Empty (Pt. 2)

Part 2 of 2

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”-1 Corinthians 15:20

What is so significant about an empty tomb? The empty tomb gives us hope for an eternal life! Before we could have any real hope of an eternal future; Christ, Himself, had to demonstrate that He was not bound by death. We could never hope believe in any type  of eternal future for ourselves if He had not first demonstrated that He had the power to overcome the grave!

Because of Adam’s sin, we all inherited a sin nature that condemned us to die, but through Christ’s resurrection we have now been made alive:

“For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”-1 Corinthians 5:21-22

Christ’s resurrection gives us hope for our future! for 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 declares:

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

However, the hope we receive from the empty tomb is not just a future hope, it is a living hope. His resurrected life is what gives us strength, hope, encouragement, and power to live day to day. How? By giving us the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead:

“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”-Romans 8:10-11

He gives life to our mortal bodies. Billy Graham once said, “The most life-changing truth I have learned as a Christian is the saving life of Christ. We are not only saved by His death but also by His life; meaning the risen Lord lives in us by His Holy Spirit.”

The resurrection assures us that Jesus can transform our lives every day. We live empowered by the presence of jesus to live changed lives. How do I know that Jesus can change a person’s life-because He changed mine! God wants you to experience and know the power of the resurrection:

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.-Philippians 3:10

We all have doubts, fears, and apprehensions. So did some of Jesus’ closest friends, like Thomas. They walked with Jesus everyday and their world’s were rocked when Jesus was crucified. Their faith had been deflated and their hope emptied. Thomas refused to believe unless he could touch Jesus’ nailed scarred hands. He struggled because the resurrection wasn’t a reality to him yet. Is Jesus’ resurrection a reality to you? Jesus wants you to experience the power of His resurrection and that begins by knowing Him.

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church