Mosaic in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre

The tombs of many of the world’s great leaders are awe-inspiring wonders characterized by elegant architecture, impressive epithets, eternal flames, and beautiful surroundings. In most cases, no expense was spared to memorialize the good, the bad, and the ugly. However, in spite of their magnificence, these tombs all share one common characteristic — they are all still occupied! By contrast, Jesus was buried in an unpretentious tomb that was not prepared exclusively for Him. No artisan or workman carved it out with the intention of preserving His memory. And yet today, the empty tomb of Jesus remains as mute testimony of His victory over sin and death. His simple tomb assures us that through faith in the risen Jesus, people can experience forgiveness of their sins and a new and everlasting life.

The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus was “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18). In other words, He was the first person to be raised from the dead without dying again. He is alive today, reigns supreme, and is worthy of our unrivaled love and loyalty. Paul believed that the gospel is at the center of our faith, and the cross and the empty tomb are at the center of the gospel. In his letter to the church at Corinth, he wrote: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Paul said that what he had received was rooted in history or “according to the Scriptures.” The death of Christ was foretold in “the Scriptures” (for example, Isaiah 53:5-12). Many men died at the hands of the Romans, but His death was “for our sins.” And, Jesus “was raised” — the perfect tense in Greek indicates that He remains raised from the dead. His resurrection is a past event with results continuing to the present.

This Easter, we remember His resurrection and victory over the grave. Along with Christ-followers around the world, we also reflect on and rejoice in the fact that He is alive and reigns supreme. As you remember, reflect, and rejoice in the resurrection and on the meaning of Easter, keep these things in mind and take a moment to lead your family in praise and thanksgiving for all that Jesus did to make a way for us to be reconciled to God.

E = Easter is about an empty tomb that offers hope to those with empty lives.
A = Easter is about an announcement that Jesus is alive.
S = Easter is about God’s offer of salvation to all who believe.
T = Easter is about the triumph of Jesus over death.
E = Easter is about the joy that we can experience every day.
R = Easter is about our responsibility to share the good news that Jesus is alive.

He is risen and He is alive!

Christ Died for Our Sins | Paul stated, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture” (1 Cor. 15:3). “Christ died” — that’s history! “Christ died for our sins” — that was necessary! “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” — that’s accuracy! The death of Christ was “according to the Scriptures.” Throughout the New Testament, the apostles appealed to two areas of Christ’s life to establish His Messiahship — the resurrection of Jesus Christ and fulfilled Messianic prophecy. The Old Testament contains numerous references to the coming Messiah. All the sacrifices point to Him and all the prophets speak of Him. The references to Christ in the Old Testament are specific in regard to His birth, life, death, and resurrection (Acts 2:22-32). All of these prophecies and references were fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ and solidly confirm His credentials as Messiah.

Christ was Buried | After Jesus died on the cross, “He was buried” (1 Cor. 15:4). First, consider where Christ was buried. Eight hundred years before the death of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). According to Matthew 27:57-60, on the evening of Christ’s death, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph “gathered up courage” (see Mark 15:42-43) and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus.

Second, consider how Christ was buried. After Joseph was granted permission to take the body of Jesus, he was joined by Nicodemus who helped him prepare Jesus’ body for burial according to the Jewish customs of the day (John 19:38-40). Joseph and Nicodemus took linen wrappings (strips of linen cloth about a foot wide) and wrapped the body of Jesus from the ankles to the shoulders. According to John 20:7, the head of Christ was wrapped with a separate piece of cloth [see also John 11:44]. This fact argues against the Shroud of Turin being the burial cloth of Christ. When John and Peter arrived at the empty tomb, they noticed “the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself” (John 19:4-8).

Third, consider what was done after Christ was buried. Once Christ’s body was placed in the tomb, a large stone was rolled into place, tightly covering the entrance to the tomb.  The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked that the tomb be secured until the third day because they remembered that Christ had said, “After three days I am to rise again” (Matt. 27:62-66). Pilate wanted no more trouble so he gave the Jews a Roman Guard. Matthew 27:66 states that “along with the guard they set a Roman seal on the stone.” This was an extra precautionary measure that was taken to prevent anyone from tampering with the contents of the tomb. Breaking or violating the Roman seal was a serious offense, bringing upon the law-breaker the weight of Roman law. Mgr. E. Le Camus commented, “Never had a criminal given so much worry after his execution. Never had a crucified man been granted the honor of being guarded by a squad of soldiers.”

