Reactions to the Ressurection: The Beloved Disciple

Peter and John run to the Grave (1896)
James Tissot

Peter therefore went forth,
and the other disciple,
and they went toward the tomb.
And they ran both together:
and the other disciple outran Peter,
and came first to the tomb;
and stooping and looking in,
he seeth the linen cloths lying;
yet entered he not in.
John 20:3-5 RV

Mary was the first to notice anything different, or unexpected. She tells Peter and "the other disciple, whom Jesus loved" that Jesus has gone from the tomb. The two men run toward the tomb, BD being younger (presumably) runs faster then Peter. He gets to the tomb, and sees the linen cloths. BD is the first to see Jesus is not there. Mary did not look into the tomb, however she knew something was "wrong".

Simon Peter therefore also cometh,
following him,
and entered into the tomb;
and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying,
and the napkin,
that was upon his head,
not lying with the linen cloths,
but rolled up in a place by itself.
John 20:6-7 RV

Peter catches up. BD hasn't entered the the tomb, only stooped and looked. From his vantage point, he can only see the lower have of where Jesus should be. He only see's linen cloth. Once Peter enters the tomb, we find out that the napkin that was placed upon Jesus' head is lying elsewhere, away from the linen cloths. I assume where his head should be, as is noticed when Mary looks in later:

and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting,
one at the head,
and one at the feet,
where the body of Jesus had lain.
John 20:12 RV

For Mary, angels have replaced the linen.

Then entered in therefore the other disciple also,
which came first to the tomb,
and he saw,
and believed.
John 20:1-8 RV

BD enters the tomb. When he sees the whole picture, he believes. He is the first to do so, and without seeing Jesus risen. He knows what has happened. Interestingly, we don't find out what Peter thinks.

For as yet they knew not the scripture,
that he must rise again from the dead.
John 20:9 RV

The fact that this follows BD believing can only make sense if Peter hasn't believed as yet.
When Thomas confessed his faith, Jesus said:

blessed are they that have not seen,
and yet have believed.
John 20:29 RV

This is what has occurred with BD.
He is the example for all future believers.