Standing Before An Empty Tomb

                                                        When The Door Slams

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying., As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in  white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"                                           John 20: 11-13 

        Mary Magdalene could vividly remember the day Jesus delivered her from her demonic bondage. She became His devoted follower that day (Luke 8:2). She watched Him heal the sick and teach people about God's love. Her life was transformed as she experienced the joy of being with Jesus. 

        Then her world seemed to fall apart! Her Lord was arrested and brutally murdered. The crowds that had shouted, "Hosanna!" at the beginning of the week cried, "Crucify Him!" by week's end. A final blow came when she went to anoint Jesus' body at the tomb. She saw that His tomb was empty. Someone had apparently stolen His body. As she sobbed in despair, angels asked the penetrating question, "Why are you crying?" She was standing before an empty tomb! Jesus had risen, just as He had promised! Knowing that Jesus was alive put everything back into perspective, and Mary joyfully raced to share the good news with others. 

        Think about this: The Christian life is not always easy. There are joyful moments of walking with Jesus, but there are also times when nothing makes sense and when your world seems to be crumbling. The world will mock our Lord, and we may grow discouraged. At those times, you need to peer into the empty tomb. It is the abandoned tomb that give you hope, for it symbolizes the life that is yours from your risen Lord. The empty tomb promises that nothing, not even death itself, can defeat the purposes of your Lord. Are you crying beside an empty tomb?

Christ has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for man to die once and after that to face judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly wait for Him. (Hebrews 9: 26-28)

Christ was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last times for our sake. Through Him I believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, so that my faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:20-21)  

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.  

                                                                        Never Rest Ministries