LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 28:6, He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. (NIV)

Jonathon Moore, Lead Pastor at NorthRock Church, talked about an invitation that was given regarding the empty tomb, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an invitation “given to every single person – no matter their background or walk in life” (JM). “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see …” “Come and see.” Come and see for yourself! The verse does not say one has to work harder. Just come and see! Do not take my word or the word of anyone else; “come and see for yourself” (JM). It is only when “you experience the empty tomb for yourself that you will see how real it is. “Come and see.” When you take the time to look for yourself the empty tomb no longer becomes someone else telling you about it or listening to the experiences of someone else. The empty tomb is no longer someone else’s faith – it becomes yours.

There are those who laugh at the tomb being empty. The Pharisees paid the soldiers guarding the tomb to say the disciples had stolen the body. There were those who said Jesus really did not die, that this was an elaborate plot to make good on the things He had said and promised. Pastor Moore said there was more than enough evidence to support the resurrection of Jesus. He mentioned Lee Strobel’s book where he wrote the four E’s of the empty tomb. 1) His Execution clearly showed that Jesus had died. The soldier’s pierced His side with a spear. 2) The Empty tomb – He was there and then He was not. 3) Early accounts show that respectable people saw Him. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 gives a list of many who had seen the resurrected Christ. 4) Eyewitnesses include the four Gospel writers and the apostle Paul. Those who saw Him were greatly changed. The fearful filled with power to preach resulting in thousands being saved and baptized. They were arrested and beaten, released from jail, and went right back to preaching. They had seen the empty tomb, seen the risen Christ Himself, and were empowered by Him. “Come and see for yourself!”

Pastor said, “There is a difference from knowing about and actually encountering Jesus Christ.” Hearing the stories in Sunday School and in church as kids, were just stories. But coming to know Him as the risen Savior and Lord brought those stories to life, changing my life. I am telling you, you will know the difference. Those of you reading this know exactly what I mean. You know that He has forgiven your sins, continuing to show you grace every day.

When you encounter Him, you become a new person, with a new mission, destined for a new eternity! 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” “Fear becomes courage, Grief is turned to joy (from within and not from circumstances around you). Confusion becomes clarity. Doubt is turned into faith. Sin/shame is forgiven and taken off you. Hopelessness is turned into hope” (JM).

Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me.” Jesus Christ is standing at the door of your heart, Believer. He wants to fellowship with you so much through a relationship with you, through your reading/studying/meditating on His Word and through prayer. Open the door of your heart. “Come and see” what He wants to do in your life.