Dear Editor,
Filled with heartache and dread, but compelled by their great love for Jesus, the women went to the tomb with spices to aid in His burial. They expected to find death, but found an empty tomb instead. An angel greeted them, saying “Do not be afraid. I know you seek Jesus, who has been crucified He is not here, for He is risen, even as He said.”
The meaning of the empty tomb centers around the belief that Jesus Christ’s resurrection is the ultimate victory over death and sin. Death could not hold Him; nor can death hold those who believe in and follow Jesus.
Afraid, but filled with joy, the women quickly ran to tell the disciples what the angel spoke to them about the empty tomb. Peter and John hurried to the tomb and while John looked in, Peter went inside and found the burial clothes empty and undisturbed, revealing that no outside force had removed the body of Jesus. Peter noticed the napkin that was around Christ’s head was separate from the other burial clothes and folded neatly.
Peter knew the meaning of a folded napkin. Jewish custom tells that when the master of a home was finished with a meal, the napkin was tossed aside indicating that he was done with the meal, and the table could be cleaned. However, if the master left the table, but intended to return, the napkin was neatly folded by the plate. It was the sign that he was not yet finished.
That was the moment that mourning turned into joy! It was the ‘Aha!’ moment, because Peter understood the meaning of the folded napkin. The words Jesus had spoken during His ministry, before He went up to Jerusalem, at the Passover meal, and in the garden, suddenly began to make sense. Jesus had risen from the dead! Indeed, He had conquered death, hell, and the grave. It also meant the Jesus is NOT finished. He is coming back!
That should cause us to jump and shout for joy! How thoughtful and kind of Jeus to leave that message in the tomb, that once held His dead body, for His beloved disciples. The message is also for us. Nobody knows the hour or the day of His return, so we should constantly strive to be more like Him. It should be a daily practice. We MUST NOT keep this message to ourselves, but declare the Good News of the Gospel at every opportunity before us. Many need to have their ‘Aha!’ moment of revelation before it is too late.
Blessings, Debra Hall
