Since Jesus wasn't dead after the crucifixion, why is the empty tomb such a big deal?

"Crucifixion did not kill Jesus, he was alive when brought down from the cross, he was put in the tomb ALIVE!!"

I cannot easily imagine the Romans making that kind of mistake. Even if the did, having had six inch nails driven through his wrists and ankles, he is unlikely to have been walking about a couple of days (by our reckoning) later.

@Jim: How long it took would depend upon the victim's state of health, and upon whether the environmental conditions were such as to hasten death (hypothermia).

You may have overlooked...

This final brutality was no doubt chiefly intended for the hated Galilean. But precisely He is spared it by higher dispensation. The soldiers broke the legs of the two thieves with heavy clubs, but one of them (presumably the centurion, to whom tradition gives the name Longinus, and who later gave such splendid testimony to Jesus) thrust a spear into the right side of Christ's body---either in order to ascertain whether death had set in or to make sure that His condition was not one of mere unconsciousness or apparent death. The spear was thrust with such force that its point pierced the heart of Jesus and drew a flood of water and Blood from it.

http://www.catholictradition.org/Passion/spear.htm

I suggest you study up on just what crucifixion is and what happens to the body when it happens ... NOT a pretty picture ...

Child of God - X atheist

Obviously Jesus never died on the cross because it takes about 3 days or more to die by crucifixion! That's why Pontis Pilot was so surprised that Jesus had died so soon! It never happened!

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

He was supposed to be dead and then resurrected afterwards