Why Seek the Living Amongst the Dead?

Today we are celebrating the resurrection! Jesus is alive! This is the greatest day for the Church in general. Because He lives we can face anything in this life that comes at us knowing that the end result is spending eternity with Him! Let’s look at this account in Luke Chapter 24.

Luke 24:1–12 NKJV

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” 8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

We Must Remember Jesus’ Words!

Notice the angels said, remember what Jesus said. With everything that is going on in the world today it is easy to forget what the Word of God says. Sometimes, we look for all the answers in the “dead things” in live. We think if only I had a better job, that would do it. A better home. A better car. Better spouse. Better children. Living in a better neighborhood. Better stores. Better schools. If only things were better. These women in this account Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and the others were thinking if only He wasn’t crucified not remembering what Jesus said. He would rise from the dead. Jesus is in everything you and I face and He’s the answer all of trials. He’s not dead like the things we own, He’s alive! We need to remember that! Notice even the apostles lost it because they thought the women were making this up.

Luke 24:13–32 NKJV

13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 17 And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” 18 Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.” 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

The News Report is Flawed!

This scripture said the two we conversing and reasoning. That is what we tend to do with news. We converse then reason what really happened. We are even doing that in things like sports. We converse about who is going to what team and then we reason on whether it’s a good move or not. We even talk about who our teams should go after and yet none of us are working for the teams. We’re not scouts, not owners and not coaches. But we converse about it.

These two were conversing about it when Jesus came up to them. Notice what they knew about Jesus. He was a mighty prophet. They really didn’t take the time to really know Him before He was crucified and Jesus addressed that by calling them foolish and slow of heart to believe the whole account of Jesus. The recognized Him when He broke the bread and blessed it. Then He vanished. Do we know Jesus well? The Bible says the people who do know their God will be strong and do great exploits,Daniel 11:32

Daniel 11:32 NKJV

32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

We need to know Him not of Him.

Luke 24:35–53 NLT

35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched. 44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things. 49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” 50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.

If God Shows Up, Will We Be Shocked?

The women told the apostles their story, the two from Emmaus told their story and yet when Jesus actually showed up they we startled and frightened. The men that were with Jesus for 3 1/2 years and had all of the parables explained to them, and knew what would happen because Jesus told them plainly, thought they were seeing a ghost. He shows them His hands and feet and still they stood in disbelief. He even ate before them and then had to explain the scriptures again to them so they would finally understand. Are we like that? We talk a lot about our faith in Him and yet we are afraid to try new things. We talk about our trust in Him and yet we get anxiety attacks. We talk about going and reaching all kinds of people and yet we are paralyzed with fear and doubt to go. It’s time to move in faith because we serve the almighty, living, not dead, God. Jesus is alive and let’s go forward because it’s real!!