In the twentieth chapter of the Gospel of John, we read his moving account of Mary Magdalene going, on the first day of the week, to the tomb where the Lord’s body had been laid the Friday before. Her actions, astonishment, and deepening sorrow all revealed she had expected no resurrection. Her Lord was dead. It was over. In Mark’s account we find Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome asking each other on the way to the tomb, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:1-3) Again, no grasp of the resurrection. But upon their arrival they found the stone already rolled away and the tomb was empty. The body was gone.
John then recorded Mary running to Simon Peter and the other disciple [John] to inform them of the discovery. (John 20:2) These two disciples were also astonished as they raced toward and peered into the empty tomb. It was not a ransacked tomb, nor was there any sign of a hasty removal of the body. In fact, it appears to have been a very tidy tomb with the burial clothes neatly folded and lying where the Lord’s body had been. (John 20:6-7)
Now what? What were they to do? Where could they look? Consider the even deeper emptiness they must have felt after feeling there was nothing else that could be taken from them once their Lord had been placed in the tomb. They still had not grasped what Jesus had foretold would take place (John 20:9) How many times had the Lord brought up the subject? (John 2:19-21; Matthew 12:38-40; Matthew 16:21) Incidentally, we might note there was a group among the Jewish leaders who did remember the claim and sought to cover their bases. (Matthew 27:62-64)
So, here they were peering into an empty tomb. However, what they were slow to recognize was that this emptiness was actually full of powerful declaration and assurance of hope.
–By His resurrection from the dead, Jesus was powerfully declared to be the Son of God! (Romans 1:4)
–The resurrection makes possible the new birth and living hope that is ours! (1 Peter 1:3-4)
–Jesus was raised to life for our justification! (Romans 4:25)
–The same Spirit who raised Jesus lives within us as Christians to give life to our mortal body! (Romans 8:11)
–Peter linked salvation’s power in baptism to the resurrection of Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 3:21)
–And the assurance of our own resurrection is based on the validity of our Lord’s! (1 Corinthians 15)
I have reread each of the Gospel accounts and find nowhere that it is even implied the stone needed to be rolled away to let Jesus out of the tomb! The stone was moved aside so that a look within would leave no doubt the tomb was empty! In the truth of that emptiness is the fullness of the powerful promises and wonderful blessings Christ came to provide! I thank God for the empty tomb because I know therein lies the reality of my full salvation in Christ Jesus my Lord! The emptiness of that place for the dead declares the fullness of life available in Christ! Because He lives, we also will live!
Have a great day TRUSTING IN THE FULLNESS OF LIFE TO WHICH THE EMPTY TOMB SPEAKS!
Carl
