What does John 20:4 mean?

Explanation

John 20:4 falls within the account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament of the Bible.

The verse describes a foot race between two of Jesus' disciples, referred to here as "the other disciple" and Peter.

The phrase "the other disciple" traditionally refers to John, the writer of the Gospel, although he never names himself explicitly in the text. These two men are running toward the empty tomb after Mary Magdalene informed them that the body of Jesus was missing.

On a literal level, the verse is simple: both men started running together, but John ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first.

On a deeper level, this verse can suggest the eagerness and urgency of the disciples to verify the startling news of Jesus' body being missing from the tomb.

It also introduces a sense of human emotion, curiosity, and perhaps even friendly competition among the disciples.

Historical Context

The historical context of John 20:4 is in ancient Jerusalem around the time after Jesus Christ's crucifixion, which historians date around 30-33 A.D.

During this period, there was a strong expectation among Jesus' followers that He would be the Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman occupation.

However, this expectation did not include the notion of a suffering and dying Messiah, which left the disciples disoriented and grief-stricken after Jesus' death.

The Gospel according to John was written in a period when the early Christian community was reflecting on the meaning of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. The purpose was to attest to Jesus as the Son of God and to encourage belief in Him as Lord and Savior.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the fact that John reached the tomb first but waited for Peter can symbolize various things.

In Catholic tradition, Peter is seen as having primacy among the apostles, and John's act of waiting could be viewed as a sign of respect for Peter's apostolic authority.

Conversely, some theological interpretations suggest that this illustrates John's humility and deference despite his closeness with Jesus.

Furthermore, the event highlights the theme of belief and seeing; John sees the empty tomb and believes, anticipating the later understanding that Jesus has risen, even though he does not encounter the risen Christ at this moment.

Practical Applications

This verse can be applied in daily life to emphasize the importance of eagerness and urgency in our spiritual journeys. It encourages believers to actively seek and respond to spiritual revelations or truths.

Additionally, it could exemplify humility in deference to others, as John yielded to Peter despite arriving first.

Cross-References

• Luke 24:12 - "Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass."
• John 20:3 - "Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre."
• John 20:8 - "Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "outran" is "proedramen," from "protrecho," which means "to run ahead" or "to run faster." The phrase "to the sepulchre" is translated from "eis to mnemeion," with "mnemeion" indicating a tomb or a memorial place.

This language study reinforces the straightforward reading that John simply ran faster and arrived before Peter.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, in other ancient cultures, foot races were common and often had significant meanings, such as in the Greek Olympic Games.

In religious texts, however, foot races are less common and generally not used metaphorically or analogically as in other myths or religious stories.

In this context, the foot race emphasizes the historical and emotionally charged response to an unprecedented event rather than aligning with a particular religious trope.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse in question doesn't directly interact with modern scientific understandings as it describes a simple physical act - running.

However, the mention of a foot race might interest those in the field of kinesiology or physiology, as it demonstrates a natural human response to urgency and stress, which could be linked to fight or flight responses studied in these fields.

Commentaries

Various Biblical commentators have provided insights into John 20:4.

Matthew Henry, for instance, emphasizes the idea of the disciples' love and strong affection, which propelled them to the tomb.

He sees significance in the detail of who arrived first as showing the differing responses and personalities of the disciples.

Another commentator, William Barclay, suggests that the contrasting speed in running might reflect the different ages of Peter and John, considering John's youth.

John Calvin notes the symbolism of John arriving first but not entering, indicating reverence and, perhaps, that Peter's role was to lead the way into the tomb.