And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
The women came to the garden tomb very early on the first day of the week with spices to anoint Jesus, and entering in found the heavy stone already rolled away and the body of the Lord Jesus gone, with only his linen clothes left where he had lain. The tomb had been opened by heavenly power, with angels rolling back the stone amid earthquake and glory, and at the Father's call life entered Christ and he came forth a mighty Conqueror proclaiming himself the resurrection and the life. Two angels in shining white, one at the head and one at the feet where he had lain, declared to those seeking him that he was not there because he had risen as he had said, and bade them go tell his disciples he would go before them into Galilee. His absence is evidence that he had already come to life again and was not left in the grave, so his body did not see corruption. Though the empty tomb should have filled their hearts with rejoicing, it at first brought sorrow, fear, perplexity and doubt, for they had forgotten his promise and their faith had sunk so low they could scarcely understand what resurrection meant. That he is risen is fact, and he is a living Saviour with the same power still, so none are to act as though he were dead.
Finding the Tomb Empty
Very early on the first day of the week, after waiting through the Sabbath hours and before it was yet light, the women came to the garden tomb bringing sweet spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They did not expect Him to rise, for their hope had set with night upon their hearts and they had forgotten His promise that He would see them again. Ignorant of what was even then taking place, they kept on toward the tomb though they knew they could not move the heavy stone, wondering as they went who would roll it away for them.
When they entered they found the heavy stone already rolled away and the Roman guard gone, and the body of the Lord Jesus no longer there. Only His linen clothes and burial shroud were left where He had lain.
The tomb had been opened by heavenly power amid a glory not from the rising sun, with trembling of the earth, flashing lightning and rolling thunder. Angels were sent to roll back the stone, laying hold of the great stone and moving it as if it were a pebble. At the Father's call, voiced by the angel with a voice that made the earth tremble, life from heaven entered Christ and He walked forth a mighty Conqueror with the tread of a conqueror. Coming forth He proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life, while the angelic host bowed low in adoration and welcomed Him with songs of praise.
The absence at first sank their hearts with disappointment and sorrow, and they feared that enemies had taken the body or practiced deception and new trials. Mary thought He had been taken away and she did not know where He had been laid, and chose to linger weeping around the sepulchre. The disciples who ran hastily with the women to the sepulchre likewise found He was not there.
What the Absence Means
The empty tomb is evidence that Jesus had already come to life again and was not left in the grave, so that His body did not see corruption. Two angels in white apparel with bright shining faces, one at the head and one at the feet where Jesus had lain, met those who came seeking Jesus and told them He was not there because He had risen as He had said. They bade the women go tell His mourning disciples that He would go before them into Galilee.
The news of the body's absence reached the disciples, including the two disciples, together with the women's report that angels had appeared to them and that they had seen Jesus alive in the garden and met Him. It was confirmed when the disciples saw the burial shroud and later saw and spoke with the risen Christ Himself. Though the absence should have filled their hearts with rejoicing, to some it brought only uncertainty, confusion, perplexity and doubt. They returned home marveling yet could scarcely understand what resurrection from the dead meant, and their disbelief in the women's testimony showed how low their faith had sunk and that their hopes had died with Jesus.
That He is risen, though hardly believed, is fact: He is a living Saviour with the same power still. Therefore lamps are to be trimmed and burning, infinity is to be grasped by living faith, and none are to act as though He were dead.
The women came to the garden tomb very early on the first day of the week with spices to anoint Jesus, and entering in found the heavy stone already rolled away and the body of the Lord Jesus gone, with only his linen clothes left where he had lain. The tomb had been opened by heavenly power, with angels rolling back the stone amid earthquake and glory, and at the Father's call life entered Christ and he came forth a mighty Conqueror proclaiming himself the resurrection and the life. Two angels in shining white, one at the head and one at the feet where he had lain, declared to those seeking him that he was not there because he had risen as he had said, and bade them go tell his disciples he would go before them into Galilee. His absence is evidence that he had already come to life again and was not left in the grave, so his body did not see corruption. Though the empty tomb should have filled their hearts with rejoicing, it at first brought sorrow, fear, perplexity and doubt, for they had forgotten his promise and their faith had sunk so low they could scarcely understand what resurrection meant. That he is risen is fact, and he is a living Saviour with the same power still, so none are to act as though he were dead.
Finding the Tomb Empty
Very early on the first day of the week, after waiting through the Sabbath hours and before it was yet light, the women came to the garden tomb bringing sweet spices to anoint the body of Jesus. They did not expect Him to rise, for their hope had set with night upon their hearts and they had forgotten His promise that He would see them again. Ignorant of what was even then taking place, they kept on toward the tomb though they knew they could not move the heavy stone, wondering as they went who would roll it away for them.
When they entered they found the heavy stone already rolled away and the Roman guard gone, and the body of the Lord Jesus no longer there. Only His linen clothes and burial shroud were left where He had lain.
The tomb had been opened by heavenly power amid a glory not from the rising sun, with trembling of the earth, flashing lightning and rolling thunder. Angels were sent to roll back the stone, laying hold of the great stone and moving it as if it were a pebble. At the Father's call, voiced by the angel with a voice that made the earth tremble, life from heaven entered Christ and He walked forth a mighty Conqueror with the tread of a conqueror. Coming forth He proclaimed Himself the resurrection and the life, while the angelic host bowed low in adoration and welcomed Him with songs of praise.
The absence at first sank their hearts with disappointment and sorrow, and they feared that enemies had taken the body or practiced deception and new trials. Mary thought He had been taken away and she did not know where He had been laid, and chose to linger weeping around the sepulchre. The disciples who ran hastily with the women to the sepulchre likewise found He was not there.
What the Absence Means
The empty tomb is evidence that Jesus had already come to life again and was not left in the grave, so that His body did not see corruption. Two angels in white apparel with bright shining faces, one at the head and one at the feet where Jesus had lain, met those who came seeking Jesus and told them He was not there because He had risen as He had said. They bade the women go tell His mourning disciples that He would go before them into Galilee.
The news of the body's absence reached the disciples, including the two disciples, together with the women's report that angels had appeared to them and that they had seen Jesus alive in the garden and met Him. It was confirmed when the disciples saw the burial shroud and later saw and spoke with the risen Christ Himself. Though the absence should have filled their hearts with rejoicing, to some it brought only uncertainty, confusion, perplexity and doubt. They returned home marveling yet could scarcely understand what resurrection from the dead meant, and their disbelief in the women's testimony showed how low their faith had sunk and that their hopes had died with Jesus.
That He is risen, though hardly believed, is fact: He is a living Saviour with the same power still. Therefore lamps are to be trimmed and burning, infinity is to be grasped by living faith, and none are to act as though He were dead.