Is the Tomb Empty?

This week, millions of Christians across the world are reflecting on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is Holy Week. On April 5th, Christians will gather in small pockets of churches scattered over the world to celebrate our risen Lord and King, Jesus.

              A man named Jesus, who claimed to be God and the promised Messiah, rode into Jerusalem on a donkey on the first day of Holy Week. By Thursday, he was falsely accused, arrested, and found guilty. He was flogged, beaten, crucified, and died on a Roman cross. He was buried in a borrowed tomb and on the third day rose to life and walked out of the grave. What if this is true?

              Paul said it was of most importance and “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless, you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). Was Christ the son of God? Was He the Messiah? Lee Strobel has a particularly good way to remember the proof. Here’s Strobel’s Four E’s.[1]

  • Executed – Jesus died on a Roman Cross. The Romans were exceptionally good at executing people on the cross. Jesus died.
  • Early – The creed found in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 is an early creed of the church. Paul probably wrote the letter around AD 54.
  • Empty Tomb – There is no good alternative story. The tomb was empty.  
  • Eyewitnesses – Paul is again helpful when he writes, there were many people Jesus appeared to after his resurrection and “most of them are still alive…” (1 Corinthians 15:5-7).

Consider these things and join us on Easter Sunday, as we ask, “What if?” What if the tomb is empty? What if Jesus really is the Son of God and the promised Messiah? If it’s true, it changes everything.

[1] I saw this first on Patrick Shreiner’s X post, @pj_schreiner, on March 23, 2026.

Lessons from Theo

One of the books most recommended at the end of 2025 was Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. My favorite literary characters are people like Joe Pickett, Pike Logan, Scot Harvath, and Cork O’Connor, to name a few. Theo of Golden is nothing like these high-stakes operators. However, I was thoroughly surprised at how I enjoyed this emotionally charged book, and I would highly recommend it to you. As I journeyed through the book, I grew increasingly reflective about my own life. I turned 60 in September, and I found traits in Theo that I pray I can see in myself. Many of Theo’s traits, I pray, one can see in me.  

              Theo was a kind and gentle man. He had a beautiful spirit, and people were drawn to him. He was a conversationalist who could gear every conversation toward the other person. Theo had a beautiful way of seeing the imago dei, the image of God, in each individual. He saw the value of each person and made them feel special and seen. Levi describes Theo as winsome, deeply generous, self-forgetful, winsomely creative, and full of kindness. These are qualities I hope to cultivate in myself.

               Theo is neither a Christ character nor necessarily a Christian character, but the character of Christ oozed out of Theo like jelly in an overstuffed donut. He was intentional in his relationships, personal and sacrificial. Theo of Golden was a beautiful book with no glaring weakness. It is worth your time to read, to reflect on, and even to strive to be more like Theo. I have completed nineteen books so far in 2026, and Theo of Golden tops them all. Take time to read it, you can thank me later.