This is the scene after Jesus was placed in the tomb. Mary shows up, tomb open, body gone. She runs to Simon peter and John and assumes that someone took the body of Jesus. The disciples run to tomb, see the linens lying there, and they come to realization that there were scriptures that said that Jesus would rise from the dead.
What does it mean
Once again, I got caught up on one verse this week. Couldn’t get rid of it.
4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
now for a little background here- This “other disciple” that is being described here is John. The guy who is writing this book.
Now, John, God bless him, to some people may come across as arrogant or full of himself
He refers to himself as “the one whom Jesus loved” a few times in the Book of John and some people would think thats pretty prideful
but here’s the deal- This gospel- wasn’t distributed by a nationwide publisher with all royalties going to John- it was penned anonymously and eventually, scholars figured out that it was more than likely penned by John
Its actually quite humble that he never refers to himself by name, but now we know that in fact it WAS John referring to himself in this scripture
He’s even so humble that in this scripture 4 times he refers to himself as “the other disciple”
v2 The other disciple whom Jesus loved
v3 The other disciple were going to the tomb
v4 The other disciple outran peter
v8 The other Disciple who came to the tomb first, went in also and he saw and believed
John wasn’t concerned that he receive any glory or recognition for who he was and what he did. To him, it appears to be irrelevant to the story WHOM Jesus loved WHO was going to the tomb WHO outran peter WHO believed
But it doesn’t change the truth of the story. This other disciple was loved, concerned, passionate and full of faith
I want to be an ‘other disciple’
Lets get started-
. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.
John, in this book, refers to himself in the third person- but can’t help but telling the truth- Dude- I was running so fast, I outran peter and got there first
Now as a guy, I can’t blame him. I’m not saying women aren’t competitive, but I can’t speak for a woman, because I am not a woman, nor will I ever be a woman
but Guys- we are some of the most competitive people around.
Basic training- 2 days in- yelled at, shaved, tired, hungry, scared, lonely, shoved in the barracks to clean
we were left for 2 hours- when the DS came back, we were a sweaty mess. Panting and all the more tired. Were we cleaning? No we had a lookout and we were playing tackle football in the barracks with a pair of socks sweaty, angry, testosterone filled destruction
If you get guys standing around for longer than about 10 mins, someone is going to produce a ball from a car or a pocket, or turn something into a game that they can win at.
I can see this spirit in John at this moment- He doesn’t care about Peter, he doesn’t care about anyone else- He is in a full on sprint to get to that tomb before anyone else
“outran peter” “came to the tomb first”
Peter- I dont care what is taking you so long, I’m not going to wait for you, I’m not going to worry about what is taking you so long, but me, I’m not concerned with you or anyone else at this moment
I need to see my Jesus- I need to know what happened to him- I need to know were he is- I need to be with him
Peter if you are holding me back- I am not going to be waiting for you to see where you are I know where I need to be
There’s a sermon in there
John was so concerned with his relationship with Jesus, he couldn’t be concerned with Simon Peter. So much so, he got left behind.
Now am I saying that this how you should live your life every day? for yourself? no way!
But the reality is, when you’re passionate about the things of God, sometimes, people get left behind
Sometimes you run faster than other people- and they dont get to where you got as fast as you did
1 Corinthians 9:24 [ Striving for a Crown ] Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
Many people do not pursue God in such a way as to actually get somewhere
John- the other disciple- was so overtaken that he ran, faster than Simon Peter, to get to where Jesus was laid
Are you pursuing God with this type of passion? Are you actively pursuing God? Are you running towards him as fast as you possibly can?
John did- FAST
Deuteronomy 4:29 But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Are you seeking God with all your heart? Because I know many people that say they can’t hear God- but they dont even do what they need to do to hear from him!
