Kingdom Way Church
April 20, 2025 - Week 7: The Empty Tomb (Resurrection Sunday – Victory in Christ!)
  • Praise
  • This Is Amazing Grace
  • Worthy
  • Cornerstone
  • Living Hope
  • At Your Name
  • You've Already Won
  • Hallelujah (King Of Glory)

  • The Empty Tomb: He Is Risen!

    Matthew 28:1–10, 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 Theme: The resurrection is the ultimate victory—Jesus has conquered death, and through Him, so do we.

    I. Introduction: The Power of an Empty Space

    Timmy & Sarah: The Surprise in the Garden

    Theme: The Empty Tomb – Victory in Christ
    It was Easter morning, and Timmy and Sarah were at Grandma’s house for the annual Easter egg hunt in the garden. The sun had just started to peek over the fence, the dew still sparkled on the grass, and excitement filled the air.
    Grandma had made a special golden egg this year and told them, “Whoever finds the golden egg gets a special prize.”
    Timmy, being extra competitive, dashed ahead. Sarah took her time, looking behind flowerpots and under bushes. Minutes passed. The other kids were finding candy eggs and laughing, but Timmy and Sarah were focused. Then Sarah saw something—a little white ribbon poking out from behind the old stone birdbath.
    “There it is!” she shouted.
    They opened the egg together, but inside… there was nothing. Just an empty egg.
    Timmy frowned. “Wait… is this broken? Where’s the prize?”
    Just then, Grandma came walking over with a smile.
    “Oh no, sweetheart,” she said gently. “It’s not broken—it’s empty on purpose.”
    Sarah looked puzzled. “Why would you leave it empty?”
    Grandma knelt down, holding the egg in her hand. “Because the greatest story of all starts with an empty tomb.”
    She told them about how Mary and the women went to Jesus’ tomb that morning long ago, expecting to find His body—but instead, they found it empty. An angel told them, ‘He is not here. He has risen!’
    Sarah gasped. “So the empty egg is like the empty tomb?”
    “Yes,” Grandma said. “It may look empty, but it’s full of hope. Because Jesus rose from the grave, we have life, we have joy, and we have victory.”
    Sarah looked at the egg again, this time with awe. “It’s the best empty thing I’ve ever found.”
    Message Tie-In:
    Just like the kids expected candy and found something better, the world expected death but found resurrection life. The empty tomb is not a disappointment—it’s the greatest discovery in history.
    Most world religions point to a tomb with a body—Christianity points to an empty one.
    The cross paid the price, but the empty tomb sealed the victory.
    Today, we celebrate not a martyr, but a risen King.

    II. The Reality of the Resurrection

    Matthew 28:1–10 NASB95
    1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
    Women Went to a Tomb, Not a Throne
    They expected to mourn—not rejoice.
    Even those closest to Jesus didn’t fully grasp what was coming.
    Who were the 1st to know?
    Mary Magdalene was one of the most prominent and faithful women in the New Testament.

    Who Was Mary Magdalene?

    Her Name & Background

    "Magdalene" refers to her hometown of Magdala, a village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
    She is not the same person as Mary of Bethany (sister of Martha and Lazarus) or the unnamed sinful woman in Luke 7, though they have sometimes been confused in tradition.

    Delivered by Jesus

    Luke 8:2 tells us that Jesus cast seven demons out of her.
    This signifies deep spiritual bondage—but also the power of Jesus’ healing and restoration.
    From that point on, she became a devoted follower.

    A Faithful Disciple

    Mary traveled with Jesus and supported His ministry financially (Luke 8:1–3).
    She was among the few who remained near Jesus at the cross when most others fled (John 19:25).

    The First Witness of the Resurrection

    She was the first person to see the risen Christ (John 20:11–18).
    Jesus appeared to her personally and told her to go announce the resurrection to the disciples.
    For this reason, early church leaders sometimes referred to her as “the apostle to the apostles.”
    Her Legacy
    Mary Magdalene is remembered as a woman of deep devotion, bold faith, and grace-filled transformation.
    Her life shows that no one is too broken to be redeemed, and that those who have been forgiven much can love much.

    Who Was "the Other Mary"?

    Matthew 28:1 NASB95
    1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
    So who is this “other Mary”?

    Most Scholars Identify Her As: Mary the mother of James and Joseph

    Matthew 27:56 NASB95
    56 Among them was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
    Mark 15:40 NASB95
    40 There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Salome.
    Or

    Possibly the Wife of Clopas:

    John 19:25 NASB95
    25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
    Some scholars believe Mary, the mother of James and Joses, and Mary the wife of Clopas are the same person.

