They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
Love made John run as quickly as he was able. It was love like that of Mary Magdalene who was simply unable to abandon Jesus even after all hope was apparently lost. He was a disciple who understood that he was loved by Jesus in a way that was both unique and comprehensive. But this knowledge did not lead him to become puffed up with pride. Rather he still demonstrated the deference due to Peter in virtue of his role as leader by waiting for him to enter the tomb first.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
From what he saw in the tomb he began to believe. He began to entertain the idea of a hope so unexpected that moments ago it would have seemed impossible. Could he at that moment fully explain and articulate that hope? Most likely not. His believe was likely still inchoate, more a concession to the accuracy of what Mary Magdalene described than a full belief in the resurrection. And yet in a very real way this was the moment when hopelessness no longer held full sway in his heart. Looking forward from that moment there was much he did not yet understand, since "they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead" (see John 20:9). But looking back later in the light of the his resurrection encounter with Jesus himself John would recognize in this moment at the tomb the beginnings of belief.
Seemingly not even Apostles had faith that was immediately fully formed and perfect. So if we do not find such faith in others or even in ourselves we may be comforted to know that it really is typically a process. And it is a process in which our own investigation, while important, is secondary to the desire of the risen Christ to have an encounter with us. But this desire of Jesus to reveal himself to us is meant to create in us a corresponding desire that others share in that same experience. We can come to understand most seekers search in a way that is confused and tentative. But we can allow Jesus to work through us to draw them into full encounter with him. This was in fact what John did. After his own encounter with the risen Lord he wrote his Gospel for the stated reason "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (see John 20:31). In our first reading from his first epistle we see this same desire to impart to others the resurrection faith that was now so firmly etched in his own heart.
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we looked upon
and touched with our hands
concerns the Word of life
In order for John the Evangelist to have experience the full promise of joy that the resurrection of Jesus was meant to impart he could not help but try to share that faith and that joy with others. May it be so for us as well.
Be glad in the LORD, you just,
and give thanks to his holy name.
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