Easter Sunday: Look Among the Living

Prayer

Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, giver of light and life, as we look to your Word, show us those things which belong to the heavenly kingdom, and teach us your ways, so that we will be stirred by the light and life of the peace of God, and may be equipped to faithfully do what you call us to do, looking always to you for light and life, and being lifted above ourselves. May the life of the Lord Jesus Christ be ours, and may the Word of God be a light in our hearts and minds. Amen.

Introduction

I lost my wedding ring, and couldn’t find it because I was looking in the wrong place… If you want to find something, you have to look in the right place.

Where are you looking for Jesus? Many people today don’t experience the reality of the resurrection or the presence of God in their lives. If we’re honest, the story of the resurrection really doesn’t make any difference in our experience at all. I think one reason is because we are looking for Jesus in the wrong place. If you want to find Jesus, you have to look in the right place.

Read Luke 24:1-12 (NIV).

Big Idea

Luke 24:5b-6a… If you want to find Jesus, look among the living. If you want to experience the reality of the resurrection, don’t look for a living Savior in a graveyard.

Implications

We look for Jesus among the dead when…

We don’t believe the resurrection story. We don’t think the story is true.

Explanation

Some people believe Jesus was a real person in history but not that he was raised from the dead.

If that’s you, you’re in good company. Even Jesus’s own Apostles didn’t believe at first.

Illustration: One evidence—The Apostles were willing to die for preaching the resurrection.

Application: Investigate the resurrection for yourself (like Peter did).

We only believe the resurrection story (we don’t live it). We believe Jesus is alive but live as if he were dead.

Explanation — Some people believe the story in their head but haven’t experienced the reality in their heart. It’s changed the way they think but hasn’t changed the way they live. They don’t look for Jesus; they remember him.

Illustration — It’s like visiting the grave of a loved one… That’s exactly what the women in the story were doing.

Application

Does your prayer life ever feel like you’re standing at a grave, talking to the air? Jesus was a great man who lived a great life and taught a great message. We come on Sunday to honor his memory, sing songs about him, hear a teaching that keeps his example alive in our hearts. It can be moving, inspiring, emotional… but it’s not personal.

We find Jesus among the living when we…

Have faith. We need a shift in our thinking. We’re not here to remember Jesus. We’re here to meet him.

Matthew 18:20… This is why we gather!

Leave our old self in the grave.

Jesus left the tomb empty for you. Bring your mistakes / fears / addictions / pain / sorrows / past / present / future / worries / hopes / health problems / aspirations / anxieties / doubts and leave them in the grave.

Then walk out of the tomb alive with Jesus. Be willing to die to your old way of life so that you can get up out of the grave, alive with Christ.

Conclusion

When you find Jesus among the living, you will be overwhelmed by his love for you, like Matt and Rachel…