Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

John 20:8&9

Believe (Strongs G4100) – πιστεύω transliteration pisteuō

As used here, to believe does not mean understand. John admits, he and the other disciples don’t know all mysteries contained within scripture. John accepts what he sees.

The gospel writer felt compelled to describe his reaction to the empty tomb as having belief. Of all the emotions he could have conveyed (shock, excitement) John sees the empty tomb and makes a decision to believe.

Believe almost doesn’t fit. If reading John’s account for excitement and adventure, his word use is anticlimactic. The opposite statement, “I can’t believe my eyes” would be a fitting expression to convey the empty tomb. It would also destroy the entire account.

John’s not writing a ‘whale of a tale.’ He writes a steady account to be shared, reread, and accepted for it’s simple recounting of fact. Jesus told John what would happen, the Old Testament foretold what would happen. John reaches the pinnacle event in human history, one of a few eye witnesses who gets to share it with the rest of the world, and says it’s true.