these are written...so that you may BELIEVE!

Easter sunrise over Guelph Lake, 2013

John 20...Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)10Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

The purpose of John's gospel was for us to believe.  Early on Sunday morning there was great anticipation and great concern.  Where was Jesus' body...wouldn't the grave robbers take him with his linen cloths?  We have John reliving the morning with us...letting us know by the way that he could beat Peter on any given day in a running match!  He was also the disciple whom Jesus loved.  He had such a deep love for Jesus and he couldn't enter in until Peter went into the tomb first.  All we get at first is just Peter's initial observations; however John lets us know right in that moment he believed.

So, from there Jesus reveals Himself to Mary, then to his disciples and then to Thomas so that he might believe.  Jesus tells us that we are blessed for not being able to see physically and yet still believe.  Then John reminds us it is all about the fact that by believing in Jesus we will have LIFE!

The resurrection calls us to believe!

Romans 10:9If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

1 John 5:12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.