The Hope of the Empty Tomb

Last week we covered a very necessary but heavy topic - the crucifixion. We dove deep into the details of what it looked like for our Savior to be nailed to a cross: the physical, emotional, and spiritual pain He endured on our behalf. Today, though, I want to lighten it up a bit and remind us of the hope that we can have because the tomb is empty. We just celebrated Easter, so hopefully this is fresh in your mind, but I want to meditate on it a little more. And not only because it's surrounding Easter, but because this hope saves my soul.

Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday, leaving a full day plus some of grief and despair for those who followed Jesus. I know I can only begin to imagine the questions and confusion they felt. Maybe they were hurt and angry, too. The man they staked their whole life on, gave up everything for, lived with, learned from, and loved, was gone. They were convinced Jesus was the Savior but He seemed to have failed them. He didn't come through, didn't come down from the cross. This was their closest friend, their teacher, and He died.

Mary and Martha felt this confusion too, when their brother Lazarus died. They sent word to Jesus about his condition, believing that He would come quickly and heal Lazarus. Yet He didn't. He came too late, after Lazarus was already dead and buried. They asked why, knowing he could have been saved, but Jesus had already told His disciples that "this sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (John 11:4). Mary and Martha couldn't see the whole picture, and felt the grief and confusion of not understanding why Jesus handled the situation the way He did. But He had more in store than just a healing, He had a revival of life in mind.

We often feel this, too.

We pray in faith, begging God to make something happen. And He doesn't. Then, we're faced with the confusion and hurt of why He didn't.

My friend, I believe it's because our Sunday is coming. He has more in store that we can't see.

Coming down from the cross would have been an amazing feat, but Jesus did even more. He resurrected from the grave, going to hell and back to save our souls.

Maybe, in our lives, He has something even more in store for us, too. The "nos" and "not yets" are not rejections, they're re-directions. Because the good plans we have in mind for ourselves cannot even compare to what He has planned for us.

After Jesus resurrected, there was even MORE to come. The Holy Spirit now poured out on believers, allowing the same Spirit that lived in Jesus to live in us as well. An entire new church was born. Lives were changed, legalism was destroyed. Death lost its power. The course of history changed completely, and we are now a new creation.

The resurrection is our reminder of that.

God often doesn't work in the ways we expect, but He always has our best in mind. Our Father sees such a bigger picture than we do, and He has good plans for us.

And if God can turn the ugly, broken cross into the beauty and majesty of an empty tomb, then He can certainly turn the broken situations of our life into something incredible.

The resurrection reminds us that hope is not all lost. The story is never over with God. Jesus brings life, and life to the full at that. Nothing can stop our Father, and He is stronger than any obstacle life throws at us.

Yet, may I also remind you of this.

To get to the joy and relief of Sunday, the resurrection and the move of God, we have to first walk through Friday and Saturday - the moments of pain, despair, and brokenness. Oftentimes in our own lives, it's not just a few days of hardship that we have to endure - it's weeks, months, years. And just like the disciples, we'll faced all of the unexplainable emotions. It's not easy at all, don't get me wrong.

But we should never forget the power of God. The pain we face cannot even be compared to the joy that is to come. No matter how dark things feel, we can trust and have faith that even when all we see is darkness, our Savior is the light, and will bring light into every situation.

Let's pray.

Thank You Jesus for the resurrection. Thank You for the empty tomb and that death could not hold You down. Thank You for holding the victory over every hardship, every pain, every hurt. Thank You for the life that You so graciously bought for us by sacrificing Your own. I pray, Jesus, that You would encourage us all with this truth. Would we never lose sight of the hope that You have given to us, no matter what our own situations look like. Your perspective is so much greater than mine, Lord, and I thank You for that. I trust You Jesus, that You will turn every situation around for good, just like You did with the cross. I love You and praise You, amen.