John 20  Early that Sunday morning..still dark.. but dawn is just about to break through.. Mary and the other women headed to the tomb.  Though Joseph and Nicodemus had wrapped the body and used the burial spices.. the women wanted to do more.. but they found the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus was gone... 

Each of the gospels emphasize a different part of this wonderful story.. 

Matthew and Mark tell of the angel and the command that the women go tell the disciples.   They tell of the women.. or at least Mary meeting Him.  Of His  assurance that He would see His disciples in Galilee.

Luke includes the account of Peter running to the tomb and looking in.  But, John tells us that he was there too.  He ran to the tomb.. "he saw the linen wrappings lying there and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself."  John tells us that "he saw and believed." 

John tells us about Mary standing and weeping.. about Jesus coming to her and saying her name.  He tells us of the announcement she made.. " I have seen the Lord." 

John tells of being in the closed room that night.. when Jesus "came and stood in their midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' "  He saw the Hands that had been nailed and the side that was pierced.  He received the commission to go.. to tell others.. to forgive sins.. to testify so that others might believe and be saved. 

John tells of Thomas.. who was not there that first Sunday night.. and who still doubted until Jesus appeared again.. inside the closed room.  Jesus made an incredible offer to Thomas.. "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving but believing."   Thomas did not hesitate.. "My Lord and my God!"  No longer unbelieving!

These thing have been written, John says, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." 

Father in heaven,  may we not hesitate.. but only.. thoroughly.. completely believe and find life in Jesus Christ the Son of God.. the Lamb that was slain.. the Resurrected King!  Thank You for the words of life that Your servants have preserved for us through the ages.  Sanctify us through Your Word, for Your Word is life. Fill us with Your Spirit that we might go and tell what we have believed, even though we have not seen it as Thomas and John and Mary did.  We proclaim the words of truth.. that Jesus is the Son of God and that those who will believe are given life in His name.  Hallelujah! What a Savior! Father we pray for those who are still unsaved.. that You will open their eyes and their hearts to turn away from their unbelief and "be not unbelieving but believing"!

 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!