The Empty Tomb Changed Everything!!!

For the last several weeks, we’ve been on a journey… a journey to the empty tomb.
In this Easter message, we walk through Gospel of Luke chapter 24 and discover the moment that changed everything—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The cross paid the price… but the empty tomb proves it worked.
Maybe you’ve heard the story before. Maybe you’ve celebrated Easter your whole life. But the real question isn’t just what happened… it’s how you will respond.
Because the resurrection isn’t just history—it’s hope.
In this message, we look at:
The empty tomb and why it surprised everyone
God’s plan being fulfilled through the resurrection
How the resurrection changes everything in our lives today
Why the resurrection demands a response
No matter where you are in your faith journey, this message is a reminder that God is still working—even when we don’t see it.
Because He lives… you can live differently.
 If this message speaks to you, take a moment to respond. Don’t wait.
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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Welcome back to On the Road with Pastor Anthony. And well, I am your host, Pastor Anthony, and I am so glad you're here. Before we get started, if this is the first time you're here, we thank you. But but I also ask that you please subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so that you never miss another episode. And make sure you hit the little notification bell so uh it will alert you every time something pops up. And if you enjoyed what you hear, give us a thumbs up and share the podcast with your friends. And by joining us each week, you will discover practical ways to live out your faith and connect with others as we share Jesus and life one mile at a time. Happy Easter. He has risen, he has risen indeed. You know, for the last several weeks, we have been on a journey, a journey to well, the empty tomb. And we started with a question that every one of us has to answer. Who do you say that I am? Because everything in your life, everything in your faith hinges on how you answer that question, and from there we were challenged. Whatever he says, do it. Not just hear it, not just to agree with it, but actually trust him enough to follow through. And then we see all Jesus preparing his disciples for what I called finals, inbound. You know, he was getting them ready not just for what you know was coming, but for what it would require of them to truly follow him. And then we asked the hard question, is Jesus worth it all, or was it a waste? And we looked at different responses. You know, some worshiped, some used him, some rejected him, and some were still searching. And the last time we saw the king, well, he was entering into Jerusalem. The crowd, well, they praised him and celebrated him, but they missed who he really was. You know, they wanted a different kind of savior, and now we have arrived. The cross has happened, the tomb is sealed. Hope seemed to be lost. Hey, but guess what? It's Sunday morning, and the tomb. Yeah, yeah, you guessed it. It's empty. Let's pray together. Father God, Lord, we just thank you so much for what today represents. You know, I get overjoyed and uh a little emotional just thinking about you know what you endured just a few days earlier to do it all for love. You did it so that we all had an opportunity to have a relationship with the Father, to have that righteous life, and to be you know bound to you know, our permanent residence is heaven. Father, what this empty tomb represents is this something special. Because of that empty tomb, anything is possible. So, Father, bless our time together this morning as we go through the teachings of what you've placed on my heart, Lord. Bless the reading of your word, and Father, any of those who are listening, Lord, if today be their day of salvation, what another beautiful resurrection that would be as you bring them into life. So, Father, again, we love you and we thank you for all that you do in our lives and and what you're teaching us here this morning. In Jesus' name, amen. All right. So when we think about the empty tomb, all those involved were not expecting to find the tomb unsealed, much less empty. I mean, really, the empty tomb was really, it was so unexpected. You know, we're gonna dive into Luke chapter 24, and the title to this message is the empty tomb changes everything. We're gonna go through Luke 24, not every verse by verse, but we're gonna go through uh different portions of it. But we are gonna start out with Luke chapter 24, verses 1 through 12. If you want to follow along, if you're able to read uh with us and you know grab your Bible, that's be awesome. It's always good to be able to fill those pages and look at the words. Luke chapter 24, one through twelve. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, and they went in, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And while they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them, dazzling in cloths, so the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. Why are you looking for the living among the dead? asked the men. He is not here, but he is risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying it is necessary that the Son of Man betray be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and rise on the third day. And they remembered his words. Returning from the tomb, they reported all of these things to the eleven and to all the rest, to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, well, he got up, that's Peter, and he ran to the tomb. And when he stooped in, stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went away, amazed at what had just happened. When we get to look at uh Luke 24, it's early in the morning, the