“So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.”
The two were running together, but the other disciple ran ahead of Peter and reached the tomb first — the beloved disciple's speed foreshadows his spiritual agility; he will see and believe while Peter remains in incomplete understanding. This race is not mere physical competition but theological narrative: the first to arrive at resurrection truth is not Peter but the unnamed beloved figure. The narrative builds tension between sight (ephthasan, arrived first) and subsequent seeing (theasamenos, observed).
Church Fathers on John 20:4
The Sabbath being now over, during which it was unlawful to be there, Mary Magdalene could rest no longer, but came very early in the morning, to seek consolation at the grave: The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher.
Mary Magdalene, undoubtedly the most fervent in love, of all the women that ministered to our Lord; so that John deservedly mentions her only, and says nothing of the others who were with her, as we know from the other Evangelists.
Una sabbati, i.e. one day after the sabbath.
Read all 21 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!