He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

John hesitates to go into the tomb, only going as far as Mary Magdalene. Henry notes that “many are swift to run religion’s race that are not stout to fight her battles.” John’s courage ended at the entrance to the tomb. He does stoop to look inside, however, painting a picture for us of humbly bowing to God’s authority in order to become able to receive divine revelation.