Breaking the Word

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him." So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. (Jn 20:2-8 )

The message (news) of the resurrection was first announced to Peter and John. An eye witness communicates first to Peter along with John. The message is that the tomb is empty. Natural conclusion is that the body of Jesus is taken away by someone. Since the news is communicated to the disciples and the disciples also ran to see the empty tomb the author is saying that the disciples were aware of what had happened.

The immediate reaction of the disciples was to run to verify and check. The first one to do that was Peter and then the other disciple also entered to check. They only saw the burial cloths. Empty tomb and the burial cloths were only proofs available. If someone had taken away the body then they would have taken with the cloths. If cloths are left behind the body was not stolen or taken away but something else had taken place.

The other disciple, whom Jesus loved (John) saw and believed.  He also saw the tomb empty and he also saw the cloths lying without the body and hence the conclusion was that he was raised from the dead. Belief in the resurrection comes fro the empty tomb and the cloths without the body.

But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.  (Mt 10:17-22)

Beware of people says the author. Does he mean that we should not trust anyone? Why does he give this caution? People are there to handover one to the people in authority. Disciples are to answer to the people in authority and pagans. All these happen for the sake of Christ. Christ becomes the point of reference and conflict and division.

Disciples are not to be worried about how to tackle these situations. Situations are because of Jesus and God will look into the situations. God will tackle the situations. God will give the answers at the time. Situations of this type are not in the control of human beings. They are in the control of the spirit.  Spirit has taken the situations into his hand and he will respond or make the disciple respond.

Jesus name will cause division among people in the society. This division will cut across the families and even brothers will be divided. People will hate the disciples for the name sake of Jesus. Only the presence of God and the presence of the spirit in the world will resolve all the problems. Disciples should have the faith to see God and the presence of the spirit even in the negative situations like divisions and hatred.