The Empty Tomb

Caiaphas, the high priest watched the sun rise in the east on this peaceful Sunday morning, glad calm had come to the city. He was about to go to the temple to get a work crew to repair the earthquake damage when the soldiers guarding the tomb of Jesus came running to say another earthquake struck the tomb and the sealed rock rolled away. Besides that. an angel appeared and drove them off. How could this be happening? He told the soldiers to get back to the tomb but they refused even though they could be killed for abandoning their guard. Caiaphas instructed the soldiers to keep still about this and paid them to say the disciples stole the body. After three days in a tomb they wouldn’t carry it too far. After all, it wasn’t like Jesus came back to life and was walking around town.

Mary Magdalene and a group of women went to the tomb early in the morning and found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Two angels appeared to them and announced that Jesus had risen to fulfill the scriptures just like he had told them. The women quickly ran back to tell the disciples but they didn’t believe what they had heard. Peter took off running and was the first one to the tomb, only to find it empty with the burial cloth folded up neatly. Peter went back into the city but couldn’t quite figure out where Jesus could be. Could He really be alive? So many crazy things had happened the last three days that Peter wasn’t sure what to believe. He was afraid the authorities would put the blame on the disciples and arrest everyone. They decided to lock themselves in the room and not answer the door for anyone.

Later that day two of the disciples pounded on the door asking to be let in as they had seen Jesus. Peter and the others were trying to figure this out when Jesus appeared to them. They didn’t know whether to run out of the room or faint. Jesus calmed them down and they finally understood what he had taught them. Wow! He lives!

Even today, many of us have a hard time believing Jesus really lives. He told them the Holy Spirit would come and transform their lives and that same Spirit can change us too if we let Him. Is something missing in your life? Are you like the disciples still hiding in your room? It is time to get out and proclaim the good news. Jesus lives and wants a relationship with you!