Lessons from the Empty Tomb
Notes
Transcript
He is risen…He is risen indeed
He is risen…He is risen indeed
For centuries, Christians have used that call and response, especially on Easter Sunday. It’s a simple and brief call and response, but it proclaims one of the central truths of our faith - that Jesus is alive! Yes, He was crucified. Yes, He was buried. Yes, He is alive.
Open your bibles to Luke 24. We’re going to reflect some on Luke’s account of the resurrection and consider some lessons that we can learn from this significant event! We worship on Sunday because of the resurrection, but what else does it mean?
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.
In end of the passage we considered last week, we learned that several women followed Joseph of Arimathea to see where and how Jesus’ body was laid. They saw the tomb and then returned to their homes to prepare spices for His full burial. Separated by a day of rest, all they could do is wait, worship, and mourn.
Now here, at or just before daybreak, the women make their way to the tomb in order to fully care for His body - anointing Him with spices. However, when they come to the tomb they find three surprising things:
The stone is rolled away
The tomb is empty
And two men dressed in dazzling attire (that we later learn are angels) are standing close by.
While they are surprised and perplexed, they are also afraid, as people often are when they encounter angels. There is something about the appearance of angels that invokes fear. Rather than asking them to not be afraid, these men/angels simply ask them - “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Which brings us to the first lesson that we can learn from the empty tomb, that we should…
Look not for life where death is found(1-5)
Look not for life where death is found(1-5)
In many ways, these women were seeking to engage in a good and honorable act. Their service to the body of Jesus was what they felt they could do, but it would not bring them the life, hope, or fulfillment that Jesus offers.
In John’s gospel, Jesus said…
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
The things of the enemy are things of death, destruction, decay. The things of Jesus, the way of life that He taught us to live, the eternal life that He purchased for us, and so much more, bring life and flourishing. And yet how often is our attention enticed by things that only bring death and not life. As humans, we often get lured into a false sense of living through things like…
Addictions
Addictions
Now, I don’t think anyone goes out trying to get addicted to something, but rather we get addicted when we look for life where dead things are found. Addictions rob us of volition, enslaving us in an environment of bondage. Whether that’s addictions from substances like alcohol or nicotine or pharmaceuticals or illegal drugs or even food. Some of those addictions may come in the form of gambling or speculative investing. We may get hooked by a quick win or high only to find ourselves dragged down and trapped by big losses and a deepening spiral as we try to cover our shame by one more - bet, hit, puff, shot, bite….
There is also the death that is found in unchecked…
Entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment in its many varied forms distracts us from real interactions and lulls us into a false sense of living. Whether it’s binge watching a show, or scrolling endlessly, or getting trapped in the dopamine hits of pornography, or investing our attention in the ins and outs of sports - entertainment has a way of ripping life away from us. Even as we saw last week, the spectacle of crucifixion provided morbid entertainment to many while it sucked the life out of others.
In our western context, we find the death that is found in…
Materialism
Materialism
Coveting and collecting wealth or clothes or jewels or other material possessions leaves us with a false sense of satisfaction. We may delve into workaholism just to gather more things or experiences to make us feel good. The things that we think will make us happy make us long for more. We learned from Jesus in Luke 12:15
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
There is one other grave in which we can tend to search for life…
Religiosity
Religiosity
Even our natural religious expressions and superstitions are death traps. Going through ritualistic motions rather than engaging God in a real relationship. Venerating objects that have no means of bringing us life. Praying empty prayers or mantras in hopes of gaining God’s pleasure or aid. Checking spiritual boxes in order to do what we think a disciple should do, unchanged by the truths we are reading.
In the Old Testament, Samuel corrected King Saul for his empty rituals when he thought going through motions would win God to his side: 1 Samuel 15:22 “And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.”
Oh, brothers and sisters in Christ, may we repent of looking for life in dead places. May we turn away from seeking fulfillment in sources of empty promises. May we recognize along with the women at the tomb that a living body does not need embalming. Jesus does not need the grave-clothes that wrapped His body or the spices that would delay decay. He is risen!
As the angels talk to the women, they bring them back to what Jesus taught them by stating…
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,
This brings us to a second lesson that we can learn from this scene at the empty tomb, that is…
Linger in His Word and remember (6-8)
Linger in His Word and remember (6-8)
Jesus had communicated at least three times that He would be arrested, mistreated and killed. In those times, He reiterated that He would be raised on the third day. Most recently, He had told them this just a few days before getting Jerusalem. Likely this was within the prior two weeks.
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.”
Now, I know that we are bombarded with information each and every day. Whether it’s news events, or work related communications, or emails from schools that are entirely too long, or the frequent reminders of upcoming activities - information overload is a real thing. I guess the question we have to ask ourselves is what priority do we give to Scripture, to the word of God, to Jesus’ teaching? Our Bibles are not simply another book for our bookshelves or an app on our devices to occupy our time. God’s word is there to instruct us. It is there to help us understand Him and His ways and His will.
