The Power of an Empty Tomb      Isaiah 35; Luke 24:36-49

We have all heard the saying: “It’s too good to be true.” This is often the case with get-rich quick schemes or online scams, but sometimes there are windfalls. Sometimes, someone inherits an obscene amount of money, someone wins many hundreds of millions of dollars in Lotto. Think of a time when something happened to you and it seemed too good to be true. Maybe you got some great news regarding your health – the mass was gone; too good to be true, but was true: or you had a relationship breakthrough; an impossible situation turned around and you were restored to that parent or child when all outward factors would say it was impossible. This is what Easter Sunday is all about. The impossible becomes the possible.

As we have just read in Luke, Jesus came into the midst of the disciples. He had been in the tomb for 3 days. They knew that he said He would come back to life, but while they were hopeful, the news was too good to be true. Jesus said not only did He tell them He would rise, but the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms also spoke about the fact. This is where the Scriptures have power – because they are true, even though what they say seems too good to be true.

Isaiah spoke of a time when “He will come and save you. (Luke 24:4-10)  "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” This all happened in the earthly ministry of Jesus. But then Isaiah said, “For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness.” This is the future ministry of Jesus from where we stand.

This will be our home. How do we know? Isaiah said in verses 9, 10, “the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” We will rule and reign with Jesus when He returns. It seems impossible with what is happening in Israel at the moment. Surely it is too good to be true!

Well, that was the case when Jesus first started His ministry. The eyes of the blind were opened, the dead were raised, 5000 were fed from 2 fish and 5 small loaves.

This is what the disciples felt when Jesus was laid in the tomb; the stone was rolled over the entrance, the Roman seal was placed over the tomb and a number of elite Roman soldiers were set to guard the tomb. Surely all was lost.

But an angel descended and rolled away the stone, the guards fainted, Jesus had already risen, the tomb was empty, Peter and John ran to the tomb. Mary Magdalene had already spoken to the risen Lord and wasn’t believed. It was not only Thomas who doubted. 2 disciples had spoken with him on the road to Emmaus: the disciples doubted. A week earlier, Thomas said, ‘I want to put my fingers in the nail marks and my hand in His side.’ What do we read here in Luke, verses 36-38? “Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

Doubts arose; this can’t be Jesus. It’s too good to be true. Just like He would say to Thomas a week later, look at what He said to the disciples, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:40, 41) "And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marvelling.”

They were overwhelmed with joy, unbelief: too much to believe. But it was true. Jesus is alive. And just as Isaiah spoke of a future time when there will be joy, peace, no more pain or tears. This is our God.

But how can we believe this news that is hard to believe, too good to be true? Look at what Jesus did for His disciples when they doubted, even though He was standing right there in front of Him. Seeing isn’t always believing. Sometimes seeing is just seeing. The heart can be confused or overwhelmed in the moment. Look at what Jesus did. It says in Luke 24:45, “he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” This needs to happen with all of the Lord’s people. Like these disciples we love Jesus, we know Jesus, but in some things we doubt, because our mind tells us it’s impossible, can’t happen, won’t happen.

Jesus said that’s what the Scriptures say. He told the disciples in verses 46-48, “it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

We are witnesses to the truth of these words. We are witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit that has opened our minds. Now is the day of belief and action. Why? Because Jesus is coming back. He is restoring this world. Those who reject Him will be lost for eternity.

The tomb is empty. Death, sin and Satan are defeated. This is the news we carry.

When we take communion, Paul said we are proclaiming the Lord’s return. Here’s my challenge for you.

The tomb is empty and the Spirit is available. This is the good news that is true, and nothing will stop Jesus calling out His people. When the last one comes in, He won’t wait a second longer; He will return. The time is close. The best is yet to come. With regard to it being too good to be true, Paul said it best: “"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10)

The unbelievable is possible because the tomb is empty. We are inheritors of the Lord’s glory for eternity. The news doesn’t get any better than this. Let’s share it!