Mrk. 16:6 ... "You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid Him."
After Jesus had died on the cross on Friday afternoon, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took His body down, wrapped it in linen cloth with spices, and then laid Him in a tomb which they sealed with a great stone. While they did this, certain of the women, who had followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to Him, watched. They evidently felt that He had not been fully prepared for final burial. So as soon as the Sabbath had passed, they returned very early on Sunday to apply more spices. They came to the garden tomb seeking the body of Jesus.
There have been unknown billions of people who have lived on earth, died, and had their bodies laid to rest in the earth. Sometimes a person is interested in finding such a one, or I should say, finding the grave where their physical remains lie. If the person has not been dead too long, if his grave site is known, and if his grave is marked, then the person's body might be found. If these requisites are impossible, then the person cannot be found. But that does not mean the person's remains do not exist anywhere on earth. All people who have died have returned to the elements of the earth from which their bodies came. All people, that is, except One! Of the billions who have died there is One whose "flesh did not see corruption," (Acts 2:31).
When the women faithful to Jesus returned to His tomb that Sunday morning,they did not find a cold, stiff body subject to the third day of decay. Instead, they found an angel in the appearance of a young man clothed in white sitting beside the tomb. The stone that had sealed it was rolled back, and the tomb was empty. The linen shroud that had wrapped Jesus was lying by itself. The napkin that had covered His head was carefully folded and laid aside. As fear and astonishment gripped the women, the angel announced to them that their Lord had risen from the dead. For once the grave had been unable to hold its victim. The body of a slain Jesus is not to be found in a grave. He triumphed over death!
The importance and meaning that Jesus' resurrection has for Christians is unfathomable. It is, in fact, the centerpoint of the Christian faith! Paul states emphatically that "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins," (I Cor. 15:17). Had Jesus not come forth from the grave, Christian faith would be worthless, and everyone would still be in slavery to his sins. Satan would have won the victory at Calvary, and mankind would belong to him. We gladly read, however, "But, in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ... For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive," (I Cor. 15:20,22).
When Jesus came forth from the tomb, He won a victory over death not only for Himself, but also for all who believe and obey Him. To have faith in Christ and to live in obedience to His teachings is to be "in Christ." And Paul said that "in Christ shall all be made alive." That is, those who accept to follow the course of the Christian life in conformity with Jesus' teaching are those whom the grave will not hold forever. They, too, will come forth from the grave to a new, immortal, eternally glorious life.
It is terribly grievous to commit the body of any loved one to the dark, cold ground to suffer decay. But if that person is a faithful Christian, there is a wonderful joy that penetrates the clouds of gloom. It is the joy born of the assurance that the risen Lord will protect the departed soul until Christ's return, when He will command death to release its captives. At that irresistible word of power the Christian will come forth from the grave in a glorious new body designed for residence in heaven.
