I was thinking about…

The Emptiness That Embraced Us

By Andy Lee

It was a cold place. Dark, dank, and musty. In the simplest terms, it was designed for storage. It was designed to keep out as much as to keep in. It was meant to be a final keeping place. But this was no ordinary storage space; it was a tomb.

This tomb was not intended for a king or a wealthy merchant, but rather for a man deemed a criminal by society. It certainly wasn’t fit for the Son of God. Yet, there he lay, the preacher and carpenter from Nazareth, Jesus Christ.

But whether it was the tomb of a king or a humble servant, it was no match for the power of God’s love. As it is written in Acts 2:24, “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

Jesus, the embodiment of forgiveness, took on the weight of all the sins of humanity, past, present, and future, and carried them to the cross. In his final moments, he cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Even those who drove the nails through his hands and feet were forgiven by the very man they crucified.

But the story doesn’t end there. On the third day, the stone was rolled away, and the tomb was empty. He had risen, just as he said he would. “He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:6). This glorious morning marked the end of his mortal life on Earth, but the beginning of hope and salvation for all mankind.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate testament to the unfathomable love of God. It is a love that knows no bounds, a love that is willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of others. As John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Centuries ago, in a far-away land, Jesus did all this for us. He suffered, died, and rose again so that we might have life and have it abundantly. His selfless act of love echoes through the ages, offering hope, forgiveness, and the promise of eternal life to all who believe.

This Easter Sunday, let us remember the empty tomb and the love that made it possible. Let us celebrate the risen Savior and the gift of salvation he freely offers to all. For in him, we find the greatest love story ever told.