December 20

The Empty Tomb

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. — Matt 28:5 BSB

It must have been a joyful mission for the angels sent to minister at the Redeemer’s grave—to roll away the stone, to stand watch at the empty tomb, and to share the good news with the disciples who arrived so burdened with sorrow. Their message was one of tremendous joy: Jesus, whom His friends sought in death, was alive forevermore. He had been in the grave, but He wasn’t there anymore.

The empty tomb speaks many glorious truths. First, it confirms that Jesus truly died. He was buried in that exact place. His head lay here, His feet there. Here are the grave clothes, the strips of fine linen that loving hands had wrapped around Him. Here is the cloth that had covered His face. He lay right here. Look at this place, remember it well, and never forget that He really did die. This matters, because our acceptance with God depends on His death.

But look again—the tomb is empty now. He was here, but He’s not here anymore. “He is risen.” The grave is empty. The linens remain, but His body is gone. The empty tomb proclaims the resurrection. Death couldn’t hold Christ. He broke its chains and overcame the grave. This is important because a dead Christ could not have saved us. If He hadn’t risen, how could He stand before God on our behalf? How could He help us in our weakness, be our comforter in trials, or our friend if His dust still lay in the grave? But He’s alive—alive to intercede for us, help us, and save us.

The empty tomb also teaches us that all who have died in Christ will rise again. One precious scripture says, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.” So let us learn to look through the grave to the life beyond.