“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Matthew 28:1, 5-10 NIV

The day the world was turned upside-down!
Women becoming valid witnesses, Roman soldiers fainting on duty, sealed tombs being opened and the dead rising…well, one person in particular.

Jesus was wonderful at shattering convention and laying new foundations.
I mean, dead people tend to stay that way. Demon possessed men don’t usually become helpful, functioning members of society. People born without use of their eyes and legs and arms don’t usually wind up with perfect health and wholeness after a single conversation with a stranger.

Jesus ruined funerals by restoring life to the dead, ate with sinners, spoke with Gentile women and all this was done with authority that couldn’t be matched or questioned. Even the verbose religious leaders of His day were left with nothing to say after an encounter with Him.

And the tomb this morning is no different.

We simply state the fact sometimes as if it is no big deal. We call it “The Empty Tomb” (which it is) and pass it off as a common fact.

Listen to what we are proclaiming this morning and every day as Christians. Death does not give up what it has claimed. The grave does not relinquish its prey. A heart, three days still, will not suddenly spring back to life.

Jesus Christ steps in to these cold, hard, unfeeling facts and says, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell others that I can be found. Death has been beaten. The grave couldn’t hold me.”

What wondrous news! What glorious assurance and hope has been given to us. To look death in the eye and be able to say, ‘You may hold me for a moment, but my Master has already defeated you. I will not be yours for good!’

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchased of God.
Born of the Spirit, washed in His blood!

Take this great new and GoLove someone else by sharing it with them. Serve them, teach them and equip them to do the same.
Go.