He saw, and Believed

John's succinct comment on the beloved disciple's (John himself?) response to the empty tomb (John 20.8). I find the comment fascinating. Obviously, when the disciple witnessed the empty tomb everything that he had seen, witnessed, and heard from Christ came rushing back and he understood; he perceived; he believed.

The beloved disciple is the only one in the gospels who is described as believing at the sight of the empty tomb (although it appears to be implied that Peter also believed at that point). Everyone else would need to understand the empty tomb AND see the risen Christ. As one commentator put it: "The beloved disciple, however, is here viewed as the model for the church."