The Empty Tomb

He is Risen…

John 20:1-9 (NIV)

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Running. Running to see what had happened at the tomb of Jesus. The questions must’ve been bouncing in their heads as they ran to where He was laid to rest. We cab be sure that doubt was accompanying them on their way.

Jesus had told them, but was it true. As men, as mere humans, they doubted. They did love Jesus with all of their hearts, but could this actually be? Could Jesus truly have been the Messiah. All through their walk with Jesus they had questions and made mistakes. The Disciples had stumbled and fallen, tripped and fumbled, doubted and cried, yet could this have really happened?

I can see them scratching their heads standing at the tomb, staring at each other in amazement or perhaps dumbfounded. Who knows truly what they felt. God does.

The plan was being fulfilled right before their eye. The stone rolled away not for Jesus to get out, but for man to believe. Sight is a powerful thing for us you see. Sight can rule us, if we let it. You must know, however, that Jesus did not wok in the rational human world. Jesus was active in the strongest faith to ever exist. He was God on earth. Creator in the flesh. His plan is perfect. 

Jesus is Risen! He lives now. He sits at the right hand of the Father, in preparation for His coming. He is coming. As this world edges closer and closer to His arrival, it will begin to fall apart. But do not be afraid and do not let your sight deceive you. The Son of Man returns for all who believe. #JesusSaves

Amen
Dk