John 20:3 Commentary and Bible Study

There was great urgency and they ran. Why did they run? They didn’t expect a resurrection but perhaps it was out of fear. They wanted to get there as fast as they could. What was going on here? They might be next! Christ has been crucified, the authorities had taken note of the disciples. It may be time for them to flee. We read later about them being assembled ‘for fear of the Jews’. And they might expect action to be taken against them.‘They ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter’ – John, the inspired author of this Gospel. He was the younger man. We think he was about 22. By several years he was younger than Peter. Why does he say that he outran Peter? What a small detail, why would be say that? Well of course it fits the narrative as it proceeds, but this is all under the inspiration of the Spirit. And we are not being told who was the faster of the two; we are being given this indication that this is an eye witness account, so details are introduced which would only be known to the person who was there of course.