TITLE: THE TESTIMONY OF AN EMPTY TOMB
SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 24:1-12
Have you ever stood and just looked at an old empty house in a neighborhood? Perhaps the doors stand ajar, sagging on hinges, loosened by the ravages of weather and time. Have you noticed the vacant stare of glassless windows? If you paused to listen you could almost hear the loud and boisterous cries of generations of happy children that once echoed from its walls and filled its now silent emptiness.
If you pause and consider long enough, your mind’s eye might conjure up visions of familiar and nostalgic scenes of yesteryear.
• Of family circles unbroken
• Of those that once gathered for joyous festive family feasts
• Or of the tragic and traumatic events that changed things forever for those who once sheltered there
• Of ordinary and natural happenings that led to its now sad and silent state
I often think as I am sitting in the Church Parsonage about Sister Bunny Johnson and Deacon Andrew Johnson, whom I had not met before his passing. They formally owned and occupied the dwelling. I often times think of the happy times they must have shared in the home. The many holidays that were celebrated there. Their tears also shed through the years that Sister Bunny travelled back and forth to that home alone after the passing of her husband.
• I imagine some of you still travel out to the old Homestead where you were reared and can hear the laughter and almost hear the voices of those that have gone on before us
If the walls could speak - what tales might be told of the terrible tragedies or thrilling triumphs that were played out? What testimony could they give to the human conditions of sorrow and sadness and love, joy, happiness?
There is a tomb in a distant land with silent walls as well. If that tomb could speak to us what would it say? What would it tell us of the terrible – tragic – thrillingly triumphant events that transpired there some two thousand years ago?
• What would its testimony be?
• What is the testimony of the empty tomb today?
• THE EMPTY TOMB TESTIFIES OF A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY TRANSFORMED INTO A TREMENDOUS TRIUMPH
--This is the testimony trumpeted by that grand old hymn of the faith:
--Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Saviour!
--Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
--Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.
--He arose a victor from the dark domain.
--And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
--He arose! He Arose Hallelujah! Christ arose!
--Yes, The Testimony of an Empty Tomb
There can be no doubt those who were Jesus closest followers were those most deeply and adversely effected by the tragic and traumatic events of His passion. We are repeatedly told in the Gospels of the doubt – fear - perplexity – that overwhelmed them. Even before the events truly began to come to pass, Jesus tried to prepare his followers for the shock and horror they would face on His crucifixion day. He reassured them that the power of God would turn the apparent tragedy into a glorious triumph. He said –
--"For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." ST MATTHEW 12:40
--Jesus answered and said unto them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." ST. JOHN 2:19
It is clear that those of the watching and waiting world felt they were witnessing an unsurpassed tragedy. His disciples in particular were clearly crushed and confused.
• How could this happen to their Master?
• Had they believed in vain?
• Had such terrible evil evidently and ultimately triumphed over goodness and Godliness?
• Then comes the triumphant cry of the angel - "He is not here, He is risen!"
Go with me over to the Holy Land and let’s listen to The Testimony of an Empty Tomb. If only the walls could talk in that tomb that held the body of Jesus. If the walls of the tomb could talk they would tell us of the many conversations they heard on that Dreadful Day. I believe the walls would begin by telling us about two men that entered the Tomb carrying the Body of Jesus.
