Grace, mercy, and peace unto you –
WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?
Imagine the faithful women going to the tomb after that saddest of all days when Jesus was crucified. It’s very early in the morning, the Gospel writer Mark tells us, when they begin their walk with their spices to anoint their Savior’s body.
They’re still grief-stricken, of course, but they have another problem: How will they move the huge stone that blocks the passageway to Jesus’ burial place? They arrive to find it’s already been moved. Well, that’s curious.
They enter the tomb, but there’s no body!
While they were “perplexed about this,” the Gospel writer Luke understates, “behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:3-5).
Why did they look for Christ to be in His tomb?
Why were they looking in the wrong place?
Because they hadn’t understood the things Jesus had told them before His crucifixion.
Because they were operating according to human logic.
Once someone has died, He’s dead.
Of course, they would look for the dead among the dead.
This is a story that cannot be comprehended by human logic.
This is a story to be believed and shared with others.
It’s the good news the women heard:
“Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24:5-6)
We don’t look for Christ among the dead for we know He is living!
Many around us are looking.
They read self-help books and follow the advice of the newest guru on TV.
They start reading “spiritual” books.
They’re looking for the Living among the dead.
The angel brought God’s Word to the women; it is our privilege to bring His Word to those around us who are looking.
There is nothing DEAD about our JESUS! He is Risen!
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, Who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56).
Easter Blessings, Pastor Hartwig