This week we celebrate emptiness. That doesn’t sound right does it? Think about it how often do we experience emptiness and think it is something to celebrate. Empty gas tank, Empty coffee mug, Empty bank account, Empty pantry, Empty home, or Empty life, not really things we celebrate but this week is different consider the emptiness we celebrate
The cross is empty,
Empty now but once it held the Lord of Lords and King of King, striped, whipped and nailed to its rough timbers. The Holy one of God, perfect in love, Love so amazing that in our stead He took the stain of our guilt and took the wrath we deserved “
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5
The Lamb of God was slain no other sacrifice would do and no other sacrifice is needed. Jesus, the lamb without blemish, the sacrifice offered for the sins of many. The sacrifice has been made, the price has been paid, the cross now stands empty no other sacrifice to be made.
The Tomb is empty, the stone rolled away, once in that sealed tomb lay the promised one of God. Despair, hopelessness, confusion, sorrow, and the sting of death filled the air, but death would not be victorious and the tomb could not hold him. “He has risen!”
“But Christ has been raised from the dead…so also in Christ shall all be made alive”
1 Corinthians 15:20,22
“Death is swallowed up in victory.” The tomb is empty
Why do we celebrate emptiness this week? Because the Cross and the tomb are empty, we experience the fullness of God’s love, forgiveness, and healing. Empty lives filled with love, purpose and hope.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11