The Empty Tomb
Month 4: Is Jesus Really God? · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Luke 24:1-12
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant apparel stood beside them. 5 As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the two men asked them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’” 8 Then they remembered His words. 9 And when they returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But their words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. And after bending down and seeing only the linen cloths, he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Memory Verse
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”— 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Leviticus 16-18
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 112 of 365 — the Day of Atonement points ahead to Jesus, our perfect sacrifice.)The Heart of It
Very early on Sunday morning, some women who loved Jesus walked to His tomb. They carried spices to care for His body. They were sad and worried. They had watched Him die. But when they arrived, the giant stone was rolled away and the body was gone. Two angels in shining clothes asked them a question that still rings out today. "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!" (). The grave could not hold Him. Death itself had lost.
This is the most important morning in all of history. Suppose Jesus had stayed dead. Then He would have been just another good teacher who made big claims and proved them empty. But He rose! He rose really and truly, in His body, on the third day, exactly as He said He would. The empty tomb is God's loud "Yes!" to every promise Jesus ever made. It proves He truly is who He claimed to be. He is the Son of God with power over death. And because He lives, everyone who trusts Him can have life that never ends.
Around the Table
The big stone was rolled away, and Jesus was gone. He came back to life! That is why we say, "He is risen!"
Let's do it: Pretend to push a heavy stone. Then cheer with your arms up: "He is not here! He is risen!"
The women came expecting a dead body. Instead they found an empty tomb. The resurrection turned their sadness into amazement.
Let's talk: Why does it matter so much that Jesus rose with a real body, and didn't just "live on in people's hearts"?
Notice that the first witnesses were women. In that culture, their word wasn't even allowed in court. So if the disciples had invented this story, they never would have written it that way.
Let's go deeper: Why does that surprising detail actually make the account more believable, not less?
💬 Conversation Starter
What's the best surprise you've ever woken up to?— Imagine waking up to find the grave of your best friend completely empty. And then you meet Him alive!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
The tomb was empty, and even Jesus' enemies admitted it. They made up a story that the body was stolen (). Someone may say the resurrection is a myth. You can kindly point out one thing. Nobody, friend or foe, could ever produce the body. Always answer "with gentleness and respect" ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Christianity is not built on wise sayings. It is built on an event in history. And it is an event that could be proven false. Paul stakes the whole faith on it. He writes, "If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (). That should embolden you, not scare you. We don't ask our kids to believe in spite of the evidence. We invite them to follow the evidence to its conclusion. As you lead this week, model honest confidence. Faith here is reasonable, grounded, and worth everything. Let your children see that you believe because it is true, not merely because it is comforting.
Draws on: Sean McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict (updated edition).
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive! Help our family believe it deeply. Help us live like it is true. Fill us with the joy of the risen Lord. In Jesus' name, amen."
The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. So death no longer gets the last word.