Emptiness Redefined

Empty Tomb

AT EASTER, a teacher told his students to do a celebratory project. One built a box and put a rock in it, depicting the stone at the tomb of Jesus.

However, Bryan, a boy with disability, built a box with nothing in it. When his mates laughed at him, he described it as an empty tomb.

On the RESURRECTION MORNING, there was an earthquake as an angel from heaven rolled away the stone blocking access to Jesus’ grave.

The guards watching the tomb were paralyzed with fear. They went into the city and reported the happening to the chief priest.

The chief priest and the elders connived and developed a plan of deception, saying, “His disciples came at night and stole his body.”

They gave a sufficient amount of money to the soldiers to lie. They wanted them to falsify the story of the empty tomb. (Matthew 28:11-13)

This is what the enemy does: he tries to alter God’s story.

When they sentenced Jesus to death, they tried to change his story. However, God will always tell His story.

‘God will always tell His story.’

MARY MAGDALENE stepped out to go to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body. But she found the stone covering the tomb had been rolled away, the soldiers guarding it had disappeared, and the tomb was empty.

With much despair and emptiness, she ran to tell Peter and John.

When they got there, they looked inside the tomb and found the linen wrappings. But the face cloth which had been on Jesus’ head was not lying with the other linen wrappings. It was rolled up in a place by itself. (John 20:1-18)

We can surmise that Jesus did not leave in a hurry.

WHILE they looked inside the tomb, Mary stood outside and wept. Then, she looked inside the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, one at the head and the other at the feet. And when they asked her why she wept, Mary told them that they had taken away her Lord, and she did not know where they laid him.

Is there anything you are grateful for? She was thankful for Jesus Christ who cast seven demons out of her. (Luke 8:1-2)

WHEN Mary turned around, she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. And when Jesus asked her why she was crying and who she was looking for, she thought it was the gardener.

“Sir, if you are the one who has carried him away from here, tell me where you have put Him, and I will take Him away.”

Sadness can occlude your vision.

JESUS said to her, “Mary.” She turned and called him Rabboni! (which means, Teacher). Mary recognized his voice.

As you celebrate his resurrection, Jesus wants you to recognize His voice. (John 10:27-28)

He told her not to touch him because he hadn't ascended to the Father.

Jesus told his story: he told her to tell the disciples that he was ascending to the Father, His God and their God. (John 20:17)

WHEN Jesus came, many Jews thought that the Messiah would be a soldier or a political leader who would topple the oppressive Roman leaders and restore an independent Israel. So when he rode on a donkey, it seemed strange. (Mark 11:9-10)

When he was arrested, they were shocked, and when he was crucified, they were downcast. His death created a void.

However, Mary realized there was a void only Jesus could fill. So, he searched for Him.

Bringing it Together

GOD redefined emptiness with the empty tomb—Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and His Person will change your life.

My prayer for you this season is that you'll see the empty tomb as a redefinition of emptiness and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

Happy Easter.