As we read, let us linger in the text a bit. Let the lessons of Scripture carry-on in our minds as we meditate on the message that God proclaims. We may not always understand it. Luke notes that the disciples did not always understand, especially when Jesus spoke of the crucifixion:
But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
We may not understand it, but let us not forget it. Like a piece of a puzzle that we turn around and around and then set aside for a time until we find the connecting pieces, let us remember.
But how do we do that? First, …
Pray
Pray
Before opening Scripture, we should pray and ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see what He would have a see and our minds to understand what He would have us understand.
Secondly,
Read and re-read
Read and re-read
Some people have the habit of reading through scripture over and over again - starting at the beginning and reading little bits at a time until it’s finished and then starting over. There are bible reading plans that can get you through the Bible in a year or two. There are others that emphasize certain parts of the text. I’m going through a plan called the M’Cheyne plan which will get through the OT once this year and the NT and Psalms twice. In other seasons, I’ve just read one little pericope or small section of scripture each day. In all of this, I do think that reading systematically is more helpful than simply opening the text and plopping a finger down on a verse. That way, as you read, you’re constantly building context.
The challenge for me, is that I need to go a bit further, maybe we all do, and take the next step to…
Reflect
Reflect
This could take the form of meditating or muttering on the text throughout the day. It could involved a more formal inductive Bible study - which involves Observation, Interpretation, and Application.
Observing what’s there - who’s involved, what’s happening, when does it happen, where, what’s being said…
Interpretation - what does it mean?
Application - what do I do?
We’ve been using this model on Tuesdays in the Iron Sharpens Iron sessions. Feel free to bring your lunch and join us if that time works in your schedule. We even sang about his at good news club at Poolesville elementary this week.
Reflection may also involve journaling - writing down some of the things that God brings to your mind as you read.
Finally, I think remembering is helped when we…
Relate
Relate
Relating what you’ve learned with someone else. As we speak God’s word and the lessons we’re learning to other people, we embed His word on our minds more and more. But in relating what we are learning, we’re also helping others understand that God’s word is for them as well. In some ways, we’re discipling each other in that.
The Apostle Paul urged a similar practice to the Colossian believers:
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Which brings us to the third lesson from the empty tomb….
Let others know the good news (9-10)
Let others know the good news (9-10)
After the women were redirected by the angels and then remembered what Jesus said, they returned to the other disciples and shared the good news of the empty tomb. Now that their eyes were opened and they understood a bit more what was happening, they knew that this was too good to keep to themselves.
We’ve been given a glorious message of salvation that is good news for the whole world.
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
The empty tomb and the evidences confirming that provide hope for all who would believe. I know, there are obstacles to this good news.
Yes, the good news is exclusive - but it is good news.
Yes, the good news is exclusive - but it is good news.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Peter reiterated this truth in one of his first sermons:
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
There may be only one way to eternal life and a right relation with God, but Jesus has made that way possible and has made it known.
Yes, the gospel is offensive, but that’s good news
Yes, the gospel is offensive, but that’s good news
Inherent in the gospel is the recognition that we are fallen, sinful human beings. Our culture believes that everyone is basically good, but God’s word shows us that while we are of great value to God, we are stained with sin and even our best deeds are like filthy rags.
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
The reason why the offense of the gospel is good news is because Jesus doesn’t leave us dead in our sin.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Yes, the gospel cannot be earned, but that’s good news
Yes, the gospel cannot be earned, but that’s good news
Our boot-strap society wants us to earn our own way. Getting things for free always seems to come with hidden costs. The gospel is not free, it cost Jesus His life and in response, we are called to live fully for Him. Our works do not earn us a place with Him, He has secured that for us.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Yes, we may be our own obstacle to sharing the gospel, but it is still good news
Yes, we may be our own obstacle to sharing the gospel, but it is still good news
We may not feel like we have a great command of language or of the intricacies of Scripture, but that shouldn’t hinder us from telling others the good news. God has often used unlikely messengers to communicate his message.
Moses had a speech impediment
God spoke through a donkey to get His message to Balaam
Joshua was fearful
Jeremiah was tearful
The women at the empty tomb could not testify for themselves in a court of law. Their society downplayed their worth. But Jesus didn’t.
Motivated by the message, they went and told the others. Luke even noted several of their names so that some of his first audience could go back and talk with them. Apparently these women were known in the early church.
Which, incidentally, is one proof of why we know the tomb was empty and the resurrection is true - because of the testimony of women. If people were making up a lie, they would have used men to propagate it - because only men in their day had a legal voice. But the testimony of women indicates that there was no reason to hide the truth. The tomb is empty. He is risen, and that’s good news.
So, we’ve learned that we shouldn’t look for life where death is found, we should linger in God’s word and remember, we should let others know the good news.
