2024 Easter Sunrise service

Believing without Understanding

John 20:3–10 NRSV

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

Did you hear that last bit?

“Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.” We have multiple people who have now seen the empty tomb yet only one has seen, believed, and understands. Even on Easter we are reminded that we are all at different places this morning with who Jesus is. We can see the empty tomb today but what does it mean. Where does our experience with Jesus leave us in our understanding of who Jesus is and what we are supposed to do now?