The Empty Tomb

Luke 24 Read Before Sermon

Jesus is the risen King who is victorious over death, recognized by His disciples, validated by Scripture, and enthroned over all creation. That truth changes our faith, theology, and life. The resurrection also changes our practical living. The resurrection isn't just a doctrine to believe, but a truth should change our behavior. Luke 24 addresses this as well.

Introduction:

Think about the most famous person who died recently, someone whose death made every newspaper and television news broadcast. Imagine a few days later as you watch your favorite news station, a breaking news alert interrupts. The anchor explains that this famous person has come back to life!

The nation is in shock. As you change the channel, you discover this news is the subject on every station. You go to work and everyone is talking about it. You browse the internet, and everyone is posting and blogging about it. This is monumental. This is impossible. This has never happened before! Or has it?

If we aren't in awe of the resurrection of Jesus as a historical event, we may only see it as a fairytale.

The resurrection is scientifically impossible, but historically true.

The resurrection is history-making, earth-shaking, life-transforming, and eternity-changing truth. You may believe it, but do you understand how it changes your life?

You may comprehend the theology behind it, but has it yet changed your behavior?

Luke 24 shows us how Jesus' resurrection does this.

What happened early Sunday morning?

The empty tomb discovered by the women

Stone rolled away

empty tomb

Two men like angels tell them Jesus is alive - the heavenly messengers (radiant clothing)

Why did the women come to the tomb?

to anoint the body of Jesus at dawn on Easter Sunday morning.

They found the large stone that was the door of the tomb rolled away. The body of Jesus was gone.

How did the women receive the news of the empty tomb?

Remembered the message

Returned to the town

Reporting what they saw

Rejoicing at the knowledge that Jesus lives!

They also remembered the earlier statements of Jesus to the disciples stating His resurrection.

The ladies - Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Mary the mother of James . One other woman is named by Mark Salome

Mark 16:1 NLT

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body.

What happened on the road to Emmaus?

Two men are on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus and discuss the events that occurred.

Jesus - who is not recognized - joins in on the conversation.

They fill him in on what has happened and the men seem to disbelieve the reports.

Jesus talks to them about the events in light of Scripture.

These men were followers of Jesus

Jesus joins them but they don’t realize it is Jesus.

They don’t believe the reports of Jesus’ resurrection and Jesus rebukes them for their unbelief.

When Jesus explains the scriptures to them they realize it all makes sense. It is clearer to them.

Jesus’ Resurrection changes our conversations

Two of Jesus' disciples walk together down a seven-mile stretch of road, having a conversation.

It was about the resurrection of Jesus, obviously the most shocking news they had ever heard.

A stranger began to walk with them (Jesus incognito), and they were astounded to learn this man had apparently not heard about the resurrection.

Notice that their conversation wasn't just about the details of the resurrection, but also about who He was supposed to be, His life, His death, and what it all meant.

Application:

The truth of the resurrection is just as shocking today as it was the day it occurred.

Don't treat the resurrection as some cold truth you've always heard.

Do not allow your understanding and presentation of the gospel to be about the death of Jesus alone.

Let Jesus' resurrection change your conversation.

Talk about it this week with the same excitement as if it just happened.

Jesus’ resurrection changes our Bible Study

Staying in stealth mode with His two disciples, Jesus "the stranger" called them a couple of fools and began a Bible study during the journey.

If there were any conversation in history you would want to overhear, this would be the one.

Jesus walked the men through the entire Old Testament to tell them how it all refers to Him, His death and suffering, and His resurrection and glory (24:27, 44).

He began with the books of Moses (the Pentateuch) and led them through the Prophets (ending with Malachi). This was the best Bible study ever!

The Old Testament promised and prophesied the whole point: Jesus' resurrection.

Application:

Study your Bible with the resurrection in mind.

Watch how God takes his people through good-as-dead experiences, such as Isaac's sacrifice, Joseph's imprisonment, and Daniel's den of lions.

God loves to orchestrate scenes that point forward to the resurrection of Jesus while leaving the greatest glory for the resurrection itself.

In your personal devotions, family Bible studies, Sunday school classes, small group sessions, age-based ministries, and group Bible studies, be aware of the resurrection theme running throughout Scripture.

Jesus’ resurrection changes our witness

As Jesus revealed His true identity to His disciples, He taught them a very important truth.

His gospel presentation explains how their lives will change because of that truth. "Repentance and forgiveness should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem" (24:47).

Don't miss this - repentance does not just mean to turn away from sin.

That is only part of the truth.

Repentance also means turning to Jesus.

Forgiveness means that God will not hold His judgment against us for our sin because

Jesus has been judged in our place. "Nations" means that there is not one person on earth who does not need to hear about the gospel of salvation through Jesus.

Application:

Repentance and forgiveness should not be whispered, muttered, or mumbled.

Witnessing lost people turn from their sin and to Jesus is a joy.

Telling sinners who feel the weight, guilt, and shame of their sin about Jesus should be our pleasure.

Jesus says that repentance and forgiveness are to be proclaimed because this is the news that people are dying to hear.

The nations are looking for ways to relieve their guilt and shame for sin that only the gospel can bring.

Let the resurrection change your witness by proclaiming its truth.

Conclusion:

On Good Friday at the end of our service I told you to get ready for Sunday.

To get ready to tell other’s about what Resurrection Sunday means to you?

Share your heart this morning about what God has done in your life?

How has the resurrection made your life better?