Peter and John go with all speed to the sepulchre, to satisfy
4. Two FURTHER WITNESSES
Peter and John go with all speed to the sepulchre, to satisfy themselves of the truth of what was told them, and to see if they could make any further discoveries.
Being come to the sepulchre, they make a closer study of the facts, but with little success. John went no farther than Mary had done. He had the curiosity to look into the sepulchre, and saw it was empty. He stooped down and looked in. Those that would find the knowledge of Christ must stoop down and look in. Yet he had not the courage to go into the sepulchre. The warmest affections are not always accompanied by the boldest resolutions. Many are swift to run religion's race who are not stout to fight her battles.
Peter, though he came last, went in first. He made a more exact discovery than John. Though John outruns him he did not therefore turn back or stand still. He made after him as fast as he could, and while John was, with a deal of caution, looking in, he came and, with a deal of courage, went into the sepulchre. John could outrun Peter, but Peter could outdare John.
Good Christians need not fear the grave, since Christ has lain in it. To them there is nothing frightful in it. We must be willing to go through the grave to Christ. That way He went to His glory, and so must we. If we cannot see God's face and live, better die than never see it.
The position of the things Peter found in the grave is significant. Christ had left His grave-clothes behind Him there. What clothes He appeared in to His disciples we are not told, but He never appeared in His grave-clothes, as ghosts are supposed to do. He laid them aside:
(a) Because He rose to die no more. Death was to have no more dominion over Him (Rom. vi. 9). Lazarus came out with his grave-clothes on, for he was to use them again. Christ, rising to an immortal life, came out free from those incumbrances.
(6) Because He was going to be clothed with the robes of glory, therefore He lays aside these rags. In the heavenly paradise there will be no more occasion for clothes than there was in the earthly. The ascending prophet dropped his mantle.
(c) When we rise from the death of sin into the life of righteousness, we must leave our grave-clothes behind us. We must put off all corruption.