John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Count the days by Jewish reckoning. Friday Evening, the beginning of the Sabbath. Saturday Evening, the end of the Sabbath. Sunday Evening, the beginning of the second day of the week. I was always confused about these three day in the grave until I realized He went into the ground Friday before the Sabbath began. Sunday Evening was the beginning of the Fourth Day.

So Friday, the three dark hours while He was on the Cross until sunset was actually the first dark day. Our reckoning of days, years, and millennia all changed that day because of His work on the Cross.

Now here, Sunday Evening, Jesus appears to some of His disciples at the first prophetically possible moment, the beginning of the fourth day. He does not hesitate to come as soon as possible. The scriptures need to hold true, otherwise He might have come earlier.

First things first, “Peace be unto you.” Over and over again whenever Jesus appeared to His disciples in moments of distress, He quelled their fears first. Is this not exactly what we need upon exciting the darkness? Our souls are still reeling from the trauma in our lives and peace needs to be restored before we can move on towards anything else.

Then comes doubting Thomas.

John 20:25,27 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

No one can reveal Christ to you but Christ Himself. Believe what you want but revelation only comes from God.

John 20:4-5 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

I believe this “other disciple” that outran Peter was John himself. In John’s writings, rather than pointing out his own actions, he would use this term, the other disciple. Given that John wrote his gospel at an old age, he might have forgotten why he had not enter in to investigate further. I can see it being intentional by design.

Having a sign of the resurrection of Christ, what kept you from going in and investigating further? Only you can answer that question for yourself. If I were to tell you what kept me from investigating further, it might taint your recollections. Given it was so long ago, I might not even be honest with myself.

In those moments being honest with ourselves is all we can do. It might not cause us to move forward as Peter did, but John wasn’t Peter. You are not me. You have your own reasons, if you have not sought an answer during your darkest days.

v8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

Here again, that other disciple, John finally entered in to see for himself. Doesn’t this remind you of two children in a scary situation? “I’m not going in there. You go.” Let someone else take that first risky step.

Anyone out there relate to the need for a wingman? Maybe if things get too scary, you will push them or hide behind them. So much for personal responsibility in relationship, but it is dark and you cannot see.

Will the evening bring any light?