The Empty Sepulcher...the Wayfarer 3/30/13

3/30 13

The Empty Sepulcher

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.”

(John 20:1&2)

As we approach  Easter, there will, no doubt be many sermons given about the empty tomb and the reasons for its emptiness. This empty tomb is in fact the very reason we celebrate Easter, because its very emptiness is proof positive of our Savior’s resurrection!

As we read farther in this chapter we find that the disciples did not yet understand the importance of that empty tomb, and went about their business only the more saddened by the thought that someone had stolen the body of our Lord. 

 We find Mary in a state of grief for the same reason , but, instead of returning to her home, she remained until daylight when she could actually see into the tomb itself.

Imagine her surprise to find two angels, sitting, one, at where the head of the crucified body had lain, and the other at where the feet should have been.

Still blinded by her grief, she asks them where they have taken the body, and receives a response from behind her. It takes a bit more conversation for her to recognize our Lord, and accept that he is not dead, but truly alive and standing there with her!

Note  that the first thing she chose to do was to  tell the disciples, who no doubt thought her mad as a hatter until Jesus stood in their own midst, showed them his hands and side, and gave them the gift of the Holy Ghost comforter.

Before they were able to receive that Comforter, they first had to acknowledge that Christ still lived and accept the peace offered by Him.

We find that Thomas was not at this first meeting between Christ and the disciples after His crucifixion, and it was absolutely convinced that what they told him was not…could not be true. It took a personal meeting with Christ to make him believe, and a personal experience of the scars and holes to lead him to that belief.

I highly urge that all read the entire chapter for yourselves to refresh your memory of this reason for the celebration of what should be the most joyous day of the year for any Christian.

I do not choose to end this message merely by reiterating the truth and joy of that resurrection and the hope and joy it should bring us, but choose to take a closer look at that empty tomb.

This particular tomb had been prepared for a far richer man than Jesus, but was given as a gift because of that man’s belief in Jesus!

It was no doubt, cleaned, and whitewashed ,both within, and without, as was the custom of the rich at that time. I am certain that there were spices and various unguents placed within to diminish the stench of the rotting corpse that they had to assume would be placed there. It would have been prepared with the love of his disciples, and earthly family to hold the precious body of a loved one, thought to be forever lost to them.

The rock mentioned at the beginning of the passage was placed there by Roman guards to assure that the disciples themselves would not steal the body. Massive and heavy it would have taken the expenditure of great strength, labor. and effort to move.

Yet when Mary first arrived, it was no longer in place!

This tomb was a marvel to behold and I am sure that many would still marvel at it today, if our Lord were still in it, just as there are many who visit the tombs of their leaders, both political and religious, even today.

If its exact location were known, there would still be many drawn to it in reverence for the place where Jesus was laid.

But it was, and is, only an empty tomb! It holds no importance in and of itself, except for what is NOT to be found there!

Somehow, over the years, many have forgotten that simple lesson.

 Today, we find great cathedrals throughout the world that are filled with various icons and stained glass images. They are filled with the riches of this world, gold, silver, unguents and priceless art. They have many who come to marvel at their beauty and history and have become as one news anchor recently stated, little more than museums.

As gathering places go, I am certain of the poverty of that room visited by our Lord when revealing himself to Thomas and the others.

 There was only the richness of Our Lord and the Holy Spirit that was there, and these are the only riches that were or are, or ever will be necessary to the true believer.

During Jesus’ ministry, he never sought to live in any of the many palaces that were available during that time, but chose to live, and preach, and teach, among the needy and poor, giving them the comfort and sustenance needed at the time
.

He feared no man, spoke openly and plainly to the rulers and lawyers and religious leaders of the time comparing them and their teachings to the whited sepulchers that contained only rotting or already deteriorated corpses.

Lately I have often left you with a question or two as I conclude, and I will do so again today.

Are the buildings and vast richness that we see in our gathering places truly devoted to Him and His teachings, or are they mere indications of an empty tomb… a museum that has forgotten why that tomb was empty?

Are our lives lived in accordance with the precepts taught by our Master, or are they too only filled with empty words making of us simply another of these whited sepulchers?

Have you had that personal, one on one experience that Thomas had, as did those who came into contact with our risen Savior, or are you mouthing empty prayers without ever truly meeting the requirement of faith that they will be. and are answered?

Today, I call attention, not to an empty tomb, but to a risen Savior in whom I have believed,, and in whom is my faith and hope, not only for my own eternal soul, but also those of who choose to meet and accept Him on His terms.

 REPENT in the knowledge that the kingdom of heaven .is indeed, this very day. at hand with the promised rewards to be delivered as promised if YOU only ASK!

I call on all who profess belief in this Savior I proclaim, to examine your lives, examine your heart, examine your every action and desire, to see if you are able to “Walk the Walk”, as well as you “Talk the Talk”.

Again I do not point to any wisdom or teaching and most certainly no righteousness, of my own, but direct you to all the teachings, and righteousness available to you given by Him. 

I end with the reminder of the one commandment given us to “Love one another” and ask that you live that love.

I also end with a reminder of the Great Commission given us, and pray that you pick up the cross that has been dropped by so many in exchange  for the opulence and splendor of our gathering places.

I repeat the verse found  in several previous sermons in the knowledge that the importance of its message may never be stressed enough.

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

(Revelation 2:5)

Salutations on this most joyous day, from a simple sinner saved by grace only  through the gift of God and the shed blood of a Savior, who left us far more than an empty tomb, and through the required faith in that  risen Savior!


2 Timothy 1:12
 ¹²For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day

AMEN and Amen
the Wayfarer