sun is just coming up. The first sunrise Sunday, you we're seeing to take account of of Jesus' resurrection. These women, you know, they're making their way to the tomb. And I really want to I want to go through this and navigate this and think about and picture this. It's not as a story that you've heard before, but as a real moment. They're walking there in grief. You know, they've got the spices in their hands, their hearts are heavy, and everything that they had hoped for, I mean, everything they believed about Jesus, it feels like it died on that cross. I mean, they watched him suffer, they watched him take his last breath, they saw where he was laid. So when they show up that morning, they're not looking for a miracle, they're looking for a body, they thought it was over. But when they arrive, something's not right. The stone has been rolled away, the tomb has been opened, and now instead of closure, there's actually confusion, more questions. I mean, I can't even imagine what they could have been feeling. I'm sure it was probably like someone had just kicked them in the gut. I mean, here they are expecting to find Jesus, and he's not there. The tomb is open, it's empty. Where is Jesus? Why is he not here? This is what's going through their mind, and everything that they were feeling at this point was about to go to a times 10, I'm sure. When these angels show up, then they begin to speak to them into that moment, and that's the question that cuts to you know cuts right through everything. Why are you looking for the living among the dead? Praise God. He is not here, he has risen. Can you imagine hearing that? I mean, I I don't know if you, you know, if you're not watching this, you know, and just listening, I get chill bumps, and I mean, you know, I want to just, you know, God is good all the time. Oh, yeah. You know, I just I get excited. I I just I love it. Every time I I read that and just think about he is risen. Why are you looking for the living? I'm on the dead, he's not here. I mean, it's just like I mean, everything in their minds said one thing, but God was doing something completely different, and here's what really stands out is they heard Jesus say that this very thing that they're experiencing was going to happen. This wasn't the first time they were hearing about uh you know a resurrection. Jesus had told his followers again and again what was coming, but in that moment it hadn't fully taken hold. And before you know it were too hard on them, we need to be honest as well, because it sounds a lot like us. Because we hear, we can hear the truth, you know, we can set in church, we can listen to messages, we can read scripture, and still not fully grasp when life's life hits us. There's a difference between hearing something and believing it deep enough that it changes how you see everything. And sometimes when life gets hard, when things don't go the way we expected, when prayers don't get answered the way we thought they should, you know, it's hard, and sometimes it gets difficult. And sometimes it's just you know it takes a minute for us to absorb and to really figure out that uh God's got our back, yeah. And a lot of times that's when we default back to what we can see instead of what God actually said, and this is exactly where they were. They were standing in front of an empty tomb and still trying to process this through the lens of loss. He's dead, I mean, he's gone. Everything that he said is done, finished, over. Now what do we do? Yeah, I think there are people listening right now. You love God, you believe in Jesus, but there are areas of your life where you're still standing, and it feels like you know, the tomb is sealed. You're still expecting something to be dead when God has already said that there is life, still holding on to disappointment when God has already declared victory, still looking for the living among the dead, and maybe that same question the angels asked them is the question God is asking you, why are you looking for the living among the dead? Why are you searching for hope and things that can't give it? Why are you holding on to what's already been defeated? Why are you living like your story is over when God says it's not? Because the truth is the tomb is empty. Whether we fully understand it or not, at some point what we have heard has to become what we believe. You know, I've heard this statement before, and I even mentioned it during the prayer. But if the tomb is empty, anything is possible. You know, I want to go back for just a moment at Luke 24, 6 through 7, for just a moment, but you know, because we need to fully understand the resurrection. You know, it was promised, and this was a promise for all of us, not just the a few, not just for the Israelites, not you know, just for a particular group. It was for all people to understand. It was for all of us. Luke 24, 6 through 7 says, He is not here, he is risen. Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, saying, It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day. Right there, in that moment of confusion, when nothing made sense, and the women are trying to process what they're seeing. The angels say something simple, but really powerful. Remember how he spoke to you. That word remember. This isn't God reacting, this isn't a last-minute miracle, this isn't something that just happened out of nowhere. This was always the plan from the very beginning. Jesus had been telling them what was going to take place and when, you know, and how he told them he would be handed over, he told them he would suffer, he told them that he would be crucified, and he told them on the third day he would rise again. And now here they are standing in the middle of it, and they needed to be reminded. Remember. In other words, you know, this