The image of Jesus’ empty tomb is one of the most important aspects in all our Christian faith. Many religions have important historical figures, but the core point of the Bible’s Good News is that Jesus is alive today, very much ruling and acting in the world and above the heavens.
Christians are convinced of Jesus’ empty tomb and of his bodily resurrection. The interesting thing is that those first visitors to the empty tomb weren’t so convinced. It was too unbelievable.
So what changed? And what’s that to you?
These notes accompany a sermon on YouTube. You can find more in the series in our sermon index.
Read the reports
We’ll take a look at the passage itself, then ask how convinced you might be about how Jesus’ empty tomb points to his resurrection, then finally we’ll look at some implications. The really important starting place is simple: Jesus was dead. Read Luke 24:1.
These women had seen where and how Jesus had been laid in a tomb, and now they were coming back to finalise the burial process. They were heading for a corpse in a tomb.
But they came to a dead end. Read Luke 24:2-3.
- The stone was probably a wheel-shape, rolled along.
- Tombs of wealthier people were reused and expanded, so they had a rolling door. It would take a number of strong people to shift, but it was designed to be moveable.
- And that tomb was open, and empty.
- They stand there, spices in hand. Looking at each other!
- They went into the tomb, but there was no body.
Then they got a shock: Read Luke 24:4.
Matthew adds a bit more drama to the arrival of the angels, but their appearance in any form would be amazing. If you doubt that, tell me how many shining angels you’ve seen. Those women were terrified: Read Luke 24:5-7.
- There’s a gentle rebuke. Why are they looking for a corpse?
- There’s a stunning proclamation: He is not here, but he has risen!
- And there’s a call to remember what Jesus himself had said: He had told them he would rise.
- Then: Read Luke 24:8.
They do the only thing they can: Read Luke 24:9.
Valid witnesses?
Now there’s a problem. In that society, at that time, whatever the women reported just wouldn’t carry any testimonial weight: They were “just women.” And all these were women: Read Luke 24:10-11.
Notice that. The first people to hear the news didn’t believe it.
So: Read Luke 24:12. John’s gospel tells us that John ran with Peter and got there first. John saw what Peter saw, and John believed. But Luke’s emphasis is different: He wants you to know that Peter walked away, amazed.
The gospel accounts do vary in details. But each gospel writer has his own emphasis and lays his material out as he sees fit: That’s not how we expect it today, but it very much fits the ancient ‘bio’ style of writing. No problem.
So we end these first moments with Peter and the women in a state of bewilderment: Yes, Jesus did say that he’d rise from the dead. But it seems to fantastical, too hard to believe. More, it seems too much to hope for. Grief is one thing, but hope in something impossible is a different kind of pain.
Now, if the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is so central to all Christian hope, is there enough here to convince you – when even the people there at the time weren’t convinced?
Actually, their scepticism should encourage you:
Be certain: Jesus rose from the dead
There are some excellent books that look into the case for Jesus’ resurrection – take a look.
But we’re focussing right down on just these 12 verses. In the first place, what would it have meant if Jesus’ body was still in that tomb?
- At the very least, it would mean he stayed dead!
- But that would also suggest that he’d died for his own sin, rather than for others (for us).
- It would also mean that Christianity, if it survived, would be nothing more than the teachings of a man who died a long time ago.
- Other religions are available, if that’s your thing.
But the tomb was empty. That’s an easy fact to accept. The question is: Where was Jesus?
The angels said that the women were looking in the wrong place – you won’t find Jesus in a graveyard. He lives. And then there was the recollection of Jesus’ own words: He did say that he would be killed in Jerusalem. He also said that he would rise on the third day. That’s a pretty amazing claim.
Jesus’ own testimony
But we laboured the point last time: Jesus died an innocent man.
He did nothing wrong. That means he told no lies. Jesus made the lame walk, the blind see, and the dead rise. He also taught with authority – the authority of Scripture itself – because he was Son of God Most High. He spoke only truth, and died an innocent man.
So when Jesus said he would rise from the dead, was that a lie? No-one believed him or understood him, but he said it anyway. And now this: An empty tomb.
So there’s the angels, plus what Jesus had said.
