The Empty Tomb

Open your bibles with me to Matthew 28

Today, as we celebrate Easter, we’re starting a new four-part series called DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES!

Today’s celebration isn’t just about an important day, it is about THE most important day in the history of the world.

THE ENTIRETY OF OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST HINGES ON HIS RESURRECTION.

If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead…

Christmas doesn’t matter.

The miracles he worked don’t matter.

His death on the cross doesn’t matter.

The last 2000 years of the faithful seeking him don’t matter and we are wasting our time here today.

Paul says it like this in 1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:14–19 CSB

and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

This series is named Dead Men Tell No Tales because that is the reality we must consider.

There is no hope in dead things.

Ben Franklin said that three men can keep a secret if two of them are dead.

Dead men don’t testify. Dead men don’t bear witness.

We are not here today to talk about a dead man. We are here to talk about One who lives,

One who claims He can free us from sin and death

One who promises us eternal life if we follow Him

The Jews murdered this man to shut Him up.

And yet more than 2000 years later, we’re still talking about Him.

And over the next four weeks we are going to talk about why you can have confidence in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We are going to look at several encounters people had with Jesus after His resurrection and consider the proofs of His resurrection that they offer.

This morning, we start with the events of Easter Morning.

Matthew 28:1–15 CSB

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men. The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.” So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news. Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.” As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

Pray, invite the people to sit.

The events of Easter morning are recorded in John 20, Luke 24, Mark 16, and here in Matthew 28

Each account is a little different, but that points us to the eyewitness nature of the events because they really happened. They don’t contradict each other, they just give different viewpoints on the same events. Still, there are key points that everyone agrees on, and many of them are proofs we will look at this morning.

Look at verse 1 with me:

Matthew 28:1–6 CSB

After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men. The angel told the women, “Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

The first proof that I want you to consider this morning is the Empty Tomb because:

The Empty Tomb: Because tombs are not for the living.

These women were traveling to a real tomb

It had been closed with a heavy stone and sealed three days earlier according to Matthew 27, by the Jews who were afraid of claims of His resurrection.

The tomb was in a garden and belonged to a man named Joseph of Arimathea.

The same Jews that sealed the tomb also put a division of Roman soldiers there to guard it.

They were headed to the tomb to mourn.

There was no expectation of resurrection.

In fact, John tells us that when Jesus greets Mary in the garden, she doesn’t recognize His voice at first because she expects Him to be dead.

There is no doubt that Jesus had died on the cross

The crucifixion happened on a Friday, and as such it was common practice for the Romans would break the legs of the crucified in the late afternoon to speed up the process of them dying so that the Jews could observe the Sabbath, which started at sundown.

Mark tells us that the Roman’s didn’t break his legs to quicken His death for the Sabbath because He was already dead.

To ensure He was dead, they pierced His side with a spear and blood and water poured out separately, which can only happen in death.

Jesus really died and He was really buried.

This kills the theory of some who try to discredit the resurrection by saying that He wasn’t really dead.

No one was deceiving us.

So picture with me this event:

You are a Roman soldier.

Your unit has been assigned to guard the tomb of a dead man.

This tomb you are guarding has a couple of pesky women coming towards it in the early morning.

All of a sudden an Angel appears from heaven.

There is a massive earthquake caused by the angel as he breaks the seal; and rolls the stone away from its entrance.

The angel then lands and takes a seat on the top of that stone.

You are a trained, fierce, feared Roman soldier.

And what is your reaction? TO SHAKE WITH FEAR AND TO TURN PALE LIKE DEATH.

THERE IS NO WAY THAT THESE WOMEN COULD HAVE DONE THIS.

They couldn’t have overpowered the soldiers, even if they’d had the help of the other disciples.

They couldn’t have broken the seal.

They couldn’t have moved the stone.

They couldn’t have caused an earthquake.

And Do you note what the angel says?

He doesn’t say “here he comes”

He says “Come and see the place where He lay!

THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY-NOT SO THAT JESUS COULD GET OUT BUT SO THAT WE COULD SEE IN!

The resurrection happened in a way only God could do it.

Only God commands angels

Only God controls earthquakes

Only God could have opened the tomb and left soldiers shaking in their armor without harming a single one.

And Only God could bring a dead man back to life, bringing Him out of a sealed tomb without ever opening it.

There was a real tomb and where a really dead Jesus lay. But when He rose, that tomb was opened in a way that only God could open it.

And the angel proclaims: I know who you’re looking for, but Jesus isn’t here! His tomb is empty, come and see for yourself!

Luke puts it a little differently. Listen to his version of what the angel said.

Luke 24:5 CSB

So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men.

Let’s continue, with our passage verse 7:

Matthew 28:7–8 CSB

Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.” So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.

For the second proof this morning, I would point you to

The Witnesses: An unlikely message from unlikely messengers.

Stay with me for a moment:

If you were a group of first century Jews trying to make up a story about a resurrection, you wouldn’t start the story by making your witnesses women

Women were not considered acceptable witnesses in case of law.

