The Empty Tomb
Notes
Transcript
The Empty Tomb
The Empty Tomb
He has Risen!
today is a very special day
Today in my opinion is even above Christmas
which why I hope each and every one of you received a
gift as you walked in
if you didnt
please get one on your way out
Turn with me please to the Gospel of Luke
We will be in Chapters 24:1-12
on our 5th installment of the road to the cross
Our message this morning is titled
“The Empty Tomb”
and what we will cover today is indeed the most important
aspect of our faith
The resurrection of Jesus Christ
Last week we covered,
rather in depth
the crucifixion of our Lord
Jesus Christ
and just how significant that event was for us
we learned that the significance of the cross
isn’t about the shape of it
or even what it was made out of
we know there were many people
that met their fate upon that cross
in fact we met 2 others that met that fate
that very day
but we also realized that there was something different
about that man on the middle cross
that man that was beaten, shamed
mocked, and murdered
we learned that the weight and punishment placed upon
his shoulders
was not put there by his own guilt
but in fact,
it was placed there because of ours
Upon that cross
we learned that no matter your
shortcomings
no matter you infrimeries
no matter how far from God you are
He is there,
ready to bring you in His Kingdom
and not only that
not only is there not a single soul
that is too far from Gods grace
we also learned through the thief on the
cross
that it is never too late either
You are never too old or too young
to fall down at the foot of the cross
Because the
significance of the cross
is realized only in the person that was on it
But if the story had ended there
then we would have just had
a heroic event
performed by a heroic man
But brothers and sisters
that is not where the story ends
Because the tomb was empty!
Please stand with me as read the word of God!
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’And they remembered his words.
Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened.
Illustration
Illustration
I would like quickly establish just what
the resurrection means to us a followers of Christ
See
The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the central fact of Christian history.
As I mentioned earlier the cross it significant
But it is the resurrection that is at the foundation
And the resurrection began, with an empty grave
And On it,
the church is built; without it, there would be no Christian church today.
if not for the empty grave
Other religions have strong ethical systems, concepts about paradise and afterlife, and various holy Scriptures.
But Only Christianity has a God who became human, literally died for his people, and was raised again in power and glory to rule his church forever.
Because Christ was raised from the dead,
Christians know that the kingdom of heaven has broken into earth’s history.
The world is now headed for redemption, not disaster.
Because of the resurrection
God’s mighty power is at work destroying sin,
creating new lives,
and preparing believers for Jesus’ second coming.
Because of the Resurrection, Christians know that death has been conquered
and that they, too, will be raised from the dead to live forever with Christ.
The Resurrection gives authority to the church’s witness in the world.
I mean let just look at the early preaching sermons in the book of Acts.
And the apostles’ most important message was the proclamation that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead!
The Resurrection helps Christians find meaning even in great tragedy.
No matter what happens in their walk with the Lord, the Resurrection gives them hope for the future.
The Resurrection assures Christians that Christ is alive and ruling his kingdom.
He is not legend; he is alive and real.
and the same power that brought Jesus back from the dead
is available to believers so that they can live for him in an evil world.
Luke (Life Application Bible Commentary) (p. 552). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
Brothers and sisters there is nothing more special than today
Today is our victory
Today our hope is restored
Today is resurrection day
So without further adou
lets walk through
that first easter
as we get a first hand look
at how our Lord and saviour conquered death
through the eyes of the women that
were so close to him
we will see in this account just how much they loved the Lord
and just how much they grieved for him
and just how much they were restored
through him
our 3 points this morning are.
Grief at the Grave (V1-3)
Hope in the Grave (V4-8)
Life from the Grave (V9-12)
Grief at the Grave
Grief at the Grave
Our text opens with,
On the first day of the week,
This is significant because all of the gospels open this way
why? because so much emphasis is placed on the
sabbath and those rules that came along it
See the women could not visit the tomb during the sabbath
and the sabbath started Friday at sunset
just after Jesus’ crucifixion
and ended saturday night
at dusk
so this ensured that Jesus would go
untouched so to speak for 3
days
for 3 days no contact would be made with is body
so the women,
after pinpointing exactly where Joseph buried jesus
retreated into the sabbath accournding to the commandment
and in this time gap
because they were forbidden by the sabbath rules
to visit the grave
theg were left with a lot of time to sit
and dwell
to dwell on the things they thought would occur
and the things that actually occured
we can only imagine the grief
these woman and the other disciples were feeling
a sense of loss as their best friend
teacher, and beloved one was just
murdered
and not only murdered but
brutally shamed, tortured
and crucified
we have all been there right
we have all grieved at the side of
a loved one
looked upon that one knowing
their fate was sealed and there was
nothing we could do about it
the grief when they pass away
it is all too real to us
just as it was to them
they also grieved because they really
believed he was the messiah
they really believed that he would lead them
into freedom and deliver them from bondage
oh, if only they knew
so with an entire night, day, and another
night to grieve and ponder
they waited for that first day of the week
and
therefore, this was the first opportunity
they had to visit the tomb and properly prepare the body
They were so anxious to do this our text
continues with
very early in the morning
the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb
so while it was still dark
they walked
in order to get there just at dusk
just as the sun was rising over the mountains
and these spices they were taking were taken as a sign
of love and respect
very similar to how we take flowers to
a grave site today
their plan was to apply the spices
to his body
and
grieve by his side
let the mourning process
begin
only they had one problem
see Mark’s gospel tells us that
while they were on their way
they wondering how in the world
they were going to get that stone moved
we know from the other accounts
that a large stone had been placed in from of the
tomb
and that it had been sealed
and that Roman guards were there as well
protecting the grave
However, they when they made it to the tomb
they didn’t have to worry about that
because they as verse 2 continues
Luke 24:2–3 “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
Now why do you think that stone was rolled away?