    Likely Not Mary, Mother of Jesus:

    Mary, Jesus' mother, was present at the crucifixion (John 19:25), but she is not typically the one referred to as “the other Mary.”
    Summary:
    “The other Mary” is most likely:
    Mary, the mother of James the Less and Joses,
    possibly also called Mary of Clopas,
    a faithful follower of Jesus who witnessed both the crucifixion and the resurrection events.
    EarthQuake
    one when Jesus died, One when He rose again
    Heaven Declared It First
    Matthew 28:6 NASB95
    6 “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
    The stone wasn’t rolled away for Jesus to get out—it was for us to see in.
    Matthew 28:7–8 NASB95
    7 “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
    Jesus Appeared to the Faithful
    The first to see Him were the women—humble, faithful followers.
    He meets them with both comfort and commission:
    Matthew 28:9–10 NASB95
    9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
    “Do not be afraid… go and tell!”
    Matthew 28:11–16 NASB95
    11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ 14 “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day. 16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.

    III. The Victory of the Resurrection

    1 Corinthians 15:54–57 NASB95
    54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
    Death Has Been Defeated
    “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
    Jesus didn’t just cheat death—He crushed it.
    Sin Has Been Broken
    The resurrection confirms the cross worked
    sin no longer has the final say.
    We Now Live in Victory
    “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    We are not fighting for victory—we are living from it

    IV. Application: Living in Resurrection Power

    Hope Has a Name—Jesus
    No matter your past, your pain, or your doubts
    Jesus is alive, and that changes everything.
    Our Faith Is Not in Vain
    1 Corinthians 15:14 NASB95
    14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
    The resurrection proves that what we believe is real, and what we do matters.
    While no non-Christian ancient source explicitly affirms the resurrection of Jesus as a historical fact, several non-Christian historical sources do confirm key events that support the Christian resurrection narrative, such as:
    Jesus’ crucifixion under Pontius Pilate
    His execution during the reign of Tiberius
    The early and rapid rise of Christianity
    The willingness of His followers to suffer and die for their belief in the resurrection
    Let’s take a look at some of the most relevant non-Christian sources:

    1. Tacitus (c. AD 56–120) – Roman Historian

    Annals 15.44 Tacitus confirms that:
    Jesus was executed during the reign of Tiberius by Pontius Pilate.
    A “superstition” (Christianity) arose in Judea and spread to Rome.
    📝 Though Tacitus doesn’t affirm the resurrection, he verifies Jesus' death and the explosive growth of His movement.

    2. Josephus (c. AD 37–100) – Jewish Historian

    Antiquities of the Jews 18.3.3 (Testimonium Flavianum) Josephus writes:
    Jesus was a wise man and a doer of wonderful works.
    He was crucified under Pilate.
    His followers believed He appeared to them alive again after three days.
    📝 The version acknowledges Jesus' execution and His followers’ belief in the resurrection.

    3. Lucian of Samosata (c. AD 125–180) – Greek Satirist

    The Death of Peregrine Lucian mocks Christians for worshipping “a man who was crucified” and notes:
    They believed in life after death.
    They were willing to die for their convictions.
    📝 Though sarcastic, Lucian’s words confirm the centrality of the resurrection belief in early Christian life

    4. Pliny the Younger (c. AD 61–113) – Roman Governor

    Letters 10.96 Pliny describes:
    Early Christians gathering before dawn to worship Jesus “as a god.”
    Their moral commitment and rapid growth despite persecution.
    📝 No mention of the resurrection directly, but strong indirect support for a resurrection-based faith.

    5. The Babylonian Talmud (compiled ~AD 300–500, referencing earlier traditions)

    Refers to Jesus (Yeshu) being hanged (a term used for crucifixion).
    Confirms He had disciples and performed miracles (though attributed to sorcery).
    📝 Again, no acceptance of resurrection—but acknowledges Jesus’ existence, crucifixion, and the early movement.
    Conclusion:
    No non-Christian source claims, “Jesus rose from the dead.” But several support the framework of the resurrection story:
    Jesus existed
    He was crucified under Pilate
    His followers believed He rose from the dead
    That belief transformed their lives and launched a global movement
    That His followers were even willing to die because they believed Jesus rose from the dead
    That’s significant historical support—even from sources who had no reason to promote Christianity.
    But what are we do to with this knowledge
    We Are Called to Go and Tell
    Like the women at the tomb, we are sent to share the good news with the world.
    Matthew 28:17–20 NASB95
    17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

    V. Conclusion: The Tomb Is Empty, But Our Hearts Are Full

    The stone is rolled away.
    The grave is silent.
    The Savior is risen.
    Everything has changed.
    Again I conclude with this question?
    What are you going to do about it?
    Our faith is not just a made up fairy tale
    It’s rooted in history
    but its also so very personal

    Closing Challenge:

    Will you live like Jesus is alive?
    Will you walk in resurrection power?
    Will you share this victory with someone this week?
    Will you invite someone to Church?
    Closing Prayer:
    Thank God for the victory of the cross and the empty tomb.
    Invite those who need a fresh start to come to Jesus—the Living One.
    Thanks to everyone who helped out on Good Friday
    New series Starting next Sunday
    Week 1: The Power of Resurrection
    The resurrection is not just a historical event; it is the power that transforms our lives. In next weeks message, we explore how the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to believers today, enabling us to live in victory and strength.
  • Show Me Your Face Lord
Kingdom Way Church
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