The Light of the Empty Tomb!

Easter Service 2010

"The Light of the Empty Tomb!"

Pastor Jerry Ingalls

April 4, 2010

[Drama of Matthew 28:1-8 (NIV)]

He is Risen! Are you living in the light of the empty tomb? [Pause]

Let's walk through the Scripture lesson this morning and learn how we can live in the light of the empty tomb.

Please open up your Bibles to the Scripture lesson which you just saw dramatized for you, the Gospel of Matthew 28:1-8. That's the first book in the New Testament about 2/3 the way through the Bible. As well, please pull out your sermon notes and follow along with me. There are some fill-ins on the sermon notes to encourage you to take notes and interact with the teaching.

WE LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE EMPTY TOMB WHEN...WE EXPERIENCE GOD!

Our Scripture lesson begins in verse 1, "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb."

If we return to the end of Matthew 27:59-61, we see that these two same women were watching Jesus' dead body being placed in the tomb.

The historic account records, "Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb."

It was on Good Friday that Jesus Christ was crucified alongside of two criminals. He died and was placed in a tomb. We are now in the 3rd day since that barbaric scene where the Son of God's blood was emptied from His beaten and broken body.

What now? All of the hope and expectations placed upon Jesus of Nazareth being the promised Messiah--the Christ--were seemingly shattered! His followers were at a loss! Had they misunderstood? Had they placed their faith and loyalty in the wrong camp? What now?

There were two women both named Mary, who in the midst of darkness of the predawn Easter morning set out on a journey of faith! All the evidence seemed to indicate that all was loss, but their faith in Jesus Christ was greater than the tangible evidence of their circumstances!

As Paul exhorts the followers of Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 5:7, "We live by faith, not by sight."

The two Mary's set out on a journey to visit the tomb of their dead Lord in the darkness of the early morning and arrived at dawn of the first day; they arrived at first light. They set out in faith and received sight! That is so true of us in our experiences with God. [Pause]

So often it is when we are walking and groping in the darkness of life's journey, when all of our circumstances seem to point against the evidence of God, that we experience the presence of God and He meets our deepest needs!

So many of our personal stories of God's grace in our lives is of times in our life when all seemed to be without hope! It's amazing how God makes Himself known to us at time such as these!

That was true for me and I thank God for how He reached into my life and pulled me from the depths of my pride and ambition, addiction to self and self gratification.

Our Scripture lesson continues in verses 2-3, "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow."

When the messenger of God rolled back the stone that was sealed in front of the tomb, it caused a violent earthquake! God literally moved the entire landscape in order to show the first two witnesses of the Resurrection the mighty power of God. God not only has the power over the earth, but also over life and death!

Throughout the Scriptures, we see that when God manifests His presence to people that there is an image of perfection, radiance, and brilliant light.

For example, in the Revelation of John 1:14 we read, "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire."

Friends, this is the reality of God--God is light! He is the One who directs our steps and captures us in His glory when all seems darkest. He is radiant and holy!

The Apostle John in 1 John 1:5b-7 teaches us this deep truth about God, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

God is capable of dealing with all of our obstacles in this life (inside of ourselves and out)--our doubt, our circumstances, and our sins and rebellion against His goodness in our life. Living in the light of the empty tomb so often starts with a journey in darkness that ends with the light of a personal experience with God. God shows us that He can shake the landscape in our lives, roll back the stone, and shine His light into our lives! He lights the way with His presence and that leads to fellowship with not only God, but with one another! Forgiveness & Reconciliation are possible!

Our hope for this life and the next is in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, who went to the Cross on that Good Friday so that for all time, through His shed blood, we may have forgiveness of sin and a personal relationship with God. That brings us to our second point.

WE LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE EMPTY TOMB WHEN...WE KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST!

The biblical narrative continues in verses 4, "The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men." Isn't it ironic that the Roman guards assigned to guard the dead man became like a dead man while the one they guarded was already alive!

The story continues in verses 5-6, "The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

The messenger of God was reassuring to these two eye witnesses of the Resurrection! There is a key phrase and it's found in verse 6, "just as he said." The angel reminds the two women that none of this is unplanned or reactionary. God knew, from the beginning, that Jesus Christ would have to suffer the betrayal of Maundy Thursday, the scattering of the faithful, and the brutality of the Cross on Good Friday.

Can you hear the angel asking the women, 'Have you forgotten the word of Jesus Christ?'

In the Gospel of Matthew, there are numerous places where Jesus Christ proclaimed the reality of His death and resurrection to His followers.

In Matthew 16:21, Jesus prophesied, "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Jesus knew what was to come, yet He resolutely and confidently set his face to Jerusalem and to the Cross! It was the only way, for you and me!

In Matthew 26:32, Jesus directly informed His followers, "But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Jesus knew the plan did not end at the Cross! That is where the price was paid; as Jesus proclaimed from the Cross, "It is finished", but for you and me, that is where it all began! The Promise of the Resurrection is the Victory of the Cross! All the promises of God have now been answered 'Yes' in Jesus Christ! It is finished! The New Covenant between God and humanity has been sealed forever!