Christ was Raised | After Christ died and was buried, “He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:4). Something happened on the third day that changed the course of human history from B.C. (Before Christ) to A.D. (Anno Domini – “the year of our Lord”) — something so dramatic that it completely changed eleven men’s lives so that all but one died a martyr’s death. That something was an empty tomb that a fifteen minute walk from the center of Jerusalem could have either confirmed or disproved. Consider the following facts about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

First, the Roman seal was broken. The seal that had been stretched across the face of the stone and represented the power and authority of the Roman Empire was broken! Who would be brave (or foolish) enough to break the Roman seal. Certainly not the Roman soldiers who knew the penalty of such a crime, and certainly not the disciples who had displayed signs of cowardice and hidden themselves (see Mark 14:50). Only John was present at the crucifixion.

Second, the tomb was empty. Christianity had its beginnings in the one city in the entire world where it could have been forever stopped had the tomb not been empty. The Jews, the Romans, and the followers of Jesus all knew that the tomb was empty.  The only questions worth arguing about were why the tomb was empty and what its emptiness proved.

Third, the large stone covering the entrance of the tomb was moved. Mark 16:4 recorded that the stone “was extremely large” (Mark 16:4). It’s not likely that the cowardly disciples rolled it away, especially with the presence of a Roman Guard. And, it would also have been impossible for a man to push it away from the inside as suggested by the proponents of the “Swoon Theory” who say that Jesus did not die on the cross but merely fainted.

Fourth, something happened on that first Easter morning that frightened away the Roman guards (Matt. 28:4). After the stone had been rolled away and the Roman Seal broken, the guards fled to the chief priests and reported to them what had happened. The chief priests then bribed them to say that the disciples had stolen the body and assured them that should the event come to the governor’s attention, they would keep the soldiers out of trouble (see Matthew 28:11-15).

Fifth, the grave-clothes were still in the tomb. When Peter and John arrived at the tomb, they saw the linen wrappings lying there with the face-cloth rolled up in a place by itself (see John 19:4-8). The first thing that struck Peter and John was not the empty tomb, but rather the empty linen wrappings. The linen wrappings were undisturbed. They were lying in the tomb like an empty cocoon. The body had vanished from within the linen wrappings.

Sixth, consider the post-resurrection appearances of Christ. According to 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus appeared to many people after His resurrection — friends and foes alike. He appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other women, Peter, the Emmaus disciples, to over 500 people at one time, to James, Stephen, Paul, and John (while on Patmos). In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul inserted the little phrase “most of whom remain until now.” The majority of those who saw Christ after His resurrection were still alive and available for questioning.

Finally, consider that it was the women who saw Jesus first. This is an authenticating feature of the resurrection because, according to the Jewish principle of legal evidence, women were invalid witnesses and did not have the right to give testimony in a court of law. If the resurrection accounts had been contrived, then the fabricators of the account would not have included women in the story, at least not as the first witnesses.

Thus, Christ was “raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” The resurrection confirms that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be — the Son of God who came to make a way for man to be reconciled to God. The empty tomb is the silent witness to the resurrection of Christ which has never been refuted. The Romans and Jews could not produce the body of Christ or explain where it went. Those who suggest that the disciples stole the body cannot explain how these cowardly men, who fled when Jesus was crucified, could have mustered the courage to fight off a Roman Guard and steal the body. In addition, they cannot explain why such men would then devote their entire lives to a lie and then die a martyr’s death for that lie. When it comes to the resurrection the burden of unbelief is far greater than the burden of belief. The difficulties of belief may be great, but the absurdities of unbelief are greater. In the words of the great hymn, “I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say.”

