An Empty Tomb

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. Then they rembered His words.” Luke 24:1-8

As I write this today, I write it through tears.

On this Easter Sunday, as I read through this passage, God reminded me the of the resurrection. It seems simple, and as a believer, it seems like something I should never forget. But after reading through the resurrection story this morning, I realized I’ve still been looking for my Jesus among the dead.

And maybe you have, too. After all, this is a strange Easter for us. It doesn’t “feel” like Easter. Many of us are stuck at home. We are surrounded by death and sickness and loss. And, I must admit, for me personally, it feels like I am surrounded by darkness right now.

Can you imagine how Jesus’ friends, family, and followers felt after His crucifixion? I’m guessing they felt something similar. Their Savior was crucified. Yes, He had promised His return, but they watched him die! They saw the earth shake and open at His death. They experienced the darkness of His absence.

And yet, as they visited His tomb in their mourning and despair, they were reminded of His promise: He would, and did, rise again.

This morning, I sense that many of us are still in mourning. We are sitting in our losses. We are walking through the darkness and the dead. I say that without judgment… I am feeling that, too. But our Jesus is bigger than what we feel. He is bigger than the darkness around us. And His promise and word remains: He is risen. He overcame. We won’t find Him among the dead!

All that is left from that stretch of darkness is an empty tomb.

The enemy did not win. Our God lives.

Friends, don’t look for our Jesus among the dead today. During this current season of suffering and darkness, this truth remains: He is risen. He is alive. And He is still pushing back the darkness. He is the light that this season of darkness can never overcome. May we remember the hope and truth of His resurrection – that He has already overcome death, sin, and darkness. May we remember an empty tomb today.