Did Peter and John expect Jesus to rise from the dead before seeing the empty tomb?
No, they did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead before seeing the empty tomb. As yet they knew not the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. They had no idea He was going to rise from the dead until they saw the proof of it.
Les explains that when Peter and John saw the evidence at the empty tomb, they saw and believed, but verse 9 clarifies that as yet they—the twelve, and Peter and John in particular—knew not the Scripture that He must rise again from the dead. They had no idea He was going to rise from the dead until they saw the proof of it. Les then turns to Mary Magdalene, who saw the empty tomb and assumed someone had taken the Lord. Even when Jesus appeared, she supposed Him to be the gardener until He called her by name. He told her not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father, and sent her to the brethren with the message that He ascends to His Father and their Father, His God and their God.
More Questions
Did Peter and John know from Scripture that Jesus would rise from the dead when they found the empty tomb?
At the empty tomb, Peter and John believed Jesus had risen even though they did not yet know the Scripture that He must rise from the dead.
Did the disciples know Jesus would rise from the dead when they went to the tomb on resurrection morning?
Even after Jesus' crucifixion, on the resurrection morning at the empty tomb, the disciples still did not know what Scripture taught—that Jesus must rise from the dead (John 20:9).
Did the disciples know before the resurrection that Jesus would rise from the dead?
Even after Jesus had been put to death, the disciples still did not know the Scripture that He must rise from the dead; John 20:9 says this plainly.