October 24
The Significance
of the Empty Tomb
Matthew 28:5-6
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.”
Daily Steps
The Certainty of the Resurrection (Day 298) is confirmed not only by Christ's presence but also by His absence. This encounter at the tomb provides the most dramatic evidence: the tomb is empty! The angel’s message transforms the women’s grief into joy and is the foundation for the Good News: He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.
The peace in this principle is found in undeniable evidence:
The Command to Overcome Fear: The angel's first words are, Do not be afraid. Fear often paralyzes us when we encounter the supernatural or the seemingly impossible. The message of the Resurrection dispels all fear (eternal security, Day 297) because it proves that death and the powers of darkness have been decisively defeated (The Final Triumph, Day 227).
The Undeniable Evidence: The two facts are in direct sequence: He is not here; He has risen. The empty tomb is the silent, powerful, tangible proof (Day 298) that Christianity rests upon. The body of the crucified Savior is gone because the Son of God is alive. This event secures the promise of redemption (Day 225) and eternal life for every believer.
The Call to See and Believe: The angel invites them: Come and see the place where He lay. The Resurrection invites inspection; it is verifiable truth, not just a feeling. This confirms that Christ fulfilled His own Word (Day 269): just as He said. Our faith (Day 254) is based on the resolute obedience (Day 283) of Christ and the undeniable evidence left behind.
Your peace is secured by undeniable evidence. Embrace the Hope of the Resurrection today by trusting the clear, historical fact of the empty tomb, knowing that Christ's victory over death is complete and just as He said.
Reflective Question
How does the phrase "He is not here; He has risen" change the way you view death and loss? What is one way you can share this undeniable evidence (the empty tomb) with someone who is struggling with doubt or fear today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess my tendency to fear things that have already been defeated. I thank You for the message of the angel: He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. I pray that the historical fact of the empty tomb would be the powerful source of my joy and my faith. Secure my peace today in this undeniable evidence, and give me the courage to share the glorious Hope of the Resurrection. Amen.
