The Tomb Is Empty!

Sermon Title: The Tomb Is Empty!

Luke 24:1-12

Hopewell Baptist Church

Easter, April 12, 2020

If you have been following along this past week with the Discipleship on the Go, you’ve heard a bit of this. I’m going to touch on it here little as we prepare to look at Luke 24:1-12 on The Resurrection.

Sunday – Palm Sunday, Triumphal Entry

Monday – Jesus cleanses the Temple

Tuesday – Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees

Wednesday – Judas decides to betray Jesus

Thursday – Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper, Judas betrays Jesus, Peter Denies Jesus

Friday – Good Friday, the Crucifixion

Saturday – Silent Saturday, Jesus is dead

Sunday – Easter Sunday, Jesus is Risen!

Big Idea – And that is our big idea for today…Jesus is Alive!

Luke 24:1-12

Pray

I. The Empty Tomb – Luke 24:1-3

a. v.1 – But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

i. “They” = Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women (v.10)

ii. After Jesus’ death, there had not been enough time to properly prepare the body for burial because the Sabbath begins Friday at sun down.

iii. Also, they believe that on the fourth day after death, the soul leaves the body, so they want to make sure they can prepare the body on that day, the third day.

b. v.2 – And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb

i. This is significant because the stone would have weighed thousands of pounds and have been difficult for just one person, or even a small group of people, to move.

c. v.3 – but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

i. WHERE IS JESUS?!?!!?!?!?

ii. They were curious and wondered what was going on!

iii. The Tomb is Empty!!

II. A Helpful Reminder – Luke 24:4-8

a. v.4 – While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

i. Perplexed – confusion caused by a failure to understand

ii. They wanted to know what was going on

1. The Tomb is empty – They were most likely there when Jesus was placed inside the tomb…

2. Guards are outside but were struck with fear and could not move (Matthew 28:4)

iii. The two men in dazzling apparel – Angels

1. These men are considered to be angles, come as messengers, to deliver to the women the message that Jesus is alive, and a reminder of what He told them of His death, burial, and resurrection.

b. v.5 – 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?

i. The women were frightened by their appearance, as they had never seen anyone like them before.

1. They basically prostrated themselves on the ground before these men (angels) to show their fear AND reverence to the angels.

ii. Here, they ask the question, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

1. They lead into the point that Jesus is alive, and remind them about it.

c. v.6-8 – 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,

i. Here, the angels give the women a very important reminder:

1. Remember how he told you…that the Son of Man must be delivered…and crucified and on the third day rise.”

a. This is an important reminder because Jesus talked about His impending death many times to the disciples and those who followed them, including, apparently, these women.

b. Matthew 20:17-19

c. Matthew 16:21-23

d. Matthew 17:22-23

e. Mark 8:31-38

f. Mark 9:30-32

g. Mark 10:32-34

h. Luke 8:22, 44

i. Luke 9:22

j. Luke 17:25

k. Luke 18:32-33…etc.

ii. The Angels give them this reminder for exactly that reason, to help them recall the Words of the Lord, who had told them of this day many times.

iii. v.8 – “And they remembered his words,”

1. This reminder from the angels opened their memories, recalling to the forefront the Words that Jesus had said (verses above).

2. “Remembrance leads to belief, and belief leads to announcement,”[1] this leads us into verse 9…

III. An Impossible Possibility – Luke 24:9-12

a. v.9-10 – 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,

i. On their way, back, they saw Jesus (Matthew 28:9-10).

ii. They reported everything they saw and what the two men in dazzling apparel had told them…

1. Why look for the living among the dead…

2. He is risen…

3. Remember what He told you…

b. v.11 – but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

i. 2000 years ago, women were considered as unreliable sources. They could not do much, even testify in court. So, when they returned with this report, the disciples (also having “forgotten” what Jesus had said), they all thought it was a joke or a story…

ii. One must not discount these women, as they have been following Jesus AND supporting the disciples for some time now (Luke 8:3).

iii. Most of them disciples/Apostles didn’t believe the women, except for Peter…

c. v.12 – But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stopping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

i. Peter, whose faith had been shaken and strengthened buy his denial of Jesus (shaken by being told he would; strengthened when it happened, and the realization that Jesus was right – Luke 22:61 - he foretold the future!) went and checked out what happened. Because after the denial, Peter REMEMBERED the Words of Jesus, that he would deny Him.

ii. Peter literally had to almost bow down on his knees to get into the tomb.

iii. All he found was the linen cloths, but no other evidence of Jesus, or anyone, having been in there.

d. JESUS IS ALIVE! HE IS RISEN!!!!!

IV. Application

a. Because Jesus is alive, we know that His Word is alive and active

i. Hebrews 4:12

b. Because the Word of God is living and Active, we must make sure the Word has a central, important role in our lives.

i. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

ii. Proverbs 30:5

iii. Psalm 119:11

c. We know that God often uses the least of these for His purposes

i. The women here at the resurrection (v.10-11)

ii. The shepherds at His birth (Luke 2:8-21)

iii. Jesus’ twelve – including Matthew, a Tax collector!

iv. So, we must always be ready and willing to be used by God at any moment.

V. Invitation

a. Repent and Believe

b. Be Baptized

c. Surrender to Ministry

[1] Edwards, James R. The Gospel according to Luke. Edited by D. A. Carson. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos, 2015.