Nicole was three years old. She was as anxious for Easter to come as she had been for Christmas to come. Nicole's family wasn't too well off, but some nice people from church had given her a gift - a beautiful new Easter dress. So for this special occasion, Nicole's parents gave her a new white bonnet, and took her to the store to buy a new pair of shoes to go with her outfit. At the store, Nicole said, "I can't wait for Easter, Daddy!" He asked her, "Do you know what Easter means, honey?" She replied, "Yes." "Well, what does Easter mean?" In her own sweet three-year-old way, with arms raised, a smile on her face, and at the top of her voice she said, "Surprise!" And her father, glad at her answer, thought, "What better word could sum up the meaning of Easter?" Surprise, death! Surprise, sin! Surprise, mourning disciples! Surprise, modern man! He's alive!!

Surprise, people of the world today! A promise that offers something for nothing came true! In our world, we are taught that "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." So many of us have been taken in by "empty promises," that we are leery of anyone who tells us we can have something for nothing. The world just doesn't work that way! But God does! He offers something for nothing! God never made a promise that was too good to be true! The world is full of empty promises. The TV advertisements tell us that we can be happy, sexy, rich, or famous, if we only purchase a certain product. It doesn't take long before we have been fooled enough to know that the world's promises are full of emptiness. But, God is different! Instead of promises full of emptiness, on Easter, he gave us emptiness that is full of promise!

This morning, I would like us to think about three promises of Easter. Each promise is marked by something empty. An empty cross, and empty tomb and empty burial clothes. It is the very fact that each of these is empty that assures us that God's promises are real! Because they couldn't hold Jesus, because He couldn't be contained by the cross, the tomb, or even his burial clothes, we can be sure of the fullness of God's promises in our lives!

1. First, let's begin with THE EMPTY CROSS. Because the cross was empty, we have the promise of forgiven sins. Let's go back to that 1st Easter Morning. It is early morning; the sun has not risen. A few of Jesus' followers - three women - are on their way to the tomb where Jesus was buried. The conversation is subdued. The task before them is a sad one. They are going to anoint the body of Jesus. As they come to the top of a rise in the path, they all stop. Motionless and quiet, they stare off in the distance. Just outside the city stands a gruesome reminder of the events of just a few days ago, silhouetted by the glow of the pink sky, on top of the Hill the locals call, "The Skull." There are three crosses. Yesterday was the Sabbath, so nobody had yet removed them. And there they stand, an empty reminder of the horror of Friday.

The one in the middle is the one that I want you to see. That's the one that Jesus hung on. Look up at the top - those bloodstains are from the crown of thorns that was crushed into Jesus' skull. The stains on the ends of the crossbar - they came from the nails that were driven into his hands. The main beam was soaked in blood. That came from blood from his back because the Roman soldiers scourged Him with a cat-of-nine-tails. It also has stains from the blood that poured from his side when another Roman soldier ran a spear through his side to see if he was dead - HE WAS. You see, Jesus really did die - that is why I want you to see the cross this morning. It is the place where he died - but today, it is empty! Empty of Jesus' body, but full - full of God's promises! Full of hope - for you and me!

The promise of the empty cross is that you and I stand forgiven. Because it was on that cross that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. "SIN" - now there is a word that is just not popular anymore. It's a word that isn't "politically correct." But, the simple fact is - we have all sinned. Every one of us - you, me, the person sitting next to you, behind you, and in front of you. We have "all sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God." The only person who has ever lived a sinless life is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Everyone else has failed. So, here is the problem - according to God's law - "the wages of sin is death." He says; "The soul that sins will surely die." Because we have sinned, we deserve God's punishment. Eternal death in Hell.

However, when you look at that empty cross - it is a reminder of God's promise that we have been forgiven. On that cross - Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. God's Word tells us again - "God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US!" It was on that cross that Jesus Christ offered his perfect, sinless life on behalf of each one of us. No one else - not Moses or Abraham or David, not Muhammad or Buddha - no one else has ever lived perfectly and then offered his perfect life for our salvation. That is why the Bible tells us that "there is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved."