And a third thing here: the linen cloths.
- If you’re going to steal a body, you don’t leave the cloths behind.
- In fact, John’s gospel tells us that the cloths were all neatly folded to one side – not the MO of your average grave-robber!
- Jesus left that tomb in a controlled, orderly, unhurried fashion – and had no further need of grave-clothes.
These things are indicative – even supportive – of the claim that Jesus rose from the dead. But they’re not conclusive.
Conclusive evidence?
Perhaps the most conclusive part of these verses is actually the scepticism and unbelief of those first disciples. They weren’t stupid or more easily tricked than you. They had seen Jesus do amazing things. But even they didn’t believe the women.
I had a friend who was an exceptional project manager, and he shared with me the project managers’ mantra: “Show me.” In other words, he wouldn’t believe anyone’s progress report unless they could actually show him some firm results, some real evidence.
When those women told the 11 apostles what they had seen and what the angels had said, Peter’s response was disbelief, then “Show me.”
And here’s the thing: Peter was the one standing up weeks later at Pentecost explaining to everyone that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. In fact, all those apostles and disciples were prepared to die to testify that Jesus rose from the dead. If they knew it to be a 100% fact, they also knew that death would only lead them to Jesus. Death held no fear.
1 Corinthians 15 speaks at length about how important Jesus’ resurrection is to Christian faith and life, so it begins by explaining how many hundreds of people Jesus appeared to.
The empty tomb supported the claim that Jesus was risen. But your confidence comes from unbelieving people who became convinced by one thing: They met the risen Christ.
Take Jesus’ resurrection to heart
Many, many people have died and continue to die in the conviction that Jesus rose from the dead.
Here are five ways for you to take this truth to heart:
1. Understand a new reality.
You’re more than just atoms. When Jesus died he really died! His heart stopped pumping, his blood stopped moving.
That was Friday; on Sunday he rose, alive.
The universe has a spiritual dimension to it that you can’t ignore. Jesus went somewhere, and returned to a newly alive body. And he is now risen, awaiting the day he will return to the earth. You’re a spiritual entity. You won’t end when your body dies.
Explore all the religions you like, but only Jesus has gone through death and only he offers you an eternal life he already experiences.
2. Believe Jesus’ words.
He said he would be killed and would rise on the third day. No-one else could say that and deliver on it! His teaching on his return is likewise true. There will be a day when he himself will sit in judgment over every man, woman and child who ever lived; you’ll be there.
He said it so that you can be ready for that day!
3. Grasp Jesus’ words.
Take hold of them. Don’t simply agree, or say, “How interesting.”
Jesus’ empty tomb shows that his work as a sacrifice for your sin was acceptable. In fulfilment of Isaiah 53, God laid on Jesus the sins of his people. When the Bible calls you to faith, it’s faith in something specific (not just a fuzzy feeling). You deserve death and hell because of your sin. Jesus said that he was laying down his life as a ransom for many – you can be saved from death and hell because of him.
Turn to God in repentance for your sin. Ask God for forgiveness; trust that he will count all your sin against Jesus. Jesus’ empty tomb shows that the sacrifice was acceptable.
Don’t just agree with his words: Grasp them, make them real in your life in repentance and faith. Go to God.
4. Trust Jesus.
Peter and the other apostles were convinced that Jesus rose from the dead not by cold facts about a cold tomb. They knew Jesus was alive because they met him. Because Jesus is alive, you can meet him!
You might well feel his pull on your life; he’s calling you. Hear him, respond to his call. Know the risen Christ. How? By faith, in prayer.
Any Christian who’s been a follower of Jesus for any length of time knows what it is to have his hand on their lives. You can know that. You can know him.
Because he lives.
5. Tell others.
This is shocking news. It’s to be told, just as the women did (and they didn’t even fully believe it!).
This is the Good News of Christmas: God’s Son came to earth to save us, and he lives now to give us life and peace. Angels are ‘messengers’. They told the shepherds of Jesus’ birth. They told these women of Jesus’ resurrection. Two more would speak of his ascension to heaven.
But when Jesus returns, every eye shall see him. He lives! Take that to heart for the sake of your eternal joy! Jesus is alive! And you can know him now and forever.