The Cross-Shadowed Tomb

Just kidding. I found this somewhat more realistic depiction. Next time we do seder, maybe we should do away with the chairs to make it even more traditional. Reclining together at table.

Recap Seder dinner - the Passover Lamb, by whose blood death passes over our door. Jesus is the fulfillment, the sacrifice, whose blood forever frees us from death, from sin that leads to death, and from the guilt and shame that accuse us.

Recap story of Jesus - obedient to death on a cross.

Cross-Centric

So we survey the “wondrous cross” and the crucified Jesus. We are “cross-centric”, “Cross-centered.”

Deciding to know nothing but Jesus and Him crucified.

Deciding to boast in nothing else but the cross of Jesus Christ, through which the world is crucified to us and we are crucified to the world.

We take up our cross and follow Jesus.

So… why then the tomb? The empty tomb of Jesus is the most controversial, the most “magical”, the most offensive aspect of Jesus.

You can get all kinds of scholars to love Jesus as a teacher. Even his teachings like “take up your cross and follow me...” You can take a Buddhist interpretation of “accept suffering as an aspect of life.”

And nearly everybody LOVES Jesus’ teachings on love, especially if they get to redefine what “love” means to suit their purposes of the moment.

Maybe we can take Jesus and his teachings on love and God and even his faithfulness to death on a cross… take all that without the “religious” or “magical” resurrection mumbo-jumbo?

Distance from the Cross to the Tomb

In 2012 I had the incredible privilege of getting to visit Israel for a couple weeks with a group from Denver Seminary.

While there, in Jerusalem, we stayed at a hotel just a couple blocks from the church of the Holy Sepulchre… the traditional site of both Calvary and the empty tomb.

Built in the the 4th century by Emperor Constantine’s mom in place of a temple to Jupiter… and we have records saying they filled in “rock cut tombs” to build that temple, these really are the best candidates for the actual sites.

Everything is dripping in gold and there is no sense whatsoever of the hill, certainly not of the tomb, it is all shrines and altars.

Lines like Disneyland, but with more robes.

But you walk in and there is the “Rock of Calvary” with an altar over a hole in the floor where you can reach in and touch the “Rock.”

And you turn to the left, and there is the Holy Sepulcher which is a little freestanding gold plated chapel on the spot…

It wasn’t the opulence that surprised me, and to be honest I didn’t get a sense of majesty or holiness there at all.

It wasn’t the magic of the place that surprised me.

It was the proximity.

Proximity of death and resurrection.

And it makes sense that they are close. They would perform execution outside the city walls.

and they would bury outside the city walls. Why go far when you could take the body right there?

We are cross centered. Eyes fixed on Jesus Christ and him crucified. But just past the cross… is the empty tomb.

The Gospel Without Resurrection

Perhaps the earliest telling of the gospel story:

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 ESV

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

That’s James, the brother of Jesus. I’ve said it before, but he’s my favorite post-Resurrection convert. What would it take to convince you your older brother was the Son of God, the Messiah?

So what was of “first importance”?

One sentence here. Christ died for our sins, was buried, raised on the third day, all of this prophesied and all of it witnessed but hundreds.

I’ve heard people say “I would follow Jesus even if there were no heaven.” He’s just so sweet and loving and nice and good, and so many blessings.

I get it. I understand it.

But when I read Scripture, I can’t help but think you’re doing it wrong! That isn’t the way the disciples saw it, and they knew Jesus in the flesh, they loved him deeply, they knew and received his love profoundly.

Most to be Pitied

1 Corinthians 15:13–19 ESV

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Do you believe that?

Do you live that way?

I do. I am really wasting my time here if Christ is not raised from the dead. I am really wasting my life if Christ is not raised from the dead.

What a dumb idea to “take up our cross and follow in Jesus’ footsteps.” That’s the definition of stupid. “Embrace suffering and failure?” Inconceivable!!!

Paul threw away an illustrious career, religious authority and status as a Pharisee among Pharisee’s, a disciple of the most respected member of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel.

Wayne, what are you doing here? Go build your business, why are you wasting time here?

Kelly, Arvella, why waste your talents leading people in worship? Go… be a STAR!

Logan, don’t waste your time here, go to a track meet or something. (Oh wait… Logan is at a track meet. Sinner).

What are you doing here??? Why are any of you in this place on a Saturday morning?

If Christ is not raised, we are, of all people, most to be pitied.

But in Fact

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:23–26 ESV

But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything.

It is the revelation of resurrection that makes the cross glorious.

It is our confidence in the resurrection that makes the cross bearable.

It is our anticipation of resurrection that makes the cross attractive.

If I told you to go run a lap around this building and I’d give you a high five, most of you would tell me to forget it. Drew would do it, because he’s cool like that.

If I told you to go run a lap around this building and I’d give you a million dollars… and you believed me… and then you saw me handing other folks briefcases full of legit cash… it’d be a race! You couldn’t wait to do the hard part, disciplining your body, suffering for a moment for the GLORIOUS reward.

The resurrection validates everything Jesus said, and now his disciples see what’s on the other side of the cross.

The resurrection and glorification of Jesus transforms pain and failure of the cross to reveal the glory of the Lamb of God. Sin and Shame, Death and Darkness forever defeated. It is the glory of resurrection that transforms our understanding of "popularity, greatness and success" and send us running to take up our cross and follow. The "Way of the Cross" looks like foolishness to men, but it is the glory of God and our own resurrection and glory. He is Risen!!!

We are cross-bearers in this life, cross centered disciples of the crucified Jesus.

With Jesus in the Way of the Cross, with Jesus in the Resurrection, with Jesus in glory!

We anticipate His resurrection today. What the disciples didn’t know they were waiting for… we know in part. We anticipate the celebration of His resurrection tomorrow.

We anticipate our own resurrection.

Resurrection is Coming

This is true in every sense: in the spiritual sense, in the metaphorical sense, in the absolutely literal sense.

You are called in this life to take up your cross and follow Jesus in the Way of the Cross - embracing suffering and failure.

And maybe that’s you now, maybe that was you last season, but you know what it is like to suffer.

Suffering in ministry, suffering for Jesus, suffering in relationship, failing in relationship… thorns in the flesh…

The cross is digging into your back and you feel the weight of it, the pain of it, the shame of it...

But you know, Christian, that on the other side of the cross, not very far off now, is the resurrection.

Maybe that’s a metaphor. God turns things around in this life and you see blessing and joy on the other side of suffering.

Maybe that’s quite literal, this is the cross you bear until your death. You still win. Resurrection is on the other side of the cross, quite literally, you were dead and then BOOM, alive and alive forever in Jesus.

Resurrection is coming. Easter is coming.

In small ways in this life, little tastes of the future glory.

And then in fullness in the bodily resurrection in Jesus from the dead. That’s what we celebrate this Easter. The cross and the resurrection of Jesus. Our taking up of the cross now and our coming resurrection in Jesus.

Easter morning - the sequel.

How’s this for an Easter story:

Revelation 20:11–15 ESV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:1–4 ESV

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 22:20–21 ESV

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.