Hope Rises: The Power of the Empty Tomb

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Luke 24:1–12 ESV

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Big Idea: Jesus’ resurrection gives believers the strength to overcome challenges, turning doubt into faith and despair into hope.

Introduction

Begin with a relatable hook: Imagine arriving at a place where you expect finality—perhaps a hospital room, a courtroom, or even a grave—only to find the unexpected: life where death was certain. That’s what the women encountered at Jesus’ tomb in Luke 24:1-12. Their discovery of the empty tomb shattered their grief and ignited a hope that still transforms lives today. This passage reveals the power of the Risen Savior, who turns despair into hope, doubt into faith, and death into life.

Context:

In first-century Judea, resurrection was a debated concept. Pharisees believed in a future resurrection, while Sadducees denied it (Acts 23:8). For Jews, any claim of resurrection carried massive theological weight, pointing to God’s ultimate victory. Luke 24:1-12 captures the pivotal moment when Jesus’ resurrection upended expectations, fulfilling Old Testament promises (e.g., Ps. 16:10; Isa. 53:10-11) and proving He is the Messiah.

Acts 23:8 ESV

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.

Isaiah 53:10–11 ESV

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

Psalm 16:10 ESV

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

1. Discovery at the Tomb (Luke 24:1-3)

Exegesis:

The women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others, v. 10) demonstrate devotion, arriving at dawn to anoint Jesus’ body—a task rooted in Jewish burial customs. Their act reflects love but also an expectation of finality.

- The rolled-away stone and empty tomb disrupt their assumptions. In Jewish tombs, a large stone (often requiring several men to move) sealed the entrance. Its removal signals divine intervention (cf. Matt. 28:2).

Matthew 28:2 ESV

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.

- The absence of Jesus’ body creates a crisis: where is He? Luke emphasizes “they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus,” highlighting the physical reality of the resurrection. This isn’t a spiritual metaphor but a historical event.

- Text-Critical Note: Some manuscripts add “of the Lord Jesus” to clarify the body’s identity, but the shorter reading is well-attested (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus). The meaning remains unchanged.

Sermon Point:

The empty tomb upends our expectations. Like the women, we often approach life’s challenges—grief, failure, or despair—expecting finality. But the Risen Savior brings hope where we see none. The resurrection declares that God’s power transforms our dead ends into new beginnings.

Share a story of someone facing a seemingly hopeless situation (e.g., a terminal diagnosis or financial ruin) who found unexpected hope through faith. Connect this to the women’s shock, inviting listeners to bring their “tombs” to Jesus.

Application:

Encourage listeners to identify areas where they feel stuck. The resurrection invites us to trust that God can roll away the stones of despair, revealing His power in our lives.

2. Doubt Transformed to Faith (Luke 24:4-7)

Exegesis:

- The women’s “perplexity” (Greek: *aporoumenai*, bewildered) reflects their struggle to process the empty tomb. This human response grounds the narrative in relatable emotion.

- The “two men in dazzling apparel” are angels (cf. Acts 1:10), their appearance signaling divine authority. Their question, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” is both a gentle rebuke and a proclamation. Jesus is not a corpse but the Living One (Rev. 1:18).

Revelation 1:18 ESV

and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Acts 1:10 ESV

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,

- The angels’ command to “remember” points to Jesus’ predictions (Luke 9:22; 18:31-33). This isn’t new information but a call to trust Jesus’ words. The resurrection fulfills His promise, proving His authority over life and death.

Luke 9:22 ESV

saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Luke 18:31–33 ESV

And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.”

- Cultural Insight: In Jewish thought, resurrection signified God’s vindication of the righteous (Dan. 12:2). The angels’ message frames Jesus’ resurrection as God’s victory over sin and death, fulfilling messianic hopes.

