The Empty Tomb Message

After The Sabbath, the women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body with spices and properly prepare it for burial. But what they found was an empty tomb and an angel with a message for the disciples. 

The message could have been a rebuke for their lack of faith. He could have reminded them of the fact that they all ran like rats from a sinking ship. He could have pointed out Peter's denial and the general failure of the entire group. 

Instead he said, “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you'" (Mark 16:6-7).

Rather than point out their failure, he pointed out their future. Instead of reminding them of where they went wrong, he revealed to them where they were going. Their was no expression of disappointment of their letting Him down but instead the announcement of His desire to lead them going forward. 

Like the first disciples, we have have let Jesus down at times, we are all guilty of failing the King. But also like those disciples, Jesus has no interest on dwelling on our past failures but rather our future promise. He still values you, regardless of how many times or how terrible your failures might have been. 

Jesus is not casting you off but is calling you forward to rejoin him and continue the journey with him. This is the very reason for the empty tomb - resurrection!  Jesus died to redeem your past and resurrect your future. He is going on ahead of you, forging a path upon which he calls you to follow, regardless of your past. Jus' Sayn.