The Message of the Empty Tomb!

Luke 24:3 KJV 1900

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24

Luke 24:6 KJV 1900

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

luke 24.

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord

Jesus

The message – what does the empty Tomb say?

Is it just some religious story that we tell every spring?

What does it mean?

When Jesus’s body was not found did it validate

everything he said?

There have been certain truths that I got over the years

that have made a difference in my life…

When I got a hold of the meaning of the empty tomb:

 My life changed

 My priorities Changed

 Christianity was not a religion

 Church was no longer a duty

 Prayer was a privilege

 I now had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

I They Did Not Find What they Expected 24:1-2

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the

morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the

spices which they had prepared, and certain others with

them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the

sepulchre.

They came early in the morning expecting His body to

be there!

It would be just a normal day; Crucified two days before

and now the only question remains would be who will

roll back the stone?

We find in

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the

angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and

rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

This Easter expect the unexpected!

Look at what they had heard but not believed or

comprehended!

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must

suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of

the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after

three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly.

And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

All had heard this but either did not believe or was not

interested!

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must

suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of

the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after

three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly.

And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

Look at the end of Chapter 23

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments;

and rested the sabbath day according to the

commandment.

All they had seen; all they had heard was just ignored!

 The healings

 The feeding of the thousands

 The preaching

 The bind see

 The lame walk

 The storms calmed

So what - …….

PPT - It appears there was no expectation that Jesus

would rise again …..

The message of the Empty Tomb was that Christ told the

Truth!

PPT-The resurrection validated all he said so you just

can’t go one like nothing happened!

Most treat the resurrection as just a religious story told

in the spring but does not impact them!

They heard but did not expect it to happen!

Illustration – some here have been told this story for

years and all you get is a yawn and so what?

Do you hear but not hear?

Watching as football game and someone is try to tell you

something? You hear but you don’t hear!

Guess what - Those that came to the empty tomb did not

find what they expected!

II They remembered His Words 24:3-8

Luke 24:3–8 KJV 1900

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words,

luke 24

Vs 8 - I hope that you will remember his words now and

Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much

perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them

in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and

bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto

them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not

here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you

when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man

must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be

crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they

remembered his words,

Vs 8 - I hope that you will remember his words now and

not after death when it’s too late !

Key Word vs 25 – son remember – wow

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on

me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his

finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented

in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that

thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and

likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and

thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us

and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which

would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they

pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said,

I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send

him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that

he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this

place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have

Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he

said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them

from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him,

If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will

they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Vs 3 We find the body Gone

For Christ to be God he could not be in the Tomb!

Does your life reflect that he actually rose from the

dead?

Good

Vs 4-8 – believers are encouraged (read)

Two angels helped them understand and bring into

remembrance what happened!

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to

the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living

among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember

how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Remember what he said

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe

also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if

it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a

place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I

will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where

I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know,

and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord,

we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know

the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,

and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by

me.

God will never force you to accept Him!

PPT - Maybe for you the resurrection is just a good

story.

But in truth it is God's powerful message about the

Savior, Jesus Christ, who loved you enough to die for

your sins! Yes he died for your sins!

Remember that the only reason Christ came to earth

was to save you from your sins!

All have sinned!

All sheep have gone astray!

You and I need forgiveness or sins need to be counseled

out!

The resurrection validates everything Christ said!

 Yes he is God

 Yes He is the only way to heaven!

 When you remember His words they strike and the

heart of mankind!

I believe some here today is like the ground Jesus talked

about in

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit,

some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he

that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also

beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold,

some sixty, some thirty.

Listen those at the tomb remembered His words!

A light bulb went off!

Oh yea!

Algebra and trig in 10th grade

Dynamics at Auburn University

The wishbone offence as a lead blocking back – oh yea

But nothing impacted me more than remembering His

words on memorial day 1988 – oh yea – now I

understand!

The chains can be broken not by works but by

remembering His words!

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any

man should boast.

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but

according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of

regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The resurrection gives me assurance that my sins can be

forgiven

III They Told Others 24:9-11

9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these

things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary

Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James,

and other women that were with them, which told these

things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to

them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Guess what – when you believe the resurrection you will

take action.

They ran and blasted the message that changed them!

It true, it’s true and its true!!!!

Look how Mathew describes it!

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from

the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee;

there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they

departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great

joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Some will tell of forgiveness and what a story to tell!

Others will look at you like – you are crazy! Look I believe

all that stuff but I not going to take it too seriously

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall

enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the

will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to

me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy

name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy

name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I

profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye

that work iniquity.

Some will hear of the resurrection and accept!

Some will just say so what?

Closing – Paul preached of the resurrection at Athens

look at the two groups!

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but

now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will

judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he

hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all

men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead,

some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again

of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed:

among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a

woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Some mocked – yea I believ it but what difference does it

make?

Others – accepted and obtain salvation …..

What message do get from the resurrection ???