The Empty Tomb of His Majesty, the King
Matthew 28: 1-8; Mark 16: 1-8; Luke 24: 1-10
Their work had begun a few evenings ago. The women from Galilee that had followed Jesus to Jerusalem for the Passover celebrations had not expected things to turn out the way it had. Their self-appointed rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth had met what they thought were some unforeseen circumstances while here in the Holy City.
Just a week earlier their entourage had left the home of Lazarus in Bethany and completed their journey into the city of Jerusalem. On that particular day as Jesus came to the crest of the Mount of Olives he mounted a colt of a donkey that a couple of the male disciples had found for him according to his instructions.
As they began to descend the hill they were greeted by a large crowd of other travelers and city dwellers. Noticing this was Jesus, the crowd began to turn this simple way down the hillside into a grand parade as if a royal subject was entering the city.
The children began to gather dropped palm frauns and lifted them high into the air waving them as Jesus passed by. The older onlookers began to remove their outer garments and spread them on the road in front of beast of burden to make a royal carpet of welcome.
Immediately a few of those celebrating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem started singing one of King David’s psalms of worship: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” In no time the entire multitude had joined in with added shouts of praise: “Hosanna! To the King of Israel!” Others boldly shouted: “Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that comes in the name of the Lord!” While others yelled: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!”
It seemed a befitting celebration. After all, Jesus was the Son of the Living God. He had truly demonstrated his royal, holy linage to all those who had witnessed his preaching, teachings and miracles. Surely this would be the beginning of a new era of peace with the sacred kingdom of Yahweh as its primary ruling order and not the heathen nation of Rome.
But by midweek thing began to change drastically. Jesus had met a few challenges from the high priests and scribes of the Law. He had also distressed many of the Temple Mount merchants and money changers by overturning their tables causing the money to scatter across the open courtyard. Not only that, he broke open some of the sheep pens containing the sacrificial lambs that were there for purchase and sheep were running everywhere! It was quite a scene!
Not but a few hours after this upheaval of holy cleansing in the temple area, Jesus and his twelve closest disciples joined in on an upper roof of an Essenic friend’s home. A feast celebrating the Passover had been prepared there earlier in the day by a couple of the women disciples.
That night, the Seder took on a whole new meaning. Jesus had shared as normal the four cups of wine and the unleavened matzo. He explained that one of the cups near the end of the meal was representative of his blood that would be shed to establish a new covenant between himself and all of mankind. He also took a piece of the matzo, broke it into and handed it to the disciples to eat of his broken body which was to remind them of giving his very life for the world.
Being the guest of honor that night, Jesus did an odd thing. Customarily, the host of a dinner or party would have his servants wash the feet of all guests upon their entrance into the house. This was to show his hospitality for their taking time to journey by foot to be his guest and to honor their presence in his home. But this night things went a little different.
After the meal had ended, Jesus arose from the table. He went to the corner of the roof to a side buffet where some of the utensils and food items had been stored during the meal. There he took a pitcher of water and poured its contents into a nearby basin. He then wrapped a towel around his waist and bent down before each of the disciples and washed their feet. All of his followers were confused. What did this mean? Why didn’t the host of the house have his servants do this? Had the women forgotten to make preparations for such?
Peter and a few of them questioned Jesus. Jesus response: “What I am doing you can’t comprehend tonight, but in a few days you will understand completely.” Peter’s first response was that Jesus didn’t need to stoop so low and do this thing to him. Jesus knew immediately of Peter’s true loyalty and that Peter, as well as one of the others, would turn coat in the next few hours. As a matter of fact, Jesus made mention that even one of those who would receive his Servanthood through this act of humility would go beyond the act of denial of a friendship with him and transact a betrayal. Turning to Judas he said: “What you do, do quickly!” Judas immediately left.
As the night was drawing to a close, Jesus felt the need to pray. So he and the eleven left the home of their guest and headed out of the Essenic quarter through one of the gates of the city. It was a clear moonlit night but yet somewhat chilly. In the shadows nearby lurked an unrecognizable evilness. In the lights of the night their own shadows preceded them as they journeyed.
They then crossed the Kidron Valley and finally reached their destination in a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, near the location of an olive press. There among the trees of the olive grove they rested. After a brief breather, Jesus stood and asked Peter, James and John to follow him a little farther into the grove of trees.
He then turned to them and asked them to stop at that point and that he was going a little deeper into the grove to pray. He then instructed them to be at watch and to also spend some time in prayer.
