The disciple who had« fully assured understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20:2-8.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.


Commentary of the day : Rupert of Deutz
The disciple who had« fully assured understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God » (Col 2,3)

In proportion to that grace that caused Jesus to love him and allowed him to lean on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper (Jn 13,23), John abundantly received understanding and wisdom [gifts of the Spirit] (Is 11,2) – understanding to grasp the Scriptures; wisdom to compose his own books with wonderful skill. In actual fact he did not receive this gift from the exact moment he leaned on the Lord's breast, even if he could afterwards draw from that heart «in which lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge» (Col 2,3). When it says that, on entering the tomb, «he saw and he believed», it recognises that «they did not yet know the Scripture» and that «Jesus had to rise from the dead» (Jn 20,9). Like the other apostles, John received his full measure at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came and when grace was given to each one «according to the measure of Christ's gift» (Eph 4,7)...

Our Lord Jesus loved this disciple more that all the others... and opened the secrets of heaven to him... to make of him the author of that deep mystery of which no one can speak by himself: the mystery of the Word of God, the Word made flesh. However, even if he loved him, yet it was not to him that Jesus said: «You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church» (Mt 16,18)... While loving all his disciples and especially Peter with a love in spirit and soul, our Lord loved John with a heart's love... According to the order of apostolate, Simon Peter was given the first place and «the keys of the kingdom of heaven» (Mt 16,19). But John obtained a different inheritance: the spirit of understanding, «a treasure of joy and gladness « (Sir 15,6).