Sunday

This morning the tomb is empty! Jesus rose from the dead on the third day just as He said He would. Here are the events of the day, beginning at early dawn, as described by the gospel writers:

An earthquake occurred and an angel rolled back the huge stone that had sealed the tomb where Jesus' body lay.

A few women visited the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with spices. Although they fully expected the body to be there, the tomb was empty. The angel tells them Jesus has risen!

Not believing the women's report of an empty tomb, Peter and John go to see it for themselves.

Jesus appears to Mary Magdelene and then to other women.

The soldiers who were guarding the tomb report the empty tomb to the religious leaders and are bribed to report that the body was stolen.

Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Jesus appears to the disciples without Thomas present.

Over the course of the next few weeks Jesus appears many other times:
Jesus appears to disciples with Thomas present;
Jesus appears to disciples near the Sea of Galilee; and
Jesus appear to 500 other people.

Scripture gives many reasons why the resurrection is of first importance:
1. It demonstrates the adequacy of Jesus' payment for the sins of the world.
"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." (1 Corinthians 15:3-18)
2. It demonstrates that Jesus has conquered death and has control over it.
"We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word." (Romans 6:8)
"I hold the keys of death and Hades." (Revelation 1:18)
3. It establishes the great hope that every believer will receive a resurrection body like that of Jesus.
"He by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." (Philippians 3:21)
"By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also." (1 Corinthians 6:14)
"If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection." (Romans 6:5)

It is exciting to think about the resurrection body, especially when faced with the reality of our home-going. By simply observing some of Jesus' post resurrection appearances, we learn that the resurrection body is both physical and recognizable:

Jesus challenged Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side" (John 20:27). Thomas responded, "My Lord and my God!" (v. 28)

When Mary was clinging to Jesus after His resurrection, He said to her, "Stop clinging to Me; for I have not yet returned to the Father" (John 20:17)

"Touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have" (Luke 24:39)

"They gave Him a piece of broiled fish...He took it and ate it before them" (Luke 24:42-43)

"Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving but believing" (John 20:27)

Because Christ is risen, we have HOPE. So let us be encouraged, as scripture exhorts:

"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)