for man.
I. IT IS A WOMAN WHO IS FIRST AT THE TOMB ON THE RESURRECTION MORN. "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher."
1. She evidently was not alone during the whole scene, but she seems to have reached the sepulcher before the other women of her company (Matthew 28:1). "Certain women of our company were early at the sepulcher" (Luke 24:22, Luke 24:23).
2. Mary's purpose was to embalm the body of Jesus. This implied that she had no more expectation than the apostles of his approaching resurrection.
3. It was an act of great courage to go in the darkness and to confront, if necessary, the rude watchmen.
4. It is suggestive of the loyalty of women to Jesus that "woman was last at the cross, and first at the tomb."
5. Her discovery of the empty tomb was the first indication of a fact which is the most fundamental in Christianity.
II. THE VISIT OF PETER AND JOHN TO THE SEPULCHER.
1. Mary ran in breathless haste to acquaint the two disciples with her discovery. "So they both ran together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in."
2. John, as the younger man, outran Peter, but the eager haste of both disciples indicated their amazement, their curiosity, their expectation.
3. The hesitating look of John, as he stooped down but did not enter the tomb, bespeaks the awe of his deeply contemplative spirit.
4. The alacrity with which Peter entered the tomb without a pause, and descried the empty clothes, is characteristic of the impulsive and eager son of Jonas.
5. Both disciples believed, as the effect of their visit to the sepulcher. Yet there was an evident unreadiness on their part to believe in Christ's resurrection. "For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that be must rise again from the dead." The condition in which they found the clothes would suggest that the body had dot been taken away by enemies. It was still less probable that friends had carried it away.
6. The two apostles left the tomb convinced that the Lord had risen, but still, no doubt, unable to fathom the mystery that underlay the transaction. "Then the disciples went away again unto their own home"—one at least believing, the other meditating deeply, but awaiting the first personal interview with Jesus which dissipates all his doubts.