The discovery of the empty tomb
Luke 24:1-12
Introduction-
Good morning everyone, it is great to be with you and I am praying that the time we have together will be a blessing. I am thankful that you have invited me into your home, office, quiet place as we look to God’s word together. It is the new normal for at least awhile.
Prayer-
Father today, I thank you that we are able to get together and break open your word. May your word open a sensitive heart to receive from you what you have for us. May we also lift up all those who suffer with the Covid-19 virus. We pray for your intervention and healing. May you give peace to those who are now at unrest and replace joy for those who are filled with fear.
We may be separate in body right now for a season, but may you bless our time together by using technology so that we might worship together and experience your presence like never before.
In Jesus Name! Amen!
No matter how far apart we are this morning, we can celebrate Easter. Jesus has already been resurrected! Amen! It is a done deal!
During the time Jesus spent on this earth, and after his resurrection, the early church would greet each other in a unique way. When they gather, they would say to the other “He has Risen”, the other would respond, “He has risen indeed.” Right where you are this morning- I will say He has Risen- and you respond He has risen indeed”
Please turn to Luke 23 and then put your finger in Luke 24.
In a few minutes, we will read these scriptures but first allow me a minute to set this up.
Last week was Palm Sunday- Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey fulfilling prophecy and was greeted by crowds of people yelling Hosanna, Hosanna, Blessed be the name of the Lord!
How fast everything changed.
This is Holy Week- “The time between Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the resurrection of Christ.”
Jesus has been betrayed
He was disowned
He was mocked
He was beaten like the lowest of criminals and put on a cross and crucified.
There would be no worse way for a person to die than beaten, tortured and crucified on a cross. The most painful disgraceful way the Romans could think of to kill someone.
When Jesus was before Pilate
Pilate asked Jesus “Are you the King of the Jews?” yes, it is as you say.”
Pilate wanted to release Jesus because he found no fault but the crowd wanted him crucified.
The crowd wanted him so bad to die that way that they let Barabbas, a known thief and murderer to go free instead.
Pilate had one get out of jail free card and the crowd gave it to Barabbas.
Luke 23:32-43
I want you to know before we read of the resurrection of our Lord that every person who has ever heard the gospel message of Jesus Christ has a decision to make in their lifetime before they take their last breath-
Which criminal are you this morning? The one that cursed God, mocked everything that He stood for.
The one that was guilty of all the crimes he had committed and was about to receive his punishment.
Or are you the one who realized that he is getting what he deserved but was asking for God’s grace and mercy to remember him and save him when He entered back into the Father’s paradise.
The one that realized that this man has done nothing wrong but was on this cross for our sins and is offering us a way to be redeemed.
To the one that stayed in his rebellion, He paid for his crimes.
The other one- Jesus tenderly answered Him and said that the moment he died that he would be in paradise with Jesus. (He was pardoned for his sins)
If your heart is grateful, filled with gratitude of what Jesus has done, you will read this resurrection account and be stirred to thank God that He has loved us enough to go through this pain to complete the plan of salvation.
Someone should have a moment of praise for Jesus this morning!
Luke 24:1-12
After the Sabbath days rest, the women went to the tomb to prepare Jesus body for burial. OT Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5 told of how a body was to be prepared before final burial. The women went there in observance of the law.
In each of the gospel accounts, they were met by angelic beings that illuminated the tomb.
The darkness of the crucifixion, the entombment, Passover Sabbath, replaced by heavenly visitors that tell them…
“Why do you look for the living among the dead” “He is not here; He has risen”
I am not sure how the women thought that they would be able to get in with a massive stone in front of the entrance.
The Tomb was open and they entered in and found the tomb empty- no body of Jesus.
They were in that state of shock because they had prepared themselves for the worse and he was not there.
Two majestic figures of brightness, asked them why they were looking for a living person among the dead.
He is not here! He has risen! Just like he said.
Key words-
“Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.”
(7) “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”
Then they remembered his words.
I want to bring something to your attention this morning- until you see Jesus as your resurrected savior, you cannot receive His redemption. (Repeat)
It is available, redemption is available, but you have to accept Jesus as Lord and savior.
First of all, I think the women ran to the tomb of Jesus, they wanted to see Jesus.
They loved Jesus
They saw Jesus betrayed.
They saw Jesus killed.
Joseph of Aramathea put Jesus in his tomb.
(55) “The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.”
They expected to complete their burial rituals even if they hadn’t completed their morning for Jesus.
They went to the tomb to prepare a body for burial, not expecting the empty tomb because of Jesus being resurrected.
They didn’t remember, they had forgot what Jesus had told them and only looked at what had happened and not seen what was about to take place.
There focus was wrong- they only saw what their eyes showed them, not what the Lord had told them.
Jesus on the cross had
Changed our focus from death to life
They expected to see a dead Jesus- they heard the message of what Jesus told them, but they didn’t come to the tomb to see Jesus gone.
