"Why look for the Living among the dead ?"

Christ is Risen… He is Risen Indeed !!



I love those moments when God changes our viewpoints toward eternity and lasting hope in a life changing event. The following verses in Luke 24 reflect such a moment.

24:1 Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the aromatic spices they had prepared. 24:2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, 24:3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.24:4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood beside them in dazzling attire. 24:5 The women were terribly frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 24:6 He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 24:7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”24:8 then the women remembered his words, 24:9 and when they returned from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 24:10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles. 24:11 But these words seemed like pure nonsense to them, and they did not believe them. 24:12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw only the strips of linen cloth; then he went home, wondering what had happened.

You see, the perspective of the cross was all scrambled up in the minds of the followers. In their hearts, the message the Christ had been giving them all along had not really sunk in.

a. He had made his claims as God’s Only Son, and in fact God.

b. He had shown them miracles of his power over sickness and death on more than one occasion.

c. He taught them heaven’s principals time and again while walking and talking with them.

d. Mary knew he was conceived of God !

But….now, they had seen him die. Even though he had told them exactly what would occur, that he would be crucified for man’s sins, and buried, only to rise again in three days, the followers of Christ were naturally lost and frightened. The whole scope of their existence was in jeopardy, and fear and concern gripped their hearts and minds. Skepticism was beginning to find it’s way in.

Then, the women visiting the tomb were conducting acts of mourning and respect for the dead, when their world was turned absolutely upside down. It took a little bit for it to sink in.. The question.. “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” was the turning point of perspective…. Their Lord and Savior, the one whom they placed their trust, had conquered death and sin… The rolled back stone, the empty tomb, the bewildered guards, the grave clothes laying in tact, were all evidence to them that indeed the Lord had risen. They ran off to tell others, their hopes again proven true, now by a Risen Lord. The remarkable appearances of Christ in the days that followed have changed the history of man forever. Many witnesses experienced first hand, the Risen Lord…. And Today we celebrate God’s power over sin and death. We celebrate our value found in Christ alone.

So today, celebrate… Rejoice from the very bottom of your heart… Sing a joyful noise unto the Lord… Raise your arms to heaven. Shout out loud your joy. Hug a neighbor or friend…Christ is risen. Christ is Risen indeed !

The reassurance we have from this event is best stated in the things that Jesus said to his disciples before he went into heaven.. Again, pointing our views eternally, and heavenward..

John 14:1-6

14:1 “Do not let your hearts be distressed.You believe in God; believe also in me. 14:2 There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. 14:3 And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. 14:4 And you know the way where I am going.”14:5 Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 14:6 Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Christ is Risen..

He is Risen Indeed.

Happy Easter and God Bless.

His Servant,

Jeff