The Empty Tomb
Why is the empty tomb so
important?
.
Christians believe Jesus rose on the third day from
the tomb in which He was buried and is alive.
Why is the empty tomb so
important?
- First, the
fact that the body of Jesus was missing is evidence that supports the apostolic
teaching that Jesus is alive.
Opponents could have easily ended the early
accounts of the resurrected Jesus by simply finding His body.
Even when Peter preached at Pentecost in Jerusalem
50 days after the death of Jesus, no one challenged his claim that the tomb was
empty.
The question was what had happened to the body.
Matthew
28:11-15 notes the alternative account given by opponents
was that the body had been stolen by His disciples. Yet 11 men lacking military
training would not have been able to defeat the Roman guards at the tomb.
- Second,
the location of the tomb was well known to both the disciples and the enemies
of Jesus.
Joseph of Arimathea was a member of the Jewish
Sanhedrin and well respected in the community.
Those who wished to verify the story of the empty
tomb could easily visit the location.
- Third, all
four Gospel accounts note the empty tomb was first discovered by women. This is
significant in two ways.
One way it is significant is that it highlights the
fear of the male disciples. Rather than visiting the tomb, they were gathered
together in a locked home.
In addition, in ancient times the testimony of a
woman counted less than that of a man.
If the story of the empty tomb had been fabricated,
men would have certainly been the first ones noted as discovering it.
- Fourth,
the tradition of the empty tomb is early in both biblical and extra-biblical
literature.
Paul wrote 1 Corinthians in the 50’s, only about
twenty years after the resurrection took place. Yet he claimed that 500 people
had seen Jesus alive and that most were still living (1
Corinthians 15).
- Further, he had received the information from
Peter, James, and John after his conversion, within three to five years of the
resurrection.
In extra-biblical literature, Jesus was mentioned
by Jewish historian Josephus in the first century as one whose followers
believed He was still alive.
Several writers in the second century spoke of the
resurrection as a key Christian belief.
In legal cases, evidence is generally expected from
reputable sources and multiple sources. In the case of the empty tomb, both
requirements are fulfilled.
Numerous eyewitnesses are mentioned in ancient
writings who had knowledge of the empty tomb. Reputable sources, both followers
of Jesus and opponents, were well aware that the tomb was empty.
Why was the tomb empty?
Opponents claimed the
body was stolen, yet many of the men accused of stealing the body held their
belief that Jesus was resurrected despite persecution and death.
No viable alternative has been supplied for the
whereabouts of the body of Jesus.
Though belief in the resurrection is supernatural,
the evidence points to an empty tomb, a missing body, multiple eyewitness
accounts of a risen Jesus, and many changed lives as a result.
The evidence all points to the authenticity of the
Christian belief that the tomb was empty because Jesus returned to life on the
third day, proving Himself as the Messiah.
Are you struggling
with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the
God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He says, “I
will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with
my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you
what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly
Father,
I
admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to
turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please
forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my
Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and
rose from the dead.
I
want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my Savior. Your
Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans
10:13).
I
believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and
no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord
Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I
thank You that you have given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am
born again.
Heavenly
Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender
my life to You. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use
me for Your glory.
In
Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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“Beneath
the Cross of Jesus”
Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G3-KsR9AAIChristianPraiseandWorship
CLICK HERE . . . for
complete playlist . . .
lyrics
1 Beneath the cross of JesusI long to take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land,
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and the burdens of the day.
2 Upon the cross of Jesus,my eye at times can see
the very dying form of one
who suffered there for me.
And from my trite heart, with tears,
two wonders I confess:
the wonder of his glorious love
and my unworthiness.
3 I take, O cross, your shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine
than the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all, the cross.
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine
than the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all, the cross.
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