40 DAYS EASTER TO ASCENSION
4th APRIL 2024
JOHN 20: 3,4 “So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.”
This painting by Eugène Burnand, titled ‘Peter and John walk to the tomb on the morning of the Resurrection’, offers an intimate look at the emotions of Peter and John on the morning of the resurrection. The hurried trot of Peter and John, captured in the painting, reflects their intense desire and excitement to discover what happened to Jesus’ tomb. The tension is palpable in the air, as they walk determinedly towards the grave.
Their hasty trot towards the grave reflects a mixture of feelings – haste, fear, hope, and longing. John, wrapped in a white cloak, appears to be praying with his hands clasped together, begging for confirmation of the truth. Peter, on the other hand, walks beside him, his gaze full of bewilderment and confusion, but also piercing with longing and hope. His hand rests heavily on his heart, burdened with remorse as a result of his recent denial of Jesus.
PRAYER: Dear God, our hearts are full of emotions, just like those of Peter and John on that historic morning. We feel rushed, anxious, hopeful, and long for confirmation of Your living presence in our lives. Just like Peter, we sometimes feel the burden of our mistakes and failures and beg for forgiveness and restoration. But above all we long for the truth of Your resurrection, that You live and are with us, even in the deepest doubt and fear. Help us to continue to trust and cherish hope, as Peter and John did on that memorable morning. Amen.