The message of Easter is the best news you’ll ever hear. Because He rose, we too can live forever! (11:25-26). But how can we be sure that Jesus really did conquer the grave? Is it just a matter of blind faith? No, as John 20 shows us, Biblical faith is not a blind leap in the dark despite the evidence. Biblical faith is a reasonable step into the light because of the evidence. Mary assumes the tomb has been vandalized when she sees the stone rolled away on Sunday morning. Peter and John run to check it out for themselves. And what do they discover? The tomb is empty!—almost. The body is gone, but the grave clothes are still there. And the cloth used to cover Jesus’ head is folded and neatly set aside. It’s all so strange. Where is the body? If someone has stolen it, why would they leave all this expensive linen behind to drag a naked body out of the tomb with limbs dangling? Before He even sees the risen Christ, John comes to faith because of the almost-empty tomb (v 1-10). The evidence gets much stronger when Mary returns to the tomb alone. She doesn’t notice the grave clothes because she sees two angels inside. At first she thinks she’s talking to the gardeners, and she doesn’t even recognize Jesus when He appears. But the Savior puts a sudden end to all her sorrow and confusion with one simple word: “Mary.” As soon as she hears Him say her name, she falls at His feet to express her love and devotion. In the first century, women weren’t eligible to testify in a Jewish court of law. But Mary, who first discovered the empty tomb with the other women, is also first to see the risen Christ. It’s a powerful argument for the historical accuracy of the New Testament. If the resurrection story was made up to mislead people, surely women would not have been used as the first eyewitnesses (v 11-18). Jesus makes another appearance that same evening as His followers are hiding in fear. Seeing His hands and side, they know this is no mere spirit. Jesus has a physical body—recognizable, yet able to pass through grave clothes and locked doors to simply materialize! Twice this timid group is given a blessing of peace as they are sent forth to carry out Jesus’ mission, empowered by the coming Holy Spirit. Those who believe their message will receive forgiveness of sins on the basis of Christ’s own word (v 19-23). Like the other disciples, Thomas was given a rare privilege to see the risen Lord. Yet it was for our benefit as well as their own. For even today—though we have not seen Jesus—as we believe their written testimony, we too are blessed to have “life in His name” (v 24-31). For further meditation: