(I Cor. 15, 1 – 20)
1. What it meant to Mary: In John 20: 1 – 18, Mary
Magdalene went to the tomb very early in order to anoint the dead body
of Jesus. When she got to the tomb, she found it was empty. Mary became
confused and perplexed. She sought for answer from Peter and John but
none came. She stood weeping at the tomb of Jesus and then suddenly,
Jesus appeared to her and revealed Himself. In an instant the weeping of
Mary was turned into joy and her hopelessness into hope. Even now
because of the empty tomb, God is turning every weeping into joy and
every hopelessness into hope.
2. What it meant to Thomas: Jesus also went to the
disciples who were in hiding for fear the Jews. He revealed Himself to
them by showing them His hands and His side (John 20: 19-23). Thomas was
not with them and when disciples informed him that Jesus was risen from
the dead, he doubted. His doubt however disappeared when Jesus came
back again to reveal Himself to the disciples in the presence of Thomas.
In that moment, his doubt vanished and his faith restored. Because the
tomb is empty today, God is overturning every doubt and He is restoring
your faith in Him again.
3. What it meant to Peter: The death of Jesus brought
confusion, fear and disappointment to His followers. Peter was
particularly discouraged and he said to the other disciples that he was
going back to his fishing business. Jesus went to meet with them after a
futile fishing expedition and performed a miracle of abundance. Through
that miracle Jesus restored Peter to his new assignment to feed the
flock of Jesus (John 21: 1 – 17). To Peter, the empty tomb represents
the restoration of purpose. Because the tomb is empty today, your
purpose in life is restored in Jesus name. Amen.
4. What it meant to Paul: The empty tomb brought
salvation to Paul. Prior to his conversion on the Damascus road, Apostle
Paul was the chief persecutor of the Early Church. After the tomb
became empty, Paul saw the resurrected Lord and he was able to say “And
last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For
I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God
I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in
vain” (1 Cor. 15: 8-10). The empty tomb gave salvation and grace to
Paul and still doing the same to everyone who will dare to accept Jesus
as the Lord and Savior of their lives.
5. What it meant to us: The empty tomb means there is
hope for humanity. Jesus Christ is now risen from the dead and He is in
heaven. He has given the hope of eternal life to as many as will accept
His invitation. Our present life is a preparation for eternity and our
hope is beyond this world. That is why Apostle Paul said “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 15:19 KJV). Because the tomb is empty today, we shall reign with God for all eternity. Amen.