FOUR THINGS THE EMPTY TOMB TELLS US
Luke 24:1-6; 36-47
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. It was Easter. A Sunday School teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing the opening.
2. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the resurrection, she asked: "And what do you think were Jesus’ first words when He came bursting out of that tomb alive?" A hand shot up into the air from the rear of the classroom.
3. A little girl leapt out of her chair and shouted out excitedly "I know, I know!" "Good" said the teacher, "Tell us, what were Jesus first words." And Extending her arms high into the air she said: "TA-DA!"
B. TEXT VIDEO: “RESURRECTION WORSHIP INTRO”
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee?” 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”….41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:1-6, 36-39,41-43,46-47.
C. THE TURNING POINT OF HISTORY
1. The day Christ died was the most important day in all of human history. Matthew described how when Jesus was dying on the cross, the sun became dark for three hours, the veil of the Temple was torn from top to bottom, the ground began to rumble with an earthquake, and that the graves of many righteous people around Jerusalem were opened.
2. The Bible relates that the thief on the cross next to Jesus and even the Roman Centurion in charge of the execution became believers in Christ as a result of the miraculous events surrounding his crucifixion.
3. But something much greater than these isolated events was taking place; Jesus was reconciling the human race to God, He being the final sacrifice to take away sin. It was captured in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
D. THESIS
1. In detective shows like Naval Crime Scene Investigation (NCSI) in which the smallest fragments of cloth, droplets of fluid, a hair or an imprint of a shoe can prove the guilt or innocence of persons implicated in a crime.
2. In similar fashion, the empty tomb of Jesus is an unparalleled piece of evidence. It points to an event so startling, so shocking, that no human being should pass through this life without giving it the greatest consideration and thought. This empty tomb of Jesus is like a witness on the witness stand in court. Many theories have been spun to try to explain it, but in the end, only one explanation satisfies all the varying facts.
3. This morning we’re going to look at “Four Things the Empty Tomb Tells Us.” FIRST…
I. WE DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF DEATH
A. OUR DREADED ENEMY
1. We have many fears in our lives, but undoubtedly the worst is the fear of Death. It’s the great unknown; it can usually only be reached by great suffering – by our physical bodies failing.
2. Many people think of it as a loss of personality or as non-existence. But that’s not true.
3. Millions of people report having Near-Death Experiences, where they died and found they were still aware/conscious after death.
4. They felt their spirit leave their body and often began moving through a dark tunnel or passageway, at the end of which was a powerful light.
5. Many tell of a “Being of Light” who reviewed their life before sending them back [endnotes]. (Some researchers found 20% of NDE adults perceived a threat of eternal punishment for their wrongs.)
6. The Bible is more certain: there IS Life After Death! We will all stand before God and give an account for our lives, whether good or bad.
7. The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest Proof that there is Life After Death!
B. THE DEATH OF JESUS
There was no question to any people present at Jesus’ crucifixion, that He was completely and unalterably DEAD.
1. The Jewish leaders made sure that He was dead. They were His enemies and wanted to make sure that He died. They waited at the foot of the cross until they were sure he was dead.
2. Jesus’ disciples knew He was dead. They heard Him cry & breathe His last. They took His cold and stiff corpse from the cross and placed it in the tomb. They KNEW He was dead! Later, when some claimed He was alive, they didn’t believe it and had to be convinced that Jesus was alive.
3. The most certain proof that Jesus died on the cross was the Roman soldiers method of execution. Crucifying people was their everyday normal business. Their lives would be forfeit if they let a prisoner live and escape.
a. The soldiers watched Jesus “give up his spirit”—the last violent shaking of his body, John 19:30. They undoubtedly checked the temperature of His body and noted when he became cold and stiff. They observed the change of the color of his body from pinkish to yellow.
b. And to make certain beyond all doubt they thrust a spear into his rib cage – through all His vital organs, John 19:34. Jesus didn’t swoon on the cross; He was unalterably DEAD!
C. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
1. The certainty of His death makes even more AWESOME the power of His resurrection! His resurrection was UNSTOPPABLE!
a. No matter how badly they mutilated his body, they couldn’t stop his resurrection!
b. The Guards at the tomb – couldn’t stop it.
c. The large stone and the seal – couldn’t stop it.
d. Pontius Pilate – couldn’t stop it.
e. Caesar and his legions – couldn’t stop it.
f. Not the Atheists, the Liberals, the Doubters, or Scoffers;
g. Not the Presidents, Not the Parliaments, No Power in the universe, heaven, or hell could stop it! His resurrection was unstoppable!
2. The Apostle Paul tells us that there were 500 people at one time who saw Jesus after His resurrection -- ALIVE – and doubters could question them and they’d gladly tell the truthfulness of His resurrection 1 Cor. 15:4-8.
3. Luke (Acts 1:3) tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples over a period of 40 days, in at least 12 appearances, with hundreds seeing Him! It was not an isolated thing.
D. THE LONG AWAITED SAVIOR HAS COME
1. Jesus’ coming and dying for our sins wasn’t unexpected; it was prophesied of in the Old Testament by over 332 specific prophecies about His life.
2. Hank Hanegraff says, “The Resurrection is not merely important to the historic Christian faith – without it there would be no Christianity. It elevates Christianity above all other world religions. Through the Resurrection Christ demonstrated that He does not stand in a line of peers with Abraham, Buddha, Confucius, or Mohammad. Jesus Christ is utterly unique. He had the power not only to lay down His life, but also to take it up again.”
3. Paul declared that the resurrection designated Jesus as God’s only Son. “[God’s] Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” Romans 1:3-4.
4. Just so there is no mistake, Jesus is called Almighty (Rev. 1:8), the Creator (John 1:3), God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16), Immanuel (Isa. 7:14, meaning “God with us”), King Eternal (1 Tim. 1:17), Lord of Glory (1 Cor. 2:8), Mighty God (Isa. 9:6), Author of Life (Acts 3:15), Savior (Luke 2:11), and Word of God (Rev. 19:13), among many others. THE 2ND THING THE EMPTY TOMB TELLS US IS:
II. SIN & ITS CONSEQUENCES ARE CONQUERED
A. THE TERRIBLE POWER OF SIN
1. Since the Fall of man in sin, we’ve all had a “bent” toward evil. Even at our best, we still harbor evil intentions.
2. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” This means that we have all been infected with the “germ” of sin. It is this infection which keeps us out of heaven.
3. Isaiah 59:2 says, “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
B. JESUS BORE YOUR SINS
1. Isaiah 53:5-6 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed….and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.”
2. Once Jesus died for our sins, as our substitute, there could be no more accusation against us, because our debt was paid (that is, if we’ve surrendered our lives to Christ).
3. Did you read the B.C. cartoon, where 2 women are sitting on a small hill. One is reading the Bible and says, “Oh, my goodness. . . It says here. . . Jesus descended into hell!” The other is shocked and says, “You’re kidding!” Then the woman with the Bible says, “Oh, no. . . Not to stay! He just dropped in to cancel our reservations!”
4. The old song says, “What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
The 3RD THING THE EMPTY TOMB TELLS US IS:
III. THE PROMISE OF A NEW LIFE (NOW)
A. NEW CREATURES
1. Not only is our old life blotted out by the blood of Jesus, but we are credited with His righteousness, and given a clean slate, a new start. How wonderful it is to have a spotless record!
2. The Bible tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” The Greek speaks of us becoming a new Creatures in Christ and children of God, having His nature inside us.
3. “For by these He has granted to us His precious… promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” 2 Pet. 1:4 NASB.
B. A NEW LIFE
1. How many of you would like to start your life over and –
-- leave a few things out?
-- reverse a few dumb decisions?
2. We can’t do that, but we can start over in the sight of God. If Jesus can change:
-- Prostitutes into saintly women,
-- Murderers into apostles,
-- Judgmental, Harsh men into Apostles of Love, then God can transform you too. Trust in him.
