Epworth Student Ministries

3077 Valleyview Drive     Toledo Ohio 43615       419.531.4236

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The Tomb was empty...........................

Just what is the big deal about an empty tomb? Sometimes it sounds more like Hollywood fantasy than historical reality. Yet the claim of an empty tomb established the basis for the start of Christianity in the first century, and it has profoundly impacted society since. But what that claim fact or fantasy?  The answer to that question - and your response to it - could determine where you will spend eternity. If you're interested ... read on.

Believe it or not, Easter didn't start out with bunnies and baskets and eggs. Although these traditions add to the holiday's festivity, it all actually began on a much more somber note - an empty tomb.  After several years of public teaching and instruction in the old Roman Empire, Jesus' enemies physically tortured and then killed him by crucifixion on a cross. Yet three days later, multitudes claimed to see him "posthumously".  Think of it!  Just a few days after the world saw Jesus killed, he appeared, in perfect health, to hundreds of people. This was no Elvis sighting! On the contrary, for half of a summer, Jesus ate with people. He showed them His scars. He taught His final lessons about sacrifice and courage. So you see, Easter is the time we celebrate the new life we can have because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

If Jesus rose from the dead, then everything Jesus said is true. He once said that God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son (Jesus), that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.  When Jesus walked on the earth, he sincerely said, "he who hears my word and believes on Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life."

You see, our imperfections prohibit us from having a relationship with a perfect God. From God's perspective, all humanity commits murder (anger), adultery (lust), and idolatry against God. The empty tomb means that Jesus overcame physical death to proved that He alone could completely pay for our imperfections and restore our relationship with God.

So what does the empty tomb mean to you personally?  It means that you can have a relationship with God by putting your trust in Jesus' payment for your sins.  How do you do that?  Remember, He is alive today - talk to him in prayer - tell Him that you are sorry for the sins of your life and ask Him to forgive you and tell Jesus that you want to choose to live for what is right - for Him - the rest of your life!   Jesus loves you so much that He paid your debt....... a debt we can never repay on our own doings, but only with Jesus...................