THE EMPTY PROMISES OF EASTER (Luke 24:1-12)
There's a story that's told about a young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school.
It was the custom in that affluent neighborhood for the parents to give their graduate a new car.
Now Bill and his father had spent months looking at cars, and the week before graduation, they found the perfect car.
On the eve of his graduation, his father handed him a gift wrapped Bible. Bill was so angry that he threw the Bible
down and stormed out of the house. He and his father never saw each other again.
It was the news of his father's death that brought Bill home again. As he sat one night going through his
father's possessions that he was to inherit, he come across the Bible his father had given him. He brushed
away the dust and opened it to find a cashier's check, dated the day of his graduation - in the exact amount
of the car they had chosen together.
As I thought about this story, I couldn't help but wonder how many people in this world have done the same
thing to God. That is, literally tossed aside a wonderful promise, because they didn't understand it, or
they didn't believe that it was possible.
In our world, we are taught that; "if it sounds too good to be true,
it probably is." In fact, many of us have been taken in by empty promises, that we are leery of
anything or anyone that tells us we can have something for nothing, and that's because the world simply
doesn't work that way!
But, you know what - God does - God never made a promise that was too good to be true.
The truth of the matter is the world is full of empty promises. We watch TV, and the advertisements tell us
that we can be happy, sexy, rich, or famous, if we only purchase a certain product. It doesn't take long
before we have been fooled enough to know that the world's promises are full of emptiness.
But, God is different. Instead of promises full of emptiness, he gave us emptiness that is full of promise.
This morning, I would like us to think about the promises of Easter. There are three of them. Each promise is
marked by something empty: An empty cross, and empty tomb and empty burial clothes. And it is the very fact that
each of these is empty that assures us that God's promises are real. In fact, because Jesus couldn't be
contained by the cross, the tomb, or even his burial clothes, we can be sure of the fullness of God's
promises in our lives.
But before we look at the story, let's hear it read for us. (Please Read Luke 24:1-12)
Let's begin with the empty cross. Because the cross was empty, we have the promise of forgiven sins.
Let's go back, if we can, to that 1st Easter Morning. It is early morning - dawn - but the sun has not
risen. A few of Jesus followers - women - are on their way to a tomb. It is the tomb where Jesus was buried.
They have been walking now for about 1/2 hour. The conversation is subdued. The task before them is a sad one.
They are going to anoint the body of Jesus. As they come to the top of a rise in the path, they all stop.
Motionless and quiet, they stare off in the distance.
As you look with them, look off to the right, just outside the city stands a gruesome reminder of the events
of just a few days ago. Do you see it? Over there, silhouetted by the glow of the pink sky, on top of the Hill
the locals call, "The Skull." 3 Crosses.
Yesterday was the Sabbath, so nobody had yet removed them. So, there they stand, as an empty reminder of the horror
of Friday. The one in the middle, that is the one that I want you to see. That's the one that Jesus hung on.
Take a close look at it. Look up at the top. Those bloodstains are from the "Crown
of thorns" that was crushed into Jesus' skull.
The stains on the ends of the crossbar - they came from the nails that were driven into his hands.
The main beam - it was soaked in blood - blood from his back. Blood that was bled when the Roman soldiers beat
him with a cat-of-nine-tails.
It also has stains from the blood that poured from his side when another Roman soldier ran a spear through his
side to see if he was dead - HE WAS.
Don't ever believe anyone who tells you he was just faking it. There was no question - Jesus was dead. The
soldiers knew it. The Romans knew it. The Jews knew it. And together, they made up a lie - the disciples stole the body.
Can you imagine 11 fishermen overpowering a company of Roman soldiers, moving a 2 ton stone and stealing the
body of Jesus - just so they could claim he had come back to life - and then willingly die to protect that lie.
You see, Jesus really did die - that is why I want you to see the cross this morning. It is the place where he
died - but today, it is empty. Empty of Jesus body, but full - full of God's promises. Full of hope - for you and me.
The promise of the empty cross is that you and I stand forgiven. Because it was on that cross that Jesus
paid the penalty for our sins. The first "empty promise" of Easter
is the empty cross - filled with the promise of forgiven sins.