was it so that Jesus could get out?
No!
He was already gone!
it was so that they could see in
so that they see for themselves the inside of that tomb
and inside that tomb
They did not find the body of the Lord Jesus
because it tomb was empty
Can you imagine the thoughts that are now going through their minds
One more thing to add to the stack of grief
not only had they witnessed all the things they witnessed
and grieved for the past 2 days
but now they have no body to prepare
no body to mourn
no body say one last goodbye to
this empty tomb
must have left them empty
have you ever felt that way?
empty?
one of the ways feeling empty is actually conceptualized is by saying without purpose
so to say you are feeling empty inside
is essentially the same as saying
that you feel as though you have no purpose
and that’s exactly what these ladies were feeling
what where these ladies to do now without Jesus
their purpose was gone
they had just spent 3 years with this man
He was all they ever knew
and now, he was gone
again they were empty inside
and that is an unfortunate matter for many today as well
see so many today seek to find real meaning in life
through the wrong avenues
one thing we hear to help us with this is
do whatever makes you happy
follow your heart
create positive emotions for yourself
imagine your best possible self
or how about this one
live your best life now..
unfortunately that train of thought
has led us into one of the most lonely times in history
think about just how connected we are
thanks to social media
the internet etc
but then think of just how lonely
we are as well
depression is at an all time high
we are constantly comparing ourselves to
people we will never
meet,
never see,
and definitely never interact with
all because we long to have purpose
we long to be accepted
we long to be wanted
and we try to fill it up with this
self help stuff
or something elese
that is
based entirely on a
system that’s meant to keep
us coming back for more
see when we try to fill that emptiness
with the ways of the world
we will just continue
to feel empty
but what if I told you the answer
to our emptiness
and the meaning to our life
was found in that empty tomb
as the women stared inside
see the meaning of life
the answer to our emptiness
is found in the risen
Christ
as we will see in our next point
this morning
which is...
Hope in the Grave
Hope in the Grave
what happens next in our easter story is nothing less
than supernatural
and the beginning of the hope for these women
and for us
Luke 24:4–5 “While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.
so as the women were standing there, trying to
put all of this together
I mean we have this huge stone
rolled away
we have the body of our teacher
missing
their heads must have been spinning
then all the while trying to put these pieces together
we have 2 men show up
now Luke tells us they were men
and in fact that is what they appeared to be
but the other gospels tell us they were
angels which is true as well
see angels will often show up
looking as men
and to add further detail these angels had a glow about them
which adds the fact that we know they were angels
then in typical fashion these
women fell to the ground
both out of fear and respect
and this is something we see all through scripture
when men or women come into the
presence of angels
now the angels spent no time getting to the point
Luke 24:5–7 “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but he has risen!
Why are you looking for the living among the dead?
that reminds me of something
Lets read Ephesians 2:1–6 “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
Do we notice a lot of the same words here?
Brothers and sisters, we were all once dead
not in a physical sense but in a spiritual sense
our natural state is one of seperation from God
our natural state is one in which we are ruled
by the power of the air
the darkness of the devil
the ways of this world
our very souls want to live according to the flesh
so that we can do whatever we want
whenever we want with no repercussions
that is again why so much foolish advice is thrown
around today
such as mentioned above
because as long as we look inside our selves for
worth
as long as we look for worth
from others in the same fallen state we are in
we have no chance of entering
the holiness and righteousness of God
and left up to our own accord that is exactly what we will
get
but let us look to 2 very important words in this text
BUT GOD!
BUT GOD!
because he is rich in mercy
because of his great love
He has
made us alive with Christ
even though we were dead
even though we used to drink like a fish
or cuss like a sailor
or live a life that would make the
devil blush
we no longer have to live that way
BUT GOD!
