THE EMPTY TOMB

Sermon Notes, March 27, 2016

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

Pastor Garry’s sermon this week was titled “The Empty Tomb.” His scripture reference was John 20:1-18.  In verses 1-10 John tells us of the women who went to the tomb to finish preparing Jesus’ body, worrying about how they were going to move the stone from the entrance.  Mary Magdalene came running to Peter and John, crying “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”  Peter and John ran to the tomb.  John saw the linen strips and the cloth that had been over Jesus’ head, and he believed.  Peter investigated, then they went back to where they were staying.  In verses 11-18, Mary stands outside the tomb and sees two angels, who ask her, “Woman, why are you crying?”  She tells them, and turning around, she sees Jesus but doesn’t recognize Him.  Until He calls her by name.  Then she does as He asks and goes and tells the disciples the news, “I have seen the Lord!”

The empty tomb marks the very moment that heaven broke into earth’s history.  We are now given a path to redemption and not disorder.  Now the power of God is hard at work destroying sin, creating new lives, and preparing us for the second coming of Christ.

The empty tomb reassures us that we will be resurrected as well.  The moment that Christ was resurrected, death was conquered!  We will one day be taken up to truly dwell in His presence.  A physical death is not the end for the Christ-follower!  There is a future life, an eternal life!  The power that brought Christ back from the dead will bring us back as well!  And this power is available to us so that we can live for Him in this dark and dying world.

In the empty tomb we find God’s authority to witness to the world.  Like the Apostles evangelized, proclaiming the resurrection of Christ, we too have the authority to proclaim the resurrection of Christ to this lost and dying world.

The empty tomb provides meaning in great tragedy.  No matter what hardships we may face, we can find hope for the future in the resurrection of Christ!

The empty tomb reassures us that Christ is still alive!  He is the real deal!  He is not a myth or legend.  He is ruler over all of God’s Kingdom.  He is not a false prophet or imposter.

The empty tomb represents that Christ keeps His promises!  Just as He promised, He rose from the dead.  With that said, we can be confident that He will accomplish all that He has promised to us!

The empty tomb is unique.  Other religions may have strong ethical systems, concepts of paradise and the after-life, promises of becoming your own god of your own planet, and they may have their own holy scriptures.  But only Christianity has a God who became human, died a physical death for His people, was raised from the dead, and ascended into Heaven in power and glory to rule over His Church forever!

In the empty tomb we find unity.  Christians may look different from one another.  We may have different political views, lifestyles and differing theologies, but the one key factor that unifies and inspires every Christian is the fact that our Lord, Jesus, was crucified, and three days later He rose from the dead! (1 Corinthians 15)

The empty tomb is the foundation that the church stands on.  Our entire witness to the world lies here in an empty tomb.  Without it the church would not exist today!