Empty Tomb

Good Morning weekend readers. Today is often called the Easter Vigil or the Great Sabbath or Holy Saturday. Some call it Silent Saturday because Jesus has died, he is in the tomb and his resurrection is tomorrow. But in Jesus’ day, many were not sure this would happen because, let’s face it—outside of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus, no one had risen from their tomb to be alive again! So let’s explore a bit on this ‘quiet Holy Saturday.’ 

In Mark 9:30-32, from the Message Bible we read: “Leaving there, they went through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know their whereabouts, for he wanted to teach his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him. Three days after his murder, he will rise, alive.” They didn’t know what he was talking about, but were afraid to ask him about it.”

For us, we know the end of the story, but for those hanging on who loved Jesus and had committed their lives to him well, that big “question” was piercing their minds. They heard his word but the skepticism was there, even with his disciples.

Tombs…we find them everywhere in every place on the planet. I find it interesting how so many of the famous landmarks we revere are built around the bodies of people who are regarded as great in history. Such as: the pyramids of Egypt are famous because they contained the mummified bodies of ancient Egyptian kings, or Westminster Abbey in London which is renowned because in it rests the bodies of English nobles and notables. In Washington D.C. the Arlington National Cemetery is revered for our military who died in battle, along with many outstanding Americans.

So we can say, “these tombs are not empty, right-yes!” For Jesus, however, it’s completely the opposite. Why is the tomb of Jesus so famous? For a reason that no other tomb has: It’s not because of what’s inside, but because it’s empty! There is no body to see, no bones to exhume, and no epitaph reading, “Here lies Jesus.” There is simply—NOTHING—and that is why Jesus stands alone among the most revered people in history—because He’s not here in a tomb, he is alive!

While many great men and women have come and gone throughout the ages, Jesus is different. He’s not just a great moral philosopher or religious leader. He truly is who He says he is—the Son of God Himself! In John 3:13 [Voice], Jesus tells us and the whole world: “No one has ever journeyed to heaven above except the One who has come down from heaven—the Son of Man, who is of heaven.”

We all have some historical figures we like, but when they have died we don’t see them anymore. We have the memories which is great. We learn from them so we can share for the next generation and on and on until Jesus comes back and this world will be turned over into a new world, a true Eden with no sin, no heartaches and worries and no deaths.

So remember this tomorrow, Easter—the day Jesus fulfilled his words that he would rise alive! Jesus—our One and Only who has come from heaven to earth and back to heaven again and he did it for us. What a gift—makes me want to shout “Alleluia” on this quiet Holy Saturday. AMEN.