SUNDAY SERMONS

 

What Happened in the Tomb?

Little Philip, born with Down Syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in Leadership Magazine. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully. The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought L'eggs pantyhose containers, the kind that looks like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely Spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one, in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table. Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh. Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, "That's stupid. That's not fair. Somebody didn't do their assignment." Philip spoke up, "That's mine." "Philip, you don't ever do things right!" the student retorted. "There's nothing there!" "I did so do it," Philip insisted. "I did do it. It's empty. The tomb was empty!" Silence followed. From then on Philip became a full member of the class. He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday School teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.

 

Matthew 27:50-66 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52  and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53  They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.54  When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" 55  Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56  Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons. 57  As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58  Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59  Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,60  and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.62  The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.63  "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'64  So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first." 65  "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."66  So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

 

Sealed in a tomb… stone cold dead … grave yard dead. No movement … no breathing … not even the flutter of an eyelash. Nothing … one moment nothing and the next moment Jesus is ALIVE!

 

I have been speculating about that moment … what was it like?

 

 

It was saturated with the absence of Jesus … it must have begun with a gentle swirling whisp of air as it breathed life back into Him. And as His chest began to rise, sparks began to flicker, bathing the tomb in glorious light. And then He lifted Himself up in total perfectness and smiled. The excruciating pain of His torturous death was gone...His most difficult task finished.

 

Scripture does not specifically describe that moment but perhaps we can get some insight from Scripture!

 

I.                 Was there sound?

If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?

In my mind, I see the lifeless body of Jesus placed on the stone slab inside the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.  It is pitch dark with no light, no air moving, no sound … until … there is a loud gasp of air being drawn in. Much like when you swim to the bottom of a pool to touch the bottom. Part way down you realize you may not have enough air in your lungs. Touching and turning to rise you swim faster. The last few feet are agony until you breech the surface. You suck in as much air as you possibly can.

a.  The moment Jesus came back to life …

b.  Scripture does tell us that when Jesus returns in His second coming, that it will be with considerable sound!

1Corinthians_15:52  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

c.   We could camp right here for quite a while. …

d.  There is probably an identifiable sound that God makes …

e.  Have you ever heard God? What did He sound like?

Genesis_3:8  Then the man and his wife (Adam and Eve)  heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

f.    Perhaps He even spoke …

Deuteronomy 4:12  Then the LORD spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice.

It really makes no difference if there was sound or not. What truly matters is the fact that one day we will be able to ask God in person. Because we have a relationship with Jesus because of what He did when He died on the cross we will be with Him in eternity.

 

II.              Was there light?

a.  Where God is … there is light!

Psalms_89:15  Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

 

b.  Perhaps Isaiah gives us a word picture of what happened that day in the tomb …

Isaiah_58:8  Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

c.   Remembered when Jesus was transfigured

Matthew 17:1-3  After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2  There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3  Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

d.  I could see the reanimation of Jesus as beginning with the flicker of light seen on the mountain.

e.  Darkness only fills the places that do not have light in them.

f.    Darkness never overtakes light … light must recede for there to be darkness.

John_1:5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

g.  Jesus is the light! I would expect light to be part of His reformation.

John_8:12  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

h.  Theologians believe that when Scripture refers to “The Angel of the Lord” that in most cases they are talking about God himself.

Acts_12:7  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. "Quick, get up!" he said, and the chains fell off Peter's wrists.

 

A boatman and a scholar were once travelling on a boat. During the journey, the scholar asked the boatman, "Do you know philosophy?" "No," he replied. "Do you know psychology?". "No." "What about geology?" "Nope!" "I suppose you don’t know accountancy, huh?" "No, not at all." "Hm... life must be pretty boring for you then." Just then a storm erupted, and the waves were beating furiously against the boat. The scholar was afraid. The boatman asked, "Do you know how to swim?" "No!" he replied. "That’s too bad," the boatman said. "But do you know God?" "No, I don’t!" said the scholar. Boatman: "Then that’s even worse. You’ll have no hope after death!"

The boatman brought out a lamp, lifted it up and asked, "Do you believe this can save you? Do you believe that this light can save you?" The man began to wave the lamp, sending a signal in the darkness to the surrounding boats for help. Eventually, they were saved - the light saved them. Jesus says, "I am the Light of the world." No ‘…logy’ (no human wisdom and knowledge) can save you. Only Jesus can.

Jesus is the Light of the World!

 

III.          Was there wind?

Joh_3:8  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Act_2:2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

 

The sound and wind symbolize the awesome power the Holy Spirit possesses! The Holy Spirit fills every believer with the same force and strength that was evidenced that day at Pentecost.
A preacher wrote … I have seen the power of the wind. I remember as a teenager in Okinawa, about once every couple of years we would experience a typhoon on that little Pacific island. A typhoon is essentially a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean. I can vividly remember seeing firsthand the awesome, destructive power of the wind in a typhoon. It's hard to describe the force of the wind during such a storm. In a typhoon, the wind keeps increasing in intensity and strength. Just when you think it couldn't blow any harder, that the windows couldn't rattle any louder, that the house couldn't shake any more violently--then the wind unleashes its greatest fury! Our concrete house in Okinawa would literally tremble and quake at the mighty wind around us. I recall going outside with a friend during one typhoon when it seemed at its greatest force. I could see huge boards, tree limbs, and various other debris, both large and small, blowing about everywhere. It was really incredible. And the SOUND! During a typhoon, the sound of the wind swirling and crashing outside is deafening! Our text notes that there was a "sound from heaven" that accompanied the wind. As I was reminded of the experiences of my childhood, I was able to see the reason for the symbolism of the sound and the wind. God's power is often symbolized in Scripture with mighty, awesome SOUNDS and with WIND. For instance,  Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to the wind -- He said,

John 3:8 "The wind bloweth where it listeth (that is, "where it wills"), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but cant not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."
The sound and wind speak of the Holy Spirit's spiritual power and force.

 

 

IV.         Was there flame?

Isa_10:17  The Light of Israel will become a fire, their Holy One a flame; in a single day it will burn and consume his thorns and his briers.

…….

Psa_27:1  Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?

Psa_56:13  For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

 

Mark 8:34 “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” 

A little boy was playing in the yard. He fell and scraped his elbow. It was bleeding a little. It was hurting enough he went in crying to his mother. She took him to the sink, with water she washed away the dirt from his arm. She took a band aide and carefully put on his elbow. She kissed the little boys elbow. Then she sat in a chair and held him in her lap till he fell asleep. She sat there in the chair not moving. It took at least ten minutes before he fell asleep.
What made the little boy feel better?
Was it the cool water she uses to clean the elbow?
Was it the band aide she carefully put on the elbow?
Was there some magic salvia from her kiss that made the elbow stop hurting and the pain to go away?
No it was none of these.


It was the mothers OWN hurting elbow that made the little boys elbow stop hurting.
Have you ever sat still holding someone until they fell asleep? Then you know what I am talking about. You sit there.
Trying not to move in fear you will wake them up. Before long your arm starts to fall asleep about the time they start to fall asleep. You know if you move they are going to wake up.
So, you endure the pain in order to take away their pain.  That sounds like a cross to me.