The Empty Tomb
On the Sunday morning following the crucifixion and before the sun rose, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus was buried.1
As she approached the tomb, she saw the stone rolled away and the tomb was empty inside.
And then she ran!
She ran to the apostles and told them that Jesus’s body was missing.
And then Peter and John ran!
They ran to the tomb and witnessed the emptiness of the sepulcher as well.
A Reason to Run
I don’t know what caused Mary, Peter, and John to run. Perhaps there was a sliver of hope starting to grow inside their souls as they thought on some of His words:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).2
Or maybe they started to understand some of His parables: the lost sheep, the piece of silver, and the prodigal son. (Luke 15).
The latter tells of a younger son who demands his inheritance early, leaves home, and squanders it in reckless living. Reduced to poverty, he returns home, intending to beg his father for a servant’s role.
“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him” (Luke 15:20)
His father ran!
Close the Gap
This parable is teaching us about more than repentance and forgiveness; it is teaching us about the mission of Jesus Christ. Just as the father ran to the prodigal, Jesus Christ runs to us when he sees us coming–after all, He is the Shepherd who runs and He is in relentless pursuit of us!3
And that raises a question for each of us:
How much faster would He be able to reach us if we would turn and run toward Him to close the gap?
Like Mary.
Like Peter.
Like John.
I wonder if, on that first Easter morning, they ran because they started to understand that He was not gone after all.
That He had risen.
That hope was still alive.
So, as you approach the empty tomb and are filled with hope . . .
Run!
After all, He is already running toward you.
Grounded and Reaching High
- Main idea: Christ does not wait at a distance—He moves toward us. The Resurrection reveals a Savior who runs to meet even the smallest movement of faith.
- Practical takeaway: When you feel even a flicker of hope or desire to turn back to God, act on it immediately. Don’t wait—close the distance.
- One question to ponder: What would change in your life if you truly believed Christ is already running toward you?
Lead image generated by Perplexity AI
- see also “Turn Yourself” at www.razingtherameumptom.com
- see also “The Shepherd Who Runs” at www.razingtherameumptom.com
- see Patrick Kearon, “God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home“, General Conference, April 2024
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