They came to see a dead body of the man they loved. That is why the angelic visitors said to them- Why have you come looking for the living among the dead.”
He is not here!
He is risen
He is alive!
For believers who put their faith in Christ and believe that he was resurrected, we do not dwell on death but life.
We know that death does not have eternal sting on us because of the resurrected Jesus.
That empty tomb causes believers to seek a risen and alive savior.
A savior that brings life from the grave.
Max Lucado wrote- “The stone was moved- not for Jesus-but for the women. Not so Jesus could get out, but so the women could see in. (Come see what I have done)
I believe at certain times we all need stones rolled away in our lives, Stones of doubt, stones of fear, stones of uneasiness, and stones of stress.
What would our lives look like if we believed that this life is not all there is and that this life is only temporary?
I think we would operate more in faith than in fear.
We would expect that the God who saves is the God who keeps us.
At some point, when we have done all we know to do, that in trust, we can let Go and let God.
Point one- Focus on life instead of death
Jesus on the cross had
Changed our focus of the cross to the resurrection
We Christians love the cross- the cross is the symbol of God’s love for us.
That His Son Jesus and Lord Jesus went to that cross and died for each of our sins. Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus!
I do not want to forget what Jesus did on the cross.
If your faith never moves pass the cross and onto resurrection, your faith dwells in death than life.
Remember that Jesus died on that cross, was buried, and three days arose.
Don’t get stuck on the tragedy of the cross and forget the triumph of the resurrection!
Let me say that again. Don’t stay on the tragedy of the cross and forget the triumph of the resurrection.
Jesus teaches us that He laid down His life for us
John 10:17-18
“The reason the Father loves me is that I lay down my life-only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.”
Jesus laid down His life for each of us- But it cannot stop there. If He had died and not been resurrected, we too would have died in our sins. Appreciate the cross and all that it stands for, but remember that Jesus on the third day just like He said was resurrected. Which give us victory over the grave because of His resurrection, we are resurrected to life and the sting of death has no hold on us anymore.
Illustration-
A golfer was playing a hole that had to be shot over water. He got out an old ball and teed up. A voice out of nowhere said, “Use a new ball” he didn’t see anyone, but he put a new ball on the tee, and was ready to hit the ball when the voice said, “Take a practice swing”. He took a practice swing, and the voice said, “Use the old ball”
If it was up to us, we would fall short. This life would be the best we could have, but because of the cross, and the resurrection, we can have eternity with the Lord and the best is still to come.
Quickly, lastly
Jesus on the cross had
Changed our focus from current events to our future
Those women were focused on current events- they went to the tomb to prepare a body for burial of someone they loved.
They were shaken by the events of the past three days. His betrayal, beating, and death.
We easily get shaken by current events and forget what the Lord has told us in His Word.
He told them that He would be resurrected.
We can be so wrapped up in the events of man that we miss the events of God. (Repeat)
Let me tell you something, the cross is messy and a lot of people don’t like to talk about it.
Some churches do not even hang a cross in the church.
I believe it is a mistake and contrary to the foundation of Christianity.
Without the cross, without His death, without His resurrection, there is not redemption.
This preacher still believes that there is room at the cross for all of us.
That sin is messy, and that the bloodshed on Calvary is the precious blood of Christ!
What can wash away my sins- nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus!
I am thankful for the Lord Jesus to lay His life down for each of us, but I am especially glad that my savior was resurrected to sit on the throne of God forever and ever and that He had me in mind as it did it!
The cross is the beautiful symbol of God’s love for each of us-
Do not look for Jesus ever again to be buried in a tomb! He is not there. He is Risen! Hallelujah!
This morning, we are not together worshipping, but God is speaking to all of us right now.
If you do not know the risen savior, today you can know Him.
What death cannot do is keep a believer in the grave- up from the grave He arose, and so with the same power that resurrected Jesus, we can be resurrected to life.
In a minute we are going to pray-
Stay with me- two little words with big impact- must and the word but.
“The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”
Must be delivered- that is the love that God has for each of us. There is nothing more He can do to show us how much He loves us.
Then the word but.
“But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
Jesus was nailed on that cross- and on that cross is every sin you need forgiveness for.
He has set you free from your sins.
He has set you free from your past
He has set you free from eternal death
Death cannot have a believer- He conquered death because one second after you die you will be present with the Lord. “Absent in the body is to be present with the Lord.” Because He was resurrected, so can you and I
I am who He says I am- not what the world says I am.
I have what He says I have
I can do what He says I can do
Do you know that Jesus? If not this morning, you can know that Jesus.
Lets pray and if you don’t know Him this morning,
I would ask you to invite Him into your life.
Admit that you are a sinner in need of a savior.
You believe that He died for your sins, was buried, and was resurrected. That is the gospel message.
If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, the bible says that you are saved. You are a born again believer and will spend eternity with Him.
