What is the importance of the empty tomb?

Here, in John 20, this first day of the week is a matter of the empty tomb! This speaks to our hearts of the triumph of God, the victory of Christ, and the vanquishing of all that is opposed to God. The empty tomb tells us that it was not possible for our Lord to be holden of the pains of death. Those heavenly things which fill the pages of John's gospel, as also the whole range of earthly things of which the Old Testament prophets so glowingly wrote — all rest securely upon the finished work of Christ and shall be displayed in the light of the empty tomb. Thank God, the tomb is empty, otherwise we would not be here as we are today. Does the sense of wonder, triumph, grace and glory, of the empty tomb, grip our souls? As it does so, form and depth are given to heart-desires after Christ.

Matthew 28:6 — "He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Note the angelic language; not "where the Lord lies." Are we appreciative of the fact that He is not here? Then we shall desire to know Him where He is. How blessed to company, in a sense, with a Mary Magdalene. His absence made her a mourner here, made the world an empty place for her, and she wept, "because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him." He was the supreme, governing Object of her affections and the loss of Him made her desolate indeed. Thank God, while we are deeply conscious of His absence from the world, Scripture would teach us that we have not lost Him, rather have we gained Him in another scene. The spiritual poet has written, "Thy cross has severed ties which bound us here, Thyself our treasure in a brighter sphere." He is risen! an empty tomb and a risen Christ! Well may we exult.

Reaching the sepulchre the two disciples find it empty, for an angel had come down and rolled away the stone from the door of the sepulchre. To let the Lord out? Far be the thought! Not so, but to let you and me look in, and see an empty tomb, and know that we have a risen, a victorious, a triumphant Saviour, who has taken the sting from death, and robbed the grave of its victory.

An Open and Empty Tomb

The open and empty tomb of Luke 24:1-12 is a conclusive proof of Christ's resurrection. There is no other fact in history that has been so well documented and proven to be irrefutable. Therefore, Christianity rests on solid facts (1 Cor. 15:1-11)! Christ's resurrection is the basis for our justification (Rom. 4:25) and puts us on redemption ground, to enjoy sweet communion with Christ and His saints (Ps. 40:2-3, 9; Isa. 53:10-13; Ps. 22:22; Heb. 2:9-14). Furthermore, He has left us in this scene of His rejection to be His witnesses (Lk. 24:46-48). as those who are identified with the One who died and rose again on our behalf (Rom. 6:4-5; 2 Cor. 5:15). We could not have any kind of association with the Lord Jesus, were it not for His death and resurrection.

And now notice what the angel says to these women, "For I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified" (Matt. 28:5). It is a fine thing for those who look on to say, "We know ye seek Jesus." What do you think the world says about you and me behind our backs? Do you seek Jesus? It is a fine thing that. What you want is Jesus. You are all right if you are seeking Jesus. The angel then adds, "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. 28:6). I suppose the angel took them by the hand and led them to the door of the sepulchre. They are to face not death but an empty tomb, the witness of resurrection. How people shrink from this! I have seen saint after saint, who when death came in view, was quite upset. Why? Because they have not been in this chapter, and really heard the words, "Come, see the place where the Lord lay." And what is to be seen? Death annulled. That is the point. A risen Christ is to fill the horizon of our souls with peace.

AS HE SAID." He had told them that He would rise again: that He had done so was the confirmation of all His words, and proved that He was fully worthy of their fullest confidence. We, too, may give to the winds our fears, and renew our confidence in Him, as we read His words, which tell us that not one jot or tittle of His word shall fail. He is risen, that is the pledge. Death mocks at men's assertions and brings to naught their words and works, but our Saviour lives as Victor over death to give complete effect to all that the prophets have spoken concerning Him and all that He has spoken concerning us.

"COME, SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY." They were to be witnesses to the disciples of this great event, and so must view the empty tomb with their own eyes, and this they did at the invitation of the angel of the Lord. It was presumptuously stated by one whose blasphemies have been closed by death that the Lord did not actually rise from the dead: that His remains are still lying somewhere near to Calvary. If this is so the Christian faith is a delusion and a snare, and all those who have fallen asleep in the joy of it have perished. "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept" (1 Cor. 15:20).

We rejoice and are glad that the Prince of life could not be holden by the power of death. We look within that empty tomb and behold with the wondering disciples the perfect order of it and learn thereby how complete is Satan's defeat, and how signal is God's victory over all the power of death; and we bow in adoration before Him as we be believe “the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ . . . declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

We rejoice and are glad that the Prince of life could not be holden by the power of death. We look within that empty tomb and behold with the wondering disciples the perfect order of it and learn thereby how complete is Satan's defeat, and how signal is God's victory over all the power of death; and we bow in adoration before Him as we be believe "the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ … declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

We rejoice and are glad that the Prince of life could not be holden by the power of death. We look within that empty tomb and behold with the wondering disciples the perfect order of it and learn thereby how complete is Satan's defeat, and how signal is God's victory over all the power of death; and we bow in adoration before Him as we believe "the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ … declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead."

The garden had been the scene of man's treachery and shame, of Satan's long mastery over man and the length to which he could drive him, and of the power of the grave. It was now the scene of God's victory, sorrow had given place to joy, the night had vanished before the morning light, death had given place to life, for as by man came death, so by man came also the resurrection from the dead, and the joy of heaven found expression in the angel's words, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." "Come, see the place where the Lord lay." An empty tomb at last! The pledge and token of victory over it for all who are Christ's; for Christ is the firstfruits; afterwards they that are Christ's at His coming.

The garden had been the scene of man's treachery and shame, of Satan's long mastery over man and the length to which he could drive him, and of the power of the grave. It was now the scene of God's victory, sorrow had given place to joy, the night had vanished before the morning light, death had given place to life, for as by man came death, so by man came also the resurrection from the dead, and the joy of heaven found expression in the angel's words, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." "Come, see the place where the Lord lay." An empty tomb at last! The pledge and token of victory over it for all who are Christ's; for Christ is the firstfruits afterwards they that are Christ's at His coming.