Let's get back to our ladies. After pausing briefly to view the cross, they continue on their way down
the path to the tomb. As they go, one of them wonders aloud - "who will move
the stone for us?"
They have good reason to be concerned - the stone that was placed in front of the tomb was a large boulder
- probably weighing upwards of two ton. Not only that, the Romans had sealed it, so no one was allowed to
move it without their permission. However, the ladies continue.
Suddenly, they feel the earth move! Frightened, they look at each other, not certain what to do. After a few
minutes, things seem normal so they continue on their way.
As they approach the burial site, they are still wondering about what had happened when they come upon
something even more remarkable. The soldiers are all unconscious. The stone has been moved. An angel -
glowing like lightening - is sitting on it.
Listen to his words - "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking
for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here; He has risen!"
Jesus had risen - He was alive - the tomb was empty. And what a tremendous promise that holds.
For, in the fact of the empty tomb is the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise to
every one of us that we too will be raised to eternal life.
Let me tell you about Philip� Philip never felt like he belonged. He was pleasant enough but he looked a
bit different and sometimes seemed unusual to his eight-year-old classmates.
In his Sunday school class several weeks before Easter, Phillip's teacher introduced a special
project. He gave every member a plastic "egg"--the kind pantyhose used to come in. He
explained that each child was to go outside, find a symbol for new life and put it into the egg.
Enthusiastically, the class responded.
Back in the classroom the eggs were opened one at a time with each child explaining the meaning of his symbol.
In the first egg was a pretty flower; in the next a beautiful butterfly, while green grass was in
a third. The children "oohed" and
"aahed". In another was a rock, which prompted loud
laughter. Finally the last egg was opened - there was nothing.
"That's stupid," said one child. Another grumbled,
"Someone didn't do it right!"
The teacher felt a tug on his shirt. It was Phillip, who said,
"That's mine, and I did do right! It's empty because the tomb was empty."
There was an unusual silence & strangely, from that time on, Phillip was accepted as part of the group.
Phillip continued to struggle with many physical problems. That summer he picked up an infection which most children
would easily have shaken off. But Philip's weak body couldn't and a few weeks later, he died.
At his funeral nine eight year-olds with their teacher brought their symbol of remembrance and
placed it near his coffin. Their unusual gift of love to Phillip wasn't flowers. It was an
empty egg - now a symbol to them of new life and hope.
It was Phillip, the "different" child, who had helped his friends see the wonderful hope
in the message of Easter.
Why was the tomb empty? Because Jesus was alive - The Angel said; "He is risen."
The second promise of Easter is that we too can live even if we die.
But, it doesn't end there. There is one more promise that I want you to know about Easter.
Back to our story... After the Angel had spoken to the women, they immediately went back to the
Apostles and reported what had happened.
With this incredible news, Peter and John immediately raced back to the tomb to see for themselves.
When they got there, John stopped just outside the tomb, but Peter ran right in.
It didn't take them long to discover that the tomb was just the way the women had said it was - empty.
But, that's not all. Inside, Peter found the clothes that Jesus had been buried in. They too were empty.
This could only mean one thing - Jesus was alive!
If someone had stolen his body, they wouldn't have removed the burial clothes and folded them up neatly
& left them where they lay. Truly, Jesus was resurrected!
And it wouldn't be long, before Jesus, himself would appear to Mary Magdalene, and to all of the
Apostles, and eventually to over 500 people. He would sit down with them, walk with them, talk with
them & eat with them. Once again, they would be able to fellowship with their Lord.
You see, that is the promise of the empty burial clothes - Jesus is alive,
and wants to fellowship with you.
Jesus isn't some nebulous "force" out in the universe influencing people. He is a
living Savior, and he desires to have a personal relationship with each one of us, just as he
did with his disciples 2000 years ago.
Think about that - the cross couldn't hold him, the tomb couldn't contain him, the burial
clothes weren't necessary because Jesus is alive! He has skin and bones and a face and was
recognizable. And he talked, and touched and loved and healed. He did it the day of his resurrection,
and he does it still today. And - most importantly - he wants to do it with you.