word really matters. Remember. Because sometimes the greatest thing we need in our faith isn't something new, it's to remember what God has already said. Because life has a way of making us forget. When things are going going good, it's easy to believe. And everything, you know, when it everything makes sense, it's easy to trust. But when life gets hard, when things fall short and things fall apart, when expectations don't match reality, well, we forget. We forget the promises, we forget the faithfulness, we forget that God is still in control, even when we don't understand what he's doing. And we've had those conversations several times, and that's where they were. They weren't lacking information, they were lacking remembrance. And if we're honest, we've all been there. Moments where we know what God said, but we're struggling to hold on to it. Moments where we believe, but it feels shaky. Moments where we need to be reminded that it's not random, something to remember that's so important. God is not making this up as he goes, he has a plan, he's had it all worked out, nothing catching him off guard, and the resurrection is proof of that. When you consider all the different religions in the world, and there is a bunch of them, Christianity is the only one, only one, with one true God who is still alive, still very, very much alive and happy, and go lucky, just you know, he's the man. And to them, what looked like the worst possible outcome, well, the cross, it's actually the fulfillment of God's greatest promise, and that's why it mattered so much, because the resurrection is not just a powerful moment, it's the foundation of everything that we believe. Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 5 14, and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. I mean, that's about as clear as it gets. If the resurrection, if there was no resurrection, there is no hope. If there is no resurrection, there is no forgiveness. If there's no resurrection, we are still lost in our sin and still bound on the fast track to hell. But because Jesus walked out of the tomb, it proves everything that Jesus said was true. Every promise of God stands firm, every word can be trusted, and this wasn't a surprise, it was a fulfillment. God said it, so there it is. And then he said it, and that, you know, and that's the kind of God that we serve. You know, when he says it, and then he did it, I mean, that's it. I mean, God keeps his word. You know, we we talked about this a little bit last week uh in Titus 2. God cannot lie. So when he tells you something, that's exactly what's going to happen. He keeps his word. You know, we serve a God who finishes what he starts. We serve a God who does not fail. Even when it looks like it, everything has fallen apart. Maybe someone listening today needs that reminder. What God has spoken over your life, he hasn't forgotten. What God has promised, he will bring to pass. It may not look like it right now, it may not feel like it, but just because you don't see it doesn't mean that God isn't working. And that should put a smile on your face. Sometimes you just need to stop and remember. So we want to continue to expand more on the resurrection and how it changes everything. You know, working through the next section of scripture in Luke chapter 24, 13 through 35. Now we're not going to read all of it, but uh we will look at some of it. It says later that same day, we find two disciples walking on the road to Enemus. Luke tells us that it is about seven miles from Jerusalem, and as they walked, they were talking about everything that had happened, and you can hear the weight in it. So they weren't celebrating, they were processing, they weren't full of faith, they were full of questions. Verse 15 says that while they were uh talking and discussing these things, Jesus himself came up and walked along uh with them. But then in verse 16 says something interesting. They were kept from recognizing him. I mean, Jesus is right there, and they don't see him. And Jesus, you know, he asked them a question, what are you discussing together as you walk along? Now think about that. Jesus already knows, but he invites them to say it out loud, and sometimes you that's important, and they stop, and scripture says their faces were downcast that and that word paints a picture. They were destroyed. Discouraged. They feel defeated. This isn't just a conversation. This is a disappointment. And look at 24, uh, Luke 24, 18. The one named Cleopas answered him. Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things that have happened in these days? I mean, these two, I mean, look right at Jesus and like, dude, you've been living under a rock or something. I mean, what's going on? I mean, this is like the biggest news ever. This is trending everywhere. I mean, it's blown up to TikTok, Facebook. I mean, everything. I mean, everybody's talking about what has happened. Where have you been? And so they explain you know the whole details to Jesus. You know, Jesus of Nazareth, he was a prophet, powerful in word and in deed, and he had hoped, and we had hoped that he was the one. You know, that line right there. We had hoped. That's past tense. That sound of hope that he has died. We had hoped. In other words, we believed, but well, not anymore. We trusted, but now we're not sure. We thought he was the one, but it didn't turn out the way that we expected, and then go, you know, what we thought was he was going to do, and so you know, we don't know, we we don't know what to do. And then they mention that empty tomb, but they still don't get it. Man, we we are some hard-headed people, and I ain't kidding you. They say some women amazed us that they didn't find the body, and they said he was alive, and still they are walking away. And Jesus responds, not