When Jesus breathed his last, he cried out; "It is finished." The penalty was paid. On that cross - that empty cross - It was there, that his blood was spilt for our salvation. Before that fateful Friday, God could open the books and look at our names, and written in black were the words - "guilty of sin." But when Jesus went to the cross, God transferred our accounts to His name. On that day, across every name - he wrote - in Jesus' blood - "Forgiven - Forgiven - Forgiven." Because of the work that Jesus did on that cross - you and I now stand Forgiven. The first "empty promise" of Easter is the empty cross - filled with the promise of forgiven sins.

In a certain church marketing newsletter, a campaign was developed to attract people to church during Easter. In this public relations campaign, it is suggested that the cross be removed from the altar. A survey revealed that the cross is one of those symbols that the new generation of church-goers considered too "churchy." One pastor even gave his whole-hearted endorsement: "We are going to attempt to concentrate on the resurrection, and not the death of Jesus." Easter without the cross. An interesting thought! Is it possible to have resurrection without crucifixion? No! It distorts the entire gospel if crucifixion is separated from resurrection. The road to the empty tomb will forever pass by a cross. An empty cross! Easter without a cross is a hoax.

2. Secondly, THE TOMB WAS EMPTY! Back to our women… After pausing briefly to view the cross, they continue on their way down the path to the tomb. As they go, one of them wonders aloud - "who will move the stone for us?" They have good reason to be concerned - the stone that was placed in front of the tomb was a large boulder - probably weighing upwards of two tons. Not only that, the Romans had sealed it, so no one was allowed to move it without their permission. However, the ladies continue. Suddenly, they feel the earth move! Frightened, they look at each other, not certain what to do. After a few minutes, things seem normal so they continue on their way. As they approach the burial site, they come upon something even more remarkable. 1.The soldiers are all unconscious. 2. The stone has been moved. 3. An angel, glowing like lightening, is sitting on it! Listen to his words - "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who has been crucified. He is not here; He has risen!" Jesus had risen! He was alive! The tomb was empty! And what a tremendous promise that holds!

Let me tell you a sad story: A mother living in a tenement went shopping for groceries. While she was in the store, a fire engine raced by. She wondered, "Is the fire engine going to my home?" She had left her baby asleep at home. Forgetting about the groceries, she ran home. Her building had fire hoses aimed at it. It was burning like a matchbox. Rushing to the chief, she cried out, "My baby is up there!" He shouted back to her, "It would be suicide for anyone to go up there now; it's too late!" A young fireman standing by volunteered, "Chief, I have a little baby at home, and if my house were on fire, I'd want someone to go up to save my baby. I'll go." The young fireman climbed the stairs; he got the baby, threw her into the rescue net, and just as he did, the house collapsed and he was burned to death... The scene is 20 years later at a graveside. A 20-year-old woman is sobbing softly. Before her, at the head of this grave, is the statue of a fireman. A man stopping by asks respectfully, "Was that your father?" She replies, "No." "Was that your brother?" "No," she says. "That's the man who died for me."

You and I also have a man who died for us. But we can't go and visit Him in a tomb. Because his tomb is empty! Easter is a happy story! For, in the fact of the empty tomb is the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise to every one of us that we too will be raised to eternal life. To those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, death has lost its sting - it is no longer something to be feared. What fear is there when we have the promise that one day we will live forever with Him in Heaven?

A father and son were traveling down a country road on afternoon in the springtime when suddenly a bee flew in the window. Being deathly allergic to bee stings, the boy began to panic as the bee buzzed all around inside the car. Seeing the horror on his child's face, the father reached out and caught the bee in his hand. Soon, he opened his hand and the bee began to buzz around once again. Again, the boy began to panic. The father reached over to his son, and opened his hand showing him the stinger still in his palm. "Relax, son," the father said, "I took the sting, the bee can't hurt you anymore." The empty tomb is God's way of saying to us; "Relax, my child, I took the sting, death can't hurt you anymore." Why was the tomb empty? Because Jesus was alive - The angel said; "He is risen." And the promise to us is that we too can live even if we die. That is the second promise of Easter.

