Empty. 

Commonly defined as having nothing inside or on the surface, this is a concept everyone comprehends, even youngsters.

Finish a box of favorite candy. Empty Container.

Drink your favorite beverage. Empty container.

Enjoy a gourmet meal. Empty plate.

Drive your vehicle until it stalls to a complete stop. Empty tank.

These forms of emptiness evoke feelings of frustration, disappointment, anger, mostly negative emotions and very few positive thoughts (except for that gourmet meal perhaps!)

But what if there was something that became empty which brought forth every emotion equated to extreme happiness…with the right amount of fear mixed in to indicate awe and wonder? We don’t need to look very far to find that “something”. The answer lies in the resurrection of Christ some 2,000 years ago.

Each of the four gospels give an account of Jesus being crucified on a Roman cross and buried in a tomb which literally meant His body was laid inside a small opening within a rocky wall and sealed with a large stone to keep out animals and birds who would otherwise desire to dine on His flesh. Jesus’ body was prepared for burial using common Jewish practices and after the rock was rolled into place, hands that had touched him during preparation, tears falling down cheeks, feet that had traveled with Him during three years of ministry, walked away. Their hearts were broken, they were indeed very “empty”. Their beloved Rabbi was dead. How would life continue with Him gone? By now, the events of the last few days are still vibrant in their minds. Words from His mountainside and small village teachings echoed in their thoughts as they made their way home, their emptiness overshadowing previous months and days of joy, laughter, hope, long days and nights spent at His feet to hear new teachings, to absorb assurance that God had not forgotten them.

Not too long from the time of burial, in the dark, Mary Magdalene makes her way to the tomb. What has drawn her to this spot? Has she come in the dark to avoid potential harm or suspicion as to her reasons for a visit under the cloak of unlightened skies? Did the Roman guard who was appointed to stand watch outside the tomb see her? As I ponder the moment Jesus became resurrected, the power inside the sealed tomb that must have been an explosion bringing Him to life along with the miraculous moving aside of the rock that had sealed His resting place, was all it took to bring the guard to his knees or perhaps even knocked out temporarily. Whatever that supernatural moment looked like, the four gospels hold eye witness accounts and evidence for an “empty” tomb which gave us a risen Saviour. “THIS” is what we celebrate this weekend. “THIS” is an empty that gives us pause to honor, celebrate, shout for joy, and prove to a dark world that God is alive. And, like Mary Magdalene who ran to find Peter…to tell him what she had discovered…we, too, should continue taking the news and message of the empty tomb to our family, friends, communities, and the world.

I love what Paul wrote in the book of Romans whe n he said “The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you…” Who is this spirit? It’s the spirit of the living God, the author and creator of life, the One Who has victory over death, who gives us eternal life by placing surrender and faith in our hearts because of what Christ offers through salvation.

Empty. Maybe this is how you’ve felt for a very long time. The good news is you don’t have to remain feeling drained and without hope. Come to the One who can satisfy your hunger and thirst to be filled. It’s never too late to begin embracing the emptiness of a 2,000 year old empty tomb, the very freedom from darkness of death to the light of life!

Happy “Resurrection Sunday”. Jesus Christ IS alive! Let us rejoice and be glad!