Thursday, February 14

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013

Exodus 37:1–38:31

Matthew 28:1–20

Psalm 34:11–22

Proverbs 9:9,10

 

The Empty Tomb:  the validation of Jesus’s testimony about Himself and the Kingdom and bedrock of our faith.  Its message would spur the active mission of the church, proclaiming the good news of the Gospel and making disciples of all nations in the Name of a risen and exalted Lord Jesus Christ.  All history hinges on the Empty Tomb.

 

(As an excursus, one great challenge in writing these blogs involves wishing to cover the substantial without becoming overwhelming, yet not giving short shrift to amazing, life-changing truth.  Wading this course sometimes brings pressure at the outset of each week’s writing.  Thank you for your understanding and faithfulness to consider these thoughts that jump out from God’s Word.)

 

As a lover of history, I recognize that single, momentary events may change the course of history.  Particularly crucial to these events, the complexion of the background and foreground of the facts turn our interpretation – and the lasting legacy.  For example, some speeches become instantly forgettable, while others inspire us after decades and generations.  Adrenaline-driven heroism in the heat of battle or one misstep may mark the difference between a sterling reputation and infamy.  (For these reasons, we should desperately seek to surrender our hearts and lives to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and not our weak flesh.)

 

The historical truth of the Empty Tomb validates the entirety of the Bible and serves as the bedrock for the Kingdom.  Like these disciples, we worship the resurrected Savior.  While our feelings and responsiveness may change – even “some doubted” after finding Jesus – the truth of the Resurrection stands forever.  God has graciously revealed Himself primarily through the Lord Jesus Christ, Who experienced all the pain of death and separation from His Father, only to rise triumphantly from the grave, proving His mastery over every force and power, natural and supernatural.

 

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reflects on and testifies to this historical fact.  Clearly, even from that first Easter Sunday, natural and supernatural elements have endeavored to shroud the reality of the Empty Tomb, in order to deny God His glory by preventing people from worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ.  I share below vv. 12–18 because of the rich argument and encouragement:

 

“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.  But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.  For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

 

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.  Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.   The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  For he ‘has put everything under his feet.’  Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.   When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.”

 

 

Amazingly, God in His wisdom selected the once-deserting disciples to now turn to the mission of making disciples of all nations.  This disciple-making process would come as a result of their going – leaving behind the comfortable and known and seeking to meet people in their own places.  It would involve imparting truth after first committing to Proverbs 9:10:  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,/ and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” 

 

The disciples – both in Matthew 28 and us today – would succeed only because of the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus:  “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  As Leroy Eims has written, “if anything of spiritual value happens in this world, it will be because God did it.”

 

As we look ahead, we will later find the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, baffled at the disciples’ effective testimony for the Lord Jesus, through both healing and proclamation:  “[Peter]:  ’Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’  When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.  But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” (Acts 4:12–14)

 

By the power of the Holy Spirit, may God raise us up as similar servants, pointing to the risen Jesus by testimony and transformed lives.  Let us start by joining the angel in inviting our loved ones:  “Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6b)

 

QUESTIONS

1.       What does the Empty Tomb mean to you today?

2.       Whom might you invite to “come and see the place where he lay” this Easter season?

 

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