But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (Luke 24:1-6, ESV)
What is the greatest shot you have ever seen? For some, it will take a moment to consider which shot ranks “the best.” For others, there won’t be any hesitation; they will blurt it out.
We might narrow the question by asking, “What is the best shot you’ve ever seen by a PGA Professional? The nominees on that list automatically become excellent fodder for a good debate.
For some, the one iron struck by Nicklaus on the 17th at Pebble Beach in the 1972 U. S. Open is the best they have ever seen! For others, the chip on the 16th green by Tiger in the 2005 Masters exceeds all the greatest golf shots ever executed. As Vern exclaimed, “In your life, have you ever seen anything like that?”
Early in this debate, it becomes apparent that some subjectivity is involved in the discussion—the greatest shot for one comes in second or third for another! In short, it is relative to the beholder.
Contrary to all the rhetoric over the years that “all things are relative,” Christians argue that some things like “the greatest shot ever” and “the greatest ice cream” are, indeed, relative to the person.
While Christians concede that point, they also reason that other things are objective and universal, applying to all who have ever lived regardless of the years in which they live. As C.S. Lewis once quipped, “We don’t discover the truth by looking at a clock.”
This is to say there is a “God’s eye” perspective on everything from ethics to facts of history and the concept and content of truth. More simply stated, God has pre-interpreted reality, and he has communicated that to his creatures in Scripture. While we cannot know everything comprehensively as he does, we can know truthfully if we reason from Scripture.
Lee Strobel examines the most important question in the history of mankind—Did Jesus Christ die and rise in an immortal body to provide forgiveness of sins and life everlasting to those who repent and believe? Or, asked another way, “Why was that tomb empty?” Lee is right! Everything hangs on this!
Everyone agrees that the “tomb was empty.” This raises the all-important question—“Why was it empty? ” The historical reality of an “empty tomb” does not explain why it was empty. In truth, it was not literally empty! When the women arrived, they discovered angels and nicely folded linen burial cloths inside. But we know what we mean when we say, “The tomb was empty!”
In the first century, some Jewish and Roman authorities argued that the disciples “stole the body.” Of course, that explanation is highly implausible for any number of reasons. The most important reason is the improbability of the disciples stealing the body to live lives of unspeakable suffering and martyrdom.
Furthermore, Jewish and Roman authorities in the first century were entirely vested in “keeping Jesus dead.” In other words, they had nothing to gain from an “empty tomb.”
There are many other things to say regarding the “greatest moment in history.” Suffice it to say here that the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most cogent explanation of the “empty tomb.” Furthermore, once we discover this reality, we begin to understand the remainder of the “riddle of life” rightly.
Sadly, many refuse to consider the evidence because they begin with the presupposition (i.e., assumption) that a supernatural world does not exist, miracles cannot happen, and “dead men don’t rise to live forever.”
When anyone begins with that naturalistic worldview and remains consistent with their position, they will never, tragically, see the truth. There is, after all, such a thing as “willful blindness.”
In response, Christians boldly say, “He is risen! He has risen, indeed!”
Prayer: Father, give us the boldness to proclaim the reality of the resurrection!