I want to ask you a very important question this morning. Do you know Jesus Christ? I don't
mean do you know about him? Do you truly know Jesus Christ?
You see, we can know about someone, and not truly know them. Steve Jobs, Donald Trump, George
W. Bush, Michael Jordan, Eli Manning... These are people that we know something about,
but do any of us really know them?
But in contrast to that you can know Jesus Christ. You can know his love, his care, his
healing & his forgiveness. He says; "Behold, I stand
at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him
and will dine with him, and he with Me."
It has been over 2000 years since Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected and that 1st Easter
Sunday, as the women went to the grave, they had no idea what was about to happen to them. They
were not yet aware of the wonderful promises of that day.
Off in the distance stood an empty cross & the promise that their sins were forgiven. At the
end of their journey was an empty tomb & the promise of their eternal life. Inside the tomb
were empty burial clothes & the promise that they would once again have a close personal
relationship with Jesus Christ - their living Savior.
The promises that they discovered that day, you too can have today...
- You too can know the freedom of forgiven sins.
- You too can know the promise of eternal life in heaven.
- You too can know Jesus Christ as your Savior & Lord.
I believe it was John Maxwell who tells a story about a blazer that he bought from Nordstrom's.
It was one of those cases you may have gone through where you buy an item of clothing and the more you
wear it, the more you realize you don't like it. My blazer wasn't the right color, and to make
matters worse, it attracted lint like it was going out of style. After wearing it pretty regularly for
six months or so, I stuck it in my closet and didn't wear it for a long time.
But tucked away in the back of his mind all the while was that famous Nordstrom unconditional-return
policy. He thought, I've had this thing for a year and a half. I've worn it lots of times &
there's just no way they're going to take it back.
About two weeks ago I decided I had nothing to lose. I pulled the blazer out & took it down to
Nordstrom's men's department. He said, "I walked in &
immediately I felt nervous. I felt like I was about to pull a scam of some sort, but I played it
straight. I walked right up to the first salesman I saw and gave this little prepared speech"
He said, "I am about to put your famous unconditional return policy
to its ultimate test. I have here a blazer. I've worn it a lot. I've had it for over a year.
I don't like it. It's the wrong color & it attracts lint like it's going out of style.
So I want to return this blazer for another blazer, one that I like."
This guy with a big handlebar mustache just looked at me and shook his head. He said,
"For heaven's sake, what took you so long? Let's
go find you a blazer."
Ten minutes later He walked out with another blazer that was marked seventy-five dollars more than
he had paid for the one that he brought in. He said, "It was perfect &
it didn't cost me a penny!"
In a small way, the Nordstrom Department Store is a lot like God. Both are willing to back up their promises.
I think at Easter, more than any other time of the year, we realize that God has made all sorts of outlandish
promises. So outlandish, that some of us cannot bring ourselves to believe. Or, can we?
This morning, we have heard about three promises that God has made to us...
- The promise of forgiven sins.
- The promise of eternal life.
- The promise of a personal relationship with Jesus.
My question to you this morning is this; will you take him at his word?
If so, listen to this final promise - it is found in Romans 10:13 -
"for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
This morning, if you have never accepted God's promises for your life, He is probably wondering,
"For heaven's sake, what is taking you so long?"
Don't wait another day, do it today & know the joy of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
And for us that know the meaning of the empty cross, the empty tomb & the empty burial clothes,
let's do our part in spreading the Good News to those that still need to hear it.
For reminds us of
the promise of forgiven sins. And reminds us of the promise of eternal life. And
reminds us of the
promise of a personal relationship with Jesus.
What better story can we share with a world that is full of broken promises, but one that is filled
with empty symbols of promises that are still kept and it is the very fact that each of these is
empty that assures us that God's promises are real.
In fact, because Jesus couldn't be contained by the cross, the tomb, or even his burial clothes,
we can be sure of the fullness of God's promises in our lives!
That my friends, is the Easter Story that still needs to be told! The story of 3 empty symbols that
remind us of 3 promises of God!