The Empty Tomb

The Empty Tomb

Luke 24:21-34

Introduction-

Last week we looked at Palm Sunday and Jesus coming into Jerusalem to finish what He had started. It was His triumphant entry into Jerusalem where we saw a crowd of people hailing Him one minute and cursing Him the next.

Maundy Thursday- Last supper and Jesus betrayal.

Good Friday- Jesus sentenced to die on the cross. Friday in itself is not good.

But Church, Sunday is coming!

Death for Jesus was not the end. It did not stop there. If it did, we would all still be lost in our sins. Death was not the end of the story.

Friday- pain Hebrews 2:18

“Since Jesus went through suffering and temptation, he knows what it is like when we suffer and are tempted, and he is able to help us.”

Saturday- confusion Matthew 26:36-39

“Jesus took his disciples with him to Gethsemane and said stay here with me while I pray. Then he took Peter, James, and John a little farther. He was filled with anguish and deep distress, and he said to them, my heart is so overwhelmed and crushed with sorrow that I feel like I am dying. Just sit here and watch with me.”

Sunday- Day of celebration

“Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life’ whoever believes in me, even though they die, will live again. I give them eternal life for believing in me and they will never perish.”

Now comes the good stuff!

We live on the Sunday side of the cross. He did it! It is finished! Meaning that Jesus Christ was crucified, He died, He was buried, that is a fact! If it would stop there, there is no celebration!

But God… resurrected Jesus Christ and that church has changed everything!

Most that have died remain dead.

I pray this morning that the Holy Spirit of God would be given freedom to flow through us to minister to our heart and our needs and He is able to answer some questions that we may have.

To many, they know enough about Jesus and Easter to know it is important, but few understand what it means to us.

To those that feel they control their lives, the cross, death, talking about the blood, needing a savior, getting saved, surrendering our lives, to them the cross seems foolish.

1 Cor. 1:18-

“The message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

Acts 4:12

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

J.E.S.U.S.

Jesus came to Jerusalem

Jesus was betrayed.

Jesus was arrested.

Jesus was crucified.

Jesus was dead, not hurt, but dead, clinically dead.

Jesus was buried, not a Houdini act. Buried.

But this is not the end of the story.

Luke 24:1-12 Read from Bible

True believers have no doubt that he lived among us, died for our sins, and three days later was resurrected to life, conquering the sting of death, offering the human race the greatest gift ever- His sacrificial love.

Christianity would be worthless if all we had was a good man that died for a cause. That happens everyday where good people sacrifice for what they believe in. the difference, the big difference is the grave did not hold Jesus down. His resurrection means salvation for our souls if we will trust in the resurrected Jesus.

2 questions that you have to ask yourself about this Jesus;

1. What does the resurrected Jesus mean to us?

2. What does the resurrected Jesus me to me? Personal.

First, what does it mean for us-

It means no more sacrificing animals. Animals were sacrificed for our atonement of sins. They were given to God for our sins because all sin has to be atoned for. A perfect God cannot overlook sin. Jesus became the perfect sacrifice. God who had no sin, accepted Jesus as our sacrifice. He became our replacement. He did what we could not do for ourselves. I love you this much and stretched out His arms and died on the cross for you and I. he had everyone of us in mind when He did it. Some worship the cross, Christians worship a risen savior. The empty cross is our victory. It is why death has no more sting in it. The empty cross is where our hope comes from.

Illustration-

I think the example of that is where Jesus has been risen and He is walking down the Emmaus road.

Luke 24:21 they are walking with Jesus and did not know it

Luke 24:21-24 Read

Jesus responds 25-29 they ask Him to stay and join them.

Very important- stay with me- Luke 24:30-35 Read