"Comfort From an Empty Tomb"

1) Early on Sunday morning,a] as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2) Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 )His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 )The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.  5) Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6) He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7) And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” 8) The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.   Matt. 28: 1-8 (NLT)

A sad group of women walked to Jesus’ tomb on the Sunday morning after His death. Their Savior—the Lord of Lords and King of Kings—had been brutally beaten and then crucified. The women’s hearts must have been heavy with disappointment and grief. Yet in an instant, mourning was turned to joy. An angel greeted them to offer this comfort: “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said” (Matt. 28:6).

So many of the confusing things the Lord had said now suddenly made sense. Not only had He prophesied about His own death and resurrection (Matt. 16:21), but He had also explained His relationship with God as a “oneness” (John 10:30). The grave cannot hold the Almighty. The resurrection put to rest any doubt Christ’s followers may have harbored about who He was.


God kept every one of His promises and prophesies regarding the Messiah. For example, Jesus died on the cross before the soldiers decided the break the legs of those being crucified (Ex. 12:46; Ps. 34:20). But they pierced His side with a spear to be certain of His death (Isa. 53:5). At what seemed to be the end, Christ was buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isa. 53:9); however, He did not stay in the grave.

Jesus conquered death and is now seated at the Father’s right hand, interceding for believers. He knows your name, where you are, and what you need and desire. The comfort of the empty tomb is that our Savior is alive and watching over us—just as He said (Heb. 7:25; 12:2).


BE BLESSED!
 
DAWN