By Pastor Greg
On February 15, 2015, the Muslim extremist group ISIS executed 21 Christians. The image is one of brutality and hatred. The extremist felt they were killing their enemies - enemies of their movement and enemies of their god. 
At 3 p.m. on April 3, 33AD[1], Roman authorities, along with Jewish religious authorities, crucified Jesus of Nazareth. The image is one of brutality and hatred. The religious authorities felt they were killing an enemy of their God – one who was leading the people away from the true faith. They killed this Man because He had the audacity to claim that He was the Son of God.
Those two executions have one thing in common. In both cases, people felt that they were actually ending someone’s life. They viewed the executions as a victory. These religious zealots felt that by killing Jesus and by killing those 21 Christians, their Christian influence in this world ended.
Throughout the ages, Christians have stood before lions, before the sword, before the gun, and before courts. Countless Christians have been executed because of their faith. “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” [2] (Hebrews 11:37-38). Pastors, children, school girls, mothers, people in faraway lands and people right here in the United States have been executed because they openly admit that they believe in Jesus; because they call themselves a Christian.
Where does a person find the courage and the strength to stare into the barrel of a gun and say, “Yes, I’m a Christian”? As the executioner stands waiting to release the guillotine, what would cause someone to remain strong and steadfast and proudly proclaim their faith? Why wouldn’t they change their story in order to save their life? Christians seem unnerved as they gaze into the eyes of death. Why is that? I’ll tell you why. It’s because of Easter.
Claiming a victory over Jesus and His teachings, I imagine the Jewish religious leaders were relieved. They had triumphed on Friday. They got what they wanted. They ended the life of this Jesus who claimed to be the Son of God. Friday was a day of victory for these religious leaders, but they failed to realize that Sunday was coming.
“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.
2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there” [3] (Matthew 28:1-10).
Those who crucified Jesus did not permanently kill Jesus. His physical death was only temporary. Those religious and Roman authorities accomplished nothing on that crucifixion Friday. They only managed to keep Jesus in the grave 3 days. How pathetic! Jesus stood eye to eye with death and said, “Seriously, killing me is the best you can do?” The Cross was not the end of the story, rather it was just the beginning.
Where have martyred Christians found their hope and their strength? How were they able to remain steadfast and immovable in their faith? The answer is in the empty tomb. Come and see, said the angel. Come and see the stone that is cast aside. Come and see the folded grave clothes. Come and see the empty tomb. Come and see the risen Christ.
The one important thing those Muslim extremist had forgotten is the empty tomb. In their pathetic attempt to kill 21 Coptic Christians, they forgot the one promise Jesus has made to all who follow Him – everlasting life. Those Muslims didn’t kill anyone. Not one of those Christians died. Oh, their body may have died for a little while, but the Resurrection is a reminder that one day those 21 Christians will stand before the Father in glory; clothed in a body that will not die.
“So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22). The Cross is a sign of Salvation. The Empty Tomb is a sign of Resurrection. The open tomb is a sign of God’s promise to every Christian.
Truthfully, no martyred Christian is truly dead. Because of their faith in Jesus, they have everlasting life. They stood defiantly facing death and exclaimed, “Seriously, killing me is the best you can do?” Actually, all who die knowing Christ as Lord and Savior have this same promise. Although we may physically die for a time, we are not dead. Moreover, one day we will receive what the Lord has promised - a resurrection of our own. “For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies” (2 Corinthians 5:3). We will put on new flesh – a promise revealed through the empty tomb of Jesus.
Come and see, my friend. Come and see the empty tomb. Come and see the resurrected Christ. Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God: believe also in Jesus. And when death invades your life, hold fast to the promised resurrection as seen in the risen Christ.
[1] According to several biblical and historical experts.
[2] New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. 1995 (Heb 11:37–38). LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.) (Mt 28:1–10). Carol Stream, IL.
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