An Empty Tomb
Death—no person has been wise, powerful, wealthy or influential enough to escape it. Why should we think Jesus of Nazareth would be any different?
Cause His tomb was empty Sunday morning.
I hear you—there has to be an explanation. Sure, there have been plenty through the centuries.
—“Jesus’ followers stole His body.”
Except soldiers were guarding His tomb round the clock—especially to keep His followers from stealing His body and telling everyone He rose from the dead.
Also, the cloths that had been wrapped around Jesus’ body were left behind in the tomb. Why take the time and danger to unwrap the body with guards outside?
Besides, back when Jesus was arrested His followers turned tail and ran. Sunday they were still hiding behind locked doors.
—“Jesus died, His Twin took His place”
Same problem, this twin would have to sneak past the guards to drag Jesus’ body out of the tomb.
—“The Jewish leaders took the body to keep the tomb from becoming a shrine.”
Then why didn’t they produce Jesus’ body to prove He was still dead?
—“Jesus didn’t really die on the cross; He fell into a coma and revived in the tomb.”
The flogging Jesus’ received from the Romans would have made it impossible for Him to roll the massive stone from the tomb--especially from the inside.
Before Jesus was taken down from the cross, one of the Roman soldiers thrust a spear deep into Jesus’ side and pierced His heart. No reviving after that.
—“The gardener did it.”
Getting desperate?
Sure, the tomb was in a garden (John 19:41-42), and the gardener might have been mad that Jesus’ followers trampled his lettuce visiting the tomb. But they kept coming and trampling when the tomb was empty. Why not just tell the followers where he moved the body?
The most logical explanation is that Jesus rose. The Bible says, “He presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). He walked with them (Luke 24:13-27), urged them to feel His body to know He wasn’t a ghost (Luke 24:39), invited them to touch the wounds in His hands and side (John 20:26-27), and ate in front of them (Luke 24:41-42).
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