really, it's not harshly, but directly. I mean, in a you know, the bold sense, and you know, Jesus speaking in verse 25 says, How foolish are you and how slow to believe? Not because they didn't care, but because they didn't connect what they knew to what God was doing. And if you look on it in verse 26 and 27, Jesus has a question of his own. Wasn't it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory? And then the beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted for them these things or the things concerning himself and all the scriptures. Now, this is powerful because Jesus begins with Moses and all the prophets and explains what was said in all the scriptures, you know, you know, talking about himself. In other words, he's starting to connect the dots, he shows them that the cross wasn't the end, it was always part of the plan. And when they arrive where they're going, they urge him to stay. They still don't fully recognize him, but something is stirring. And when he sits down with them, he he takes the bread, gives thanks, breaks it, and suddenly their eyes are open and they recognize him. And in that moment, everything changes because what was confusion becomes clarity, what was sorrow becomes joy, and what felt like defeat becomes victory. And I love what they say next. Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road? In other words, they felt something, they knew something was up. We just didn't understand it. And listen, this is where it connects all this to us because there are people listening right now, and you've had moments like this. Moments where God was speaking and you truly fully didn't understand it or didn't recognize it. Moments where something was stirring in your heart, but you couldn't explain it. Some, you know, those moments where you were walking through something, you didn't realize God was right there with you. And maybe right now you're in that place. You're walking through disappointment, you're carrying questions, you're trying to make sense of something that didn't go the way you thought it would. You know, a job loss, uh sickness, a diagnosis, something, bills you can't pay, whatever it could be. And maybe just like them, you said, I hoped. I had hoped. But the resurrection changes everything because it reminds us God is still working, even when we don't see it, even when we don't recognize it, even when it feels like we're walking the other direction, we're just walking away with our heads down, looking at the at the earth, just not really looking forward. Instead, we should be walking in his will. God is still there, and Jesus can meet them on the road, he can meet you right where you are, and just like he did for them, he can open your eyes and remind you, it's not over. You know, one thing we need to understand is the resurrection demands a response from us. Now, the Jesus appears to his disciples, they are gathered together, the doors are closed. I mean, they're locked down, they're in fear, you know, they're scared. You know, these Roman soldiers, well, they're gonna come and get us next, and they're gonna kill all of us. I mean, this is their thoughts, this is what's going on. So they're like, we gotta hide. The fear is still real, but you can't hide from Jesus. That uncertainty is still there, and suddenly, boom, I mean, Jesus is standing in the room. I mean, if that don't fire you up, I mean, come on. And Luke 24 36 says, While they were still talking about this, Jesus stood himself, or Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. I love that. He steps into their fear, and the first thing he speaks is peace, not correction, not disappointment, not where in the devil were you? He wouldn't say devil, but you know, where were you? He would he didn't say any of that, but peace, because he knew exactly what they were feeling. And verse 37 says they were startled and frightened, thinking that they were seeing a ghost, and even now they were still struggling to process it all. And Jesus responds in such a real and personal way. Luke 24, 38 through 43, why are you troubled? He asked them. Doub arise in your hearts. Look at my hands and my feet, that is, I myself, touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you can see I have. Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet, but while they were still amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, Do you have anything here to eat? So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He meets them in their doubt. He doesn't push them away for it, but he invites them closer. He shows them his hands, he shows them his feet. And I love the way Jesus just like, hey, dude, you know, you got some lunch, and he ate. I mean, he's he's like, why you know why you process this and you know, thinking through what I just told you, might as well eat something while I'm waiting, you know. But I really think he wanted them to know this is real, this isn't an idea, this isn't a feeling or a story somebody made up. He is alive. Jesus is alive, and then once they see it, once they begin to believe, Jesus shifts this moment to Luke. Let's Luke 24 45 says, and then he opened their minds so that they can understand the scriptures, and he reminds them again that this was the plan. It's always been the plan that the Messiah would suffer and they would, and that he would raise, rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name. And then he says something that changes everything. You are witnesses of these things. In other words, you don't just know this, I mean, you now carry it, you live it, you have experienced it firsthand. How awesome would that have been? And that's the shift because the resurrection is not just something to celebrate, it's something to respond to. Not just something we talk about on Easter morning, it is something that demands a decision. This is where it moves from being a story you hear to a you know, a life you live. Because if Jesus really rose from the dead, then that changes everything about how we live. And here's the truth. You know, I always think about this David Crowder song. I love it. