“Emptiness of Easter”   1 Corinthians 15: 3-11

Happy Easter!  He is risen - He is risen indeed!

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?…were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?…were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?…were you there when He rose up from the grave?!” (American Folk Hymn)

Where you there?

Simon was - passing by - things to do - too busy to get involved.  But was stopped and ordered to carry Jesus’ cross - Jesus changed his life forever!

Mary Magdalene was -  life full of sin - beyond human help.  Jesus healed her

 and changed her life forever!

Peter was - denied Jesus in action and words, but Jesus restored him and changed his life forever!

John was - from apostle to the caregiver of Jesus’ mother - eventually alone on an island, but Jesus changed his life forever!

Centurion was there - just doing his job - a rough and tough soldier of Rome -

Jesus changed his life forever!

You and I were not there but our sins and the sins of the whole world were there, past, present and future.  Jesus died because of the sins of mankind - “all have sinned” the Bible says, that is why we need a savior.  “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Paul said “for I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15)

Yes, we can celebrate the “Emptiness of Easter” because…

The cross is empty - the penalty for sin has been paid in full - it is finished! 

The grave is empty - Jesus experienced and conquered death for you and for me!

The grave clothes are empty - Jesus’ resurrected body left those old grave clothes behind so that we too might walk in newness of life!  Now, and the one to come!

Pastor Rodney