Was the Empty Tomb Really Empty?

Transcription

1 Was the Empty Tomb Really Empty? Easter Message Texts: John 20:1-10 (NKJV) - Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. [2] Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him." [3] Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. [4] So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. [5] And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, [7] and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. [8] Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. [9] For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. [10] Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. A. One thing we know for sure about the Easter story is that the resurrection was NOT over-hyped! 1. The Romans completed their part of the crucifixion and the disciples performed their role of burying Him. Both are important parts of the Easter story: the crucifixion, because of its many fulfilled prophecies, and the burial as proof that He was truly dead. 2. Joke: The Burial An inexperienced preacher was asked to perform a graveside burial service in a pauper's cemetery for an indigent man with no family or friends. Unsure of the cemetery address, he made several wrong turns and got lost. When he finally arrived an hour late, the hearse was

2 nowhere in sight, the backhoe was next to the open hole, and the workmen were sitting under a tree eating lunch. The diligent young pastor went to the open grave and found that the vault lid was already in place. Feeling guilty because of his tardiness, he preached a passionate, lengthy service, sending the deceased man to the Great Beyond in style. As he returned to his car, he overheard one of the workmen say to the other, "I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years and I ain't never seen anything like that with any septic tank I've ever installed." B. The very existence of Christianity depends upon whether or not Jesus actually rose from the dead. 1. If there had been no resurrection, Christianity would never have survived. Jesus' claims would only have been those of a deluded street preacher with grandiose, egotistical ideas. 2. However, if the resurrection did occur, it is the single most astounding event in all of human history, providing irrefutable proof as to who Jesus really was. 3. This is why we Christians celebrate this day. Think about it! If Jesus really did rise from the dead, everything the Bible said about Him being the Son of God, dying for our sins and preparing the way to God for us is proven to be true by this inconceivable fact! 4. The fact that none of His disciples had ever considered the possibility of the resurrection makes it even more compelling. a. Not one of them had connected the many scriptural prophecies concerning His suffering, death, burial, and rising again. b. Yes, the scriptures were available, but they simply couldn't comprehend such an incredible idea as the Son of God coming to earth as a man, being subjected to crucifixion, the most cruel form of death imaginable, and then rising from the dead. It was more than their minds could grasp!

3 5. Two women (both named Mary) went to the tomb on Easter morning, fully intending to prepare the mortal remains of Jesus for the final burial. a. Since the Sabbath began at 6 p.m. on Friday, shortly after Jesus died, Jewish law required that they wait until after the Sabbath to prepare Him for burial. They had hastily placed His body in a borrowed tomb, intending to return early Sunday morning for a proper interment. b. To their absolute amazement, instead of discovering a lifeless body in the cold embrace of death, they were stunned to learn that He was no longer in the tomb. Because what they expected to happen did not, we have gathered here this day, filled with awe and gratitude. c. An angel declared that He was not in the tomb because He had risen from the dead. From that first Easter morning until now, believers have continued to speak about the "empty tomb." C. The word empty generally means empty, right? But the question remains, was the tomb REALLY empty? 1. Now, I'm certainly not questioning the resurrection or that Jesus rose from the dead. There's no doubt about that! a. We know it's true because a multitude of eye witnesses saw Him, spoke with Him, and even ate with Him after the resurrection. A host of historical documents also attest to this fact. b. Even more importantly, we know it's true because of the verification in our own hearts. 2. Critics say that you can't trust a few writings that have been repeatedly translated. Mistakes could easily have been made. a. Did you know there are more remaining copies of the New Testament than any other manuscript? b. There are 5,800 copies in Greek, 10,000 in Latin and over 9,300 in other languages. Of the more than 25,100 copies that still exist,

4 they are all identical except for an occasional difference in spelling or punctuation. c. By contrast, there are only 7 copies of Plato's works, 5 copies of Aristotle's and only 10 of Caesar's works. Yet no one questions their validity and students are even required to learn them in school. 3. The fact that Jesus was no longer in the tomb does not mean it was empty. Sermons will be preached all over the world today about the empty tomb; but it wasn't really empty, was it? a. We know this to be a fact since it contained the same grave clothes that had been hurriedly placed on Jesus' body before laying Him in the tomb and then sealing it. b. Scripture says that His burial clothes were neatly folded where His body had lain. That was a good clue for those who came looking for Him. If He was no longer dead, the grave clothes were no longer needed. So, the folded clothes proved that the tomb was not empty. 4. Both Luke and John tell us that when the women arrived before dawn, two angels were in the tomb, one at the head and the other at the feet of where Jesus lay, much like the Cherubim on either side of the Mercy Seat above the Ark of the Covenant. a. The Cherubim guarded the Mercy of God that was so abundant, it had to be protected from those who would abuse or take advantage of it. b. Obviously, when Mercy was set free, the two guardian angels remained in the tomb as Mercy went searching for those who needed forgiveness. 5. Jesus was no longer there, but with the grave clothes, the two angels and Peter and John, the tomb was becoming more crowded by the minute! 6. Even more compelling are the scriptural accounts of Easter morning. None of the Gospel writers said the tomb was empty!

