Evidence Within the Tomb
How surprised the disciples must have been when Mary Magdalene came running and said, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” (See John 20:2)
(NASB) John 20:3-8 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.
4 the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;
5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb, and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.”
There are many commentators who believe that the “˜other disciple”™ was the writer of the Gospel of John.
What is important about the tomb being open for Mary, Simon Peter, John and others to look into it? The body of Jesus was missing, gone”¦but the grave clothes were still there. Curious! If grave robbers had taken the body, they would have certainly not have unwrapped the corpse before taking the body.
Also notice that there are at least three witnesses to this scene in the tomb.
From the other Gospels we know that there were other women who had come to the tomb with Mary Magdalene. And her words in the book of John also indicate there were others with her. (See her quoted words at the beginning of this devotional “we”).
According to Jewish law two to three witnesses were needed for validity of testimony.
The evidence within the tomb was validated by at least three witnesses.
This evidence is important for those who believe in the resurrected Jesus.
Honest skeptics will examine the evidence and the validity of the testimony of eyewitnesses to the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.