The Empty Tomb

By Shirley Mitchell

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”

Luke 24:1-3

After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Early on Sunday morning just after sunrise, they were making their way to the tomb where the men had buried Jesus. They asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" When they arrived, they learned that a strong man was not necessary. To their surprise, the stone was rolled away!

The irreversible was reserved. The unimaginable was reality. God’s beloved Son, His one and only Son, was alive! The angels swooped down from the throne of heaven to roll away the stone…Not to let Him out but to let us in. His tomb is the only tourist attraction in the world where people line up to see nothing. The angels declared to the women the most glorious words of all time, “He is not here. He is risen.” All of creation has longed for these words to ring out. You know what I love the most about my sister Linda’s Orthodox Church? I love the Paschal greeting where they celebrate Christ's resurrection and they greet each other with a holy kiss and these words: One says, “Christ is risen.” The other replies, “Indeed, He is risen.”

The prophecy in the Garden of Eden was fulfilled. The seed of a woman had crushed satan’s head and delivered to him a final blow (Genesis 3:15). The evil one’s power is stripped. Jesus rose from the grave, and the sting of death is gone.

Then, a young man dressed in a white robe who was sitting on the right side frightened them. Luke chapter 24 tells not just of the one angel that spoke, but that there were two angels whose clothes gleamed like lightning (verse 4). I think these ladies had a right to be a bit afraid and cling to each other.

We are told in Mark 16:6-7, the angel said, “ ‘Don't be alarmed,’ he said. ’You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' ’ " While they were still shaking and confused, the women fled from the tomb to find the men. They told the Eleven what they had seen, but the men did not believe them. Their words seemed like nonsense because it was so unbelievable!

By Jewish Law, women could not be official witnesses. Yet, God let them be His Son’s witnesses – esteeming them and counting them as credible. The disciples did not believe them. It sounded like nonsense. They were not anticipating the resurrection. In Matthew 27:62-64, the chief priests and Pharisees remembered when they buried Jesus that He said, “After three days I will rise again.” They were concerned the disciples would steal the body. As a result Pilate ordered the tomb to be made secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. Isn’t it interesting that the religious leaders remembered Jesus’ prophecy, but His followers didn’t?

After hearing the women’s news, Peter and John moved their feet into motion before they could rethink the news. They both had the same thought and took off running. They knew each other so well they didn’t have to say a word. They must see the empty tomb. They ran down a trail they had scarcely noticed just three days ago when they were grieving. When they came to the tomb, Peter walked inside first. Jesus was not there. The body was gone, but the grave clothes remained like an empty cocoon – the cloth was even folded! God left the tomb tidy.

After the supernatural appearance of the angels at the tomb, Jesus made unglamorous appearances to ordinary people. He didn’t appear in the heavens above Jerusalem for all to see. He didn’t return to Pilate. He didn’t appear to the Sanhedrin. He appeared to those who were His…The ones whom He loved. Hallelujah!

Pray with me: Oh, Almighty God, the tomb was empty! You rolled away that stone even though You knew the women could have found someone to roll away that stone. You rolled it away to let the light shine and show the world what You did! JESUS DIED, but then You exerted YOUR resurrection Power and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come (Ephesians 1:20-21). It’s in the Name of this King that we pray, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name. Amen.

Excerpt from the Jesus Lives Bible study