PAID IN FULL

Week 1 - The Empty Tomb

Main Idea: The empty tomb where Jesus' body was laid echoes through eternity. As we
take time to listen on Easter morning we can still hear the echoes of victory, faith, and
hope that reverberate from that ancient tomb.

Prayer: “Lord thank you for sharing your one and only Son with us. So that, through
Him, we could experience eternal life and redemption. Let us hear again of the victory,
faith, and hope available to all who believe as a result of Christ’s resurrection and
ascension from death to life.”

Scripture: Matthew 28:1-10, 1 Corinthians 15:13-20

Introduction

(Pastor - First of all, Happy Easter to you and yours. Please insert an appropriate
welcome and Easter greeting here in the sermon before you get into the teaching. I’ve
intentionally left out any mention of Easter here as I know every context and tradition
are unique.)

Have you ever stood in a cavern or a tunnel and yelled just so you could hear how long
and far the echo would last? Can you imagine how penetrating the echo must’ve felt
2000 years ago as the followers of Jesus spoke into an empty tomb…only to hear the
reflection of their own voices in return.

It’s these ancient echoes we turn to this morning. As we return again to that hollow cave
where the body of Jesus vanished and the world was changed forever.

The resurrection isn't just an historical event; it's a promise of hope beyond the grave, of
a new life beyond the limitations of this world. It’s this echo of truth and hope that we
tune our ears to today. As we listen with fresh expectation, mercy, and grace for our
lives today.

All these centuries later, and Jesus is still speaking through the echoes of the empty
tomb.

Main Teaching

As we get going today, let’s read through our Easter passage together.
Read Matthew 28:1-10

In this traditional passage you’re probably familiar with the angel arriving like an
earthquake and rolling away the stone. His appearance was like lightning and he so
terrified the guards of the tomb that they fell over and became like dead men. As Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary approach the angel says, “Do not be afraid.” An
exhortation repeated later by Jesus in verse 10. As one commentator says, “It was a
common statement when the supernatural realm broke into the natural.1”

But it wasn’t terror or fear that we tune our ears to this morning. It was the next thing
said by the angel, “I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not
here; he has risen, just as he said.” This statement has echoed in power through the
centuries, encouraging believers around the globe in the reality of Christ’s victory over
death.

Echo of Victory over Death

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

These words shatter the chains of death and despair, ushering in the triumph of life. The
empty tomb stands as a testimony to the power of God over the grave, demonstrating
that death could not hold the Son of God captive. Jesus had been telling his followers
for months, even years, that this event would in fact happen. And on that very first
Easter morning the reality of Christ’s victory became true before their very eyes.

As Charles Spurgeon said, “By His death, Jesus has destroyed death, and by His
resurrection He has torn away the gates of the grave.”

Through His resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death, offering us the gift of eternal
life. As believers, we rejoice in the assurance that death has been defeated, and we
have been granted the promise of resurrection unto everlasting life. What began as an
echo in an empty tomb, "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said,” now serves as
the resounding anthem over all those who believe.

The resurrection of Christ and His victory over death are so monumentally important to
our faith that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “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.” 1 Corinthians 15:13-14

Echo of Unwavering Faith

1 Accessed here: https://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL01/VOL01_28.html

This life of discipleship is, as Hebrews 11 reminds us, a walk of faith. “Now faith is
confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what
the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was
formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3

Pastor - You might even read more of Hebrews 11, just to make the point of how pivotal
faith has been back through the generations of those who believe. It may also be a
good time to share about your own faith, and how you’ve personally seen God move in
your life. Does your faith connect at all to the story of Easter?

Faith echoes out from the empty tomb and into our lives here today. As I mentioned
earlier, Jesus repeats the words the angel spoke to Mary and Mary when he tells them
again in verse 10, "Do not be afraid”.

Despite their initial fear and confusion, the women at the tomb chose to trust in the
words of Jesus. Their faith compelled them to bear witness to the miraculous
resurrection, becoming heralds of the Good News… To say it another way, they shared
their faith.

Similarly, we are called to embrace a faith that remains steadfast in the face of adversity
and doubt. We are to “fix our eyes on Jesus” as our Hebrews passage stated. We are to
share our faith in word, deed, thought, and prayer… No matter how difficult or
insurmountable the situations in front of us may seem. I’ve heard it said before; Instead
of telling God how big the storm is in your life, start telling the storm how big your God
is. As Jesus said, “It only takes a mustard seed of faith…”

The empty tomb serves as a reminder of the faith that we carry with us. As we return
again and again, year after year, back to the empty tomb we remember that it is indeed
empty. Jesus kept His promise to rise again… And it’s for this reason that we continue
to have hope which inspires us to trust in all God’s promises and proclaim the gospel
with boldness.

Echo of Eternal Hope

Eternal hope echoes out from the empty tomb… Going back to 1 Corinthians 15 and the
Apostle Paul… "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those
who have fallen asleep." (1 Cor. 15:20) The empty tomb assures us that our earthly
lives are not the end but rather the beginning of an eternity spent in the presence of
God. This reality offers hope to the weary, comfort to the grieving, and assurance to the
uncertain.

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are reminded that our hope is not confined
to this temporal world but extends into the boundless expanse of eternity. This is not our
home. “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building
from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” 2 Cor. 5:1
Whatever you're going through today, no matter what it is, I can assure that it’s not the
end of the story. Your suffering and pain are not lost on God. He sees every tear and
hears every prayer. Easter Sunday is an annual reminder that God keeps His promises,
He will come through in the end and that the sting of death has been defeated. This is
the hope we have.

Or as the apostle Peter says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never
perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

That’s good news folks… You’ll not find a better promise this side of heaven.

Conclusion

Pastor - This could be a great place to invite people to make a commitment in their faith
as they consider the idea of having new birth into a living hope and an inheritance that
can never perish, spoil, or fade.

The empty tomb resounds with echoes that reverberate through all of eternity. The tomb
proclaims the victory of Christ over death, calls us to unwavering faith, and offers us the
assurance of eternal hope.

As we reflect on the significance of the empty tomb, may we be reminded of the

transformative power of the resurrection and the promise of new life found in Jesus
Christ. Let us go forth from this place, boldly proclaiming the Good News and living in
the hope of our risen Lord.

Let’s pray together.