John 20:6

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

John 20:6 (KJV)

Context

John 20 records the events of the resurrection morning. Mary Magdalene had found the stone rolled away from the tomb and ran to tell Simon Peter and the beloved disciple, traditionally understood to be John. Both disciples raced to the tomb, and the beloved disciple arrived first, stooped to look in, and saw the linen clothes lying, but did not enter. Then Simon Peter arrived and went into the sepulchre.

Meaning

Peter’s action of entering the tomb shows his characteristic impulsiveness and devotion. Despite his earlier denial of Jesus, he was eager to see for himself what had happened. The sepulchre was a rock-hewn burial chamber with shelves or niches for the dead. Peter’s entry signifies his desire to ascertain the truth of Mary’s report.

The linen clothes were the burial wrappings used to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Their presence, with the body gone, is significant. Grave robbers would not have taken time to unwrap the corpse, especially given the many foldings of Jewish burial. The discarded wrappings point to the resurrection: Jesus had risen and left them behind.

Biblical connections

The detail that both Peter and the beloved disciple saw the linen clothes provides confirmation by two witnesses, a principle seen throughout Scripture. This verse also sets the stage for the next verse, where the face cloth is found folded separately, and for the beloved disciple’s belief upon entering the tomb.

Application

Peter’s willingness to enter the tomb challenges us to investigate the evidence for the resurrection personally. The empty tomb and the discarded grave clothes are evidence that Jesus rose from the dead, inviting us to move from curiosity to faith. Like Peter, we are called to see for ourselves and respond to the reality of Christ’s victory.

Reflection

The linen clothes lying in the empty tomb remind us that death could not hold Jesus. His resurrection is the foundation of our hope, and the details John records strengthen our confidence in the truth of the gospel.