and we don’t know where they have laid him.”
Peter then set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other
disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down and saw the linen cloths lying
flat, but he did not enter.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; he, too, saw the linen cloths
lying flat. The napkin, which had been around his head, was not lying flat like the other linen
cloths, but lay rolled up in its place. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first,
also went in; he saw and believed.
Reflect:
John outran Peter and reached the tomb first; but he did not enter. He let Peter enter first and
then followed him. That’s not the John we have known until now: This son of thunder was
competitive – he plotted, with his brother, to siphon off the most prestigious seats in the Kingdom
(Mt 20:21). He was rivalrous – he debated as to who among the disciples was the greatest
(Lk 9:46). He was jealous – he silenced someone who was healing in the name of Jesus,
just because he did not belong to their group (Lk 9:49). He was sacrificial – he wanted Jesus
to invoke fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritans (Lk 9: 54). When and how did John learn
to respect authority, give way to Peter, and walk behind? Perhaps he learned it in the Upper
Room, at the first Eucharist. There, leaning on the breast of Jesus, John heard Jesus’ heartbeat,
and emerged as a transformed man: John version 2.0
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022