By Pastor David Holland
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Luke 24:1-12
Where’s Jesus?
Depression hung on them like a bitter aftertaste. Jesus is dead. Their feet dragged with disappointment and disillusionment. Jesus is dead. Duty called for them at the tomb to anoint His body. Jesus is dead.
Luke 24:1-12 unfolds like a short four-act play as the writer unveils the greatest event in history. The first act shows us a group of dejected women dragging themselves dutifully to the rock cave, supposedly housing the dead remains of Christ. Someone had to embalm Him, so these faithful women summoned the courage and ingredients to prepare Him for the grave. I’m guessing they were numb with grief, putting one foot in front of the other to do what had to be done.
The women discovered Christ’s body was gone – they surely felt shock and perhaps anger. Imagine going into the mortuary to say goodbye to your dead grandfather before the funeral. You open the casket to look at him one more time, and the casket is empty. I doubt that resurrection would be the first thing coming to mind.
As the scene unfolds, light suddenly erupts in the tomb and two men clothed with lighting flash into the cave. Trust me when I tell you they didn’t beam down from a spaceship. God the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead and He left two angelic witnesses to clues these poor humans in. The angels said in Luke 24:5, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
Really? Yes, really. “Just like He said back in Galilee, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” {Luke 9:22) All who believe this statement are saved from judgment and destined for heaven, according to I Corinthians 15:1-4. Believe and receive all God has for you.
The angels followed with a question that still haunts us, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” We fill our minds with the daily news cycle, sports, entertainment and hobbies, yet we do not find life in them. He is risen! Look up, He is risen. He is here with you now. He is risen in His supernatural body. God incarnate is present-just a whispered prayer away.
The women raced to tell the disciples the greatest news in history and they responded with a “you girls are crazy” attitude. Disappointment makes people cynical, unbelieving, and apathetic. Except for Peter. He jumped up and ran to the tomb to see for himself. Why Peter? He was feeling the most guilty after denying the Lord three times during His trials.
The empty tomb baffled Peter, who walked away wondering what this could all mean. There are those who ponder the meaning of their lives. Jesus isn’t there in the pondering. He is risen.
The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Please pray, “Lord Jesus. I believe you died for me. I believe you were buried and rose from the dead. Save me from my sins, though they are blood red. Wash away regret, guilt and remorse from my soul and show me how to really live.” You are born again because He is risen.
All of heaven rejoices each time a person prays like this and Christ rushes into your heart. Where’s Jesus? He is with you, He is in you, He is risen indeed.
Pastor Dave just released his new devotional-Bible study based on the Gospel of Luke titled “Prodigal Jesus” You can get a copy of this book from his website, DaveHolland.org, or at Amazon.com. Pastor Dave is available to preach and teach in churches and conferences. Contact him at DavidvHolland54@gmail.com. Dave Holland pastored churches for 38 years before retiring in Destin.
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