Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Wednesday, 16 April 2025 08:02

Easter Series Empty Tomb
by Cody Anderson Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

In the preceding article, we examined eyewitness accounts to establish the historic account of the resurrection. In this article, we will delve into the events surrounding the resurrection to explain the reasons for a risen Savior. The empty tomb holds the utmost significance within the Christian faith, as its absence negates the possibility of salvation. Given that Christ was the first fruits, believers can be assured of eternal life after their physical demise.
The emptiness of the tomb serves several crucial purposes. Firstly, it demonstrates the faithfulness of God. In Mark 8:31, Jesus asserted that He would be crucified and resurrected within three days. If He were still in the tomb, it would imply that God had abandoned His divine plan, rendering hope futile. Secondly, the triumph over death and hell is symbolized by the empty tomb. Revelation 1:18 proclaims, “…I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades,” (NASB). Physical evidence of a bodily resurrection affirms that Jesus transcends mere existence in memory or heart, possessing an actual body. Without an empty tomb, Christianity would be just another religion whose leader’s remains are found in their resting places.

Furthermore, the empty tomb aligns with Old Testament promises. Various authors from different eras prophesied the absence of the Messiah’s body in the tomb. Psalm 16:10 states, “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay,” (NASB). In a warm climate such as the Middle East, a body would typically exhibit signs of decay within a few days. However, no such evidence is recorded for the body of Jesus after the resurrection. Isaiah 53 affirms that despite being crushed, Jesus’s days would be prolonged, and “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied,” (NASB). With another prophecy fulfilled, we can rest in knowing that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior of the world.

The empty tomb also proves Christ’s victory over sin and death. Romans 6:8-10 declares, “Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God,” (NASB). Death has no power now for the followers of Christ. Since His death was our payment for death, we died, and now we live. We don’t wait to have eternal life. Eternal life is defined as knowing Christ. Death has no hold on us. It is simply a passing from one existence into another.

Paul sums it up in 1 Corinthians 15, the resurrection chapter. He writes, “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied,” (15:16-19, NASB). Without the resurrection of our Lord, life is pointless. We are doomed for damnation and have no hope. Every Sunday we worship because Jesus was raised on the first day of the week. Remember every day, not just Sunday or Easter, the hope we have in Christ, the God who loves us, and Spirit that indwells us.