Man is neither pleased nor happy when he finds certain things empty. He is not happy when he finds the gas tank on his vehicle empty. He is not happy when he finds his bank account empty. He is not happy to find the cabinet or refrigerator without food. While man is not pleased or happy with these events, man can be pleased and happy that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was found empty. Jesus came, died, was buried and rose again. What can we learn from this empty tomb?
The empty tomb teaches us that man is going to live again. Job asked the questions recorded in Job 14:14, “If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time, will I wait until my change comes?” Man has always asked the question about life after death. Some believe that man does not live after death (Sadducees). There is a saying that expresses this idea: “Dead like Rover, dead all over.” However, regarding humans, this is a false idea.
There is life after death for man. The Bible teaches this in John 5:28-29, where it reads, “Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
The empty tomb teaches us that man has a Living Savior—not a dead one! Some people are serving dead saviors (Buddha, Mohammed). These men are dead. However, Christ Jesus, who arose from the tomb, is alive forevermore. Jesus recorded in Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death.” Man should be happy and pleased to know that a living Savior can be beneficial to him. A living Savior can help man (Hebrews 2:18). A living Savior is able to save man (Hebrews 7:25). Not only is He alive, but He is actively working for us.
The empty tomb teaches us that man will face judgment. The Bible teaches us that there will be a judgment. Moreover, God has given man assurance that the judgment will come because He raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
So, then, there are at least three lessons that we can learn from a tomb that once held Jesus. The empty tomb lets man know that just as Jesus rose from the grave, man also shall be resurrected. Since He is no longer in the grave, He is a Living Savior who will return and judge mankind in the last great day.