• One was a Rich man by the name of Joseph from Arimathaea – he was a disciple of Jesus
• ST. MATTHEW 27:57-60 “WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME, THERE CAME A RICH MAN OF ARIMATHAEA, NAMED JOSEPH, WHO ALSO HIMSELF WAS JESUS’ DISCIPLE: HE WENT TO PILATE, AND BEGGED THE BODY OF JESUS. THEN PILATE COMMANDED THE BODY TO BE DELIVERED. AND WHEN JOSEPH HAD TAKEN THE BODY, HE WRAPPED IT IN A CLEAN LINEN CLOTH. AND LAID IT IN HIS OWN NEW TOMB, WHICH HE HAD NEWN OUT IN THE ROCK, AND HE ROLLED A GREAT STONE TO THE DOOR OF THE SEPULCHRE, AND DEPARTED
• The walls would tell us this other man with Joseph carrying the body of Jesus said he met Jesus while attending Night School
• This man named Nicodemus was once a secret follower of Jesus but now he has finally come out of the closet
• ST. JOHN 19:39-40 “AND THERE CAME ALSO NICODEMUS, WHICH AT THE FIRST CAME TO JESUS BY NIGHT, AND BROUGHT A MIXTURE OF MYRRH, AND ALOES, ABOUT AN HUNDRED POUND WEIGHT, THEN TOOK THEY THE BODY OF JESUS, AND WOUND IT IN LINEN CLOTHES WITH THE SPICES, AS THE MANNER OF THE JEWS IS TO BURY”
• Joseph and Nicodemus did not stay long but they continued to mention in their brief conversation, and not sure exactly what it meant, but they said this was only a borrowed tomb
If the Walls of that Tomb could talk, I believe they would also tell us about two guards placed at the entrance of the tomb. They would tell us about the conversation of these Guards how they said Jesus went from judgment hall to judgment hall. How they spat on him and pulled out the very hairs of his beard. How Jesus was beaten with many stripes. The Crown of Thornes pressed upon his brow. How these soldiers begun to complain about the heaviness of the Stone positioned at the mouth of the Tomb. The walls would tell us “matter of fact” I had to listen real careful but one of the guards said they heard King Herod was nervous because of a rumor that Jesus said after three days he was going to get up from the grave and live again!
• These guards were heard lodging complaints
• Saying they were wasting their time and could be home with their families
• Never before had they ever been charged to watch over the tomb of someone that had died
• Where was he going anyway, he is already dead!
• Dead men cannot escape
If the Walls of that Tomb could talk, I believe they would tell us how the walls had to listen real close as they heard one of the guards say the STONE WAS NOT ROLLED THERE TO KEEP THOSE FROM GETTING IN, IT WAS ROLLED THERE TO KEEP JESUS FROM WALKING OUT! Then there was laughter and the guards no longer spoke.
I believe if the grave clothes of Jesus could talk they would tell you as they Wrapped the body of Jesus and prepared him for death, they wrapped him with great care and concern although it was done hastily since it was the Passover. Grave clothes were sure someone, probably the Women would stop by some time on Sunday with the proper Spices and make sure Jesus was bound properly and finish the job. There was even a Napkin placed around the face of our Savior.
The Testimony of an Empty Tomb. If the Walls could talk, I believe they would tell us there were yet a few more visitors that stopped by the tomb on that dreadful Friday. But somehow these visitors showed up inside the Tomb, even though the tomb was still secure. The walls were not sure how that happened. At first not sure who these visitors were.
• At first the walls were excited two visitors would show up on the inside of the tomb
• Maybe they were there to minister to the body of Christ
• It was very late on Friday evening when they first arrived
• At first excited but after listening to the conversation of these visitors began to realize these visitors were SINISTER
One of the visitors said his name was Satan, he was there with his little demons. They were rather joyful, seemed glad, pleased to have Jesus in their possession. Heard Satan make a speech to his Imps telling them –
• Didn’t I tell you it was just a matter of time
• I was patient down through the centuries and now I have him in my Grip!
