Today we remember the empty tomb. The only universal Christian “holiday” is the day Jesus rose from the dead. Why? Well because Jesus rose from the dead! If you are a Christian this is the reason for existence.
Luke records the moment of Jesus’ death.
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Luke 23:44-49
This is when the Pharisees, Teachers of the Law, and Elders were happy. They had not been so for some time. Jesus was a very sharp thorn in their side. But for now they had won or so they thought. Everyone thought Jesus’ ministry was over. The apostles, his family, everyone. However, the story did not end here.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-7
Jesus lay dead in the tomb until sometime Sunday morning. At that time, God rose his son from the dead. He became the first born of many and overcame death. The very thing he promises us, who put off our self and put on Christ, participating with him in his death burial and resurrection.
It’s in the book. Take a look.
God bless.
The Older Brother 