John 20:1-9 (NRSV)
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Chapter 20Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. Verse 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Verse 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. Verse 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. Verse 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Verse 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, Verse 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Verse 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; Verse 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Devotion
Confusion then, confusion now. The first witnesses at the empty tomb didn’t know where Jesus had been taken. Contemporary witnesses are not always sure where or if Jesus is in our world of suffering and death. Yet, resurrection is the fact of faith both then and now. The disciple saw and believed. Disciples today sing alleluia, and believe. We have come through the forty-day fast. We have moved from the wilderness to the garden. We have seen the worst the tempter can do and have seen the power of God in making new life and new creation. Christ is risen, and he leads the way out of death to life. Alleluia!
Prayer
O God of life, we rejoice because you have sent your son to do what we cannot do for ourselves. He has conquered the last enemy and made it possible for us to experience new life here and forever. Praise and thanksgiving! Amen.