THE SAYINGS OF THE CRUCIFIXION (24)

The Empty Tomb

Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-9; John 20:1

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    In our previous lesson, the tomb of Jesus had been well secured.

All of the Jews returned to their homes and celebrated the Sabbath Day and Passover.

The Jews had peace of mind believing they had put a deceiver and blasphemer to death.

 

B.      This sets the stage for another lesson in our series entitled:  “The Sayings of the Crucifixion.”

1.      This is our 24^th lesson in the series.

2.      It is subtitled:  “The Empty Tomb.”

3.      All of the gospels mention the events about which we will speak.

4.      John’s gospel, however, is the briefest of all, having only one verse about these specific events (John 20:1).

 

I.                   AN EARLY ERRAND (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:1; John 20:1a)

 

A.    When Jesus was buried, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid (Mark 15:46).

 

B.      Luke tells us that “they returned, and prepared spices and ointments…” (Luke 23:56).  Their intent was to return to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.

 

C.     Mark’s gospel picks up where we left off (Mark 16:1).

 

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

 

1.      These women had an errand to run.  They “brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.”

2.      They needed to do what they could not do on Friday afternoon.

3.      It seems they anticipated this errand throughout the Sabbath. 

a.      The Sabbath would have come to an end at 6:00 a.m. that Sunday morning.

1)      Matthew begins with these words:  “In the end of the sabbath…” (Matt. 28:1).

2)      Mark tells us:  “And when the sabbath was passed…” (Mark 16:1).

3)      It seems that these women waited till just the very moment that the Sabbath Day was ended to make their journey to the sepulcher.

b.      Both Mark and Luke tell us that it was on the first day of the week very early in the morning (Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1).

c.       John says it was “yet dark” (John 20:1).  Matthew says:  “…as it began to dawn.”

4.      As they made their way to the sepulcher, they had one concern (Mark 16:2).

 

And they said among themselves, who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher.

 

a.      The stone was great (Matt. 27:60).

b.      The Romans soldiers would not move the stone for them.

c.       The woman had come alone.  They did not have the strength the roll away the stone.

d.      Thus, their concern was a legitimate one. 

e.       LESSON:  These women did not let one obstacle keep them from doing what needed to be done.  They did not know the precise “how” of removing the stone.  They did, however, have the deep desire to anoint the body of Jesus.

 

II.                A MIRACULOUS MOVING (Matt. 28:2)

 

A.    The concern that the women had was not going to matter.

 

B.      There was a miraculous moving of the stone by an angel of the Lord (Matt. 28:2).

 

And, behold, there was a great earthquake:  for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

 

1.      There was a great earthquake.

a.      This would loosen anything that had been used to seal the stone around the edges.

b.      It would help the angel as he rolled the stone from the tomb’s entrance.

c.       Question:  Did the woman feel this earthquake?  One would think that they did since the Bible describes it as being “great.”

2.      This angel appeared in all his brilliance (Matt. 28:3).

 

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.

 

3.      This angel struck terror into the hearts of the soldiers who were guarding the tomb.  Their reaction is recorded in Matthew 28:4.

 

And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

 

a.      It is important to keep in mind the fact that they saw this angel first.

b.      Their terror of him caused them to faint before the tomb.

1)      Fear is one of the most common triggers for fainting.

2)      There is drop of blood pressure and of the heart rate.  The brain does not get enough oxygen and the individual passes out.

3)      This condition can last several minutes.

 

C.     The removal of the stone did two things:

1.      It allowed Jesus to walk free from his enclosure.

2.      It enabled individuals to enter the tomb where Jesus was supposed to lay.

a.      God removed the concern of the women.

b.      God was going to give them a message that they had not anticipated.

 

III.             A STUNNING SCENE (Matt. 28:5; Mark 4-5; Luke 242-5a; John 20:1b).

 

A.    The women arrived at the sepulcher, “and they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher” (Luke 23:2). 

1.      Mark reminds us that the stone was “very great” (Mark 16:4).

2.      We wonder whether the Roman soldiers were still lying upon the ground in front of the tomb, or, whether they had awakened and fled from the scene.

 

B.      You can see the astonishment and concern on the face of the women as the approach the sepulcher.  They want to look in, but should they?  They must (Luke 24:3).

 

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

 

C.     Not only did they fail to see the Lord’s body, they saw another marvelous sight. 

1.      Matthew mentions “the angel” (Matt. 28:5).

2.      Mark refers to him as “a young man sitting on the right side” (Mark 16:5).

3.      Luke gives us even more (Luke 24:4).

 

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

 

a.      Mark tells us that the garments were long and white (Mark 16:5).

b.      But why did Matthew and Mark only note one individual when Luke tells us that two were there?  Answer: The answer probably lies in the fact that only one of the angels spoke to the women.

