Luke 24:6 — “He is not here, but has risen.” (ESV)

After enduring betrayal, a rigged trial, brutal beatings, and the agonizing walk to Calvary—Jesus was crucified and laid in a tomb. The skies had darkened. The veil had torn. And now, by Roman command, the tomb was sealed and guarded.

You know, the Romans went to great lengths to guard and seal a dead man.

If He was truly just a dead man, why post more than one soldier? That’s because, I believe, they knew—deep down—this was no ordinary man.

Isn’t it ironic? They treated Jesus in death like a king. They guarded Him in death the way He should have been honored and guarded in life.

But this King needed no earthly protection. This King of Kings and Lord of Lords could turn someone to a pillar of salt. Yet they treated Him like a common prisoner—worried not that He would be harmed, but that someone would steal His body and turn Him into a legend.

What they failed to understand… was who He truly was.

Only a Savior sacrifices Himself for all of humanity—past, present, and future.

Luke 24:1–12 (ESV) (24:1) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. (24:2) And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (24:3) but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (24:4) While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (24:5) And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? (24:6) He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, (24:7) that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (24:8) And they remembered his words, (24:9) and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. (24:10) Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, (24:11) but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. (24:12) But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

When the tomb was found empty on that third day… What do you think those Roman guards felt as they fled in fear and trembling? What must they have thought after witnessing the angel roll back the stone and light up the sky like lightning?

And what about the women—arriving in silence and sorrow, only to find the tomb already opened and unguarded? What must they have whispered to one another as they stepped inside?

I can’t wait to find out—as Paul Harvey used to say—“the rest of the story.” And one day, at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we may know.

If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you are alive today—for all eternity, indefinitely—because of what He did on that cross atop Calvary. And if you haven’t yet accepted Him—you can.

The tomb was opened, and the stone was rolled away.

And today, we celebrate the most glorious truth in history: The tomb is empty.

Happy Easter. Jesus—the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the Christ of us all—is alive and well.

And He’s waiting for you.

You do not want to be at the second judgment—the Great White Throne Judgment.

#Easter #HeIsRisen #EmptyTomb