One Thing Is Certain: The Tomb is Empty

I had a conversation with a dear friend the other day. It was one of those “iron sharpens iron” conversations about God. Every time my friend and I have one of these conversations I leave challenged. I consider my friend to be a man of great integrity and faith…so when he shares his convictions about God, God’s Church and God’s Word, I listen. I would also add that my friend is a man who does not care for the spotlight. That said, out of respect for him, I will not be mentioning his name in this post.

During our conversation, my friend made a comment that gave me pause to reflect. He said,”It seems to be popular these days for bible teachers to water down the bible into words of uncertainty.” His comment was especially engaging to me as we consider the gravity of the awe-inspiring event we stop to remember and celebrate during this season we call Easter.

Perhaps my friend is right. People have been twisting the message of the Bible to suit their views of the world for generations. In a generation marked by uncertainty, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised? Nevertheless, with all the fear and doubt that seems to be reaching even some of the highest levels of Christian faith and influence today, there is one message that still rings our just as clearly now as it did over 2000 years ago. It is a message that did not originate as an idea or self improvement strategy. It is a message that originated as an eye witness account of an event that happened in history. An event that gives ultimate credibility to every word and deed performed by a person who really lived in history. Therefore, in the midst of all the immense, thick and dark clouds of ambiguity our entire world lives in today, this one message still rings with trustworthy surety…The Tomb is Empty. He is Risen. Perhaps it sounds too fantastic to be true. However, if it is true and Jesus did rise from death as testified by a sizable group of witnesses, then we must consider with certainty that Jesus is who He says He is.

Matthew 28:1-20

^.5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said… More >>>

 

Mark 16:1-8

⁶ “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… More>>>

 

Luke 24:1-50

¹ 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. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, ³ but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. ⁵ In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? ⁶ He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ⁷ ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered his words… More>>>