The Lost Tomb of Jesus
Resurrection Sunday 2007
Text: John 20:1-10
Last year the sensation of the Da Vinci Code thundered throughout the world as a fictional novel as some new revelation hidden by the Church for the last 2000 years. Now, the world is in awe of the “lost tomb of Jesus”. To the surprise of many, this “find” is nothing new. It first made a splash in the media in the mid 1970’s when the tomb was first discovered. But did you know that people have been trying to dispel the fact of the resurrection since three days after the crucifixion of Christ?
Matthew 28:11-15
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, "Tell them, ’His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure." 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
What’s the big deal? “So what if Jesus had not really died, or if He had not risen. It doesn’t change anything”.
Don’t kid yourself! The account of the resurrection of Christ changed everything and continues to change the lives of those who will believe.
A professor of Theology at Harvard stated that “the fact that Jesus’ tomb was discovered does not put in doubt biblical accounts of his resurrection”, which he said was actually a spiritual event rather than physical. With regards to the ascension, however, he suggests that while the tomb’s discovery does not render impossible the notion of a spiritual ascension, it does do so for those who believe that Jesus physically ascended to heaven.
The Resurrection story is the very linchpin of Christian faith.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
See the tomb of Jesus what never lost, it was borrowed, and when you borrow something, you are suppose to leave it like you found it! It was empty before they laid Him there and it was empty when He walked out Sunday morning.
Now I know that some need facts. So let’s look at some of the facts of the bodily, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ that dispel the myths of then and now.
A. The body was stolen
1. Who would have wanted it?
a. Religious leaders – only proves what He said?
i. Attempted cover up – “say his disciples”
b. The disciples – they were hiding in darkness, afraid for their lives.
B. Jesus really wasn’t dead (Swoon theory)
1. Beaten ¾ to death – hung on a cross for 6 hours - Nails tearing through nerve endings in hands and feet – Stabbed in the side clear to the heart. (He wasn’t Dead?)
2. Laid in a hued cave (58o for three days) Hypothermia
3. THEN from the inside – move a 2 ton stone, knock out the two guards.
I want to give you three of the most compelling evidences of an empty tomb that I know.
A. The origin of the Disciples courage.
1. Scattered the night of His arrest
2. Together in hiding in the dark
3. 40 days later!!!
a. Why would you face death for something you knew to be a hoax?
Acts 4:32-33
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
B. The experience of Post Mortem Appearances
1. Some will argue that these were visions, a product of immense faith. FAITH?
a. These guys were fearful for their lives.
b. One committed suicide and another lied for his life!
c. Thomas – the poster child of doubt.
Matthew 28:16-17
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.
2. Here’s the problem, visions can’t eat fish!
Luke 24:42-43
41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
3. Here’s another – how can 500 see the same vision at the same time in the same place and have the same story?
But the greatest evidence of the Resurrection is the empty tomb itself.
1. The empty tomb is historically credible.
a. Josephus wrote of the empty tomb. His credibility as a historian was on the line.
b. The body was stolen
i. Perfectly laid out linens?
ii. About that stone – not just rolled away…
So why the fuss? - Like I said earlier, the resurrections is pivotal to Christian faith. Without the resurrection:
1. Jesus sacrificed as Lamb but could not offer as priest
2. Half a gospel is no gospel at all.
Crusade for Christ Missionary showing Primitive Peruian Indians the movie “Jesus”
What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ have to do with you?
• It has to do with your past - He took your sin
• It gives you power to live in the present
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
• It gives undeniable hope for your future
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
The empty tomb of Jesus has everything to do with you, because He did it all for you!
Let’s Pray
A note from Pastor Terry,
Thanks so much for looking over this message. I trust that, in some way, you were blessed, encouraged and empowered on your own walk with Christ. Every message I prepare is bathed in prayer that God will draw, inspire, and challenge my listeners (or readers) into a more meaningful and power-filled walk with Him.
Pastors, how we need one another! We need to be encouraged, strengthened and built up in order to encourage, strengthen and build up. It’s my personal prayer that the message you’ve just reviewed has done that for you in a personal way. Use what you can of this message, toss what you can’t and above all, let God’s Spirit inspire it all!
Sometimes I feel like Peter and John at the Temple steps…”Silver and gold; I don’t have but what I do – I give to you”
Grace and peace to you, your family and the Flock you tend.
Pastor Terry
