The Gospel writer, Luke, concludes his account of the discovery of Jesus’s empty tomb with these words: “Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marvelling at what had happened” (24:12). This disciple was amazed, befuddled, and overwhelmed. His head was doubtlessly spinning with questions about what had just happened, the implications of what had just happened, and thoughts of what was about to happen because of what had just happened. “Could it be? Is my Lord actually alive?!”

Today we want to join Peter in marvelling at the reality of the empty tomb. Without risk of exaggeration it can be said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most earth-shaking, reality-defining, hope-providing, and response-demanding event in human history. Why is this so? Well, because the tomb was empty …