The Power of the Empty Tomb

Bible Passage: Matthew 28:1–9

Intro: Matthew 28:1–9 takes us right into one of the most powerful moments in all of Scripture: two women, walking in sorrow to a tomb they expect to be sealed and silent, suddenly find everything turned upside down. They come expecting death, but instead they encounter an empty tomb, an angel, and the announcement that changes everything: “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.”

For Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, this moment wasn’t abstract theology; it was personal, disruptive, and transforming. Their world had been shaken by the crucifixion—the One who had shown them God’s love, their Messiah, had truly died. They approached the grave devastated, only to be met by the shocking, supernatural reality of the resurrection.

Today, we’re looking at this passage not as a distant story, but as the living foundation of our faith. The resurrection of Jesus is not just God’s victory over death in the past; it is the power that transforms our fear, redefines our identity, and sends us out on mission in the present. From this text, we’ll see three truths that flow from the news that Jesus is alive:

1. Fear Replaced by Faith

2. From Witness to Mission

3. Encountering Risen Joy

My prayer is that as we walk with these women to the tomb, hear the angel’s words, and watch their response, we too would move from fear to faith, from mere observers to witnesses on mission, and from sorrow to a deep, unshakable joy in the risen Christ.

Three Truths from the news the Jesus is alive.

1. Fear Replaced By Faith

Matthew 28:1-4

Mary and Mary approached in sorrow- (vs1)

It was very real that Jesus had died. Their messiah, the one who had shown them God’s great love.

Their lives were shaken.

Sorrow-

How does Jesus meet us in our sorrow.

Sometimes we can think we are just to be happy all the time.

God doesn’t give us joy instead of sorrow, or joy in spite of sorrow, but joy in the midst of sorrow. It is not substitution but transformation.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Transformation is a work of Jesus.

That is what is taking place here a mighty transformation of the realty of Jesus resurrection.

(Fear) -earthquake- Angel of heaven, rolled the stone away. clothes and to see the guards respond in fear that they were dead. (vs 2-4)

It must have been frightening- there approach to the grave of Jesus is not what they expected.

They expected to show honor and grief, they are now seeing a supernatural work of God- the fulfillment of the truth.

Today we celebrate the Risen Christ- I believe it is always a good thing that on daily we ask ourselves do I believe that Christ is risen from the dead as a fulfillment of the great work of God.

It transformed the lives of the disciples- the scattered to the ones who wold spread the Gospel- with perseverance.

Perhaps the transformation of the disciples of Jesus is the greatest evidence of all for the resurrection.

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher); Robert J. Morgan

As we read this story this fear that we can all relate to is turned to faith.

They all began at fear, then the good news is the angel had words for them.

2. From Witness To Mission

Matthew 28:5-7

(Core of the Message)

Do not be afraid- deals with their present situation.

I know who you seek- divine understanding of what has taken place.

Friday- the crucifixion

Jesus is tried- no fault found- people seek his death- horrible beaten and bloodied and pierced

Isaiah 53:5 “5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”

This was not the end- of it it was we are the saddest people on earth!

Without the resurrection, there is no reason to suppose that Jesus’ crucifixion dealt with sins, or with sin. But, with the resurrection, the divine victory over sin(s), and hence over death, is assured.

N. T. Wright

Wonderful words from the Angel- Powerful Theology

He is not here, He is Risen, Come and See (vs 6)

What a great truth we all must believe today. Foundation for our faith

(1) He is not here!-

If Christ was still in the grave then there is no power over death

Death could not hold Him in the grave- changes our view on death for the believer

Acts 2:24 “24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.”

Your sins have been paid for-

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 “20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.”

(2) He is Risen

Declared to have power as the Son of God

Romans 1:4 “4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,”

Power is the great vindicator of those who sought His death

For the believer it secured our standing before God

Romans 4:25 “25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”

Justification - we were unable to deal with our own sin- Christ was able. Right standing before God

Justification is God’s act of remitting the sins of guilty men, and accounting them righteous, freely, by his grace, through faith in Christ, on the ground, not of their own works, but of the representative lawkeeping and redemptive blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus Christ on their behalf.

J. I. Packer

Intercession for us-

Hebrews 7:25 “25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

You are made right with God, you are now able to draw near and be saved. Christ has done this all!

(3) Come and See

Faith to witness.

I think a lot of us have heard about Jesus.

Is hearing enough?

It leads you somewhere.

What is the women stopped at just hearing.

A foundation to our walk with Jesus is to come and see.

Psalm 34:8 “8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

Faith. - where to we God to taste and see- He is present everywhere all we are to do is ask and take refuge- surrender (let go)

The resurrected Christ is relational.

We have the action of what it to take place because of the Risen Savior tell others and meet Jesus there!

Mission- tell the guys what has happened- Jesus wants them to know.

They were fearful and downcast as well

He would meet the women there-

3. Encountering Risen Joy

Matthew 28:8-9

The response- a wonderful marker of a believer- faith

Hebrews 11:6 “6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

We can learn how you and I are to respond to resurrection Sunday

(1) Quickly- they didn't need a lecture on anything- today is a day where we are reminded of the direct access we have to Jesus

Ephesians 3:12 “12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”

(2) Great Joy- reflects the tangible impact Christ's resurrection must have in our own lives, transforming sorrow into joy, meeting us in our daily journey,

Jesus is alive- Your sins, your transgressions, your self pursuit

John 10:10 “10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Where were they running to Jesus.

Worship!

John 15:4–5 “4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

and filling us with the assurance of His nearness and strength.

This joy propels us to live transformed lives fueled by the resurrection power.

Closing:

Matthew 28:1–9 shows us that the empty tomb is not just a historical detail; it is a turning point for every life that encounters the risen Jesus.

We’ve seen three truths from the news that Jesus is alive:

Fear Replaced by Faith The women approached the tomb in sorrow and fear, but the reality of the resurrection transformed their grief. God doesn’t simply swap out our sorrow for joy or give joy in spite of sorrow; He gives joy in the midst of sorrow. The risen Christ meets us right where we are and turns trembling fear into trusting faith.

2. From Witness to Mission The angel didn’t just inform the women; he commissioned them: “Come and see… go quickly and tell.” The resurrection is the foundation of our forgiveness, our justification, and our hope beyond death. Because He is not here, because He is risen, we are not just spectators—we are sent. We are called to taste and see that the Lord is good, and then to go and tell others of the Savior who has conquered sin and death.

3. Encountering Risen Joy As the women ran in obedience, with fear yet “great joy,” they actually met Jesus on the way. Their response was worship. That is what resurrection faith looks like: coming quickly to Jesus, drawing near with boldness, and living with a joy that flows from His nearness and His resurrection power in our everyday lives.

So as we leave this passage, the question is not simply, “Do you know the story of the empty tomb?” but, “Has the power of the empty tomb taken hold of you?”

- Is your fear being replaced by faith in the risen Christ?

- Have you moved from simply hearing about Jesus to coming and seeing—to personally trusting Him?

- Are you living as one sent, carrying the good news to others?

- Is your life marked by the kind of joy that can only come from encountering the living Jesus?

The tomb is still empty. Jesus is still risen. And that same resurrection power is still transforming lives, replacing fear with faith, turning witnesses into missionaries, and filling hearts with risen joy.

May we go from here like those women—quickly, with great joy—to worship Jesus and to tell others: He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.