Text: “...Be not affrighted; ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was Crucified, He is risen, He is not here, behold the place where they laid Him.”
Mark 16:6.
Good morning, thinking Christian! For you the Scriptures live, because you take time to pray before studying God’s Word, and then take more time to think the message through. When once one discovers this method of Bible study, nothing remains hidden from one’s eyes; Scripture interprets Scripture; and one’s times of Bible study become times of sheer delight. Hallelujah!
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4)
We hear much today from Evangelical Christians, myself included, concerning ‘The Empty Tomb’ of the Risen Christ. Yet, when one studies the gospel accounts, one discovers that Christ’s tomb was far from EMPTY!
Oh yes, praise God, the tomb was devoid of Christ’s Risen Body - the Resurrection is a very real miraculous event - and at the very centre of the Christian faith. But, physically speaking, the tomb was far from empty. It contained the following important Spiritual truths which, when examined in the light of Gospel discernment, only reinforces the whole concept of Christ’s Resurrection and thrills the born again, thinking Christian’s heart.
A Young Man: (V.5a) Angels throughout God’s Word are consistently reported as appearing in the form of men. (Genesis 18:2)
“Be not forgetful to entertain (receive) strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:2)
This ‘young man’ seated in the not-so-empty-tomb, is obviously an angel with a message from God concerning the fact of Christ’s Resurrection. He appears as ‘a young man’ to fulfil a Spiritual purpose. The angels of Heaven grow not old, neither do they decay, but are everlastingly young and stand continually in God’s Holy Presence. We who have, in this life, received the Lord Jesus into our hearts shall also experience the bliss of Eternal youth one sweet and longed for day. (Revelation 21:1-5)
On the Right Side: (V.5b) Of course, the angel was ‘on the right side’! He was on God’s side; the side of the Righteous - one could, perhaps, say he was, literally, ‘on the side of the angels’. (Matthew 25:31-46)
A Long White Garment: (V.5c) As his garment is, so is he. The Created angel’s existence is for evermore; therefore, his garment is an Eternal garment of absolute angelic purity.
Those who are redeemed of God through the precious Blood of Christ Jesus, are clothed in the Spiritual Robe of His Righteousness as alluded to by the prophet Isaiah. “…for He hath clothed me with the garments of Salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness (Christ’s Blood), as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10) The true, Spiritually regenerated church, IS the Bride of Christ Jesus. We are ‘born again’ of Him and shall live, forever.
The Psalmist affirms this fact of our faith when he says,” Blessed (literally, ‘blessed with multiple blessings’) is he/she whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)
‘Covered’ in what we may ask? Why, covered in the precious Robe of Christ’s Blood, our blessed and Eternal Wedding Garment. (Genesis 3:21)
Thinking Christians, study God’s Word – Old Testament and New – with the Spiritual discernment we have been blessed of God, and see that, even in the place of death, at a graveside funeral, or amongst the sadly bereaved – we can find Spiritual reason for the hope that is in us, in Christ Jesus, and share that hope with a world so lost in sin.
J.C. Ryle Comments:
“Let us notice, lastly, in this passage, what honour our Lord Jesus Christ has placed on the grave, by allowing Himself to be laid in it. We read that he was “laid in a sepulchre hewn out of a rock,” and a “stone rolled unto the door.”
“This is a fact that in a dying world we should always remember. It is appointed unto men once to die. We are all going to one place, and we naturally shrink from it. The coffin and the funeral, the worm and corruption, are all painful subjects. They chill us, sadden us, and fill our minds with heaviness. It is not in flesh and blood to regard them without solemn feelings. One thing, however, ought to comfort believers, and that is the thought, that the grave is “the place where the Lord once lay.” As surely as He rose again victorious from the tomb, so surely shall all who believe in Him rise gloriously in the day of His appearing. Remembering this, they may look down with calmness into the “house appointed for all living.” They may recollect that Jesus Himself was once there on their behalf, and has robbed death of his sting. They may say to themselves, “the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law: but thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)
“The great matter that concerns us all, is to make sure that we are spiritually buried with Christ, while we are yet alive. We must be joined to Him by faith, and conformed to His image. With Him we must die to sin, and be buried by baptism into His death. (Romans 6:6) With Him we must rise again, and be quickened by His Spirit. Except we know these things, Christ’s death and burial will profit us nothing at all.” (J.C. Ryle’s Exposition of Mark’s Gospel)
Thought: Receive, therefore, the blessings of God proceeding in gracious plentifulness from a not-so-empty-tomb. Amen! Thanks be to God for all His wondrous works!