How Does The Empty Tomb Affect Me?

How does the empty tomb affect me?

Selected Scriptures

Good morning everyone and glad that you have joined with us in worship today.

There was a proper greeting that was giving by the early church after Jesus rose from the dead. They would say- He is Risen- He is risen indeed.

It was like a secret handshake- the believer knew what the correct response was.

The resurrection of Jesus is recorded in all the gospels which should speak of its importance-

Matthew 28:8-10

Mark 16:6-8

Luke 24:4-7

John 20:1-8

Between these Gospels we have an eye witness account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We have been looking at the Cross… First we looked at the love of God because of what He did on the cross. No greater showing of love than what Jesus did on the cross.

Last week, we looked and saw the forgiveness of God. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” The rebellious Jews nailed Jesus to the Cross. They had no idea what they were doing.

If I was to stay in the theme this morning it would be the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus to give us victory.

The sermon title this morning is what does the empty tomb mean for you and I?

That empty tomb changes everything!

If you came this morning to hear a boring religious message, I think you will be disappointed.

This is not the day to be religious,

It is not the day to be sad

It is a day to rejoice and be glad and to focus on the greatest event that ever occurred in human history.

If you were here at Rosedale on Friday for our Good Friday service, you saw the black-out curtains on the sanctuary windows, you saw speakers in dark clothing, you would have heard my words of the message that ended with… Jesus is dead! He is buried in a borrowed tomb.

If Jesus would have stayed that way, there would not to be a celebration, it would have been another funeral.

We have come to celebrate the empty tomb. The tomb was empty.

As hard as the Romans did everything they could to keep the body of Jesus in that tomb, the tomb was empty, and Jesus was not there.

They guarded the tomb with a legion of soldiers.

Webster’s dictionary defines “empty” as containing nothing.

The tomb that had the body of Jesus now contains nothing.

Ever go to the refrigerator to find an empty carton of milk?

Ever go to the grocery store and load up all your groceries on the belt and you open your wallet and find that it is empty? Not good.

Empty is not a good when it comes to your wallet or a carton of milk.

Empty is not good when you describe the condition of your soul, but when it comes to a tomb containing the body of Jesus Christ, it is a very good thing!

The women went to the tomb not expecting to find it empty, they actually planned on preparing Jesus body for burial.

The disciples, they thought the women were crazy until they went to the empty tomb themselves.

None of them expected to find the tomb empty.

None of them knew the power of the empty tomb would have in their lives or the world.

PEOPLE THINK YO ARE CRAZY UNTIL THEY THEMSELVES EXPERIENCE OF TH ERESURRECTION OF JESUS

The empty tomb has the power to change lives (repeat)

All God’s people say amen, most people don’t doubt it is possible, but ask how does it affect you and I?

One of the most compelling reasons to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the dramatic change that occurred in the lives of the disciples.

The lives of thousands upon thousands all the way down to the church today were changed.

All going from non-caring to transformation.

Society that shifted from devout Jews worshipping on Saturday, the sacred Sabbath, to Sunday, the first day of the resurrection.

When Jesus died, His followers lost all hope.

Their hope for liberation from Rome died with Jesus.

Their hopes for a new life died with Jesus.

But they discovered that the tomb was empty! Jesus was alive! That gave them Hope!

Because Jesus lives, we can also live one day like Him.

How does that empty tomb affect you?

When we discover the empty tomb and meet the Jesus that is alive!

Most of you don’t know the rebellious kid I was, flipping through the TV stations looking to watch a Brewers game one night, and running into a preacher named Billy Graham that told me I need Jesus. I laughed at him and made fun of him. Then the Spirit of God spoke to me, not in an audible voice, but I sensed His presence and I discovered the empty tomb, the Jesus that was alive! He changed my life that day!