5 a. While they emphatically declared that Jesus' body was no longer there and that He had risen from the dead, they never said that the tomb was empty! b. We may refer to an empty tomb, but the Gospel writers did not. A modern translation may rather loosely inject the word "empty" into the story, but I assure you, it is not to be found in the Gospels or the original texts. D. You see, "empty" is a subjective word with a contextual meaning. 1. Scientifically speaking, I suppose the only truly empty container would be one that is vacuum sealed. a. While we may say that a bottle or cup containing no liquid is empty, in reality we know that it is not empty; it is always filled with air. b. If you should return to this sanctuary at 2 a.m. on Monday morning, because of the time of night, it's unlikely that you would find people here. But the building really isn't empty. Chairs, carpet, light fixtures, and other equipment would still be here. You just wouldn't expect to find people here at that hour. c. At 2 a.m. you might also say the freeways are empty. But we would all understand that there are just fewer vehicles than in daylight hours. You can always find a car or two hurrying somewhere. 2. So, when we say that the two women and later, Peter and John, found an empty tomb, what we really mean is that they didn't find what they were looking for. a. They had expected to find Jesus' body on that Easter morning. But they didn't find Him because He had already been restored to life. b. Yet, they did find something in the empty tomb. And so will we if we celebrate Easter by seeking what God wants to reveal to us.

6 E. One other thing is certain: the two women and two disciples found much more than they expected in an empty tomb! 1. Isn't that often true in our broken, fallen world? We expect to find less than what God has promised. 2. We're daily bombarded with messages that over-hype even the most common and mundane things. a. Use this certain hair conditioner and you'll have perfect, carefree hair, guaranteed to ensure success in matters related to love and happiness. Or, Choose this investment firm and watch your money multiply! b. How about this: Drink this particular brand of beer and you'll become the world's most interesting man! The truth is, too much of their product and you'll no doubt become the biggest embarrassment of the evening. But really...the world's most interesting man? That's quite a stretch isn't it,...and all because you drank a certain brand of beer? c. Or try this one: Pick up your phone immediately and buy silver or gold from this particular firm, because a catastrophic collapse in the economy is coming any day that will render our money worthless. Maybe so, but I've heard that same message for at least 40 years and the economy hasn't crashed yet! d. And someone else is saying, Give me all that money that's about to become worthless and I'll be happy to dispose of it for you. Yeah, right! I'm sure you will. 3. We're all accustomed to over-hype. But the importance of the resurrection is far from being overstated. a. It's the most miraculous occurrence in the history of mankind! b. When Jesus (and others) claimed that He was the Son of God who had come to earth in a human body to save mankind and I'll prove it by dying for the sins of humanity and then rising from the dead on the third day,.i'd suggest that you and I should wait to see if He really did rise from the dead!

7 c. What's amazing is that's exactly what happened! F. The big question that demands an answer is this: What did the disciples find in the "empty tomb" if it wasn't really empty? 1. Well, I'm glad you asked! I'm delighted to tell you what they found. They found much more than just neatly folded grave clothes and two angels sitting where Jesus' body had been. That's for sure! Even better, you and I can find the very same things! 2. While thinking it was the end, the disciples found in the empty tomb a new beginning! 3. When Jesus walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, His identity was hidden so they could share their grief of the past three days. a. Now that Jesus was dead, their dreams had been crushed. With no way to move forward, they had given up all hope for the future. b. Luke 24:21 (KJV) - But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done. c. But when Jesus rose from the dead, it wasn't over at all. Instead, it was a new beginning! 4. From what appeared to be the absolute end of this 'Jesus thing,' the resurrection prompted the birthing of the church that has spread to every continent encompassing a third of humanity. Far from the end, it was actually a new beginning! a. In our broken world, you too will face disappointments and crushed dreams. Maybe you've also wanted to give up on a marriage, a struggling business, or a ministry. Perhaps you'll also find that the tomb really isn't empty it's actually a new beginning! b. Don't give up! Instead, let this Easter Sunday be a new beginning for your marriage, your family, and your life. 5. In the empty tomb they found faith rather than doubt and uncertainty. a. Thomas, the disciple we always refer to as Doubting Thomas, was so named for missing only ONE church service. And wouldn't you

