The Empty Tomb

On Good Friday, we celebrate the fact that

Jesus was crucified for us

And that, in this death, we don’t have to face death.

And that is amazing, amazing news. But it didn’t stop there.

Today is Easter Sunday. And today, we celebrate the next step in God’s plan.

Luke 24:1–6 NIV

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

Now, see, the jews at the time, they were expecting the messiah. They were expecting a king who would reign forever.

And when Jesus was crucified - in God’s plan, it was one of the highest points. But

to his disciples - it was the lowest point

Because, see, now - their hope in the messiah was dead. The messiah himself was in the grave. They were hoping for this eternal kingdom, this throne that would never end.

But now Jesus was dead. Instead of a throne, they were looking at a tomb. Instead of a kingdom, they were looking at a body.

And they weren’t even able to preserve the body properly before he was put in a tomb. So that sunday morning, some of the women were returning to finish the job.

And they met an angel, and the angel gave them news that would change history.

Now,

let’s place ourselves in their sandals

for a minute. GOING TO TOMB

Here’s the problem. They were focused on the world around them. On the physical things they could touch, see, feel. They had no idea what was going on in the spiritual realm.

That question the angel asked is a massive one.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Because, the resurrection opened up to the jews an entirely new avenue. They weren’t just saved from punishment - they were given life. It wasn’t just forgiveness Jesus offered - it was eternity.

And we talked about how God made a promise in the garden.

But we can’t forget - why God made the garden to begin with. It was to be with us. And if death entered the world with sin - then it wasn’t there before.

God made us for an eternity with Him

- and He paved the way BACK to that place.

In the cross, we find forgiveness. In the resurrection, we find eternity.

And I want to draw your attention back to the angel’s question. When we look around the world, we see destruction. Chaos, despair. We see death. And the disciples saw their whole world end on a cross.

But when they came to that tomb, the angel asked them - why do you look for the living among the dead?

The grave may seem deep, and wide, and powerful. But 2,000 years ago -

the grave was empty

Because something happened that was even more powerful than death. Something so powerful that it broke death itself.

And now, when we look around our own lives. When we see things failing and falling apart. When we see death and destruction. When we look inside of ourselves and see imperfection, bad things, and not enough.

We see evidence of the grave all around us.

And we need to remember that God sent his son to earth to die for us. That he was laid in a tomb. And then… he left it behind. He walked out of that tomb alive.

He wants to do the same thing with us

And that is the AMAZING news we celebrate at Easter. That Jesus died for us - but more, that he was raised back to life, and in HIS life we can find eternity again.

We can find that thing that completes us in every way.

That is what I want to invite you to today. To life. To eternity with God in perfection.

Pray

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIV

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.