Only a couple of days prior, Peter denied Jesus three times and John helplessly watched Jesus die a bloody death on a cross. Both now heard an impossible story from Mary Magdalene and sprinted to see for themselves.

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…Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.

Stomachs-churning, hoping-against-hope, Peter and John rushed toward the tomb. Finding it empty, they saw and believed. So it was true—Jesus had risen from the dead. Later these disciples, along with many others, would meet the resurrected Jesus. They would in turn spread the news far and wide, all the way to us today.

The painting above is entitled: The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection, by Eugène Burnand. I love the depiction of Peter and John, sunrise on their faces, filled with the unbelievable anticipation of what they might find. I’m reminded of who I might find as well.

He is risen—He is risen indeed!

John 20:1-10