8 know, that was the service when Jesus showed up to prove that He was alive. b. When Thomas heard the disciples' glowing report, he doubted by saying he'd have to see the print of the nails and Jesus' wounded side or he wouldn't believe. He thought this was a trick. c. John 20:25 (NKJV) - The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. So he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. d. Since that day, he has been called Doubting Thomas. You never know what may happen the Sunday you stay home from church! e. Because Jesus rose from the dead, the disciples' faith was restored not to a simple belief but an unshakeable faith! f. Perhaps things have happened to shake your faith or to make you lose heart and become cynical. You used to believe and have hope...but not anymore. g. Easter is all about replacing broken dreams with an unshakeable faith. If Jesus can conquer death, He can do anything! 6. At the "empty tomb" they found courage to keep on trying! All the disciples had fled, fully expecting to be next on the execution list. Peter, James, Thomas, John, Matthew, all of them. They had all failed to stand for Jesus in the moment of crisis when their faith had been tested. 7. Do you remember Mel Gibson's heroic movie Braveheart? It won five Academy Awards, including best picture, best director and best cinematography. a. Both in the movie and in real life, George Wallace lost his life while fighting to free Scotland from English rule. Following Wallace's death over 700 years ago, Robert the Bruce went on to lead the army that would eventually win Scotland's freedom plus the best king Scotland ever had! b. It wasn't easy to defeat England's larger and more powerful army. Six times Robert the Bruce was defeated and had to flee for his life.

9 After his last defeat in the dead of winter, he was lying in a rugged hut on a filthy bed of straw. As the cold wind rattled the flimsy door, he lay there thinking he couldn't fight any longer. c. But then he noticed a spider trying to weave its web. Six times it tried to swing and connect to a beam, but failed. Robert the Bruce thought, "I've also tried to defeat the English six times and failed." Watching the spider, he decided that if it failed the seventh time, that would be the sign to end his fight against the English. d. But as Robert watched, on the seventh try, the little spider succeeded by bridging the gap and completing its web. Rising from the dirt floor, Robert rallied his scattered army and won Scotland's freedom by defeating the powerful English army. e. Try again and again, if you must but just don't give up! f. After the resurrection, Jesus' defeated disciples found the courage to try again. And they built the church that now embraces one-third of humanity. g. Don't give up on your dream; don't give up on your marriage; and should I dare say this don't give up on yourself! 8. While expecting rejection, the disciples also found acceptance in the "empty tomb." a. At the crucifixion, Simon Peter, who later became the great Apostle Peter, appeared to be anything but that. Three times he had denied that he even knew Christ. b. When he heard that Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter's thoughts were not as joyful as the other disciples. How could he ever be accepted again into the fold? c. But when Jesus appeared to Mary, she was instructed to tell His disciples and Peter that He had risen and would meet them in Galilee. This was Peter's personal message of acceptance! d. Mark 16:7 (NKJV) - But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.

10 e. We mortals have this great need of being accepted and loved. At times, we think others can fill that need but they cannot. Only God can fill that need. f. Yes, we need people. But a husband, wife, mom, dad, kids, or friends can never meet that deep longing for acceptance that only God can provide. If you're expecting someone else to fill that need, you'll spend the rest of your life in empty, unsatisfying relationships. 9. Finally, at the "empty tomb," who would expect that the disciples would find life rather than death? But they did! a. It's much like the drunk guy walking home late at night who decided to take a short cut through the cemetery. In the darkness, he stumbled into a grave that had just been dug for a funeral the next day. He tried his best to get out, but couldn't. What he didn't know was that another drunk had fallen into the same grave and had also tried unsuccessfully to climb out. Sitting in the other corner of the grave, he finally spoke to the second guy: "It's no use trying. You can't get out of here." But he did!! b. Normally, only death can be found among the tombs; but the disciples found what they had not expected they found life! c. Not a matter of merely existing, but of real life! According to scripture, Jesus was not the only dead person in the tomb; they were all there. Their hearts may have been beating and their lungs respiring, but they were dead. e. Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV) declares that we were all dead in trespasses and sins. What does that mean? All of us were living with that gaping, yawning emptiness, hoping that other people or things would fill it for us. f. Having the right job, making a certain amount of money, driving the right car, or living in the right neighborhood will never produce the satisfaction we so desire. Only one thing will give us real life...and that is knowing Christ!