In the early morning, on the third day, after the Friday crucifixion, it was dark.
Jesus was dead and buried in the tomb. The disciples had scattered in fear and confusion. It was yesterday’s news. It might be wrong.
They can’t believe it. He is the one they followed leaving behind their families; their only hope. Moreover,for them, he is their leader and teacher. He healed the sick and even raised Lazarus from the dead. But now, he is dead!
They were warned, but too many things have happened in a short span of time. They’re confused.
Matthew writes, “There was a violent earthquake…for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven…rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow.
A corpse/dead body turned king. Mask of death in one hand and the keys of heaven in the other.
And the angel said to the women, ‘Don’t be afraid…He’s not here. He has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where his body lay.’” Matthew 28:2-10
The tomb is empty!
He has risen. Not risen from sleep. Not risen from confusion. Not risen from slumber. Not risen from stupor. Not spiritually raised, but physically raised.
They saw Jesus in the flesh. They saw Him eat. They touched Him. Luke 24:42
The apostle Paul says that, after that, He was seen by over 500 brethren at once. 1 Corinthians 15:6
So, we know what Scripture says about what happened to Christ when He died. He rose.
It’s nothing we have experience; thus, we often wrestle in our minds. When I write ‘where are they now?’, my mind has been struggling to find the meaning of the resurrection. Will they know me when I get to meet them? In the interim, I realized, I’d be happier to meet my Savior who died for me.
The Empty Tomb:
What does it mean to the people who believe in Him? Simple. Because the tomb is empty, the promise of Christ is not. He is risen, thus the empty tomb.
And what is the promise of Christ? “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” If you trust Christ with your life, He will take care of your death.
Hope is the heartbeat behind the message of the cross and the resurrection.
The story didn’t end at the cross. It ended at an empty tomb…and it still speaks hope to us today.
Your empty tomb:
Death is inevitable. Life is short and fragile. Some of us will be mourned and get a proper burial. However, not everyone is guaranteed the same.
The way, the date, time, and place of how we leave the earth will differ. By then, our soul will be somewhere in someplace. I don’t know if it sounded so much like a fantasy to you.
I believe in a resurrected body, on a resurrected and renewed planet, in the presence of a resurrected Lord, ever living in peace in a kingdom. God will have His Garden of Eden. And I want to be a part of it. Rev.21
This is the Easter miracle of the empty tomb – the hope for our life. If you want it, there is no holding you back; make the decision now.