The followers of Jesus were very confused.  Even though Jesus said
he was going to die and be resurrected, they could not accept that it
would actually happen.  Their culture did not permit them to believe
that the Messiah would be defeated.  After Jesus died, they did not
know what to do.  This passage of scripture marks the beginning of
radical change in their lives.  God is beginning to remove their
confusion and replace it with understanding.

The passage focuses on two of Jesus’ followers, Peter and John.
They ran to the tomb and saw the traditional linen cloths and spices
laying there, but there was no body.  Gradually, the light finally
dawned on John: His master had risen from the dead.  His life was
changed, and your life will be changed if you can understand what he
understood.

The resurrection is important to our faith, because it assures us
that our Savior has conquered sin and death in our behalf.  It is
important to our witness to others, because it allows us to tell the
world that Jesus has proven that he is able to give eternal life.  No
other religion can say this.  It is also important to our hope, since
we know that we will be raised like he was raised.