The Empty Tomb

"'Don't be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.'" 
Mark 16:6 (NIV)

What's the one historical fact that everyone—believers and skeptics alike—must reckon with?

"He is risen! He is not here." These three words in English (one word in Greek) change everything about our world. When the women arrive at the tomb expecting to anoint a body, they find instead the most important empty space in human history.

Here is one thing you need to get into your mind and heart: No one—not then, not now—has ever disputed that the tomb was empty. Not one Roman, not one Jewish leader, not Pilate, not Herod, not the Sadducees—no historian has ever successfully challenged this central fact. 

The tomb that should have contained Jesus's body simply didn't.

While the empty tomb itself doesn't prove the resurrection, a resurrection demands an empty tomb. Whatever else you want to believe about Jesus—the cradle at Christmas, the cross on Good Friday—you must deal with the cave on Easter. The evidence points to the most extraordinary event in history: Jesus is alive.

So what does this mean for you today? The empty tomb isn't just ancient history; it's your present hope and future security. Since Jesus conquered death, nothing you face today is beyond His power.

This week, let the reality of the empty tomb transform your outlook:

• Each morning, remind yourself: "The tomb is still empty today." This means whatever challenges you face, you face them with a living Savior beside you.
• When anxiety or fear threaten to overwhelm you, remember that the power that raised Jesus from the dead is working in your life too.
• Look for one opportunity to tell someone about what the empty tomb means to you. It might be as simple as sharing how the resurrection gives you hope when life gets difficult.

The empty tomb isn't just a historical curiosity—it's the cornerstone of hope for every human life. Including yours.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Thank You for the empty tomb! You are victorious over death! Help me live today in the power of Your resurrection. Give me the courage to face my challenges with confidence and deep peace, knowing that the same power that raised You from the dead is working in my life. In Jesus’ mighty Name, Amen.