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. I mean, that's our hope in Jesus. I mean, think about it. Because he lives, you can live differently. Because he lives, you can be forgiven. Not someday, not maybe, but fully forgiven of your sins. You know, Romans 8.1 says, There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Because he lives, you can be set free. Free from sin, free from guilt, free from the weight you've been carrying. 2 Corinthians 5.17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is passed away, and see the new has come. Glory to God, amen. For that, this is not a temporary hope, it's not wishful thinking, but real unshakable hope. 1 Peter 1 3 says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, because of his great mercy, he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Because he lives, your life has purpose. You're not just going through the motions, God has a plan for your life. Ephesians 2 10, for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. But all this requires a response. You don't just hear this and walk away the same. You don't just acknowledge it, you keep and keep living as if nothing has changed. At some point, you have to decide: will I believe this? Will I trust him? Will I surrender my life to him? Because the same Jesus who stood in that room is still calling people today. The cross paid the price, the empty tomb proves it, worked, and the tomb is empty. And the question now is not what happened, the question is how will you respond? What are you going to do with the risen Savior? What are you going to do with the truth that Jesus conquered sin, death, and the grave? And if he is calling you, don't wait, don't put it off, don't try to clean your life up, you know, to try to say, Well, once I'm good enough, then I'll be right there, Jesus. Come as you are, repent, believe, surrender your life to him, because that same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that can change your life today. And as we close this part of this journey, don't miss this. The empty tomb is not the end of the story, it is the beginning. And next time we're going to talk about happen what happens after the empty tomb. Christ was never meant to stop at belief, it was meant to be lived out every single day. I mean, that's pretty powerful when you think about it. Everything that Jesus did for you and I to give us new life. I mean, He is risen. He is risen indeed. Let's pray together. Father God, Lord, we just thank you so much again for such a beautiful message, such a beautiful story. And Lord, I mean, this is not just a you know a book that we read, but it's living and active. And Father, you have you have shown us who you are. You have told us the things that was going to have to take place. You've told us the plan. You've put it, you know, you've included us in it, even though you didn't have to. And Father, it's up to us to receive that word and believe it in faith and accept it, and then live it out. What you've asked us to do. We need to grab a hold of you, Father, and just you know, hang on, you know, and just live our lives fully for you. Because a surrendered life to you is the best life. And Father, if anyone is watching this and doesn't know you, maybe today be the day of their salvation. Maybe today is their resurrection Sunday. And Lord, if there's those who are listening, it's just been maybe they're like the two that you know walking on the road with their head held down, and life has just become too much, and they're just really wondering if you know, of everything that they've heard, is it true? Maybe today is the day that you open their eyes to show them, yep, it was true. It's time for you to pick your head up and try them to start smiling and moving forward again and understand that your God is with you. And so, Father, we just ask you just work a mighty miracle in our life today, just opening our eyes and you know, helping our understanding. If there's any unbelief, any doubt. You know, show us who you are, that you are, who you say you are. The words have been spoken. Now it's up to us to answer, to respond. Again, Father, we love you and we thank you for all that you do in our lives. Just continue to teach us and challenge us and move us forward, Lord, and so that we too can be better disciples. Lord, thank you for what you've done for us in Jesus' name and amen. All right, he is risen, he is risen indeed. I hope you all have a great Easter. And if this message, you know, has encouraged you, don't forget to like it, share it with a friend. I mean, you don't know how this might change their lives, and subscribe so you never miss what is next. And if you would like to help us and help others, you know, to find this message, you know, leaving a five-star review on your plat, you know, podcast platform really helps us reach more people with the gospel. If you want to stay connected and be a part of what God's doing through this ministry, you will find all the links below. And if you feel led to help support the ministry, whether through prayer, sharing an episode, or giving, I want to thank you. Your prayers mean more than you know, and your generosity helps us stay on the road, sharing the gospel and reaching more lives with hope. All the links are in the description below. And again, thanks for part of being part of this journey. And remember, keep sharing Jesus in life one mile at a time, and we'll see you on the next one. Have a great Easter everyone.