Refuge Church Of San Antonio

The Tomb Is [Still] Empty – Mark 16:1-8

“Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.” John 11:39 NLT

Here is a TRUTH: Our daily lives will be determined based upon what we believe about the resurrection of Jesus.

QUESTION: Is the resurrection of Jesus…false, fiction, or fact?

The Resurrection
16 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” 8 The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. Mark 16:1-8 NLT

[The most ancient manuscripts of Mark end with verse 16:8. Later manuscripts add one or both of the following endings.] [Shorter Ending of Mark]

Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions.
Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen.


Explanations for the Resurrection

Many of those who over time have opposed Christianity…have concocted numerous theories that sound more ridiculous than a fact that a powerful God being able to raise someone from the dead.

What these desperate attempts reveal is…their acceptance that Jesus’ body HAS NEVER been located since that Easter morning.

If Jesus REALLY DID…RISE from the dead, then we have to acknowledge that He was who He said He was and did what He said He would do. That He is the Lord Jesus Christ!

We live in a culture today that denies the truth in their life everyday…this is why people struggle with addictions…have a hard time looking in the mirror and dealing with their own personal issues…their hurt, habits and hangups.

To grow and change…you have to admit that you can’t do it all and you can’t do it without Jesus in your daily life.

The resurrection was an event that had witnesses…lots of them…to the process of Jesus death, burial and resurrection.


Evidences of the Resurrection

If someone were creating a false resurrection narrative, no one would have ever scripted the details this way.

No one can deny that something significant happened on that morning that changed the course of history.

The fact that we are still talking about it two centuries later on the other side of the world proves that something made skeptics transform into bold witnesses.

The Bible tells us that Jesus appearing to people multiple times after his death, He appeared at least 10 different times to His disciples and others over a 40-day period after His death and before He ascended into Heaven.

- To Women at the Tomb: Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome who went to the tomb to anoint His body.
- To Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus: He joined two disciples walking to Emmaus, who at first didn’t recognize him.
- To the Eleven Disciples (minus Thomas): Jesus appeared to the remaining apostles, excluding Thomas, in an upper room.
- To the Eleven Disciples (including Thomas): A week later, he appeared to all eleven apostles, including Thomas, who had doubted his resurrection.
- To Peter: Jesus appeared to Peter individually.
- To the Apostles on a Mountain in Galilee: Jesus appeared to the eleven apostles on a mountain in by the Sea Of Galilee.
- To Seven Disciples on the Sea of Galilee: Jesus appeared to seven disciples while they were fishing, and he ate with them.
- To More Than 500 People: Paul mentions Jesus appearing to over 500 people at once.
- To James: Jesus appeared to his half-brother James.
- To the Apostles: Jesus appeared to all the apostles…those who He had appointed to serve with and for Him.
- To Paul: Paul says he also saw Jesus personally after his resurrection

After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 NLT

Just the archeological evidence is overwhelming…The physical evidence of His time on Earth, the places He was at, how the Bible mentions Him and these places and that you can investigate and find that places still today. Many of them I personally have been to on my two trips to Isreal.


Effects of the Resurrection

Look at the effects…how Jesus life, death and resurrection has changed many of the individuals in this room. Much less in scripture that we read about.

Jesus’ resurrection should cause us to run from the things He warns us about…and be different to those around us…so that they too will be affected and impacted by His life…forever!

If the tomb is still empty, and you believe the facts in Jesus case…then it should motivate you to live and be different for Him…so that you live a life of freedom and share with others how His resurrection, death and life has changed yours.

If you’ve not been affected by Jesus…you need to experience a relationship with Him. To get infected with the love He has for you…and reason in the first place that he dies on the cross…shed His blood…and rose from the grave…Why? Because He is the God of the universe, and He loves you.