The Empty Tomb

It is fascinating that in all four Gospels the evangelists sequenced the disciples seeing the empty tomb before they saw the Risen Christ. In Matthew and Mark the angels insist that the women look at the place ‘where they lay him’ to see it was empty. In John, the two apostles running to the tomb went in and saw an empty tomb. In Luke they went in the tomb ‘but did not find the body’.

Many theologians throughout history have written extensively about the symbolism of the empty tomb in the Gospel narratives of the resurrection. Karl Barth, a towering figure in 20th-century theology, saw the empty tomb in the context of the transformative power of the resurrection to a New Life in Christ. Barth viewed the empty tomb as the ultimate defeat of death and the assurance of New Life for those with faith.

I believe he captures the symbolism that the resurrection leaves an empty tomb behind. Jesus has risen and the place where he lay is now empty. So it is with us, the resurrection of Jesus challenges us to move out of the tomb that has held us captive. Yesterday we reflected on the rolling away of the large stone that held us captive within a tomb. Today we recognize that we must now walk out of the tomb.

There is always the challenge that even when the stone is rolled away, persons may remain within the tomb. I have witnessed a spouse, who was physically abused, rescued by the police and taken back to her family home, return time and again, only to be abused once more. She refused to leave the tomb. Addicts, cured of their addiction, return to the places of temptation, only to find themselves back in addiction.

In Matthew 12: 43-45, Jesus says - When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

It is not sufficient to have the stone that held us captive rolled away, we must walk out of the tomb to a new Life in Christ. The evangelists insist on the disciples seeing an empty tomb to communicate Jesus is no longer there, he has moved on, you will find him on the way. As we welcome Easter into our lives, we must walk out and leave the empty tomb behind. We cannot go back to our old way of life.

Easter is a joyful celebration, but it is also a challenge to begin anew. To go back to Galilee and start over, only this time, in a New Life in Christ. Jesus has conquered death, he has rolled back the large stone that held us captive. We must now walk out of the tomb to a new life of prayer, worship and mission. Tomorrow we will begin to reflect on what this New Life in Christ entails.

Abba, through our Lord Jesus Christ, please give me the courage to walk out of the tomb that has held me captive.

Dear friends, I am please to announce the launch of my website. It is my hope that it will grow into something of beauty and value, a hopeful sign of the resurrection. I plan on adding new family resources every day, so please visit regularly to access the updates. You can save the link to the site for easy access.

Please find the address to the website by clicking this link.