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John 20:1-8 | Mary Magdalene was among those who had personally witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus (Matt. 27:55-56). She watched Him die and returned to the site of the tomb early on Sunday morning (see also Luke 24:1). When Mary arrived at the tomb, she “saw that the stone had been removed” (John 20:1). She ran back to Jerusalem and told “Simon Peter” and John, “the other disciple,” that the body of Jesus had been taken out of the tomb (v. 2). The two disciples ran to the tomb to investigate what had happened (John 20:3-4). John glanced into the tomb and saw “the strips of linen lying there” (John 20:5). Peter “went into the tomb” and he too saw the “strips of linen lying there,” like an empty cocoon retaining the shape of Jesus’ body (John 20:6-7). Then John went inside the tomb and realized what had taken place. This was no grave robbery — Jesus was alive (John 20:8)!

    The large stone that sealed the entrance of the tomb was not removed to let Jesus out. The stone was removed to let the world in! Mary Magdalene, John, and Peter were the first to look into the empty tomb. John was the first to understand the meaning of what he saw. He also was the first to believe that Jesus was alive, even before he saw Him. Perhaps he remembered what Jesus had said about His resurrection (see John 2:22; 16:22 and Matt. 26:31-32). The tomb of Jesus remains open and empty to this day. People can visit the empty tomb and consider for themselves its meaning and significance.

John 20:11-15 | “Mary” lingered outside the empty tomb “crying” (John 20:11). She was deeply moved by Jesus’ death. After all, He had dramatically changed the course of her life. Mary had faithfully followed and served Jesus (see Luke 8:2-3). When she went to the tomb on Sunday morning to anoint His body (see Mark 16:1) — a final act of gratitude — her grief intensified when she found the tomb opened and His body missing. The empty tomb seemed to add insult to injury.

   As Mary wept, she “bent over” and looked “into the tomb” (John 20:11) and saw “two angels” who asked why she was crying (John 20:13). Mary responded that someone had removed Jesus’ body and she did not know where to find it. At that point Jesus addressed Mary with the same question the angels had asked: “Why are you weeping?” (John 20:15). Mary did not realize that it was Jesus who had asked her the question. Thinking the gardener had addressed her, Mary assumed he would know where the body of Jesus had been taken (John 20:15). “Tell me where they have taken him,” she asked, “and I will get him” (John 20:15).

John 20:16-18 | Mary’s profound grief was suddenly swept away by the sound of a single word — “Mary” (John 20:16). She recognized the voice of Jesus, just like a sheep recognizes the voice of its shepherd (see John 10:3,14). At the sound of her name Mary whirled about and saw Jesus standing there (John 20:16). Jesus was alive! Mary cried out “Rabboni” and fell at His feet (see Matt. 28:9) and held tightly to Jesus (John 20:17). Jesus told Mary to report the news of His resurrection and approaching ascension to His “brothers,” or disciples. Mary became the first to deliver the good news about the resurrection. She “went to the disciples” (John 20:18), who were “mourning and weeping” (Mark 16:10), and reported to them that Jesus was alive. Mary’s announcement continues to echo down the corridors of time to our present day. Jesus lives today! We should live with an awareness of His presence and a determination to tell others this good news.

John 20:19-21 | On the morning of the resurrection, Jesus’ followers were hiding behind locked doors (John 20:19). They had been in hiding since the night of His arrest when they had “deserted Him and fled” (Mark 14:50-52). After the crucifixion and burial of Jesus, the disciples continued to cower in “fear” behind securely locked doors (John 20:19). Perhaps they feared the Jews would search for and arrest them as they had Jesus. Maybe they discussed strategies for leaving the city without attracting attention. Perhaps they wondered what they would do without Jesus. These followers of Jesus were, in a sense, entombed and immobilized by their grief, fears, and doubts.

   Sometime during the morning of the resurrection, Mary Magdalene “went to the disciples” (20:18) and told them that she had seen the risen Christ. Unfortunately, the disciples stubbornly refused to believe Mary (Mark 16:11). However, later in the evening “Jesus came and stood among them” (John 20:19). The locked doors did not impede Jesus from entering into the room where they were hiding. His resurrection body had properties that allowed Him to enter the room in spite of the locked doors. The disciples were “startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost” (Luke 24:37). Jesus broke the silence and calmed their fears with the words, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). Jesus then reassured them He was not a ghost (v. 20) and again said to them “Peace be with you!” (John 20:21).

