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Matthew 28:1-10

¹ Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

On Good Friday, Joseph of Arimathea took the dead, lifeless body of the Son of God and laid it in his own new tomb which he had cut in the rock (Mt. 27:57-61). A great stone was rolled in front of that tomb and sealed so the disciples couldn’t come and steal Jesus’ body.

But that first Easter morning, something happened. There was an earthquake as an angel descended, broke the seal, and rolled away the stone. And a vacancy opened in that tomb. When the women got there, Jesus was gone. The tomb was empty.

Because the tomb was, and is, empty, everything has changed.

Listen to the angel’s invitation, “Come, see the place where He lay.”

On the cross, Jesus suffered the punishment that your sin deserved. On the cross, God poured out all His wrath and spent every last drop of His anger against your sin. On the cross, God turned His back on His beloved Son because Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for you.

On the cross, Jesus, the Lamb of God, took all your sin, all your doubt, all your shame. He brought it all to the tomb. On the cross, Jesus bore all your sins in His body (1 Pet. 2:24).

Now, the tomb is empty.

Today and forever, Jesus’ resurrection proves that sin and death has no power over you because God has joined you to Christ. The only thing that belongs in that tomb is the sin that Jesus has taken from you and rendered lifeless by His death on the cross. But see, the tomb is empty.

“Come, see the place where He lay. Come, see the place where Jesus took your sin.” On Good Friday, Jesus bore all your sin to the tomb where it was sealed, locked up, and hidden forever from your Heavenly Father.

Today, the tomb is empty. Your sin is gone.

When your heart is haunted with the guilt of your sins, when you are weighed down with the effects of the sins that others have committed against you, look at that empty tomb. When Jesus killed your sins on Calvary and erased them from the memory of God, He gave you the right to forget those sins as well.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, set your minds on these things. Set your minds on the things that are above. You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your Life appears, your tomb will be as empty as His. And you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:1-4).

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

The peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.