Come and See: The Empty Tomb and Resurrection

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary walk to the tomb at dawn, carrying spices to prepare a buried friend. Roman guards lie paralyzed as an angel descends, rolls back the stone, and sits, his clothing blazing like lightning. The angel speaks: do not be afraid; Jesus is not here—he has risen—and the women must come and see the empty place and then go quickly to tell the disciples. The empty tomb stands as the central fact: Jesus rose on the third day, just as he promised, vindicating his earlier predictions and demonstrating divine authority over death.

Jesus laid down his life willingly and then took it up again by the Father’s power, turning an excruciating, public execution into the decisive victory over sin and death. The empty grave contrasts sharply with every other famous tomb visited by admirers; every other body remains, but the grave of the risen Lord remains empty. Skeptics and seekers receive the same invitation: come and see the evidence firsthand, examine historical claims, and allow honest investigation to press toward belief. The Lee Strobel example models rigorous inquiry that led from atheism to conviction after exploring eyewitness testimony and historical reliability.

The resurrection produces practical consequences: fear gives way to boldness, disciples move from hiding to proclamation, and good news spreads outward from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. The angel’s command—come, see, then go and tell—frames both personal response and communal mission. Invitation opens wide for those who have not yet believed to confess faith, for believers to repent where life misaligns with the resurrection, and for the community to celebrate baptism and new life publicly. Worship, testimony, baptism, and evangelistic urgency all flow from the single historic event of the risen Christ. An altar call closes the moment with a clear call to respond in faith, repent, or worship, asking people to step toward the empty tomb and then carry the news out into the world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The tomb is empty The vacancy of the tomb remains the decisive, tangible claim: the expected corpse is gone and life has returned. This emptiness reframes history, not as a series of tragic endings, but as the hinge upon which divine rescue occurs. Approach the evidence, allow the reality of an empty grave to shape hope, and let the living presence of Christ redirect sorrow into worship. [52:56]
• 2. Jesus predicted and fulfilled resurrection Repeated predictions about dying and rising reveal intention and authority, not accident or wishful thinking. Predictive statements point to a deliberate plan in which death serves as a willing sacrifice followed by vindicating resurrection. Trusting those fulfilled words invites confidence in other promises that remain. [53:11]
• 3. Come, see; then go tell The angel’s sequence—come, see, go—models faithful response: verify, encounter, and proclaim. Firsthand encounter with truth moves people from private astonishment to public testimony. Every genuine encounter with the risen Christ refuses to remain private; it compels witness to others. [58:49]
• 4. Resurrection converts fear to boldness Witnessing the risen Christ transforms timid followers into fearless proclaimers empowered by the Spirit. That inner change explains the rapid spread of proclamation despite prior cowardice and danger. Expect resurrection power to reorient life priorities, embolden confession, and launch mission. [67:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [15:50] - Easter traditions and worship
• [33:47] - Baptism: Willow
• [34:54] - Baptism: Noah
• [35:55] - Baptism: Levi
• [43:12] - Invitation: parking-lot celebration
• [44:07] - Reading Matthew 28
• [48:10] - Angel at the tomb
• [52:56] - The empty tomb
• [53:11] - The Father raises Jesus
• [58:49] - Come and see invitation
• [62:55] - Lee Strobel testimony
• [64:36] - Go and tell: mission command
• [70:55] - Invitation to respond in faith
• [74:25] - Altar call and closing

1. What details does the angel give the women about Jesus’ whereabouts and what has happened to him?
2. How do the women respond emotionally after hearing the angel’s message and seeing the empty tomb?
3. What specific instructions does the angel give the women after telling them Jesus has risen?

1. Why is the angel’s statement “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” so significant in light of Jesus’ earlier predictions about his death and resurrection?
2. How does the transformation in the disciples—from hiding in fear to boldly proclaiming the resurrection—serve as evidence for the truth of the empty tomb? [01:07:21]
3. In what ways does the resurrection validate all the other promises Jesus made during his ministry?

1. The empty tomb stands as the central, tangible evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. How does this historical reality shape your daily hope and perspective on suffering or death? [52:56]
2. Jesus repeatedly predicted his death and resurrection, demonstrating divine intention and authority. Which of his promises are you still holding onto, and how can you actively trust him in that waiting?
3. The angel’s command—“Come and see; then go and tell”—models a pattern of encounter and mission. How can you personally “come and see” Jesus more deeply this week, and who is one person you can “go and tell” about him? [58:49]
4. The resurrection turned fear into boldness for the first disciples. Where in your life is God calling you to move from fear to faith-filled courage? [01:07:21]
5. Lee Strobel’s journey from atheism to faith began with honest investigation. If someone skeptical asked you, “How can you believe a dead man came back to life?” how would you respond with gentleness and evidence? [01:02:55]
6. Baptism publicly celebrates our identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection. Whether you’ve been baptized or not, how does remembering your union with Christ affect your identity and purpose? [33:47]
7. The resurrection isn’t just a past event—it empowers present mission. What would it look like for you to live with “resurrection urgency” this week in your words, actions, and priorities?