3. The third is the promise of the EMPTY BURIAL CLOTHES. Back to our story. After the Angel had spoken to the women, they ran to the Apostles and reported what had happened. With this incredible news, Peter and John raced back to the tomb to see for themselves. When they got there, Peter passed John and ran right in. It didn't take them long to discover that the tomb was just the way the women had said it was - empty. But, that's not all. Inside, Peter found the clothes that Jesus had been buried in. They too were empty. This could only mean one thing - Jesus was alive! If someone had stolen his body, they wouldn't have removed the burial clothes and folded them up neatly and left them where they lay. Truly, Jesus was resurrected!

It wouldn't be long before Jesus himself would appear to Mary Magdalene, to all of the Apostles, and eventually to over 500 people. He would 1. Sit down with them. 2. Walk with them. 3. Talk with them. 4. Eat with them. Once again, they would be able to fellowship with their Lord. You see, that is the promise of the empty burial clothes - Jesus is alive, and wants to fellowship with you. Jesus isn't some nebulous "force" out in the universe influencing people. He is a living Savior, and He desires to have a personal relationship with each one of us, just as He did with his disciples 2000 years ago. Think about that - the cross couldn't hold Him, the tomb couldn't contain Him, and the burial clothes were unnecessary, because Jesus is alive! He has skin and bones and a face and was recognizable. And He talked, touched, loved, and healed. He did it the day of his resurrection, and He does it still today in his Word and sacraments. And - most importantly - He wants to do it with you!

That living Jesus shed his burial clothes to live with you in such a way so that you can have true life and that your life is worth living! There was a young woman living in Washington D.C. during WWII. Her husband, who had been stationed at a nearby Army base, was killed a year earlier during a training exercise. They had been married just four months. During that whole year, this young widow felt more dead than alive. She merely went through the motions of living. Her family and friends were worried about her and wondered if she would ever "snap out of it." Easter Sunday came along and a friend asked the young widow to go to church with her. That morning, the pastor spoke of Mary coming to the tomb and how her tears turned to joy. The pastor described the resurrection so vividly, that by the time he finished the sermon, the people in the church felt as if they had been there in the garden to witness the first Easter themselves!

When the service was over, the young widow practically walked on air as she left the church and her friend couldn't believe the change that had come over her. "What happened to you in there?" she asked. "The weight has finally been lifted," the young woman replied; "now I can go on living again." That modern woman saw just what Mary saw so long ago and what we may see today. She saw Jesus risen from the grave and suddenly a glimmer of hope replaced her inconsolable sorrow. Suddenly, she felt the comfort of knowing that a crucified and risen Christ must ultimately prevail over whatever would diminish or destroy her. Suddenly she realized she would never feel so abandoned again; she knew God's love would see her through.

It has been nearly 2000 years since Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. That first Easter Sunday, as the women went to the grave, they had no idea what was about to happen to them. They were not yet aware of the wonderful promises of that day. 1. Off in the distance stood an empty cross - the promise that their sins were forgiven. 2. At the end of their journey was an empty tomb - the promise of their eternal life. 3. Inside the tomb were empty burial clothes. The promise that they would once again have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ - their living Savior.

The promises that they discovered that day, you can also have today! 1. You can be assured your sins are forgiven! 2. You can be assured of eternal life in heaven! 3.You can be assured Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior! These promises are not empty because the cross, the tomb, and Jesus' burial clothes were! God invites us to trust Him. Instead of promises full of emptiness, on Easter, he gave us emptiness that is full of promise! He says, "I love you. I forgive you. I want to spend eternal life with you!" Those are the promises of Easter! And they are not empty! Amen.

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