The Open Sepulcher

As you all know Easter was this past Sunday. It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I like to call it Resurrection Day. Resurrection Sunday should be a time for us to reflect on the Passion Week and on all that Jesus did for us on the cross at Calvary. We should do this every week if not every day, but this time of year is set aside for us all to remember that special sacrifice Jesus made for us. As we look back on the Resurrection we see many things that it teaches us about Christ and Christianity:

It teaches us about the Love of our Lord.

It teaches us about the Sovereignty of the Savior.

It teaches us about the Gift of Grace.

It teaches us about our Sin and Salvation.

It teaches us about God’s Power and our Pardon. And the list goes on and on.

Luke 24:1-6 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shinning garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why see ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.
One of the biggest things we see and can learn from the Resurrection story is in the Open Sepulcher or the open tomb.

I. The first thing we can see and learn from the open sepulcher is Jesus’ Absence.

He was not there!!! He was risen from the dead!!!

A. The Evidence left behind proves that Jesus surely rose from the dead.
Many people outline this part of the story as the empty tomb. However, the tomb was not empty. There were some things left in there. Notice the grave wrappings that were lying there in their deflated, yet untorn, uncut and unwrapped. Notice the cloth that was put over his mouth was folded neatly and laid to the side. You see the tomb was open for all to see the evidence showing that Jesus is alive.

B. The Testimony from those on the scene proves that Jesus surely rose from the dead.
Notice in every account in the gospels that the angles had something to say about Jesus’ absence from the tomb. They were eye witnesses to what happened that day. They basically said that Jesus is not here among the dead, He is Alive. In redneck language, “He ain’t here, he got up and left some time ago.” You see the angles at the tomb testify to the fact that Jesus is alive.

II. The second thing we can see and learn from the open sepulcher is Jesus’ Presence.
In each account of the Resurrection story it starts off by telling us Jesus is not here (in the tomb.) However, also in each account of this story it quickly tells us where He Is!

He came to the women as The Risen Sovereign in Matthew 28:9. “All Hail”

He came to Mary Magdalene as The Risen Servant in Mark 16:9.

He came to two of His disciple on the road to Emmaus as The Risen Savior in Luke 24:13-35. “Ought not Christ to have suffered”

He came to all the disciples in the upper room as The Risen Son of God in John 20:19-23. “My Father”


III. The third thing we can see and learn from the open sepulcher is Jesus’ Deliverance.
This should be the focal point to all Resurrection messages. This should be the focal point to any Gospel message in general. Jesus lived a sinless life, died on the cross, buried in a tomb, and rose from the grave. He did all of this for the sole reason to Deliver us from our sin!!

The open sepulcher and the Resurrection story show us of Jesus’ exclusive Power of Deliverance. Matt 28:18

The open sepulcher and the Resurrection story tell us to Preach His Deliverance. Mark 16:15

The open sepulcher and the Resurrection story tell us of Jesus’ Promise of Deliverance. Luke 24:49.

The open sepulcher and the Resurrection story tell us of Jesus’ Peace of Deliverance. John 20:19,21,26.


Friends Jesus is alive today. He is living in my heart and I hope you can say the same. If not, I encourage you to reflect on the Resurrection story and allow the Lord to touch your heart today.

God Bless and Happy Hunting.

Posted by Mark Newell