The Tomb Was Not Empty
In None of the Gospels are we told that Jesus’s borrowed tomb was empty. If someone had stolen the body of Christ, the tomb would have been empty. If the body of Jesus had been left to rot, the tomb would have been worse than empty. If the tomb had been empty, then Christ would not have risen, and we would be most miserable. But Christ is risen, and the tomb is very full.
On that Sunday morning, the ladies came to anoint the dead body of Jesus. Instead, they found the tomb full of the Glory of God. They were met by angels who said, “He is not here. He is risen.” When Peter ran to the tomb, he did not understand what had happened. But later, he would realize that the tomb was permeated with peace and forgiveness for his troubled soul. Indeed, on Resurrection morning, the tomb was filled with the settled hope of eternity. It was also saturated with the power of God that brings salvation.
So often we find ourselves in a field of headstones. Heartbroken, we watch as a loved one is lowered into the grave. But when we are in the valley of the shadow of death, we are not without hope. Undoubtedly, we can find comfort in the knowledge that our Savior has already traveled this way. Fear not. Jesus’ tomb is filled with victory. Death has lost its sting, and the grave has lost its power. The stone was rolled away. This proved that the grave could not contain the Son of God. It will not hold the child of the King.
On Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate our risen Savior. An angel rolled the stone away to give us a look inside the tomb. There we see a folded napkin and crumpled grave clothes. But that is not all we find. You see, the tomb of Jesus is filled with a promise. This is the promise: Jesus is alive, death is not final, and life in Christ is eternal.
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Corinthians 15:50-57 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/1co.15.50-56.NKJV
Douglas & Deborah Huff
From Down Where the Pavement Ends
Email- douglas@pavementendsministry.com
amen and amen – many times we are too quick act before thinking that tomb sure is full – of power of grace and of truth – “just as He said”