Fourthly, we learn from this scene at the empty tomb that we should…
Listen to the testimonies of other believers (11-12)
Listen to the testimonies of other believers (11-12)
Because of the way that men viewed women in their day, even the disciples felt like the women’s words were an “idle tale, and they did not believe them.” For them, it would take extra evidence for the truth to penetrate their perspectives. I think this is, in part, why Peter and some of the others went to the tomb - they wanted to verify.
Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we should listen and learn from each other. We should not discount someone because of their gender or title, or lack thereof. We’ve each been in-dwelt by the Spirit of God who endowed us with gifts that He uses for His glory and for our good.
I love getting to learn from both the women and men around me. I love gaining a different understanding of the text from the conversations and perspectives of the women and men, young and old, educated and still learning in our Community Group. I relish the discovery process that happens when women and men in the Iron Sharpens Iron Group wrestle with the text in an inductive manner. I delight to hear what God is teaching Danielle and Zoe in their own times with God.
I think its okay for us to go back and verify. In the book of Acts, the Bereans were commended because…
… they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
We can and should learn from what God is doing in each other’s lives. We don’t often share testimonies here in the service, maybe we should do that more. I’m hoping to add time to some of our Family Meetings for testimonies. Whether formally or informally, we should delight to both speak and listen to each other as God works in us.
There is one final lesson that I think we can learn from the empty tomb. That is, that we should…
Let the truth of the empty tomb sink in
Let the truth of the empty tomb sink in
The empty tomb is one evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! There are more that we will consider in the next few weeks.
Jesus did what he said he would do - Jesus told his disciples that He would be killed and resurrected. All four gospels proclaim that. The empty tomb confirms that truth.
But why? One of the things that the gospels do is they help us to understand what happened, what Jesus taught, what Jesus did. They do very little to communicate the “why” or the implications of the cross.
Do you remember the call to worship? 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
To say this another way, Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection accomplished our salvation. It is finished!
In his book, The Cross of Christ, the late John Stott discusses several of the implications of the cross and the empty tomb as revealed in the rest of the NT. He looks at them as four “images” of salvation or atonement.
Propitiation - He notes that “propitiation introduces us to the rituals at a shrine” where something “appeases or pacifies” the wrath of God. (Stott, 196-197)
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
God the Son provides the only, sufficient sacrifice to assuage the wrath of God.
Redemption - takes on the imagery of marketplace transactions - exchanging one thing for another (Stott, 196).
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Jesus’ life was the only life that could sufficiently cover our sin debt.
Justification - takes on the imagery of a courtroom where God declares us justified through Jesus. Or to state it another way, God “bestows on us a righteous standing before [Himself].” (ibid, 196, 213)
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Reconciliation - takes us to the imagery of a family as Jesus brings us back into a right relationship with God.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
So, as we reflect on the empty tomb, the resurrection, let the truth of what Jesus accomplished for you sink in! He satisfied the just wrath of God for your sin. He redeemed you from the curse of sin with His life. He placed on you His righteousness. In other words, He imputed His righteousness on you and your sinfulness on Himself. Because our sin separated us from God, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection has reconciled you with God - bringing you into a right relationship with Him.
Friend, if you’ve not yet responded to the good news of the gospel - come today.
Beloved, rest in all that Christ accomplished through the cross and the empty tomb for you!
Let’s pray.
Benediction
Benediction
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Questions for reflection and discussion
Questions for reflection and discussion
Read: Luke 24:1-12
Look not for life where death is found
Look not for life where death is found
1. How do you react to good news from home?
2. Why did the women go to Jesus’ tomb and what did they find? (24:1-2)
3. What did the angels tell the women about Jesus? (24:5–7) What can we learn from their comments as it relates to God’s Word?
4. Where are you tempted to find satisfaction or fulfillment in things that lead to death rather than life?
Linger in His Word and remember
Linger in His Word and remember
5. Of what words of Jesus were the women reminded? (24:7)
6. Why do you think the women failed to remember what Jesus had told them?
7. What are your habits, patterns, systems of reading and remembering God’s Word? Is that effective? What needs to change?
Let others know the good news
Let others know the good news
8. What did the women do after the men had told them that Jesus had risen from the dead as He had predicted? (24:8-9)
9. How comfortable are you at sharing the gospel with others?
Listen to the testimonies of others
Listen to the testimonies of others
10. Why did the apostles not believe the women? (24:11)
11. In what way were Peter’s actions different from the other apostles? (24:12)
12. Why is it important for us to pay attention to the testimonies of others? When is it okay to verify or should we accept everything at face value?
Let the truth of the empty tomb sink in
Let the truth of the empty tomb sink in
13. Why is Jesus’ resurrection central to the Christian faith?
14. On Sunday, four “images” of what Jesus accomplished were discussed: Propitiation, Redemption, Justification, and Reconciliation. What truths do those doctrines reveal? How are they different? How are they similar?
Sources:
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Spurgeon, C. H. “‘The Lord Is Risen Indeed.’” In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, 19:205–16. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1873.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
Stott, John. The Cross of Christ. London: InterVarsity Press, 2021.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
