John 20:1-10 answered a question that puzzled me for quite some time. Just about a year ago (this is April 2020) I had the joy of preaching at Calvary Baptist Church in Yucca Valley CA on Resurrection Sunday. Our faithful Pastor and his wonderful wife had just welcomed their sixth child into their family, a beautiful baby girl. I was off the road that weekend and he asked if I would fill the pulpit. It is always a joy to preach at home. My text was John 20.

I have to be careful when I study to preach because too often I can look at a text and simply use it to reinforce what I already know, to support what I already believe. I bring what I have studied to the text. But to be a good Bible student, I must bring the text to what I already know. My thinking must not influence the text, but the text should influence my thinking. On Easter Sunday, the last thing the people in church needed to hear is what I know. They need, we all need, what the text says.

Back to the question that puzzled me for quite some time. I often wondered, “How different people can look at the same scene, the same ingredients, the same events and come to so many different conclusions?” And then I had the opportunity to dig into John 20:1-10, a text often used on Resurrection Sunday. That text showed me that while people may see the same thing, they do not see the same way.

When Mary Magdalene went to the scene of the tomb, early on the first day of the week, we wonder what she expected to find. The tomb had been sealed with a stone. That stone had been sealed with a Roman cord, the breaking of which would bring Rome’s swift justice. There was also the Roman Guard sent to keep watch. Some say that the “watch” would have involved from 16 to 50 guards. In the quietness of that morning and the stillness of that time of day, was Mary anticipating an encounter with those guards? Was she wondering who would help to roll the stone back? It had been three days, what kind of condition would the corpse of Jesus be in? She was not prepared for what she saw. The guards were gone–how curious. The stone was clearly removed away from the opening of the sepulchre, not just opened a little bit for someone to squeeze through — it was “taken away”. Now she is alarmed. John 20:1 tells us that she “seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.” Did she investigate? Did she look to see if the body was still in the tomb? Not at all. She took a cursory look and jumped to a conclusion. “Someone took the body!” The word for “seeth” is a word that speaks of a simple look, a cursory look.

Once the news reaches Peter and John, they have a foot race to the garden tomb. Verse five of chapter 20 tells us that John stooped down and looked in and “saw the linen clothes”. The same word used for Mary’s look–a cursory look, a simple look. No conclusions based on evidence, no deliberate attempt to make sense of the facts–just a look. This is how some look at spiritual things, at the Bible, at the life and ministry of the Lord and His death, burial and resurrection. Just a simple look–an acquaintance with things.

The text tells us that Peter pushed past John and entered the sepulchre, and “seeth the linen clothes lie.” The word “seeth” here is from a word we get our term “theater” from. It was not a simple look here, but a scrutinizing look. A look that considered the things that were seen to try to make sense of them. These were things Peter had never seen before. In fact, no one had ever gazed upon such a scene. There were the grave clothes. If someone had indeed stolen the body, no doubt the grave clothes would have also been taken. Those linen clothes must have appeared as an empty cocoon, as the weight of the spices pulled the strips of cloth that were on the front of Jesus’ torso toward the back as gravity did its part, now that the body was no longer occupying those clothes. The napkin that was about the Lord’s head was wrapped together in a place by itself. In his book The Risen Christ, Henry Latham explains how the Jewish people cared for their dead–in a very distinct way. The Egyptians would embalm their deceased, while the Romans and the Greeks would often cremate corpses. But the Jewish people would wrap their dead. The face, neck and upper part of the shoulders were left bare. Typically the body would be wrapped with the arms of the deceased folded cross-like across their torso. The head would be wrapped separately wound about like a turban. This is why, in Luke 7:15, when Jesus raised the son of the widow of Nain as he was being carried to his tomb, the young man sat up and was able to speak. The grave clothes did not cover his face. Peter looked–trying to make sense of what he was seeing. He was trying to come to some sort of a conclusion based upon the evidence. This is how many people look at spiritual things–they spend a lifetime weighing, evaluating, trying to make up their minds, trying to make sense of how God works and what He says. They may be well acquainted with spiritual things, but not yet a child of God.

John then entered the tomb and in John 20, verse 8, we read that John “saw and believed.” Yet another word is used for the word “saw”. It is a word that speaks of seeing with understanding, seeing with clear perception. It was not a simple look, nor a scrutinizing look–it was a saving look! It was not a cursory look, nor a considering look–it was a converting look! John immediately understood exactly what had happened–the Lord Jesus Christ had risen from the dead and John believed He was alive again!

How do you see things? Do you simply glance at Bible truths, taking a cursory look, a simple look? At least you are looking, but it’s time to move forward. Maybe you’ve been stuck “considering” and “scrutinizing” but not coming to any conclusions. Weighing and considering are not bad things in and of themselves. At least you’ve not walked away and turned your back on spiritual truths. But there is more–look and believe! Consider how God is drawing you to Himself. As you dwell on the wonderful person of Jesus Christ, as you study His life and ministry, as you remember His death, burial and resurrection may you be drawn to know Him as your Saviour! Move from the simple look, from the scrutinizing look, to the saving look! Believe on Him! Put your faith in Him and Him alone as the only means to be right with this God who loves us so much. If I can be of help, please reach out. I don’t have all the answers–no not at all. But I do have some answers–from the Bible. The prophet Joel reminds us that, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” (Joel 2:32). The Apostle Peter echoed the same message in Acts 2:21 and the Apostle Paul in Romans 10:13. Have you called on Him? Would you call on Him for salvation from your sins today?

How can people look at the same scene and have various reactions? Because we don’t always look the same way. May we look . . . and believe!