See these women were looking for Jesus
where the dead should have been
but he was not there
as the angels said
he has risen
and because he has risen
so shall we one day
because by rising from the dead
by conquering death and sin
he set us free from that spiral
of self
and led into life with him
because this grave is empty
we have hope for a new life
we have hope that this is
the worst it is going to get
we have hope that can only be found in
the risen Christ
and why can we be confident in that hope
how can we be confident that our sins were paid for
Because of v7 back in Luke 24 which reads
Luke 24:6–7 because it.., ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’”
Because Jesus did what he did upon that cross
Because he was led as lamb to be slaughtered
because he was beaten, mocked, shamed
and hung naked upon a tree
our sins were forgiven
because he hung on that cross instead of us
the punishment we deserve
was paid for in full
but… in order for that to sustain
in order that substitution to last for all of
eternity
one other thing must happen
and that is the fact that Jesus is to rise from the dead
because when he rose from the dead
it sealed our fate as children of God
and that is why hope is found in the grave
the empty grave
and upon the angels reminding the women of this
they remembered his words
and the many times he had predicted that this
very thing would occur
and to the women
it all began to make sense
everything happened just as
Jesus had said
and if this is true
then his other words must be true as well
words such as
John 10:11 ““I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.””
John 6:35 ““I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.”
John 8:12 “Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.””
John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”
Matthew 6:25–26 ““Therefore I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Consider the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?”
John 16:33 “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.””
Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””
Matthew 28:20 “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Because the tomb was empty we can put our faith
in every single word Jesus said
and in those words
we will find life
which is our final point this morning
Life from the Grave
Life from the Grave
Luke 24:9–12 “Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had happened.”
with this exciting news
and with this new found outlook of
hope that is found with Jesus’ resurrection
they went back to the disciples
the same disciples
that had abandoned Jesus at the cross
the same disciples whom were also
sorrowful and bewildered of the events
that occured on the cross
and they told them the good news
they told them of the angels
the empty tomb
and of the Risen Jesus Christ
In fact Matthew 28:7 tells us exactly what they told them
if you want to look it up later
but the disciples didn’t believe them
Lets consider the disciples frame of thought here as well
they felt humiliated by their disloyalty to Christ
Peter remembered his denial of Christ
Judas ended up being the betrayer and had hung himself
Jesus was executed
Had they been duped?
was Jesus only a great teacher and not the messiah
had Jesus lied about all He had said
certainly this doubt had crept in
now here are the women
telling them Jesus rose from the dead?
our text says these words seemed like
nonsense to them
and they didn’t believe the women
But good ole’ Peter
possibly feeling the weight of denial decides
to look for himself
and to not be out done by Peter
John takes off also and they have a footrace
to the grave
and when they looked in they only saw
the linen clothes
with no body inside of them
then they sat back
amazed at what happened
Later in Lukes Gospel we will see
Jesus appear to them
we will see Jesus minister
to them
we will see Jesus prove he is bodily
raised by having Thomas put his fingers in the holes
he will have them touch his flesh
he will even eat with them
then this doubt will turn to belief
a belief that will change the world
some would argue that all this was false
we have heard things like
Jesus was only unconscious and was later revived
yet we know that the roman guard personally told Pilate that Jesus was dead
and that is why they didn’t have to break his legs
they simply put a spear through his heart
Some would say that the women went to the wrong grave
yet we know they followed Joseph to that tomb
Or maybe the body was stolen
yet the tomb was sealed with roman guards
guarding the site
how about religious leaders stealing the body
well that doesn’t make sense
the whole reason they moved a rock in front of the
grave and placed guards there was to ensure these rumors wouldn’t get started
And finally, maybe the disciples stole the body
well for one we already know it was sealed and guarded
so unless the disciples suddenly attained the ability to fight off roman soldiers while simultaneously gaining superhuman strength
to roll away the stone
this seems unlikely
that, along with the fact that every single one of the disciples turned apostles
well all expect John whom ended up being boiled
and sent into exile
were martyred or killed for their faith
each of them in separate yet brutal ways
and none of them denied Christ’s bodily resurrection
They preached this message even though it meant their lives!
is that something liars and thief would do?
no, not at all
Brothers and sisters because Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead after 3 days
we can rest assured that we now have
life
life that was only able to be provided though
the work in that empty grave
and should we run into doubt
should we run into despair
let us remember that because that
grave was empty we can have our lives changed
just as the disciples lives were changed
Nothing is more important to the Christian life
than remembering the gospel
one of the greatest challenges we face
is keeping the truth of our Lord
in the forefront of our minds
we will forget at times
we will wonder
we will stray
but if we keep the words of Jesus
and Gods word close to us at all times
if we remain on his path
then we will never be overcome
by times of trial and sorrows
we will understand the purpose
of our lives is to live for Christ
and to die for Christ
for we cannot find meaning in anything else
the greatest of love can be seen
as emptying ones self for another
and that is exactly what Jesus did for us
and it is confirmed by the empty grave
So as we close this morning,
let us remember
while we may grieve sometimes
there is hope and life
found in the fact that we have a risen savior
that in all the other religions of the world
man is seeking God
yet in our case
with the one true religion
God is seeking us
So if you have not given your life to the
Lord, I pray you do so with urgency
for we are not promised tomorrow
as Romans 10:9–10 “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.”
and if you are already a believer
may we rest in full assurance
that that grave was empty
so that we do not have to be
Let us Pray!