Jn 20:1-18
He was dead! They still couldn't believe it. They saw Him raise Lazarus; he'd been dead for 4 days! Jesus raised him, they also saw Him walk on water, feed 5000, calm the storm…there wasn't anything He couldn't do. But He was dead. John saw it. He saw Him breathe His last breath, he saw the Roman guard push a long spear up into His chest. Jesus was dead.
That night was a restless one; questions and more questions. Why had it happened, could they not have stopped it? Where were they when Jesus needed them? WHAT IF?... John took Mary home with him and tried to comfort her. Peter felt like a hypocrite and did not want to see anyone. Judas was dead. The night turned into day, a day of hiding and fear, sorrow and guilt, then night came again.
It was early Sunday morning, still dark, but the sun would be peeking up very soon. The women felt numb as they walked to His tomb. There was a chill in the air, being that it was so early, but the numbness was more in their spirit than in their skin. What will it feel like to see Him again, the One who brought such life, now lifeless? Could they even take seeing Him again, knowing that He would not speak with that gentle voice, never to feel the warm touch of His loving hand?
One of the greatest pieces of evidence of the resurrection is the empty tomb! Consider how different this is from normal human behavior. We seek to be able to see or touch something that gives testimony of our dead heroes, we build monuments to them. Consider what “Churchianity” has done to Christianity. Claims of splinters from the cross…enough to build a boat! Our norm is to have someplace to go to and see, or a statue that represents our hero. From the beginning, Christians had nothing…because there is nothing. No bones, no coffin, just an empty tomb! All the world does is try to explain why it was empty. The disciples stole the body, or Jesus only fainted on the cross, later he awoke, moved the stone and overpowered the Roman guards! Books have been written trying to explain, not deny the empty tomb!
Acts 2:22–36 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds, wonders, and miraculous signs that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know—this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles. But God raised him up, having released him from the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power…“Brothers, I can speak confidently to you about our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day…This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.
The So What? This life is NOT it! There is an eternity…for everyone. Only two destinations, one with God and one separated from Him. Do you know which one you have chosen? It really is up to you…God has done everything, you either accept it or reject it! Don’t put it off…every plan we had just weeks ago changed overnight!
Do you desire to trust in Christ right now? This is what you need to do. Admit you are a sinner. Agree with God that your sin separates you from God; agree with God that your works can never erase your sin. Believe that Jesus Christ is the God-man, came to earth, lived a perfect life and offered that life as a payment for your sin. If you can agree with that, just pray something like this. Lord, I know I am a sinner, I cannot save myself. Thank you for Jesus dying for me, please forgive me of my sin, I now place my total trust in what Christ did on the cross to forgive my sins and offer me eternal life. Jesus, please make me a child of God and give me eternal life. I ask this in your name. Amen
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