The Empty Tomb

The Empty Tomb

Matthew 28:1-10, 1 Peter 1:3-4

March 31, 2024

Have you ever been in a cavern or tunnel or some room where you can hear your voice echo? It’s kind of cool to hear the reverb in your voice. To hear your voice echoing, continuing for more than a quick second.

Keep that in mind about the fun of doing that as we start to look at the Easter story. In some ways, to say more than what the Bible says, almost seems like an injustice to the scripture. So, what I want to do is highlight some of the events and what they mean for us. I want you to walk out of here on a spiritual high.

I want you to be excited about what God did for us. I want you to hold onto the fact that God loves you so much, that He sent His Son into this world, not to condemn you, but to give you the greatest offer ever . . . . the offer of new life, a powerful life, abundant life, even life everlasting.

I took the liberty to combine scriptures this morning. I didn’t change a word, I simply wanted to bring the story from the 4 gospels to you, so that you can hear the story.

1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him. - Mark 16

2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. - Mark 16

3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” - Mark 16

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. - Matthew 28

4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. - Mark 16

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. - Matthew 28

4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. - Matthew 28

5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. - Matthew 28

6 He is not here, for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay. - Matthew 28

3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. - Luke 24

4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. - Luke 24

5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? - Luke 24

6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee, - Luke 24

7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” - Luke 24

8 And they remembered His words, - Luke 24

9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. - Luke 24

It has always struck me that these women who went to the tomb to finish the anointing process for Jesus had no plan. Usually we have a plan. At least, I like having a plan. But they had no plan. That’s why the question, ‘who’s going to roll away the stone?’

This wasn’t just a 10 pound stone, this was a boulder that weighed 100's of pounds and would have been really, really difficult for anyone to physically move. It’s like one of those questions which is asked and just left hanging. It’s when you ask WHAT’S THE PLAN? And the answer is “I’M WOKING ON IT!” Ooops! Not a good sign.

But the women go to the tomb anyways. Maybe they can teach us something in the midst of the big story. And that’s having a blind, maybe even an unreasonable faith. The gospel of John tells us Joseph and Nicodemus had prepared about 75 poinds of spices to anoint Jesus’ body. The women were going to add to it, but they rested on the Sabbath, more to the point, they grieved on the Sabbath.

This is where the story gets a little more enticing. The boulder is rolled away. The women are surpirsed, but not too fazed, because I really believe they had faith that somehow, someone, in someway, that tomb was going to be open for them to see their Lord one last time.