   As Jesus stood in the midst of His disciples, He commissioned them to be on mission for Him (see also Matt. 28:19-20; Luke 24:44-51; Acts 1:8). “As the Father has sent me,” Jesus said to them, “I am sending you” (John 20:21). His words unlocked the doors that had kept His disciples entombed. They had a very important job to do. Jesus expected His followers to leave the security of their hiding place to carry the message of His victory over sin and death, His power to save, and the invitation to accept His love and grace to all people everywhere. The disciples courageously left the room where they were hiding and faithfully proclaimed the gospel throughout their world.

   Jesus commissions every believer today to function as His representative (see 2 Cor. 5:20). “He has committed to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19). We are obligated (see Rom. 1:14) to share that message with all people in all places (see Luke 24:47 and Matt. 28:19-20). Every one of the 5.6 billion people on our planet deserves the opportunity to hear and respond to the good news about Jesus Christ. The greatest crime we can commit against others is to withhold the gospel from them. Like the disciples, we have a job to do. So, let’s leave the security and comfort of our hiding places and tell the world that Jesus is alive.

Mosaic in Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre

  When I visited the Ming Dynasty tombs in 1998, I was immediately impressed by the beauty of this burial site. Thirteen Ming Dynasty emperors are buried at this site located north of Beijing. As I walked around the beautiful grounds, I thought of those who had invested their lives and spared no expense to preserve the memory of the rulers buried there. And yet, these magnificent and ornate tombs are still occupied. By contrast, Jesus was buried in a tomb carved into the rock in a simple and unpretentious setting. In fact, this tomb was not prepared exclusively for Jesus. No artisan or workman carved it out with the intention of preserving His memory. And yet today, the empty tomb of Jesus is mute testimony to His victory over sin and death. His simple tomb assures us that through faith in the risen Christ, people can have forgiveness of their sins and a new and everlasting life. As we prepare to observe Easter, or Resurrection Sunday, here are some things to keep in mind.

Review | This Easter, take some time to carefully review the story Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Paul wrote, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Paul said that what he had received was rooted in history or “according to the Scriptures.” The death of Christ was foretold in “the Scriptures” (for example, Isaiah 53:5-12). Many men died at the hands of the Romans, but His death was “for our sins.” And, Jesus “was raised” — the perfect tense in Greek indicates that He remains raised from the dead. His resurrection is a past event with results continuing to the present.

Report | This Easter, let’s heed the words the angel spoke to the women who arrived first at the empty tomb: “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead…” (Matt. 28:6-7). The world is still waiting to hear this good news. While sharing the gospel in Ukraine, I met an elderly woman who invited me and my translator into her small apartment. I told her that I had traveled from America to share the wonderful news of God’s love with her. She lowered her head and said she had been taught that God is dead. I told her that God is very much alive and interested in her eternal welfare. As I shared the gospel with her she listened attentively to the story of Jesus. I told her of His life, death, and resurrection. “Jesus is alive today,” I said, “and wants to be your Savior and Lord.” With tears in her eyes, the woman humbly bowed her head and placed her faith in the living Christ for salvation.

Rethink | This Easter, take a moment to rethink your spending. Americans spend nearly 1.9 billion dollars annually on Easter candy. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend an average of $116.59 on Easter candy, gifts, food, and decorations this year. That’s a lot of money, especially in these tough economic times. But, even so, that amount is down from an average of $135.03 last year. One Mom sent me an encouraging e-mail this week. “I have decided not to buy Easter outfits,” she wrote, “and instead use the money to go towards adopting a child.” She went on to calculate how much money could be raised in one day to assist families who are trying to adopt children if we all wore last year’s Easter outfits, did away with the candy, and invested the savings in an adoption fund. So, consider eating less, dressing down, and donating the savings to a worthy cause that will actually make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

Return | This Easter, many Americans will make their one and only annual pilgrimage to a place of worship. Church pews will be packed with people dressed in their finest. However, the Sunday after Easter the pews will look like they did on the Sunday before Easter. If you are among those who only worship on Easter, listen closely to the Easter message. Consider doing more than sitting in a pew once a year for the One who hung on the cross for you. Heed the admonition of Hebrews 10:25, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.” So, stop sailing along. Remember that Satan is a pirate looking for a ship without a fleet. Return to the church building after Easter, join a small group, attend worship, and build meaningful relationships with those who can encourage you along your journey.

