WHY DO YOU LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?

PROCLAMATION

“On the first day of the week … the women … went to the tomb … 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 … The Son of Man must be … crucified and on the third day be raised again.’  Then they remembered His words.”  Luke 24:1-8 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Luke, the physician.  Before He died on the cross, Jesus said, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”  When He had said this, He breathed His last breath and gave up His spirit. (Luke 24:46)  They did not kill Him; He voluntarily gave up His life.  Afterwards, with permission from Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus down from the cross, wrapped it in linen cloth, and placed it in a tomb which had been cut out of a rock which no one had been lain. (Luke 24:50-55)  The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph to the tomb.  After the Sabbath, on the first day of the week, they returned to the tomb with oils, spices, and perfumes to anoint the body of Jesus but found the tomb was empty.

 

APPLICATION

The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, is recorded in all four of the gospels. (Matthew 27:26 to 28:8; Mark 15:15 to 16:8; Luke 23:23 to 24:9 and John 19:16 to 20:10)  It was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-6)  The resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, was not witnessed.  It must be believed.  The apostle Thomas believed it after he saw the resurrected Jesus for himself and touched the wounds in His hands and side.  Christ said, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:27-29)  After He rose from the grave, Jesus, The Christ, appeared for man to see Him on more than forty different times before He ascended to heaven. (Matthew 28:9-10 and 28:11-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-50; and John 20:11-29 and 21:1-23)  For forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3) Jesus appeared to His disciples, spoke to them, and at times He ate with them.  His ascension to heaven from a mountain in Galilee was witnessed by the disciples. (Acts 1:9)  The Word of God says that He is risen.  He died but He is not dead.  We serve a risen Savior. Those of us who believe it will be blessed.