Day 11 — The Empty Tomb

“As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!’”

— Luke 24:5–6 (BSB)

It was very early on Sunday morning, still almost dark. A small group of women walked sadly toward a tomb outside Jerusalem. They were carrying spices, the kind people used to care for someone who had died. Three days earlier, they had watched Jesus die on the cross. They had seen His body placed in a tomb cut out of rock, with a huge stone rolled across the door. Now all they wanted was to take care of His body one last time.

But when they arrived, the stone had been rolled away. They went inside, and the body of Jesus was gone!

While they were standing there confused, two men in shining clothes suddenly appeared next to them. The women were terrified and bowed to the ground. Then the men asked the most wonderful question ever: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!”

Jesus was alive!

Why does this matter so much? Here are three reasons.

First, it proves Jesus is who He said He is. Jesus told His friends many times that He would die and rise again on the third day. Anybody can say they’re God. Only God could do what Jesus did.

Second, it means death is beaten. Death is the biggest enemy people have. Everyone who has ever lived has died, but Jesus walked right out of the grave. And He promises that everyone who trusts Him will live forever with Him too.

Third, it means Jesus is alive right now. We don’t follow a dead hero from a history book. We follow a living Savior. You can talk to Him today. He hears you. He knows you. He is with you.

The cross shows how much God loves us. The empty tomb shows that His love wins.

Think about it: How do you think the women felt walking to the tomb? How do you think they felt walking away?

Try this: Tell someone today, “Jesus is alive!” and see if you can explain why that matters.

Dear Jesus, You are alive! Thank You that You rose from the dead just like You said You would. Thank You that death is beaten and that You are with me right now. Help me live every day knowing that my Savior is alive. In Jesus’ name, Amen.