Most likely, as John says, it was yet dark when Mary left for the sepulcher, but breaking light, as Mark states, when she arrived. I see no contradiction here as some have suggested. Nonetheless, it was at the rising of the morning sun when they arrived. Jesus was already Risen! The stone had been rolled away, not to let Jesus out, but to let them in as a witness to His absence; for He clearly was capable of passing through any inanimate object, yet contain the simplest element, such as food. ( 20:19, Mt.28:6-8, Lk.24:42)

Though John doesn't mention it, the Synoptics report more than Mary Magdalene coming early to the tomb. (Compare Mt.28:1; Mk.16:1; Lk.24:1.) Again, John assumes the reader's knowledge of the earlier writings and here chooses to highlight Mary Magdalene since she was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after plainly seeing the absence of His earlier and unmistakably dead body. This was important for John's refutation of the Docetic (Gnostic) view of Jesus' Earthly existence. She was eyewitness to His being taken from the cross and placed within the tomb.

This absence caused her great disappointment. She had followed Him from Galilee, ministering to Him as needed while alive, and now desired to perform a last act of loving service in His death. Her heart yearned to see and touch her Master one final time. Her care was impossible as He hung upon the cross and later laid in this dreadful tomb. Barred by the prohibitions of the intervening Sabbath and high holy day (Passover), her heightened desire brought her early to His side. She would not be denied now! But denied she was. With her heart's desire dashed again by her discovery of His disappearance, she hastened to the others with her bad news, "HE IS NOT THERE," which later would have an angelic addendum, "BUT RISEN," making it the Good News of all human history. For now, she presupposes Him to have been taken away, either by:

It should be noted here, on that victorious morning Peter had rejoined John (implied by "OTHER DISCIPLE"). (See: 18:15 & 21:24). Judas' remorse had caused him to seek a solitary suicide, but Peter's led him back into fellowship. Wherever Peter's grief had taken him on that infamous night it is not known, but all of Christendom is grateful for his divine return. One must remember, to face John, Peter also had to face Jesus' own mother after his denial and her son's death. What a beautiful picture of a loving Church in the action of forgiveness and fellowship as our Lord intended!

Fishing partners reunited in friendship and fellowship in a holy foot race! One can almost see the scene: speechless as they ran, urgency written upon their expectant faces, not knowing what they would find. Childhood memories come to mind here as these two, in their childlike innocence, dash off to a goal to be the first to see. Peter's age and settled life (older and married) probably accounted for his younger friend's quickness. Certainly it was not zeal, for immediately upon arrival John paused, but Peter rushes in to be the first to see where Jesus had lain, with John then following. One can only speculate as to why John hesitated: (1) Perhaps out of reverence; (2) To survey the outward scene; or (3) Maybe just to wait for his friend to catch up. True friends are like that when it comes to sharing a unique experience; do you not agree?

It is apparent something they not yet can explain has happened. Mary had been right! His burial clothes are there, but He is not! If He had been taken away, His clothes would not have been left behind, no matter who might have moved Him. And the question must come to mind: What is He now wearing, and where did He get them? Think about these new Righteous Robes He appears in! Space does not permit discussion in a comparison to His attire covering His heretofore naked body and that of Adam's before the Fall, and that of ours when glorified. Search it out in your study. It is rewarding! These will get you started: 19:23; Ps.16:10; Acts 2:27-31; 13:31-37; Gen.2:17; 3:7; Job 17:13-16; I Pe.1:23-25a; I Co.15:53-54; Ro.8:19-23.

Only Luke gives additional insight to this encounter of these two disciples at the tomb to the strange circumstances surrounding Jesus' disappearance, mentioning only Peter and his reaction, in contrast to John's. Peter continued to wonder, while John was arriving at the point of belief. He would likely return to Mary, Jesus' mother, and report his findings and personal insight to her Son?s resurrection. News of the many other resurrected dead reappearing to their loved ones had probably reached this huddled group, and upon hearing this from John, a spark of hope likely developed for the return of her own son. Memories of Lazarus' recent resurrection after four days probably were compounding her hopes; after all, Jesus had been entombed a lesser time! It is even possible Lazarus was present in this gathering as a visual reminder. How her soul must have longed for that desired knock at her door to reveal the object of her hope: her son, Jesus! Unable to accept their loss, have we not all had that same expectancy of a friend or loved one's return after arriving home from their memorial -- their presence still sensed so strongly in our spirits amid familiar surroundings, as we ache for that loss? Well wishers arrive and their knock gives us a start, a brief flushed pause. Our grief is so great, our hope so high, our heart rises within us to ask, "Could it be?" But we are returned quickly to reality as our other friends' familiar faces enter the room, their first words lost in our ears which have been honed momentarily hoping to hear the sound of that loved one's familiar voice most recently departed. Hope and reality continue to struggle in our hearts as we feel the resultant pain once again. Soon, however, hope surrenders to reality, and the pain starts to subside as our lives begin returning to normal, though minus yet another great treasure! Such was the mood in this home. They were beginning to go their separate ways, back into their own lives, accepting the reality of a vanished dream and lost loved one so recently held, left now only to wonder at these new unexplained turn of strange events.

But wait! Jesus, unlike our lost loved ones, will return! He will reappear! Mary Magdalene's story is only half told from her first visit to the tomb! She will return from her second with different news, Good News! What has been thought to be a very sad ending to a wonderful story is now truly going to be a happy one that never ends again in sadness (unlike Lazarus' story who died a second time). And it will continue throughout the ages as He appears unto every man, woman, and child of every generation. That little gathering in Jerusalem who first witnessed His glorious appearance is now gone, but their Jesus who returned to them, remains today! We are now! He is alive! He is ours! Do you believe? Listen to your heart, for it will not deceive you. Accept what your mind hears and believe what your heart says! And if He isn't, He will be yours!