Rise Up! November 2, 2025
From Grief to Glory: The Empty Tomb's Message
Hello church family!
This past Sunday, Pastor Michael brought us to the climactic moments at the end of Luke Chapter 23 and the stunning beginning of Chapter 24. We've been on a journey throughout the Gospel of Luke to truly understand who Jesus is, not just the picture the world often paints.
The Unmistakable Reality of the Cross
Pastor Michael started by reminding us of the pain and confusion the disciples felt as they watched Jesus condemned, crucified, and finally breathe his last. His death was a devastating and undeniable tragedy.
But even in that moment of despair, we see a remarkable act of courage from Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Sanhedrin. When everyone else was in hiding, Joseph bravely went to Pilate, asked for Jesus’ body, and gave him a rich man's burial in his own, brand-new tomb.
Then, there were the faithful women who followed along, watching the whole process. They watched Jesus' body—limp, cold, and definitively dead—wrapped and placed behind a massive stone. They spent the entire Sabbath in grief, ready to return and honor his body with spices once the day of rest was over.
"Why Are You Looking for the Living Among the Dead?"
The scene shifts to Sunday morning. The women arrive at the tomb, spices in hand, only to find the stone rolled away. The body of their Savior is gone.
While they were understandably perplexed and full of doubt, two men in dazzling clothes suddenly appeared. Their words are some of the most powerful in all of scripture: "He is not here, but He has risen!" (Luke 24:6).
The angels didn't just give them news; they gave them a memory jog. They reminded the women that Jesus had predicted this all along: His betrayal, His crucifixion, and His resurrection on the third day. What was confusing suddenly began to click and make sense!
A Call to Believe and Go Look
The women ran back, reporting the empty tomb and the angels' message to the disciples, but the men dismissed it as "nonsense"—partially because of their grief, and also because a woman's testimony was culturally disregarded.
But Peter, driven by an impulse, ran to the tomb and found it empty. He walked away amazed.
Pastor Michael closed with a powerful challenge: Jesus' death and resurrection can seem completely "insane" to our logical minds. Yet, we have a clear, historic account of this miraculous event.
The question for us is: Will you believe enough to go and look?
Just like Peter, we're called to take a step of faith—to investigate the truth of the empty tomb and believe in the Lord who died and rose again for us. As Jesus told Thomas, there is a special blessedness to those who believe without having seen (John 20:29). When we put our trust in Jesus, our hearts change, and the evidence of His work bursts from within us.
Are you ready to believe and submit to Jesus as your Lord today?
