3 Benefits of Christ’s Empty Tomb

The Empty Tomb of Jesus Christ changed the course of human history and the fate of human souls. Here are three benefits to remember this week.

Most empty things are not good:

cupboards
refrigerators
wells
stomachs
wallets
bank accounts
houses
heads
hearts

In contrast, an empty grave is a good thing. Some of you may own a grave plot, but you are not in it yet. That’s a good thing!

Eternal salvation comes with earthly benefits. There is no greater life than the Christian life. Share on X

Jesus died. He should be in the grave, but He is not. He stayed three nights in a borrowed tomb and rose again. His grave is empty!

Jesus is the only Religious leader who is not in the grave.

Muhammed, the founder of Islam, is buried in a mosque in Medina.
Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was cremated in Kushinagar.
Mahavira, the founder of Janism, was cremated in Pawapuri.
Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, is buried in the Smith Family Cemetery in Nauvoo, IL.
Charles Taze Russel, the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses, is buried in Pittsburgh, PA.
Hindu leaders have died and are turned to ash.
Toaist leaders have been long buried and turned to dust.

The grave of Jesus Christ is empty! The God for the empty tomb!

Jesus took something that is empty and made it the path to fullness.

God’s economy works differently than man’s economy.

The way up is down. God blesses the humble.

The way down is up. God casts down the proud.

The way to be rich is to become poor.

The way to gain your life is to lose it for Christ’s sake.

A roman cross of crucifixion was a symbol of torture, terror, and punishment for hundreds of years. Yet, the vicarious death of Christ on the Cross and His shed blood turned the cruel cross into a symbol of hope and salvation!

A grave is a symbol of loss and death. Yet, the empty tomb of Christ is the ultimate icon of power and victory!

Let’s consider three gifts available because of Christ’s empty tomb:

1. An Empty Sepulchre Provides a Full Salvation.

Sepulchre is a Bible word for a tomb, or grave.

In Israel, tombs were often carved out of the rock. The soft limestone made the task bearable and the honeycomb of caves in the mountainsides allowed for adaptation and enlargement.

We can trace the burial of Christ by following this Bible word in the Gospels.

Matthew 27:59–61
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

The Jewish leaders were concerned that Christ’s promise of resurrection would cause an explosive increase in the number that followed Him if His body were to disappear. So they sealed the tomb.

Matthew 27:64–66
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

But the rebellious will of man was no match for the eternal plan of God.

Pick up the scene early on Sunday morning.

Matthew 28:1–8
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

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.

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

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

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

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

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

Death could not hold Him! The grave could not keep Him!

CHRIST AROSE!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

The resurrection is God’s exclamation point on the Gospel plan.

Romans 1:4
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

What is the Gospel?

The death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Gospel.

Jesus died on the Cross in the place sinful men.

He shed His perfect blood to pay for the sins of the world.

He was buried as a slain lamb. Three days later He arose as a conquering Lion!

The resurrection makes salvation possible.

1 Corinthians 15:16–17
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

The resurrection proves that Christ conquered death once and for all!

1 Corinthians 15:54–57
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus has conquered death and can make sure that your soul never dies.

Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

The good news of the Gospel is “Whosoever will may come!”

You are a sinner. Your sin condemns you to an eternity without God tormented in the fires of Hell.

You can die in your sin and suffer for ever…

or you can repent of your wicked unbelief and cry out for salvation resting in the finished work of Christ.

The choice is yours! Trust Christ today!

The salvation that Christ gives is a full salvation.

Saved to the uttermost!

Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

So great salvation!

Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

An empty sepulchre provides a full salvation.

2. An Empty Tomb Enables a Full Life.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Eternal salvation comes with earthly benefits. There is no greater life than the Christian life.

Satan wants you to believe that you will miss out on things if you follow Christ. It’s true! But, you won’t miss out on fun or happiness. You will miss out on sin and suffering.

I’m thankful for the things I’ve missed out on. I don’t know what it’s like to vomit drunkenly with my head in a toilet kneeling on a filthy bathroom floor. I missed out on drug addictions, bar fights, prison stints, drunken rages. I’ve missed out on divorce, estranged children, public shame, and personal guilt. I’m thankful for the things that I’ve missed!

Christians are not perfect. We are forgiven. A committed follower of Christ will stumble in sin at times, but will not fall headlong into it. We are protected by our Heavenly Father as we put Him first.

The Christian life is a full life. What wonderful memories we make! What privileges we enjoy!

A sinful life is a broken life. Life in the “fast lane” is full of fatal crashes.

Consider this scenario.

What would you do if I gave you $100,000? Many years ago a man we were working with disappeared and spent over 24 hours straight at the casino. He won so much they worked hard to keep him at the tables gambling. They gave him free luxurious meals. They put him up in a high roller suite. He got so caught up that his wife didn’t even know where he was. She was calling police stations and hospitals looking for him while thinking the worst.

Eventually, he won over $100,000 but lost $120,000. Did he really win? No. He ended with debt, regret, and a stressed marriage.

This is the Devil’s great deception. He promises a fun life, but steals your soul.

This man had a “fun” night by the world’s standards. But what could you do with $100,000 spent wisely? How many memories could you make? How much good could you do? And all without regret and skeletons in your closet.

Don’t be a chameleon Christian blending in with the world. I recommend that you follow hard after God with all of your heart and soul. You won’t regret it!

An empty tomb enables a full life.

3. An Empty Grave Allows a Full Heart.

So many people live today with empty hearts.

A godless life is an empty life.

Satan promotes godlessness as a life free from controls and principles. It is said that to be promoted to a godlike creature is the height of human evolution. In fact, it is the opposite.

Everyone serves a master. You will either live for God and follow Christ as your Lord or you will be lead by the devil. Jesus Christ is a loving master. God is our Heavenly Father. He loves, protects, and provides for us.

Satan is a hard task master. He cares for nothing but himself. He is a thief, murderer, and destroyer.

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

An abundant life includes a full heart.

What is in your heart today? Fear, doubt, anger, bitterness, sadness, pride, jealousy, guilt, and shame.

The world has no cure for an empty heart. They try to fill it with drugs, alcohol, immorality, amusement, and education but to no avail.

You have a hole in your heart that only Christ can fill.

Christ can change your heart!

Ezekiel 11:19
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

The Holy Spirit can fill your heart.

Galatians 5:22–23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Suffering? Yes. Trials. For sure. Persecution? Perhaps. Failures? Often.

But the goodness of our God provides a joy and peace through it all!

Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

An empty grave allows a full heart.

CONCLUSION

Thank God for the empty tomb. Our risen Saviour showers us with blessing beyond compare. We only mentioned three today.