The Apostle Paul declared this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:20a, "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ."

It's as if the angel is standing before them proclaiming the faithfulness of God--the LORD always honors His word! Always: past, present, and future!

Have you forgotten the promises of God to you through Jesus Christ? [Pause] Have you gone your own way and sought satisfaction in the counterfeit promises of this world? [Pause]

Whatever brought you to church this morning, let me declare to you this truth: God has called you here today to hear the promises of God for your life! He desires you, more than any of us can conceive, to be reconciled to Him through you (each of us!) receiving the gift of faith. This gift of faith transforms your life through the renewing of your mind and this gift of faith changes everything about your past, present, and future! Jesus came to set us free!

Jesus makes this promise to us in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

This is the promise of God through Jesus Christ when we surrender our life to God's Lordship and follow His commandments in our life. That moves us into the final point of this morning's message.

WE LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE EMPTY TOMB WHEN...WE OBEY WHAT GOD TELLS US!

We know that we know the truths of Jesus Christ when we put them into action in our daily lives! We must become a disciple (a follower) of the Risen Lord by obeying His commandments. We must live out our faith! This is what it ultimately means to live in the light of the empty tomb!

It is not enough to claim to be a Christian because our nation or community has a Christian heritage or because our parents were Christian.

It is not enough to go to church or where a cross around our neck or have one up above our bed. This is not magic nor superstition. The death of Jesus Christ followed by His Resurrection three days later is the power of God to reach the lost of this world; that is you and me! His body was broken and His blood was shed so that we may be washed clean and stand before the Living God acceptable in His sight because Jesus cleansed us through His righteousness; through His blood! Jesus' defeat of death is God's manifested power to give us eternal life! Death has been defeated! This is good news!

The narrative of that first Easter morning continues in verses 7-8, "Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

It is a blessing to me that the first two commissioned preachers of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ were women! In a culture that devalued women, God selected two outcast women who had faith enough to start their journey at night and walk by faith!

God can use you no matter what status you have in this life! Whether you have an education or not; whether you feel qualified or not, God can and will call you if you are available! Are you available?

God knows who is available, not by our perfection, but by the desire of our heart to know Him, to trust Him, and to obey His teachings.

This angel gave these two women a mission; a call to action! And they responded! What is our call to action as followers of Jesus Christ?

Recorded in the Gospel of John 13:34-35, on the night that our Lord was to be betrayed, Jesus Christ gave this command, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Our missionary call starts right here today with the way we love one another! The way we come together as a church family, as a larger community who has put our trust in Jesus Christ.

When we know Jesus Christ in our hearts; when we apply that which we know is true; when we forgive, reconcile, let go of the grudges, and truly learn to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ in our workplace, in the schools, on the roads, in our relationships and in our churches, then we are living in the light of the empty tomb!

Our journey, like these two women is one from darkness into the light. From doubt and the disappointment of this life to the victory of a divine experience and the joy of a personal relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ!

What happens when we set out in this new life of obedience?

Verse 8 shows the women are hurrying or running away in obedience to God's command! The next verse, verse 9, answers this question describing the two Mary's having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, "Suddenly Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him."

If you want to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ then you need to set out on this faith journey. Even if there is great darkness in your life, set out in faith and I promise you God will meet you where you are and make His presence known to you! That is the assurance of God. He desires to be found!

God wants you to experience His love and His forgiveness and that is why He sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world—so that the world could see His fullness; so that you and I could catch a glimpse of His brilliance!

The Holy Spirit teaches us from 1 Corinthians 13:12, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

Don't allow any obstacle in your life; including imperfect understanding of God prevent you from making a decision to accept this great gift of forgiveness of sins made possible through the Victory of the Cross!

God has promised us that if we walk by faith in this life, then we will see Him face to face in eternal life! This faith journey leads to the Radiance and Glory of God!

Jesus has risen from the dead and God will do the same for you. The Easter miracle is the promise of life eternal for all who believe that God walked amongst us, went to the Cross for our sins, and then rose that first Easter morning.

Right now, we are going to respond to this message by declaring our faith together through the partaking of the Lord's Supper, known as communion. Communion is not about your church membership; it is about your personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. You are invited to join us if you love Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. I am going to lead us in a prayer that I ask every single person today to personally join me in praying. Pray along with me in your hearts.

Sinner's Prayer

AMEN. If you prayed that prayer with me and sincerely believed it in your heart, then you are invited to celebrate with us by partaking of this sacred ordinance of the church.

As the ushers come forward to serve you both the bread and the cup, I ask that you take this as a personal time of reflection. After the elements are served, the elders will read the Words of Institution over the bread and cup and we will partake together as a sign of our unity; we are bound together in our common faith and our common baptism.

Ushers please come forward and serve the saints.

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