What the Empty Tomb Means Today
Easter Sunday • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
All four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, tell of that first Easter morning. Each one is a unique perspective. Matthew has an emphasis on on the stone was rolled back. Mark shows the ladies discussing how they will roll the stone back only to get there and find that it has already been rolled back. Luke shows the ladies entering the tomb to find it without the body of Jesus and seeing two men that asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” John has Mary Magdalene running from the tomb to Simon Peter and John saying, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” All four Gospels clearly state that the tomb was empty. The tomb that had been sealed and guarded by Rome’s finest and bravest soldiers was now empty. The one they had crucified on Good Friday and placed in that borrowed tomb later that day, was now gone.
We have all heard the story. We have seen it portrayed in pageants over the years and perhaps even seen it demonstrated on the big screen in great Hollywood fashion. We celebrate Easter because of what happened and is recorded over 2000 years ago. We come to church, we praise God, we sing “He Lives,” we color eggs and give the kids an opportunity to find them with candy and money. But what does the story of the empty tomb really mean to us today?
Today as we celebrate this glorious day, we are going to look a bit further at Matthew’s perspective. Our text is found in Matthew 28:1-10
1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
So, again, what exactly does the empty tomb mean to us today?
The Empty Tomb Casts Light on the Darkness (vs. 1-2)
The Empty Tomb Casts Light on the Darkness (vs. 1-2)
I notice in Matthew’s Gospel he goes into great detail about the time in which the empty tomb was first discovered. It was after the Sabbath. Jewish law forbade any work on the last day of the week. They had to wait until after the Sabbath to go and prepare the body of Jesus for the final burial. I imagine they were anxious to complete that process. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary are up early in the morning to go look at the tomb. This whole scenario reminds me today that the empty tomb casts light on the darkness. Darkness is not a good place to be. My parents used to say that after dark, I needed to be home so I would not get in trouble or come in contact with danger. Trouble and danger are synonomous with darkness aren’t they?
The darkness that was over the world caused much trouble and danger. In fact, the darkness and danger of sin had separated mankind from God Almighty. There had to be some type of atonement for that sin in order that mankind could be reconciled with a Holy and Mighty God. Jesus came into this world to take away our sin!
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
The empty tomb that early morning cast a light on the darkness because that sin had been once and for all defeated! When sin was defeated, salvation was declared!
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation is declared because our Savior is delivered!
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
The empty tomb casts light on the darkness and His name is Jesus Christ our Resurrected Lord!
The Empty Tomb Continues the Lord’s Work (vs. 2-5)
The Empty Tomb Continues the Lord’s Work (vs. 2-5)
Next, notice that the empty tomb continues the Lord’s work. Matthew’s account tells us there was a violent earthquake and an angel of the Lord came down from heaven rolled back the stone. The Bible says his appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. Then it says that the guards were so afraid they shook and became like dead men. I believed I would have rolled over and played possum too had I experienced those powerful factors. But you have to remember, all throughout the Old Testament, there were examples of earthquakes, angels and men being terrified.
6 the Lord Almighty will come
with thunder and earthquake and great noise,
with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.
When God makes Himself known He does so with authority because He is God Almighty! Those ladies got to witness God making Himself known and it was no doubt that their particular findings got their attention.
These particular findings were a presentation of the Gospel itself. Those of you who can share your faith know that there are three things that are essential: our past, our present and our future. These ladies came looking for something that was in their past. What happened in their present time certainly changed their future.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
Have you come to the point in your life where you are looking for Jesus? He is quite easy to be found because He is looking for you! He is looking for you even if you have not been a religious person.
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
All you have to do is call on the name of the Lord and He will save you! This is prophecy fulfilled!
The Psalmist wrote:
16 But I call to God,
and the Lord saves me.
The empty tomb continues the Lord’s work! Only the Lord and save us! Not our jobs, not our grandmother, not our money, but only by calling on the Name of the Lord will you be saved from that darkness and sinfulness we previously mentions.
The Empty Tomb Captivates Us to Believe (vs. 6-7)
The Empty Tomb Captivates Us to Believe (vs. 6-7)
Another thing the empty tomb does is it captivates us to believe. The good news these ladies received that first Easter morning came from the angel.
6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Jesus taught many times that He would die and raise from the dead. The disciples and those around Him did not fully understand Him and all He taught, but scripture tells us that in the days and weeks to come, they were indeed captivated to believe by trusting the Lord.
Say these verses with me from Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.
These women that came to the tomb trusted the Lord and the word from His messenger. They did not lean on their own understanding. In fact, they took a leap of faith and their path took them straight to the feet of Jesus! Oh dear friend are you taking that leap of faith? You have to remember that when we take a leap of faith we are jumping right into the nail-scarred hands of our Lord and Savior!
28 You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
These ladies had stood at the foot of the cross and watched Him die. They heard that He was dead and had even watched His lifeless body come off of the cross and carried into the tomb. Don’t you think they watched Him be placed in the tomb and those religious leaders and Romans sealing that tomb with that stone? After all, they knew exactly where that grave was as they went out that early morning. In fact, we have already mentioned that Mark’s Gospel records their conversation,
3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
They found out really quick that what was proclaimed about Jesus being dead was no longer true. They traded out that lie for the truth the angel said in what to tell His disciples:
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
That empty tomb captivated them to believe!
The Empty Tomb Compels Us to Change (vs. 8-10)
The Empty Tomb Compels Us to Change (vs. 8-10)
That empty tomb also compels us to change! They were not planning to celebrated they were there to mourn. However, their mourning turned to a full fledged celebration! Isn’t that just like the gospel? The gospel transforms us!
I love verse 8:
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Afraid yet filled with joy. Have you ever been there? You were scared to death yet you were the most excited ever! That is what happens to us when we allow the gospel to transform us.
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The Gospel transforms us right into the presence of Jesus. We see in Matthew’s account that they took off running in obedience to what had been commanded to them by the angel of the Lord. they were being transformed well they hurried away and ran right into Jesus the Risen Savior Himself!
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
That reassurance helped them to go and tell the good good news. It also compelled them to gather with other believers. Did you know that every time believers gather together, Jesus is there?
“There they will see me.”
The empty tomb casts light on the darkness.
The empty tomb continues the Lord’s work.
The empty tomb captivates us to believe.
The empty tomb compels a life change.
The question is, what will it do for you?