An Empty Tomb
Or
A Missing Body
Sunday Sept. 3, 2023
Scripture To Consider:
“Then she [Mary] ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.’”
“Peter therefore went out and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.”
“Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scriptures, that He [Jesus] must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.” John 20.2-10
Something To Consider:
Evidently Mary Magdalene ran ahead of the other Mary until she found Peter and John. The angel had instructed them, by saying, “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He [Jesus] is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
But by the time Mary found Peter and John, the message becomes, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Just the thought of the stone being rolled away and the body of Jesus missing from the tomb propels both Peter and John on a footrace toward the now open and empty tomb.
As they both ran toward an empty tomb, what must have raced through their minds? Their thoughts of Jesus being crowned as King over Israel, the true Messiah was crushed by His crucifixion. And now, of all things, His body is missing, and there is an empty tomb.
Something Else To Consider:
I love the candor of the Scriptures. John, most likely the other disciple, outran Peter to the tomb, and he could not help himself, so he tells us twice that he beat Peter to the tomb. But something kept John from entering the tomb. And yet, Simon Peter upon reaching the tomb does not hesitate to enter the open but empty tomb.
If out of breath from running, they were both most likely breathless by what they saw and what they did not see. By this time both hearts were rapidly beating with excitement and blood rushing amazement at seeing no body in the empty tomb, just grave cloths.
John recorded, “For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.” In time they would know the truth for sure! But for whatever reason the disciples did not understand though Jesus had taught them that He would suffer, die, and rise the third day on no less than 7 occasions in the four gospel accounts.
And though several Old Testament Scriptures also predicted the death of the Messiah, false teaching prevailed just as false teaching prevails in this 21st century generation. The disciples heard Jesus declare on many occasions as in Mark 9.31; “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed He will rise the third day.”
Something More To Consider:
What an exhilarating experience it all must have been for the women and the disciples who loved and followed Jesus. They had watched with their own eyes His being crucified, His dying, His being buried, and the tomb being sealed and a guard being set in hope of securing the whole evil affair.
But now the body is missing! What did it mean for those who believed? It meant there was either renewed hope once again, or that this was the cruelest of pranks. The facts are too overwhelming to simply reject or disregard. There was an empty tomb, and there was a missing body.
Now what must they do? Should their hearts be filled with hope and expectation, or should they resort to hopelessness? It was not long before the answers to the questions of the missing body and the empty tomb were revealed. Therefore, what does His body being missing mean to us?
Are not the promises and end time warnings and teachings of Jesus to be taken seriously? All Scripture is inspired by God, according to 2 Timothy 3.16, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.
And all Scripture which is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, will come to pass as recorded in the Word of God. In our own minds which is it, an empty tomb or a missing body, or both? Do we believe that the words of Jesus had supernatural power, or do we believe that His body was stolen? It makes all the difference eternally as to what we believe!
A Few Final Words:
Jesus, a third time predicted both His death and resurrection in Matthew 20.18-19. “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man [Jesus] will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He [Jesus] will rise again.”
To some, and empty tomb is just that, but to those who truly believe in Jesus, just the thought of an empty tomb brings a new vitality to life, and a bright light to the hope that lies within us. And according to John, “Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, the truth is almost too good to be true. The glorious fact of the matter is that the tomb was empty and remains empty. Death could not hold Jesus as an eternal example to His people that Jesus gained the victory over both death and the grave. Praise God! In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 