 

D.    A summary of what the women saw.

1.      The great stone removed from the door of the sepulcher.

2.      Perhaps the Romans soldiers lay like dead men in front of the sepulcher.

3.      No body of Jesus in the tomb.

4.      Two angels in brilliant garments beside them.

 

E.      Mark tells us that these things cause them to be affrighted (Mark 16:5).  Luke reveals that they were perplexed (Luke 24:4) and “afraid, and bowed their faces to the earth” (Luke 24:5).

 

F.      LESSON:  In life, we will face situations that will cause us to experience a galaxy of emotions before we get through them.

1.      The women were sad as they came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body.

2.      When they arrived, they were surprised the stone was rolled from the door of the tomb.

3.      When they looked in and did not see the body, they were perplexed.

4.      When the angels appeared to them, they were fearful.

5.      Their emotions would not stop there.

 

IV.             A MARVELOUS MESSAGE (Matt. 28:5-7; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 24:5b-8)

 

A.    “Fear not ye” (Matt. 28:5a).  “Be not affrighted” (Mark 16:6).

1.      Fear is a horrible emotion to experience.  It involves a real or perceived threat.

2.      The angel seeks to alleviate the fear of these women.

3.      There was not threat posed to them at all.

 

B.      “For I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified” (Matt. 28:5b; Mark 16:6).

1.      These women did not know these men, but these men knew exactly why these women had come.

2.      They informed them of their purpose.  Ye seek Jesus.  Note:  They were seeking to find a dead man.

 

C.     “Why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen” (Luke 24:5; Matt. 28:6; Mark 16:6).

1.      Living individuals do no reside within and around graves and tombs. 

2.      These women were seeking Jesus, but they were seeking Him in the wrong place.

3.      Can you imagine the feelings that swelled in their hearts as they heard the words:  “He is not here, but is risen”?

D.    The women are pointed to two proofs.

1.      The place where Jesus once laid.  “Come see the place where he lay” (Matt. 28:6; Mark 16:6).  The place was empty.  There was no body there.

2.      The proclamation of Jesus Himself (Luke 24:6-7)

 

…remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

 

a.      Matthew, Mark, and Luke record these words of Jesus (Matt. 20:19: Mark 9:31; 10:34; Luke 24:7).

b.      Luke tells us in Luke 24:8:  “And they remembered his words.”

1)      They had heard.

2)      Would they allow those words to produce faith in their hearts?  The answer is:  “Yes.”

 

E.      The command given to tell the apostles (Matt. 28:7; Mark 16:7)

 

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there ye shall see him:  lo, I have told you.

 

1.      The women were to go quickly to the disciples and tell them about Jesus’ resurrection.

2.      They were also to tell them that they would meet Jesus in Galilee.

3.      The time of mourning was over. 

a.      It was a time for faith to be restored in their hearts.

b.      It was a time for hope to be restored to their lives.

c.       It was a time for joy to be restored to their emotional being.

d.      It was a time for courage to be restored to their minds.

e.       It was time for a mission to be restored to their small group.

4.      NOTE:  In Mark’s account regarding this instruction, we find this reading:  “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter…”

a.      Peter is singled out to be specifically told about Jesus’ resurrection.

b.      The last we heard is that Peter had gone out and wept bitterly about his denial of the Lord (Luke 22:62).

c.       Why did Jesus single Peter out?

1)      Jesus wanted Peter to be comforted.

2)      Jesus needed to speak with Peter personally.

 

V.                AN EMOTIONAL EXIT (Matt. 28:8; Mark 16:8)

 

A.    Matthew and Mark both reveal that the women did as they were instructed and departed quickly from the tomb.

 

B.      We have labeled this point “An Emotional Exit” because of the descriptive words provided by Matthew and Mark.

1.      Matthew

a.      Fear

1)      Strong (5401):  to be put in fear, alarm or fright

2)      Thayer:  fear, dread, terror

b.      Great joy

1)      Strong (5479):  cheerfulness, calm delight

2)      Thayer:  joy, gladness

2.      Mark

a.      Trembled

1)      Strong (5156):  a trembling, that is quaking with fear

2)      Thayer:  trembling, quaking with fear

b.      Amazed

1)      Strong (1611):  a displacement of the mind, that is, bewildered

2)      Thayer:  a throwing of the mind out of its normal state, amazement, the state of one who, either owing to the importance or the novelty of an event, is thrown into a state of blended fear and wonderment

 

C.     As they returned, Mark tells us “neither said they any thing to any man.”  They spoke to no one on the return trip to the disciples.

 

D.    Matthew ends with these words:  “…and did run to bring his disciples word.”

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    The news of the resurrection has now been reported.  It is interesting that it was first reported to women.

 

B.      These women are excited, full of joy, confused, and trembling with fear all at the same time.

 

C.     They have one mission in mind.  They must tell the disciples about the things they have seen and heard.

 

D.    What would their response be to this news?