As Jesus moved deeper into the grove of olive trees he could see his own shadow amid those of the trees. But yet there seemed to be another shadow, the one he had felt along the journey from the Essenic Quarter. It was an eerie feeling; one of vice and corruption. He began to feel somewhat depressed and the burden of sinfulness. Not his own, but that of the world around him.
Harboring such feelings he threw himself flat on his face in the rich dirt of the olive grove. He began to weep bitterly to the point of sweating profusely. He was in such agony for the choice at hand. Would he follow the command of his heavenly Father and die for all of mankind or would his human side win by circumventing that plan entirely? He pleaded: “Let this cup pass from me.”
Now Jesus knew who this creepy entity was that had been following in the shadows of the night. It was Satan, his adversary.
Jesus returned to the three closest disciples there in the garden and found them sleeping. After awakening them he reminded them of their duty that night: “Watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Again he left them and once again prostrated himself and prayed: “If this cup cannot pass away from my grasp and I have to drink of it, then your willfulness be completed.”
Returning to Peter and the other two he found them asleep. He says not a word and returns to a time of prayer with the same theme as before.
Upon his finishing of this prayer of anguish he once again finds Peter, James and John still sleeping. Jesus reprimands: “Are you still sleeping? Or are you just taking a few winks of rest? Listen intently! My time has come! The betrayer is near at hand and sinners seek to find me.”
While he was still speaking, Judas seemed to appear out of no where followed by a legion of the temple guard. He stepped up to Jesus and greeted him: “Hello, rabbi.” He then leaned toward Jesus’ and kissed him.
The kiss of betrayal. The arrest of the rabbi. The hours that followed. The trial before the high priest, Caiaphas. The hearings before the Sanhedrin, Pilate and Herod. The choice of the crowd for Barabbas instead of Jesus’ release. The shouting of the crowd: “Crucify him!” The washing of his own hands by Pilate. The placing of the blame on the crowds gathered for the death of an innocent man. The flogging. The mocking. The spitting. The Crown of Thorns. The scepter of a common reed. The purple cloak. The bleeding brow. The placement of the crossbeam on his back and then having to carry it all the way to the place of the skull. The spikes being driven through his hands and feet. The gambling for his garments between the soldiers. The attempt for ease and prolong his death by the soldiers to give him gall to drink. The piercing of his side. All these things were not just the evil plans of the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes of the Law and high priest. Neither were they the personal vendetta of Satan. These are the results of your and my sinfulness!
It is now daylight. The sun is rising in the eastern sky. It is the first day of a new week. It is the first day of everlasting joy. It is a day of exciting news.
The women decide it is time to get moving. They gather the spices, ointment and extra strips of cloth into their arms and begin their journey to the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. That is where he had placed the body of Jesus after having gained permission from Pilate to do so.
As they journeyed they remembered that Pilate had ordered a sentry of Roman soldiers to protect the sepulcher. Also the guard had been instructed to secure and seal the tomb with a huge, round stone to be placed in its opening.
As the women began to discuss between themselves who was going to move the stone for them, an earthquake struck knocking them to the ground. The items they had been holding rolled across the soil.
Once the quaking had subsided they hurriedly picked up what spices and oils had not spilt out of their containers. They dusted themselves off and proceeded on their trek.
Upon arrival at the garden tomb they realized things were not quite right. A few of the guards lay near the crypt’s opening and seemed somewhat dazed. The others seemed to be missing and their shields, helmets and spears lay on the ground. Not only this, but the large stone was lying to one side of the opening. The women began to discuss among themselves that probably the earthquake had disturbed these things.
Mary Magdalene ran closer to the doorway of the tomb and peered in. She could not see the body of Jesus. As she turned back toward the other women she noticed a figure sitting on the stone. He appeared to her to be an angel. He speaks: “Don’t be afraid of me. I know why you are here. You have come looking to find Jesus who had been crucified. Look on inside if you like. He isn’t in there. He has risen from death. Now go! Hurry! Tell his followers he is raised to conquer death!”
Yes, the King of kings and Lord of lords is alive! His Majesty’s tomb is empty! He lives! Jesus is alive! Death has lost its victory! The grave has been denied! Jesus lives forever! The curse of sin is broken! We now have perfect liberty! The Lamb of God has risen! So tell everyone you see, oh tell them for me, Jesus is alive and well!
“Where is he?” you ask. He’s now with his heavenly Father. He is there interceding for us on our behalf. And because he lives you and I need have no fear of what tomorrow may bring. We no longer have reason to live apprehensive lives. Jesus is alive and holds the future in his hands. So now our life is worth living in its fullest abundance. Why? Because Jesus is risen! The King is alive! His Majesty lives forever and ever!
Amen and amen!
