The Tomb, It Is Empty?!

Yesterday was Easter. We most often associate Easter with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. And rightly so, except that Sunday is the day that He rose from the dead and not the day that He was crucified. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is found in Matt 28:6 where the angel of God spoke to Mary and said "He is not here, for He is risen, as He said...". It was no mistake that I added the question mark along with the exclamation mark in the title. Yes, this was a statement to be proclaimed loudly, yet there could be no real confidence because there was no real understanding. After all that Jesus has told them in the last days and weeks, they still came to the tomb, expecting to find a dead body, so that they could prepare it for it's "final resting place". What a surprise to see the stone rolled away, the fierce Roman guards in shock and the tomb empty. But now what? Typically, they decided to see what man had to say rather that remember what God had said so they ran to find Peter and the others. Jesus told them He would be crucified - and He was. He told them He would rise again - and He did. With proof from the first event, why was it so difficult to believe the second statement? As mentioned, they ran to get the disciples, who came and saw for themselves that Jesus was not there. Once again, there was the opportunity to begin spreading the word that Jesus had risen from the dead, "just as He said". But, instead, they went back to their upper room and remained there until evening, when Jesus came to them with a message of peace. (John 20) It is hard to have peace when we refuse to believe God, even in the face of undeniable proof. Now, before you get to pious and condemn Peter and the others for not sharing this wonderful news with the whole world - who have you told? The news of the empty tomb is just a relevant today as it ever was and so is the responsibility to proclaim it. The tomb "is" empty! Do you believe it?