Imagine visiting your local cemetery and suddenly youdiscover the grave you're approaching is not only unearthed – but the coffin iswide open and empty! 
What would you think?  I suppose the first thing you'd do would beto call security – and start a search for the missing body! 
Something strange andwonderful happened outside of Jerusalem at a small burial site in the Judeancountryside over 2000 years ago.  A tombwhich was sealed the previous night was now wide open – with no one takingcredit for the monumental task.  Let meexplain…
By definition, a grave is a place for the interment ofthe dead; a tomb, a sepulcher.  In Jesus'day it was often merely a natural cave or grotto, or an artificial tomb hewnout of rock.  Many times graves wereflagged with flat stones as markers to warn passers-by that they should notcome in contact with the dead, thereby defiling themselves ceremonially, evenif it was unwittingly done.  Once thebody was laid inside, the tomb was sealed with a large stone – most likelyweighing hundreds of pounds, and taking at least two strong men to place it atthe mouth of the cave.  This was done toprevent animals from desecrating the body or thieves from removing sacreditems.  Unsealing the tomb without beingnoticed would be difficult at best. One person alone could not move the stonewithout help from some other source.
Resurrection morningoccurred on the first day of the week and Luke 24:1-12 tells us it was "very early".  The women who had been with Joseph, a councilmember who had secretly become a disciple of Jesus, entered the tomb with theprepared spices for the body of Jesus. They discovered that the Lord's body was not there – and as they stoodperplexed – two men in shining garments appeared before them.  The women, fearful and bowing down inreverence were told, "He is not here, butis risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinfulmen, and be crucified, and the third day rise again".  Verse 8says, "And they remembered His words."
These women had witnessedJesus' body being placed inside the grave by Joseph and Nicodemus, who alsocame with the burial preparations, including a large amount of myrrh, aloes,spices and linen to wrap and prepare the Lord's body, as was the custom of theJews (John 19:38-42).  We know that whenJoseph of Arimathea offered to lay the body of Jesus in his own tomb carved outof the rocky hillside, he most likely considered that he would need anothertomb for his own interment.  Little didhe know that he would again be using that very tomb for himself!  Jesus would merely be borrowing the sepulcherfor three days – never again to be laid to rest, but to arise victorious anddefeat death once and for all.   What wasso special about this grave? 
When the women approachedthe tomb, they had but one concern: how would they roll away the large stonethat blocked the entrance into the cave? But as they looked up – the stone had already been moved, and uponentering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting onthe right side.  And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus ofNazareth, who was crucified.  He isrisen!  He is not here. See the placewhere they laid Him."
There was no need for thestone – Christ simply stepped into heaven and left earth's grip…
Charles Wesley penned thisstirring hymn which is sung in many churches on Easter morning:
          Christ theLord is risen today, Alleluia!           Sons of menand angels say, Alleluia!           Raise yourjoys and triumphs high, Alleluia!Sing, yeheavens, and earth reply, Alleluia!
Lives againour glorious King, Alleluia!Where, Odeath is now thy sting? Alleluia!Once He died,our souls to save, Alleluia!Where's thyvictory, boasting grave? Alleluia!
Love'sredeeming work is done, Alleluia!Fought thefight, the battle won. Alleluia!Death in vainforbids Him rise, Alleluia!Christ hathopened paradise, Alleluia!
Soar we nowwhere Christ has led, Alleluia!Following ourexalted Head, Alleluia!Made likeHim, like Him we rise, Alleluia!Ours thecross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!







Deborah is the author of a Christiannon-fiction book titled "MissionPossible".  It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but theirspouse doesn't share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge thereader to embrace God's promises for their spouse and future together. Visit http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com