Empty and Full

The women were the first to witness.
The tomb was empty!
Peter got up and ran to see it for himself.
The tomb was empty!
Every year people get up in record numbers
to cram into the sanctuary and proclaim,
"The tomb is empty."

What does an empty tomb
mean for us today?
For many it is just a story that is told.
For many it is the only story they ever hear.
We don't have a tomb to run to
and see with our own eyes.

We have church sanctuaries
that are anything but empty.
Blooming, dripping lilies...
Folding chairs...
Adult children...
Out of town guests...

We don't have a tomb to run to
and see with our own eyes.
We have crowds of people
who are anything but empty...
people filled with more gifts than anyone deserves...
people filled with pride and arrogance....
people filled with grief and heartache....
people filled with brokenness...

We don't have a tomb to run to and see with our own eyes.
But we have empty hearts to comfort...
Empty stomachs to feed...
Empty hands to hold...

The tomb was empty
all those years ago....
That you and I might be full of grace and hope.

The tomb was empty
and now we have life.

The tomb is empty.