SermonStudio

Object:
A picture of an empty tomb

Good morning, boys and girls. Today is Easter Sunday, a very special day. I will tell you why it is special, but first, do you remember where we left off with our story of Jesus last week? It was a Friday night, just before the Jewish Sabbath, when Joseph of Arimathea and a friend named Nicodemus wrapped the dead body of Jesus in linen and some spices and buried Him in the tomb. It was a terrible day, that Friday, for all of the followers of Jesus. They could hardly believe that this good man had been killed for the wonderful things that He had done. But He was dead and there was nothing that they could do but feel sorry.

Some of the women who had loved Jesus, like His mother and some other very close friends, wanted to do the kind of things that they felt should be done for a dead person, so they made plans to go to the tomb on Sunday morning. They got up very early, before the sunrise, and began to walk to the tomb. On the way they talked about the problems that they would have with the big stone in front of the tomb. They knew that they could not move it, and unless they had some kind of help their trip would be worthless. Still, they wanted to go, and if nothing else just sit outside the tomb and pray where they could feel closer to Jesus. It seemed like the least that they could do.

While they were walking toward the place of the tomb there was a terrible shaking of the earth. The trees shook, rocks rolled, and large cracks appeared in the ground.

At the tomb there were some other things happening. While the earthquake was going on, an angel came down from heaven and pushed the stone away from the entrance to the tomb and then just sat on top of it. He was dressed all in white and his face was as bright as the sunshine. The soldiers were shocked. No one man could move that stone. And what about the looks of this person? No one looked like that. The soldiers were so amazed that they fainted. These were the same soldiers who beat up Jesus, spit on Him, made a crown of thorns, hung Him on a cross and even threw a spear through Him. But now, seeing an angel for the first time caused them to faint.

They were still lying on the ground when the women came and saw that the big stone had been rolled away. How glad they were, but what had happened to Jesus? Was He gone or was He still inside?

Before they could look for themselves the angel spoke and told them not to be afraid. He said, "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified, but He isn't here! For He has come back to life again, just as He said He would. Come in and see where His body was lying." They went in. Jesus was gone. There was no body. There was nothing but the cloth that was folded into the shape of a triangle and big enough to cover the face. That was all there was in the tomb.

The women were frightened. The angel was smiling and the soldiers were still lying on the ground in a faint. The angel told the women to go and tell the disciples of Jesus what they had seen and to tell them that Jesus would meet them in Galilee. The women ran away as fast as they could. They were frightened but happy, so very, very happy.

As they were running toward town to tell the disciples what the angel had said, they almost ran into a person who was standing in front of them. It was Jesus, and they fell to the ground and kissed His feet and told Him how glad they were to see Him. Jesus told them to go on ahead and to do as the angel had told them. They jumped to their feet and ran on ahead.

Meanwhile some of the soldiers had awakened and when they found the tomb empty, and the angel gone, they ran to the Temple to tell what had happened.

The Jewish leaders did not know what to do. They finally agreed that they had to have a different story, so they promised the soldiers some money if they would only tell everyone that the disciples of Jesus had stolen the body while they were asleep. The soldiers finally agreed if the priests promised to stick up for them when the governor questioned them. That was the final agreement made between the Jewish leaders and the soldiers. But for Christians, the real story is the one that happened on that first Easter Sunday.

I have something for you to remember it by on this Easter Day. It is a picture of that empty tomb. I want you to take it and keep it where you will always remember the day that Jesus came back to life from the dead. It is important to remember because Jesus promises us that we will share the same promise of new life with him some day.

God bless you. Amen.