Luke 24:1-49
The Resurrection of Jesus is the promise fulfilled. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s people are awaiting this promise. Many of us in modern day America are impatient and easily angered by a 10 minute drive-thru wait. Can you place yourself in the shoes of those who were awaiting the arrival of this promised savior, only to hear that He must die? If we were to let the story stop there, we would feel hopeless.
Luke 24:2-3 says, “They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.” We read that the women who came upon the tomb were worried and confused, but God, being the Master planner of all things, provided them with comfort and assurance through His angels. The angels asked them this important question, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”
This is a question many of us need to ask ourselves. Where am I looking for Jesus? Am I looking in all of the wrong places? This is a common mistake we make as broken followers of Jesus. It is important that we look for Jesus in Scripture, prayer, silence, solitude, and other ways in which we feel united in relationship with Him.
His Resurrection not only gives us hope, but also a new relationship. We can know Jesus no matter who we are or where we have been. We can see and know Him in the grocery store, at our workplace, and at home because of the resurrection gift of the Holy Spirit. God gave us the gift of His Son who was born to be a King. Not any ordinary king, but one who is holy, glorious, and filled with goodness. Friends, the battle is already over and Jesus has won. You can find Him by looking for the risen and living King Jesus. He is among the living, not the dead.
Reflect. Have you felt impatient when waiting for God to move in your own life? Looking back, was it really a season of waiting or were you looking for ‘the living among the dead’? In light of the resurrection of Jesus, do you want to make a decision to follow Jesus in a new way? What does that look like for you?
Pray. Pray for God to resurrect parts of your life. If there is anything dead within you, bring it before Jesus, the one who has already conquered death.
Commit. As you walk with Jesus, commit to listening for what He wants in your life, not what you want. Living out of new life with Christ means life change. Take 10 minutes per day to sit in silence with God, then respond in gratefulness for what He is doing in your life.