Reform | This Easter, take inventory of your life. If you are a Christ-follower, does your life reflect that you have a vital and growing relationship with the resurrected Christ? If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Are you holding tightly to anything that is causing your love for God to grow cold? Do you serve others as He would serve them? Does your life reflect your commitment to the kingdom of God? Are you advancing the interests of His kingdom or trying to build your own? Do you need to reform your ways?

Remember that Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus. So, don’t feed the Easter Bunny this year. Instead, make a commitment to focus on the One who gave His all for us. And then determine to give your all for Him. Honor Him with a faithful life — one choice and one day at a time.

   Rejection is a terrible thing. No one likes rejection. Anne Murray spoke for all of us when she sang, “I was born to reject rejection. If only for today, Show me that you want me, Show me that you need me, Send a little love my way” (from her song “Send a Little Love My Way”). The Bible certainly affirms the significance and worth of all human beings. In Psalm 8, David marveled at the fact that the God who created the universe considers us as more prized than the planets. Jesus also affirmed the worth of people. He spent time with those rejected by society and became known as “a friend of tax-collectors and sinners” (Matt. 11:19).

   Malchus is one of my favorite Bible characters (Luke 22:50-51 and John 18:10-11). He was the slave of the high priest. As a slave, it’s safe to say that Malchus understood what it felt like to be considered less than important by others. Malchus had followed Judas and the crowd to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus and His disciples were praying. He stood in the crowd and watched as Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss — the ultimate rejection. And then, when the soldiers stepped forward to arrest Jesus, Peter reached for a sword, took a wild swing, and cut off Malchus’ right ear. Here are three things that we can learn from the Malchus incident.

No Insignificant People | Jesus had spent a difficult night in prayer in the Garden (Luke 22:41-44). He knew that the excruciating agony of the cross was just hours away. Jesus felt the weight of things and certainly had valid reason for ignoring others. Yet, when Peter injured Malchus, Jesus forgot Himself and ministered to this bleeding slave. The Malchus incident reminds us that Jesus came to serve (Matt. 20:28 and John 13:14) and that there are no insignificant people in His eyes. Jesus always affirmed the worth of people, even publicans and sinners. We need to be like Jesus and affirm the worth and significance of others (see Phil. 2:3-4).

No Insignificant Problems | When Peter injured Malchus, Jesus did not walk away from the situation. Instead, He touched Malchus’ ear and healed him. The Malchus incident reminds us that Jesus cares about the problems of humanity. There are no insignificant problems in His eyes (read Matt. 9:35-36). Three invitations in Scripture remind us how much God cares about our problems. First, Jesus invites those who are weary and heavy-laden to come to Him (Matt. 11:28). Second, God invites us to cast all of our cares and anxieties upon Him (1 Peter 5:7). And third, God invites us to commit our way to Him (Ps. 37:5). We can confidently accept His invitations and lay our concerns at His feet. And, like Jesus, we should minister to others in their time of need.

No Insignificant Price | The Malchus incident reminds us that there are no insignificant people or problems because of the price Jesus paid for our salvation. Malchus was in the garden on the night before the crucifixion when Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Within hours of healing Malchus’ injured ear, Jesus paid the ultimate price to redeem us (1 Peter 1:18-19). The cross reminds us that sin is the most expensive thing in universe. Pardoned, the cost falls on Christ. Unpardoned, the cost falls on the sinner. Jesus affirmed our worth by giving His life on the cross. We must share the liberating message of the cross with those living under the burden of rejection.