EMPTY

THE EMPTY CROSS

Arriving at Golgotha that evening, I was overcome with a sense of emptiness. The area was completely deserted, but three blood-stained crosses at the top of the hill served as solemn reminders of the events of the day.

Less than a week earlier, Jesus of Nazareth entered the city with His disciples and many others proclaiming Him as Messiah, our long-awaited Savior. We were full of hope, because He was clearly a teacher sent by God with the power to work miracles—healing, feeding, and even raising people from the grave!

But then, the one who we thought would bring salvation was dead. It all happened so quickly; one day He was teaching His followers, and the next He was on trial and condemned to death by crucifixion. Even the execution was rushed, as the soldiers used a spear to ensure that He was dead before the day was over.

The empty cross, and the emptiness in my heart, both testified to one fact—Jesus died.

THE EMPTY TOMB

Three days later, some of His followers went to the tomb, found it empty, and returned with amazing news—He was alive! For the next forty days, He continued to teach and encourage His disciples, appearing first to one, then two, then eleven—and eventually more than five hundred of us at once!

Jesus had predicted that He would suffer, die, and rise again, but we just couldn’t comprehend the beauty of God’s divine plan to redeem our souls. When He said, “I lay down My life that I may take it again,” we didn’t realize what He meant at the time.

But now, looking back on these events, I see how the empty cross testifies of His love, and the empty tomb declares His mighty power. God’s Word says:

 • “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16).

 • “[Jesus was] declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

YOUR RESPONSE?

Jesus took our sins upon Himself—suffered and died in our place—so we can be forgiven. There on the cross, He cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The empty cross tells us that the work is done, the price has been paid, and the door to Heaven stands open.

The empty tomb demonstrates that Jesus won the victory over sin and death. Listen to His words: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

Jesus now offers salvation to all mankind. If we reject Him, we must stand before God and be judged for our sins—“cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

But if we admit that we are sinners, turn to God, and put our trust in Jesus Christ, we will find forgiveness and eternal life. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved … For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’” (Romans 10:9,13).

Source: http://www.mwtb.org