Daniel 12:2 ESV

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

- Harmonizing Gospels: Luke’s “two men” align with Matthew’s “angel” (Matt. 28:2-5) and Mark’s “young man” (Mark 16:5). Differences in details reflect eyewitness perspectives, not contradictions, emphasizing the event’s historicity.

Mark 16:5 ESV

And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

Matthew 28:2–5 ESV

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

Sermon Point:

The resurrection transforms doubt into faith by reminding us of Jesus’ promises. Like the women, we may face moments of confusion or fear, but God’s Word anchors us. The angels’ message invites us to trust that Jesus is alive and His promises are true.

Recall a time when a promise (e.g., a parent’s assurance or a mentor’s encouragement) dispelled your doubts. Connect this to how Jesus’ resurrection fulfills God’s promises, turning our uncertainty into confidence.

Application:

Urge listeners to recall God’s promises (e.g., Rom. 8:28; John 16:33) when doubt creeps in. Memorizing Scripture equips us to face life’s uncertainties with resurrection-powered faith.

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

3. Disbelief to Conviction (Luke 24:8-12)

Exegesis:

- The women’s remembrance leads to action: they become the first evangelists, sharing the resurrection news. Their role is remarkable in a culture where women’s testimony was often undervalued (cf. Josephus, *Antiquities* 4.8.15). God chooses the marginalized to proclaim His victory.

- The disciples’ skepticism (“an idle tale,” Greek: *lēros*, nonsense) reflects human resistance to the miraculous. In first-century Judaism, resurrection was expected at the end of history, not midstream (cf. John 11:24). Their disbelief underscores the radical nature of Jesus’ resurrection.

John 11:24 ESV

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

- Peter’s response is a turning point. His running to the tomb and “marveling” (Greek: *thaumazōn*, wondering) mark the beginning of conviction. The “linen cloths by themselves” suggest an orderly departure, not theft (cf. John 20:6-7). Peter’s reaction foreshadows the disciples’ eventual transformation (Acts 2).

John 20:6–7 ESV

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

- Theological Insight: The resurrection bridges Old Testament promises (e.g., Hos. 6:2) and New Testament hope. Paul later unpacks its implications: it guarantees our justification (Rom. 4:25), empowers holy living (Rom. 6:4), and assures our future resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-22).

Hosea 6:2 ESV

After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

Romans 4:25 ESV

who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Romans 6:4 ESV

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Sermon Point:

The resurrection moves us from disbelief to conviction, empowering bold faith. Like Peter, we may start with doubts, but encountering the Risen Savior transforms us. The empty tomb calls us to live with resurrection power, sharing hope with a skeptical world.

Share a testimony of someone whose doubts gave way to faith (e.g., a skeptic who encountered Christ). Highlight how Peter’s journey from denial (Luke 22:54-62) to marveling mirrors our potential for transformation.

Application:

Challenge listeners to examine their doubts. Like Peter, they can investigate Jesus’ claims (e.g., through Scripture or prayer) and step into conviction. Encourage them to share the resurrection’s hope with others, living boldly as witnesses.

Conclusion

Restate Big Idea:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives believers the power to overcome struggles, transforming doubt into faith and despair into hope.

Christ Connection:

Luke 24:1-12 points to Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture anticipates a Savior who defeats sin and death (Gen. 3:15; Isa. 25:8; 1 Cor. 15:54). Jesus’ resurrection confirms He is the Messiah, offering forgiveness, new life, and eternal hope to all who trust Him.

Genesis 3:15 ESV

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Isaiah 25:8 ESV

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

1 Corinthians 15:54 ESV

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Call to Action:

Invite listeners to embrace the Risen Savior’s power today. If they’re struggling with despair, doubt, or sin, urge them to bring it to Jesus, trusting His victory. Encourage believers to live boldly—serving, sharing, and walking in resurrection power. Close with a prayer for renewed faith and hope.

End with a vivid image: a seedling breaking through cracked earth, symbolizing life emerging from death. Jesus’ resurrection is our breakthrough, empowering us to rise victorious in Him.