You had a literal house full of men to choose from if you wanted it to sound better.

You also wouldn’t have left any soldiers around to tell a tale, which we’ll get to in a moment.

The fact that this message came from a heavenly messenger to a couple of women actually points to it being authentic!

Further, the angel sends the women to tell the disciples:

The disciples were up in the upper room hiding.

They left these women to make the trek to the tomb by themselves!

But look at the reaction the women had: They were filled with both fear and great joy!

Fear:

They were in the presence of an angel!

Jesus’ body was gone and they weren’t sure what was happening

There was an earthquake and the stone was rolled away.

An entire division of Roman soldiers was left shaking in their armor.

Great joy:

Jesus is alive!

They saw an angel!

The wanted to tell everyone

These are not the reactions of someone in a planned controversy.

We can believe in the resurrection because of the empty tomb, and these unlikely witnesses,

And just like them, we can’t keep the resurrection to ourselves.

The joy of our salvation should spill into every aspect of our lives.

And also like them, we are commanded by Jesus to share Him with others.

Let’s continue:

Matthew 28:9–10 CSB

Just then Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They came up, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

If it wasn’t enough for these ladies to encounter an angel and be commanded to share the Good News of the resurrection, now, the command comes from the Lord Himself, and as it comes we encounter our third proof of the morning:

The Living Lord: A Personal Encounter

What greater proof could we ask for than the personal encounter of these women.

It was one thing for the angel to tell them that Jesus had risen, but it was another thing entirely to encounter Jesus Himself.

Imagine that you were one of the disciples in the upper room when these ladies returned. Now, imagine hearing each of these two testimonies:

Did you guys feel the earthquake! We were at the tomb when it happened. It terrified the guards because it was caused by an angel who came down from heaven and opened the tomb. He told us that Jesus had risen from the dead and that we should come tell you.

OR

Did you guys feel the earthquake? We were at the tomb when it happened. It terrified the guards because it was caused by an angel who came down from heaven and opened the tomb. He told us that the Lord Jesus had risen. We were on our way to come tell you when we saw the Lord with our own eyes. We clung to His feet, and He told us that we should travel to Galilee and that He would meet us there.

Which of these testimonies sounds more convincing?

Of course! The one including the personal experience with the Lord

Jesus appears to these women Himself and it changes everything.

He calms their fears and they are left with nothing but joy.

They fall to His feet in worship, the only right response when encountering Jesus.

Jesus confirms the command to go tell others about His resurrection.

And on this Easter Sunday, don’t you know that this is our command as well!

If you are a follower of Jesus, you also have had a personal encounter with the Lord.

There was a moment when He came into your life and you will never be the same because of it.

We must tell others about the Empty tomb and our hope for resurrection.

We must tell others of the many witnesses we will talk about throughout this series.

But we must also share our stories about our encounters with the Risen Savior, because your story holds the power of God, just like this one!

Let’s continue- Verse 11

Matthew 28:11–15 CSB

As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’ If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.” They took the money and did as they were instructed, and this story has been spread among Jewish people to this day.

Our final proof to consider this morning is this:

A Cover-up: that Confirms the Truth.

I am not usually a conspiracy theorist, but even if we didn’t have these verses, this story would seem suspicious to me.

The very smallest unit of Roman soldiers was 10. There were likely more than 10 at this tomb because of the fear of the Jews.

According to Roman Law, soldiers that were charged with defending a sealed place who failed to defend it were to be executed.

Yet, somehow, this cover story comes out:

All the soldiers fell asleep.

These fishermen, tax collectors, and farm boys snuck in, broke the seal, moved the stone, stole the body, put the stone back, and re-sealed it with an imperial seal, all without waking the guards.

AND, the soldiers went willingly to report this dereliction of duty.

Right…

This is clearly a cover-up story, even if you didn’t have the confirmation of witnesses who tell us that it’s a cover story.

The only question is why do you need a cover story unless there is something to cover up.

And what this points us to is the truth.

We celebrate Easter because Jesus really rose from the grave.

The tomb was empty, and no one could produce the body.

Eyewitnesses encountered Jesus in this passage and repeatedly throughout the rest of our series.

Hostile witnesses (like guards and religious leaders) inadvertently confirm it.

We are going to see the disciples transformed from fear to fearless proclaimers.

And let me leave you with this: The message spread in the face of persecution—Every one of the disciples die for their faith-who dies for a lie they made up?

This morning, you have been given every reason to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we will continue to explore more proofs of it in the weeks to come. My only question for you this morning is do you believe it?

The worship team is going to come lead us in a song.

Please use this time to reflect on the evidence of the resurrection this morning and choose to put your faith in Jesus, the only One who defeated death for you.

Pray

Song, then

If today, you have decided to follow Jesus, I would love the chance to celebrate that with you and to help you get started in your new life with Him. Come and see me after the service, or connect with me through the qr code on the back of your chair and lets meet for coffee to talk about what God is doing in you.

Pray