The most
life-changing -- world-shaking words ever spoken -- came from an angel on that
first Easter morning: “He is not here! He is risen from the dead -- just as He said
would happen” (
And followers
of Jesus Christ have been repeating those glorious words ever since! -- He is not
here! He is risen from the dead.
We need not be timid where Scripture is
bold!
I am fully
convinced that the resurrection of Jesus is the most trust- worthy & spectacular
event in all of history!
The Empty Tomb -- is the key to everything!
The empty tomb
glorifies Jesus -- as the Creator-God -- & Savior of the world!
Without the
resurrection of Jesus Christ -- there would be no basis for Christianity.
Without the
certainly of His resurrection -- we would come to the end of this life --
without hope -- with nothing to anticipate except despair & doubt.
But because He lives -- we rejoice -- knowing soon
we will meet our Savior face to face -- & the troubles & trials of this
world will be behind us!
When you are
weary, my friend -- go to His tomb.
When you are
discouraged -- go to His tomb
When you are
defeated by sin -- go to His tomb.
When you wonder
if your work is in vain -- go to His tomb.
When you face
dying & death -- go to His tomb.
In the fact of the empty tomb -- we
discover victory!
His
tomb remains empty! -- There is no body in the grave of Jesus!
You can go to
the tombs of the pharaohs -- to the tomb of Muhammad -- to the tomb of
Confucius -- to the tombs of religious
prophets & leaders.
In those tombs
are their bones!
But in the tomb
of Jesus -- there is nothing! -- His
body is not there!
Christianity is
the only belief that draws millions of visitors each year to line up to witness
an empty room.
The empty tomb
is the evidence that unbelieving hearts must
face.
How else can
anyone explain why a handful of timid souls -- cringing in fear of the mighty
Roman Empire -- & the tight grip of the organized Jewish religion -- why
would go forth shouting even at the
threat of their own martyrdom, -- shouting:
“He lives! He is risen!
The tomb is empty. See where they
laid Him”?
The Jewish
establishment knew the tomb was empty!
Their official
explanation for it -- that the disciples had stolen the body -- was an
admission that the sepulcher (tomb) was indeed vacant.
After the close
of World War II -- Konrad Adenauer -- the chancellor of a new
Chancellor
Adenauer said, -- “I believe it is the
only hope of man-kind.”
My friends -- Jesus is alive! -- And that is our
hope!
Scripture --
reason -- tradition -- prophecy -- history -- proclamation -- sacrament --
prayer & experience -- all point to that truth!
The
Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the power of God to change history -- & to
change our lives!
In
Our preaching
is powerful & significant.
The words of
the apostles can be trusted.
Our sins are
forgiven.
We have the
hope of eternal life.
We are of all
humanity the most joyous people.
We can look to
a physical resurrection of our own bodies.
Death cannot
hold our souls.
In the
Resurrection -- death itself was
defeated!
Jesus’
authority was established; -- & His deity was demonstrated.
On this Easter
Sunday -- remember -- the Resurrection
is not a mere concept -- or symbol!
And also remember that the bodily
resurrection of Jesus was followed by the bodily Ascension!
He lives today -- interceding for His own; --
for you & for me!
Oh, what a
Savior! -- Jesus is alive & is praying for you & for me!
And He is
coming again to rule & to reign as the living Lord on this earth.
It
is the greatest news ever uttered!
With the hymn
writer --
He lives. He lives. -- Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me & talks
with me -- along life’s narrow way.
He lives. He lives. -- Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives:
-- He lives within my heart!
The empty tomb of our risen Lord encourages
& excites me -- this very day -- & it can & should do the same for
you as well!
Little Johnny had a really bad case of Attention Deficit Disorder.
On Palm Sunday
-- Johnny’s Sunday School teacher sent empty plastic eggs home with each of her
students.
Mrs. Wilson
told them to bring something back in the eggs next Sunday to represent Easter.
She really
didn’t expect Johnny to bring anything -- because he never listened in class.
The next Sunday
her children brought their eggs back.
Joey had a
little cross in his egg.
But -- just as
Mrs. Wilson suspected -- there was nothing in Johnny’s plastic egg.
She was
surprised that he even remembered to bring the egg back!
Mrs. Wilson had
praised each of the other children for what they brought -- but she didn’t say
anything about Johnny’s empty egg.
Johnny looked
at her with anticipation & said: -- "Mrs. Wilson, you didn’t say
anything about my egg!"
Mrs. Wilson
said: -- "But, Johnny, -- you don’t have any reminder of Easter in your
egg."
Johnny replied:
-- "Uh-huh! -- It’s empty, just like Jesus’ tomb!"
And that is why
we can celebrate Communion together
this Easter Sunday morning!
Jesus not only
died on a cross for our sins -- but He arose from the grave alive forevermore
-- leaving behind an empty tomb!