Look at the Empty Tomb

by Rick Thomas

Newspaper cartoonist H. T. Webster once told the story of how he amused himself one day by sending congratulatory telegrams to twenty of his friends. Although not one of them had recently done anything outstanding and worthy of congratulation, Webster sent each the one-word message, “Congratulations.” And each, in turn, wrote Webster a “thank you” note without questioning why the message had been sent.

Everyone needs encouragement, but nothing in the world is more encouraging than the message of Easter. It is the most wonderful and hopeful news in all the world, that announcement of the angel to the women at the tomb when he said, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:6).

This is most encouraging news because it confirms that our faith has not been misplaced. For Paul, and for you and me, faith in the risen Christ is at the heart of our hope. If Christ was not raised, Paul writes, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1 Corinthians 15:32). If there is no resurrection, then there is no tomorrow and we’d better have as much fun today as we can because, once we die, everything is over.

But the message of the angel confirms that we need not live and die in hopelessness. The resurrection is real. Christ is alive. And we need to hear that message as badly as those first disciples.

The disciples had been with Jesus for three years. They had seen his miracles, heard his message, and accepted him as the Son of God. But when he was nailed to the cross, their faith crumbled about them. Everything seemed to be over—until that Easter morning when Christ was raised from the dead and, with him, their hopes and dreams.

At times we feel like the downhearted disciples. Events and emotions conspire to disappoint us. Our faith is shaken. We wonder if life is worth living, or if we should just “eat and drink” for tomorrow we die. Easter, the resurrection, shouts from the open tomb that our faith is not misplaced.

When you feel your faith begin to weaken, look at the cross. There God’s love is emblazoned in full view. Then look at the empty tomb. There God’s power is fully and gloriously displayed.