Through John's Eyes

Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, also entered. He saw and believed. John 20:8 

We are not privileged to know exactly what went through the minds of the apostles and disciples between the hour of death and the morning of resurrection. Certainly, some must have felt a finality. After all, death is death. How could even Jesus raise Himself from the grave when His body was truly dead; blood and water flowing from His pierced side? Other followers of Jesus seemed to hold out some waning measure of hope in His promise that He would raise Himself to life on the third day. The apostle John was one of those followers. 

As they waited, the women came back with the news. They had gone to the tomb in hopes that someone would roll away the massive stone so that they could prepare the body of their Teacher for its final rest. They had come to serve Him with one last honor. But when they arrived they found the tomb empty. The women raced back to the apostles and told a wondrous story of angels speaking to them of the resurrection. The vast majority of the apostles, gathered in the upper room out of fear, rudely dismissed their testimony as nonsense. 

Yet Peter and John held our hope. They sprinted to the tomb to see for themselves if what the women had said was indeed true. John’s legs carried him faster than Peter’s. He arrived at the open tomb but out of reverence waited to go in. Impetuous as ever, Peter bolted in and found the tomb empty and orderly. The burial cloth sat on the bench, neatly folded. This was not the work of some rogue body snatchers. 

Then John entered the tomb. To his amazement, he too witnessed the evidence of the resurrection. He saw the empty void. He saw the folded cloth. He was now an eyewitness. He gazed in wonder at the truth of what Jesus had foretold. He believed. 

It was not that John yet fully understood the resurrection, its purpose, and its power. Scripture records that John did not fully understand the reason behind the resurrection. But John did believe now that Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus’ instruction would continue as He visited with His apostles in the upper room, by the Sea of Galilee, and at the mount of the Ascension. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would solidify the meaning of all the truths that Jesus had taught His disciples. But John, on that day and in that moment, believed and would testify of the resurrection to his brothers in the faith. 

John testifies to us to this very day. That is the purpose in his writing his gospel. He did not write it to bring glory to himself. He never even mentions himself personally by name in his gospel. He only speaks of himself as one whom Jesus loved. No, his words were written that we may believe in Jesus (His life, death, and resurrection) and that by believing in Jesus, we may have eternal life. We have not been privileged yet to be able to see our risen Lord face-to-face. That day will come. So the Holy Spirit relies on the testimony of John, the other gospel writers, and the apostle Paul to witness to us. They speak of the glorious resurrection of Jesus, proof positive that our sin guilt has been truly and fully paid for by our Savior.

This resurrection day, take joy in sharing the resurrection with others. Share the gospel of John with someone you know who needs the comfort of sins forgiven. Perhaps even as a gift give them a copy of the Gospel of John to read. Through John’s eyes, look into the empty tomb for yourself and believe. Blessings. 

Frank Van Brocklin 

Principal Teacher 

Coming up at Immanuel Lutheran School: 

❖ There will be no bus service on Thursday, March 28. We will not have school on Good Friday (March 29) and Easter Monday (April 1). 

❖ Subway night will be on Wednesday, April 3, from 4-7 PM. Proceeds will go to help defray the costs for the summer WELS International Youth Rally. 

❖ Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences will be on April 8 and April 11 and will follow the format of the fall conferences. 

❖ There is an early release with bus service on Tuesday, April 16. 

❖ ILS will be hosting an Art Fair on Friday, April 19.