The Empty Tomb

Easter Service

Grace emptied the Tomb

Welcome

Intro

For those who weren’t here earlier we missed you and thank you for sending myself and the team down to Colombia

We will have a service scheduled to share about our trip and the work God is doing down there

This morning we will look at the empty tomb and what that means for you and I

See the empty tomb is a culmination of a few things

It wraps Jesus life, and death up in a nice bow

Its because of the empty tomb that we have life

See the empty tomb is grace for you and I

Grace is Gods unmerited favor for you and I

You and I cannot earn what the empty tomb offers

We cannot buy what the empty tomb offers

You and I cannot be good enough know enough of the Bible to get what the empty tomb offers

Luke 24:1–8 NASB95

1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; 5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that 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,

Jesus is alive

The tomb is empty

Jesus has defeated death

See Jesus’s life serves as an example to us today, We are to be Christ like and do the things like Jesus did things

Then Jesus’s death paid for our sin

We learned earlier today that since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden that blood had to be shed to cover sin

We cannot pay for our own debt of sin and so we would sacrifice perfect animals in our place

Jesus then paid that with his own blood for you and I

Now about the empty tomb

See the empty tomb is unique because that had never happened now has it happened since

But the empty tomb meant that you and I no longer have to be slaves of sin

His resurrection allowed God to look on you and I as if we never sinned

That is what the empty tomb

See the empty tomb is grace

The empty gives us the opportunity even when we don’t deserve it to have a personal relationship with the Living God!

There is one story in-particular I think shows us grace

See the story starts before Jesus is arrested

Peter tells Jesus that he will follow him wherever he will go and that even if he has to die he will follow him

We will pick up the story

Matthew 26:33–35 NASB95

33 But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 35 Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.

Peter tells Jesus that he will follow Him anywhere

Jesus is very point blank with Peter

This is one of those times Peter opens mouth and inserts foot

But Jesus tells him that peter tonight this very night before the rooster crows you will deny me three times

Peter is like no that cant be

Not me

See church I think sometimes that we do that ourselves

God i will follow you anywhere

Then God says what about across the street to your neighbors house, or what about across the world

Then Jesus is arrested and Peter cuts off the ear of the guard and then runs off

But Peter follows at a distance

Matthew 26:58 NASB95

58 But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

Peter didn’t want to be seen by anyone and just wanted to see what was going to happen to Jesus

Remember this is a guy who just a few hours ago was saying he would follow him anywhere and now he is at a distance just watching

Matthew 26:69–70 NASB95

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

Peter is called out as having been with Jesus

Peter at that time would have been slightly known because of Jesus and some people might have recognized him

Then peter just sort of brushes it off

I wonder how many times we brush off the prompting of the Holy Spirit or we brush off as a believer because we say its not the right time

Matthew 26:71–72 NASB95

71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.”

Peter again is recognized as having been with Jesus

It was something about Peter that stood out

It was the personal relationship he had with Jesus that stood out

Does your personal relationship with Jesus stand out?

Again Peter denie Jesus again this time with a bit more authority

Peter is probably upset at this point because he doesn't want to be bothered by people

Matthew 26:73–75 NASB95

73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

A short while later some again comes and calls out Peter

This time is was the way Peter talked something was different about Peter

Believers does the way you talk sound different to people?

Because it did for peter

Peter is even more upset at this point and swears at the person that he doesn’t know Jesus

Church that is three times that he has denied Jesus

Immediately after he is finished a rooster crowed

Peter is reminded of the words of Jesus and understands that Jesus was right

Peter at this point is called out on hie denying of Jesus

If Jesus isn’t God Peter doesn’t deserve anything

But the empty tomb is the grace that Peter got even though he didn’t deserve it

The empty tomb is the grace given to Peter so God could look on Peter as if he never denied him at all

The empty tomb church is the grace you and I need so that God can look on us as if we never sinned

It after the empty tomb that Peter is confronted

Jesus deals with each denial individually not because he has to but so Peter knows he is reconciled to Jesus

John 21:15 NASB95

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”

Peter is asked if He loves Jesus

and of course Peter answers that he does because he does

Peter is given a charge to take care of the flock

John 21:16 NASB95

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Again peter is asked if he loves Jesus

and just like before Peter answers again that he does love Him

Also peter is given a similar charge

John 21:17 NASB95

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.

Finally Peter is asked a third time

Peter is upset that Jesus has had to ask three times

Peter is again given a similar and final charge

See Jesus dealt with the three denials separately with Peter

VIDEO

See the empty tomb is the grace extended to Peter even though he doesn’t deserve it

Romans 5:8 NASB95

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

See Church

while you and I were still caught in our own sin Jesus chose to die for us

While you and I were still sinners and not following after Jesus

Jesus still loved us enough to go to the cross

But its the empty tomb that allows us to have a personal relationship with Jesus!!

As the band comes forward this morning

I want to ask you a simple question

If you were to stand before God in heaven and he were to ask you why should I let you into my heaven what would you say?

Listen if you cant say that you have a personal relationship with Jesus then I want to invite you to the front and there will be people down front to help you with that

maybe you are here and you simply need to be still before God at the altar and allow His grace to wash over you

the altar is open