• Although he would not fall down in worship me after 40 days in the wilderness
• This is better than I ever anticipated
Walls would tell us this Satan kept on talking and said -
• I finally have him, how dare you cast us out of heaven so long ago
• We should have dethroned God
• I was not satisfied being Heavenly Choir Director
• Wanted to be just like God
• But no, you had to send Michael that great Warrior Angel to fight
• Cast me and my friends 1/3 of them out of heaven
• Oh, but what a battle it was
• Revelation 12:7-9 “AND THERE WAS WAR IN HEAVEN: MICHAEL AND HIS ANGELS FOUGHT AGAINST THE DRAGON; AND THE DRAGON FOUGHT AND HIS ANGELS, AND PREVAILED NOT; NEITHER WAS THEIR PLACE FOUD ANY MORE IN HEAVEN. AND THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, THAT OLD SERPENT, CALLED THE DEVIL, AND SATAN WHICH DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD; HE WAS CAST OUT INTO THE EARTH, AND HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM”
• Isaiah 14:12-15 “HOW ART THOU FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, O LUCIFER, SON OF THE MORNING! HOW ART THOU CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND, WHICH DIDST WEAKEN THE NATIONS! FOR THOU HAST SAID IN THINE HEART, I WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD: I WILL SIT ALSO UPON THE MOUNT OF THE CONGREGATION, IN THE SIDES OF THE NORTH: I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE HEIGHTS OF THE CLOUDS; I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH. YET THOU SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL, TO THE SIDES OF THE PIT”
• Yes, said the Devil, I have you now and it was totally worth the wait
Just as quickly as they arrived, then those strange visitors were gone. If the Walls could talk, they would tell us they showed up again around noon on Saturday. This time it was only two visitors who again appeared inside the sealed tomb! One of the visitors the walls quickly recognized, he was here yesterday, you recall, his name is Satan. Second visitor is very familiar. His name is Death! -- He is actually a partner to Grave, almost like a family business.
• Death said something strange
• He said that Jesus was Deaths Victory
• At the end of conversation between Satan and Death, Satan said something strange
• He looked at Death and said – “Don’t let me Down!”
• Just as quick as they appeared, they were now gone
If the Walls could talk, they would tell us things were relatively quiet next few hours. But then early Saturday evening, these same two visitors showed up in the tomb once again. Walls would tell us they did not quite understand the conversation but the one who called himself Satan no longer looked very gleeful as he did earlier. Matter of fact appears somewhat nervous.
• Death even appears somewhat Jittery
• Said they showed up to make sure Jesus was still there
• Well, that’s a strange conversation
• Death tells Satan he does not appreciate his Sarcasm
• Had to listen close to hear what they were arguing about
• Death tells Satan “I told you before, Lazarus was not my Fault!!!!”
• We had Lazarus settled in the grips of death four long days
• Even his body smelled of death
• You remember what his sisters said to Jesus – Surely his body must stinketh by now!
• I know I told you not to worry and I didn’t care he was a good friend of Jesus
• I didn’t know Jesus would pray to His Father then call Lazarus by name
• Death looked at Satan and said - maybe you should have given Jesus a Cold or Strep Throat or perhaps Laryngitis to keep him from calling Lazarus name so loudly!
Then once again they were gone. Walls would tell us they showed up once again around 10 O’clock Saturday evening. Death yelled at Satan and said “YES, HE IS STILL HERE!”
• Devil responded with these words --
• He better be here or
• HELL HELP US, OR ALL OF HEAVEN IS GOING TO BREAK LOOSE!
• Just as quickly as they appeared they were once again gone
If the Walls could talk, they would tell us, as the walls Slept, they were shaken out of their slumber. At first they did not know what was going on. Was it an earthquake? They felt earthquakes before, but never one like this. All of a sudden the stone was rolled away. This was no ordinary Earthquake, it was like the one felt when Jesus died and only Certain of the Graves Were Opened. I believe Walls would tell us this Noise happened early on Sunday morning!
We looked over at the slab where Jesus body lay - and up from the grave he arose! We have never seen anything like it. Jesus when he got up, he looked at us “THE GRAVE” -- He smiled at us and said we were now defeated! And then he said -- O DEATH, WHERE IS THY STING O GRAVE, WHERE IS THY VICTORY?
• Jesus walked out before the Stone was ever rolled away!
I don’t know exactly where Jesus went from there but two final visitors showed up. They said they were angels and dressed in white apparel. They were just hanging around. Don’t know why they were there until later early in the morning -
--THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK COMMETH MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY, EARLY, WHEN IT WAS YET DARK, UNTO THE TOMB, AND SEETH THE STONE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE TOMB.
--AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO THE WOMEN, FEAR NOT YE: FOR I KNOW THAT YE SEEK JESUS, WHICH WAS CRUCIFIED
--WHY SEEK YE THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD
--HE IS NOT HERE, HE IS RISEN
THE TESTIMONY OF AN EMPTY TOMB!
--Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes.
--He arose a victor from the dark domain.
--And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
--He arose! He Arose Hallelujah! Christ arose!
