1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. The Sorrow of the Empty Cross
Most of the soldiers were indifferent, but the Centurion was both astonished and afraid
The religious and political leaders were happy thinking they would no longer be bothered by Jesus
Most of the disciples were scared and in hiding

3. The Sorrow of the Empty Cross
All of the disciples were filled with sorrow and grief
A few watched Jesus be crucified, and Joseph, Nicodemus, Mary & Mary put Him in the tomb
The empty cross is the focal point of Christianity because it was the cost of atoning for man’s sin

4. The Beauty of the Empty Cross
The beauty of the cross is not in Jesus’ death, for that was repulsive, appalling and ugly
Jesus died for wicked, sinful man

5. The Beauty of the Empty Cross
The empty cross is beautiful because it is the symbol of God’s sacrificial love - John 10:14-18, Rom. 5:8
If the tomb was not empty, then the cross would have remained a symbol of execution

6. The Necessity of An Empty Tomb
An empty tomb determines whether Jesus’ claim to be Lord is true or not
A person who knows the truth but tells a falsehood is a liar
A person who believes a false claim to be true is deceived
A person who believes his own false claims is delusional - a lunatic

7. The Necessity of An Empty Tomb
Without evidence to prove or disprove a person’s claims, you cannot know if you should believe them

8. Jesus’ Claims
Being the Son of God;
Being the promised Messiah;
The ability to forgive sins and grant eternal life;
Being the only way to the Father
Jesus said He would be killed, but would rise from the dead the 3rd day.

9. The Necessity of An Empty Tomb
If Jesus remained in the tomb past the third day, He was either a liar, deluded or a lunatic
If Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, it would prove He is indeed Lord
An empty cross symbolized the payment for sin, An empty tomb proves the promises and gives hope

10. Evidence Jesus Physically Died
Those present testified He was dead - the soldier, the Centurion, Joseph & Nicodemus
The soldier pierced His side with his spear and blood and water came out - a sign of being dead
An imposter could not have fooled so many of Jesus’ close friends and relatives

11. Evidence Jesus Physically Rose from the Dead
The tomb was guarded by disciplined soldiers who could suffer severely for dereliction of duty
The story of the soldiers was not questioned and they were told to lie
The lie was ludicrous - If asleep, they could not know. If awake, they could stop a theft

12. Appearances After the Resurrection
That morning to Mary & the other women in the garden - John 20:11-18; Matt 28:9- 10
That afternoon to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-32
That evening to ten of the disciples in the Upper Room - John 20:19-25

13. Appearances after the Resurrection
Eight days later, to the eleven disciples showing Thomas His hands and side - John 20:26-31
At the sea of Tiberias, He cooked and ate fish with five of His apostles - John 21:1- 25

14. Appearances after the Resurrection
In Galilee to all eleven apostles and to over 500 brethren at one time - Matt. 28:16-20; 1 Cor. 15:6
At the Mount of Olives, to all eleven apostles as He ascended into Heaven - Acts 1:9-12

15. Additional Evidence of the Resurrection
No one has refuted the claim that He has risen from the dead
The disciples changed from fearful men in hiding to fearless men who turned the world upside down

16. Additional Evidence of the Resurrection
The church is not a notable Jewish Messianic sect of history, but is alive in the present
The church has traditions & rituals that are distinct from Judaism and point to Jesus death & resurrection
Mary, Joanna and the other Mary found the tomb empty, and the angel told them Jesus was alive (Lk 24)

17. Conclusions
The cross was empty because Jesus died for our sins - we have been redeemed and can be forgiven
The tomb was empty because Jesus conquered sin and death - we have hope of eternal life with Him

18. He is Risen!

19. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