The adjective “empty” evokes certain emotions, depending on the noun it’s describing. Some examples are an empty bank account (fear), an empty stomach (hunger), and an empty nest (grief).
Jesus’ disciples felt fear, hunger, and grief as they witnessed His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and burial. Fear because it seemed they were left alone. Hunger to fellowship with Him again, but He was dead. And grief over the apparent futility of His life and ministry. After all His miracles, He ultimately died like everyone else. Their incomparable teacher and friend had been killed and His body placed in a tomb, like countless others before Him.
In Luke’s account of the empty tomb, several women rose early in the morning to anoint Jesus’ corpse with spices, their final act of love and care for Him (Luke 24:5). However, instead of a dead body lying on a slab of stone, they encountered two angels who greeted them and declared that Jesus was alive.
Shock, joy, and amazement followed this declaration, but when the women ran back to town to tell Jesus’ disciples the good news, they didn’t believe them. On several occasions, Jesus Himself had taught His followers that He would be killed and rise from the dead. Obviously, they hadn’t believed Him either.
We can easily criticize the disciples. Why didn’t they believe the good news that Jesus was alive? Didn’t they want to believe it? I’m sure they did. But they had witnessed the horrifying crucifixion where soldiers had pierced Jesus’ hands and feet with nails. They had seen his bloody face, swollen and bruised from wearing the crown of thorns. And the inscription above his head seemed a mockery: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Some had witnessed His final breath before He gave up His spirit. What they had seen with their eyes made a greater impact on them than Jesus’ words of hope and ultimate triumph.
What trial are you facing now? Does it seem weightier than Jesus’ promises found in the Bible? Make it a habit to read the Bible and believe what it says. Consider the empty tomb where Jesus conquered death and now offers us new life. Your perspective on what you see before you may change.
Grace Assante has enjoyed various writing projects over the years, and after attending the 2022 Asheville Christian Writers Conference, she was inspired to learn the craft of writing well and not to give up on her dreams of publication. She and her husband live in Brooklyn, New York, and are blessed with three grown children, two wonderful daughters-in-law, and three adorable grandkids. She enjoys traveling, reading, taking long walks with her husband, and meeting friends for coffee.