Then the disciples went back to their homes. John 20:10
This is a stunning statement. Not on its face, but because of where it appears in the narrative. The disciples are Peter and John. They have just been to the tomb and found it empty.
And they went back home.
They saw with their own eyes physical evidence that what Jesus told them was true. He did, in fact, rise from the dead on the third day. They investigated the scene and everything made sense. They confirmed it and were confident in their conclusions.
And they went back home.
Even the shepherds who saw the newborn Jesus marveled at what they had seen and told everybody. Peter and John went home. That conveys that the experience was less thrilling than a basketball game, closer maybe to a fast food dinner.
Maybe it’s just not recorded that Peter and John were so overwhelmed by the experience they had to go lie down or something. Or maybe John didn’t want to focus too much attention on himself.
Or maybe John recorded exactly what happened, and immediately after verifying the tomb was empty … they just went back home.
Here’s the thing. We are even less impressed than Peter and John. We have the very words of God Himself, but it’s often a chore to read and study. We have access to the Maker of Heaven and Earth, but carving out time for prayer is tough. We are called to meet Him but worship is boring.
Every single day we are confronted with evidence of a risen savior at work in our lives. We benefit from His grace and presence and blessings and promises, but our days are mundane and lifeless. Maybe we’re so familiar with the story it doesn’t even register anymore. Maybe we don’t grasp what we’ve been saved from. Maybe we don’t realize why we needed salvation in the first place. Maybe we’re introverts.
Or maybe we’ve read on to Acts 4 where Peter and John are imprisoned and beaten for proclaiming that Jesus Christ raised from the dead to prove our sins could be forgiven and eternal life was possible, and we decided to keep quiet.
And just go back home.