"The Empty Tomb and the Full Life"

Sermon Title: "The Empty Tomb and the Full Life" Text: Luke 24:1–12 Subject: Resurrection Response Central Idea of the Text (CIT): The women found the tomb empty and were told that Jesus had risen, just as He said. Proposition: Because the tomb is empty, our lives should be full of hope, faith, and purpose. Objective: Hearers will respond to the empty tomb by filling their lives with the risen life of Christ. Main Point of the Sermon (MPS): The resurrection empties the tomb so that Christ can fill our lives.

Introduction

Welcome to a Morning of Worship and A Lifetime of Grace, and not just any Sunday—but Resurrection Sunday!

Imagine walking into the graveyard early in the morning, tears still fresh on your face from Friday’s horror. You're not expecting a miracle—you’re expecting to mourn. But instead of silence, sorrow, and death, you find an open tomb… and angelic words that declare: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!”

That’s the message at the heart of Easter—the tomb is empty!

But here's the question I want us to wrestle with today: If the tomb is empty, why do so many Christians still live empty lives? Empty of hope… Empty of power… Empty of purpose…

We serve a Risen Savior. His tomb is empty so that our lives don’t have to be.

Let’s open God’s Word to Luke 24:1–12, and see how the women at the tomb responded to resurrection power—and how we can do the same.

Holy Week Summary: The Road to the Cross

The week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion began with Palm Sunday, when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, fulfilling prophecy and being praised by crowds shouting “Hosanna!” (Matthew 21:1–11). On Monday, Jesus cleansed the temple, overturning tables and driving out money changers, declaring it should be a house of prayer (Matthew 21:12–17). On Tuesday, He taught in the temple courts, confronted religious leaders, and delivered parables and prophecies, including the Olivet Discourse about the end times (Matthew 24–25).

By Wednesday, plans to arrest Jesus intensified as Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14–16). On Thursday, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples, instituted the Lord’s Supper, washed their feet, and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before being arrested (Luke 22:7–54). In the early hours of Friday, Jesus was tried, falsely accused, beaten, and sentenced to death. He was crucified at Golgotha, died around 3 p.m., and was buried in a borrowed tomb (Matthew 27). But the story doesn’t end there—Sunday was coming.

I. The Tomb Is Empty—So Don’t Live Without Hope

(Luke 24:1–6a)

Explanation: The women went to the tomb carrying spices—not because they expected resurrection, but because they expected decay. But when they got there, they saw the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Two angels asked them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Argumentation: Hope had died with Jesus in their minds. But the resurrection changes everything. The empty tomb was the first sign that what Jesus promised wasn’t just poetic—it was powerful. Jesus wasn’t dead and gone, He was alive and near.

Application: Christian, you don’t have to live with a dead-end mindset. The tomb is empty. That means despair is temporary. Suffering is not final. Loss is not the end. Resurrection means restoration is possible.

Illustration: Corrie ten Boom, who survived the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp, once said: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” That’s what the empty tomb declares—hope is alive!

II. The Tomb Is Empty—So Don’t Live Without Faith

(Luke 24:6b–8)

Explanation: The angels reminded them, “Remember how He told you…” In other words, they already had the truth—they just hadn’t believed it fully. The resurrection calls us to take Jesus at His word.

Argumentation: Faith isn't about understanding everything—it’s about trusting the One who has already proven He can overcome death. Faith grows when we remember what Jesus has said and done.

Application: How many of us live spiritually anxious lives because we forget what Jesus promised? He said: “I am the resurrection and the life.” He said: “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart—I have overcome the world.”

The resurrection demands more than admiration—it demands faith.

Illustration: A tightrope walker once crossed Niagara Falls while pushing a wheelbarrow. He asked the crowd, “Do you believe I can do it again with someone in the wheelbarrow?” They all shouted yes. Then he asked, “Who will get in?” Silence. Belief isn’t just cheering—faith is getting in the wheelbarrow. That’s what resurrection faith looks like.

III. The Tomb Is Empty—So Don’t Live Without Purpose

(Luke 24:9–12)

Explanation: The women didn’t stay at the tomb—they ran to tell the others. The resurrection gave them a new mission. Even though the disciples doubted, Peter ran to see for himself. The news was too big to ignore.

Argumentation: The resurrection isn't just a story we remember—it’s a truth we proclaim. We were not saved to be silent. The empty tomb sends us out with full hearts and a clear purpose.

Application: Have you told anyone lately that Jesus is alive? Have you lived this week like Jesus truly rose from the grave?

You weren’t raised to new life just to coast through life—you were called to be a witness. Don’t live an “empty” Christianity where you go through the motions but forget the mission.

Illustration: Dwight L. Moody once said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” The resurrection isn’t just about what happened back then—it’s about what happens in us now.

Conclusion

The tomb is empty. Hope is alive. Faith has a foundation. Purpose has a pulse.

But if we’re not careful, we’ll celebrate the empty tomb and still go back to living empty lives.

Let me ask you today—what part of your life still feels empty?

Is it your heart? Your joy? Your trust? Your purpose?

The good news of Easter is that the same Jesus who conquered death can fill every empty space in your soul.

You don’t have to stay in the graveyard. You don’t have to carry around spices for a dead hope. The tomb is empty. And that means you don’t have to be.

Closing Challenge

On this Easter Sunday, I challenge you to pray three simple words:

“Fill me, Lord.” Fill me with resurrection hope. Fill me with bold faith. Fill me with holy purpose.

Don’t let this be just another holiday. Let it be your personal resurrection day.