ALL YOUR SOUL-
Did I tell you the story about working at cintas- we had a rule- people who show up late to the interview- don’t get hired- ever. Why? How bad do you want this job? everyone hired- got there an hour early- IF SOMETHING IS IMPORTANT TO YOU- YOU’LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES
1 Chronicles 16:1111 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
how bad do you need the things of Jesus! How fast are you willing to run?
who do you need to leave behind? Who do you need to outrun to get to Jesus?
Here’s saying that we say alot- “what you’re telling me v what you’re showing me”
I say ” I want to lose weight” thats not true! I want to sit around and eat donuts!
Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
I’ll never understand why people don’t pursue God-
Why don’t people pursue God?
1 dont know how
2 too many distractions
3. Afraid of what God will do to them
4. Dont understand God
I know why John pursued God-
John knew he was love
Think about this- John, while writing this account of the life of Jesus, in this book- it was for one purpose- we’ll get to in the next couple weeks- 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Johns sole purpose in writing this book was that you would believe in Jesus and that you would have life in his name
Praise God- I believe many have come to faith in Jesus because of the book of John
But get this- Where did John have to be spiritually, that he referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”
Jesus loved all the disciples! He loved everyone- but some how- John got it into his spirit
Jesus loves me
He realized it so much that is the way that he described himself- “as the disciple whom Jesus loved”
Now, did Jesus show partiality to john? Not sure- but I do know that John knew he was loved by Jesus
Now I’ve been struggling with this lately- the Gospel of Love- its so prevalent in today’s society
and I believe it to a certain extent the scriptures are full of God’s love for us
1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Love is central to who we are as Christians- its our calling card- its who we are in Christ! LOVE
But here’s my struggle- you can find love anywhere- I’ve met vile people who love their kids, would die for them. Civic clubs. Sports clubs. Families. People get love every where in America.
We are a culture of self esteem, others, service, encouragement, positivity.
This whole supreme court decision tag line was #lovewins
We’re not at a loss of love in America. We’re at a loss of what TRUE love. Christ centered LOVE is in America
You can’t take your definition of love and put it on Jesus. You have to find out what Jesus love looks like and then receive THAT love
Because the worlds definition of Love isn’t what God’s definition of love is- We know what Gods definition of love is
4 Love suffers long (its patient) World love- wants it right now! Join us or be torched
and is kind- the worlds love is forceful- be like me or I’ll kill you
love does not envy- the worlds love is always trying to outdo someone or upset that you dont have what they have or that you are where they are
love does not parade itself- World- I love you so much I’m going to make sure you know that I’m loving you and that everyone else does too- bc if I didnt tweet it it didnt happen
is not puffed up; Worlds love is that you dont need love to gain respect
5 does not behave rudely worlds love- act how you please- do what feels right to you
does not seek its own- Worlds love- self centered at the expense of others
is not provoked, thinks no evil; – UNLESS you cross me- then I can justify whatever I want
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth- World- if they are happy- I’m happy- I dont care how immorally wrong it is, unless I think its immoral I’ll make it up as I go
7 bears all things- Can’t last a weekend believes all things, Distrustful at every turn hopes all things, puts hope in everything but God endures all things. lasts until you do something wrong
8 Love never fails until I’ve exhausted all I want from you
Thats not the love of God! God’s love is ETERNAL- it is IMMUTABLE it is PERSONAL
God’s love
1. All encompassing- John 3:16
God doesn’t just choose the rich, the famous, the pretty, the smart, the witty, the desireable
This is why I don’t believe in selective election- that would mean that God thinks some are more worthy than others- NO I believe that God loves EVERYONE and that we ALL have the opportunity to come to Jesus
Jesus even tells us to not love people for what they can do for us- because thats what the world does- no- he says love those who are your enemies-
2. Sacrificial
The love that God has for us is shown in JESUS- his willingness to DIE- SACRIFICE
we should walk out this same love
3. Never changing Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
THIS is the love that John knew- THIS is the love that made him rest in knowing that Jesus LOVED him and it CHANGED the way he lived
Do you want to know how much Jesus loves you today? RUN TO HIM OUTRUN THE OTHER DISCIPLES