3. Romans 8:1 begins with these wonderful words, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” That means there’s nothing for you to feel bad about if you’re trusting in Christ for your salvation. Your new life can begin today as you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. The 4TH THING THE EMPTY TOMB TELLS US IS:
IV. RESURRECTION & IMMORTALITY ARE POSSIBLE
A. UNCERTAINTY TURNED TO REALITY
1. Four hundred years before the birth of Christ, the renowned Greek philosopher Socrates drank the poison hemlock and lay down to die. “Shall we live again” his friends asked? The dying philosopher could only reply, “I hope so, but no man can know.”
2. Paul said, “But now is Christ risen and become the first fruits of them that slept” 1 Cor. 15:20.
B. IT’S FRIDAY, BUT SUNDAY’S COMING
1. It’s Friday! Jesus is praying, Peter’s straying, Judas is betraying -- But Sunday’s comin.’
2. It’s Friday. Pilate is judging, the council is fudging, the crowd’s are shouting, the disciples are pouting. Mary is crying & Peter’s denying. But they don’t know - that Sunday’s comin.’
3. It’s Friday! With whips Jesus is torn; with scarlet robe and crown of thorns He’s adorned; by Him the Cross is borne. But they don’t know - that Sunday’s comin.’
4. It’s Friday! On the Cross Jesus hangs, and feels its pangs. Sin is crushing, His blood is gushing, His life is rushing out. Can no one save Him? He who, so brave, dared face the grave? No one. It’s Friday, But Sunday’s comin.’
5. It’s Friday! The earth trembles; the sky grows dark. My King yields his spirit. Death’s victory is stark. Sin has prevailed, the saints bewail and Satan’s laughter exhales.
6. It’s Friday! Jesus was buried. At the tomb the soldiers tarried. The stone was rolled, Death had its hold, and even the Sun went cold. But….it was only Friday and Sunday’s comin’!
C. THEN…IT…WAS…SUNDAY!
1. Heaven bended, God’s power rended, the angels descended! The soldiers quaked, the earth shaked, the stone popped, and time stopped!
2. It’s Sunday! Christ arose, matter froze. Light flashed, darkness crashed; Hell reeled, Satan squealed, demons kneeled & thunder peeled!
3. Sin was defeated, death was cheated, and our salvation completed! Jesus ascended, the Throne He attended, our Sonship He extended, with lives un-ended!
4. Praise God for the Resurrection of Jesus! It’s Sunday now, so let the Son set you free!
[adapted from S.M. Lockridge’s message, It’s Friday But Sunday’s A Comin.]
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: “PURSUED BY LOVE”
1. One night, a thief stole a car not realizing the awful
danger he was facing. On the passenger’s seat, the owner had placed a box of crackers laced with rat poison. When the Police were alerted about the stolen VW they tripled their search for the vehicle and the thief. If they did not get to the thief in time, he might eat the poisoned crackers and die a painful death.
2. Police all over Los Angeles were frantically searching for the stolen VW bug. The thief could not have known that the authorities were more interested in saving his life than of recovering the stolen car. The cost of the car was a few thousand dollars, but the price of the man’s soul was priceless. What a tragedy it was that the man didn’t know he was being sought for good, and not for his incarceration.
3. Isn’t that the way it is between us and God? We don’t realize that our time is running out and that God – in His goodness – is trying to reach us to save us? Why are we still running? Jesus died for us on the cross so we don’t have to suffer eternal punishment. All we have to do is stop and accept His free gift of eternal life!
B. ALTAR CALL
1. Forgiveness of sins; Surrender to Jesus Christ’s love.
2. Christian’s renew commitment to Jesus.
Endnotes
Mauro, James. "Bright lights, big mystery", Psychology Today, July 1992.
Greyson, Bruce (2003) "Near-Death Experiences in a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic Population". Psychiatric Services, December, Vol. 54 No. 12. The American Psychiatric Association
Van Lommel P, van Wees R, Meyers V, Elfferich I. (2001) "Near-Death Experience in Survivors of Cardiac Arrest: A prospective Study in the Netherlands," The Lancet, December 15; 358 (9298):2039-45. Table 2.
IANDS Near-Death Experiences: Is this what happens when we die? Durham: International Association for Near-Death Studies.
