Leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross, the disciples became more convinced that He was the Messiah—He was the One who would save them. Then, the impossible happened. Something more horrible than they could ever have imagined: their Savior died. [see previous blog] Contrary to what some might think, the cross was not a symbol of power at first. To the disciples, the cross was a symbol of the end—the end of Jesus’ life, the end of their ministries, the end of their hopes.
In this moment of defeat, all He had taught them was pushed from their memories. If they had remembered, they would have been encouraging the people that Jesus would rise again—He told them plenty of times before (See Luke 9:22, 18:31–33; Matthew 20:17–19). But they weren’t doing that. Instead, they were huddled in a secret room afraid that they, His followers, would be next.
However, very early on Sunday morning, a memorial was established that would bring more joy than any could imagine. That morning, a few women made their way to the tomb. They went to anoint Jesus’ body with the traditional burial spices, since they didn’t the day before (Luke 23:56–24:1). Imagine them walking quietly together, tears in their eyes—they needed to do this, even if it brought back all the pain from Friday.
No matter what they thought they’d see when they arrived, they weren’t expecting what they actually saw: the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. But they didn’t rejoice—they didn’t start a praise service. Luke 24:4 says they were perplexed about it. It means that they were at a loss for what happened. In the original Greek, it carries with it the implication of serious anxiety. Seeing the empty tomb didn’t make them excited, it made them scared!
While they were trying to figure out what happened, two men appeared by them in bright clothing. Of course, when you are already anxious about one thing, the sudden appearance of another unexplainable thing can be terrifying, and it was. But they were angels coming to comfort them. They told the women that Jesus wasn’t there because He had risen—just as He said He would.
They quickly went and told the disciples what had happened. As soon as they explained, the room broke out with praise and thanksgiving, right? Nope. They thought it was nonsense—it couldn’t be possible! That kind of thing didn’t happen. Unable to resist though, Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty just as the women had said.
I’m not sure we could begin to understand what was going through their minds. A glimmer of hope? A moment of fear? How would you react if you went to visit a loved one’s tomb, only to find it empty? Do you think you would believe it if someone told you that a loved one who had passed away was now alive? I doubt it. Yet, there they stood, inside an empty grave.
Later, back in Jerusalem, the completely unbelievable happened: Jesus appeared to them. How could it be? But yes, there was no doubt, it was definitely Jesus. Besides this time, He had appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34), Mary (John 20:11–17), and the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–31). He even made a special appearance later for Thomas, so he would believe as well (John 20:26–28). Tears of sorrow were replaced with tears of joy. If the cross revealed sacrifice and pain, the empty tomb revealed joy and victory. Of course, just before He died, Jesus told them it would happen: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).
He is Risen!
Now the words of Jesus returned with great power: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Him, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). They had hope of the resurrection already, but before Jesus that’s all it was: hope. Now, the resurrection was more than hope, it was a reality.
The power of the resurrection would also empower the people of God. As Paul said, “we were buried therefore with him by baptism unto death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life” (Romans 6:4). The power that raised Jesus from the day is the same power that can live in our lives. That same power will make us victorious as well.
Because Christ raising from the dead was only the beginning. According to Paul, Jesus was the first-fruits of all who would be resurrected—there will be more. And it gets better: Christ conquered death and the grave! No longer would death be able to hold anyone who trusts in Him (see 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14–19)
This is one of those memorials that we must not forget. This should be the testimony that is constantly on our lips: Jesus is risen from the dead! Yes, we serve a risen Savior. Because He lives, reuniting with our loved ones and having eternal life are no longer simply a hope, they can be a reality. Power in this life and life eternal can be ours, because our Savior lives. As the song says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.”