The Not so empty tomb

Jesus Christ really was raised from the dead about 2,000 years ago!

There are many proofs of His resurrection.  For example, the record of the many eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, the beginning of His church and the new-found faith of His apostles, the unwavering faith of first century Christians even in the face of persecution and the conversion of the persecutor of the church, Saul, into the faithful preacher of the gospel, Paul.

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​Perhaps, the most convincing proof of Jesus’ resurrection is the NOT so empty tomb. Yes, the body of Jesus was missing but the tomb was not completely empty. It still contained the linen cloths that had been wrapped around the body of Jesus before He was placed in the tomb. This contradicts the false story of the Jews that someone stole the body of Jesus. Such thieves would not take the time to remove the linen cloths before leaving the tomb.

Even more convincing evidence of Christ’s resurrection is seen in what Peter observed about these linen cloths. As soon as Peter heard about the missing body of Jesus, he “ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves” (24:12). From John’s account, we learn that Peter also saw “the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself” (John 20:7). It is as though Jesus had just passed through the linen cloths, leaving them in the place where His body was laid in the tomb.

Those who unconvincingly argue that Jesus did not die on the cross but was merely in a deep coma from which He awoke, have much difficulty explaining the placement of these linen cloths. Had Jesus awoken from a coma He would have had to work His way out of the cloths and they would have been strewn upon the floor of the tomb.
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It is true, as the angels said, “He is not here; For He is risen” (Matthew 28:6).