The biblical verse of Luke 24:5 depicts a moment of astonishment and revelation as the women seeking the Lord encounter the angelic figures at the tomb of Jesus. Seeking the Lord is a core tenet of Christian faith, central to the spiritual journey of believers. The pursuit of the Lord manifests among living saints, within the congregations of the living God, and in the expressions of worship and prayer.
After Jesus had died, some women went to His tomb, only to find He was not there.
Jesus was not there, because He had risen from the dead.Two angels appeared to the women at the tomb.
The women were afraid of these angels’ bright appearances and majestic forms. It was usual for good men and women to be afraid, as were Zacharias, the Virgin Mary, and others.
Through great fear and reverence of these heavenly spirits, and as not being able to bear the luster of their countenances and garments, the women bowed down their faces to the earth.
And as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?” (Luke 24:5, NASB)
Just as angels announced the birth of Jesus, (Luke 2:8-15) they also announced the resurrection of Jesus. The announcement of His birth was made to a few humble people, considered unimportant by the culture. His resurrection was announced by angels to a few women.
The angels seemed almost surprised that the women were surprised; after all, the angels had heard what Jesus said regarding His resurrection, and they knew the women had heard it too. Wondering why the women were surprised. The angels asked them why they were seeking the living Jesus among the dead.
The question was enough to change the whole current of their thoughts. The Lord whom they came to honor as dead is alive forevermore (Revelation 1:18)
It is in vain that we seek “Him that liveth” in dead works, dead rituals, dead or dying institutions. The eternal life that is in Christ is not to be found by looking into the graves of the past in the world’s history, or in those of our individual life. In both cases, it is better to rise as on the “stepping-stones of our dead selves,” to “higher things.”
For hundreds of years, people have flocked to “the true cross and the true empty tomb” at the church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. They reeked of a kind of spiritualness in the dead things – religious traditionalism, formalism, man’s rules, human effort, and substitutes of the flesh. 1
We will never ultimately find Jesus in those things – we find Him only where there is resurrection life when we worship Him in spirit and truth. We won’t find the tomb of Jesus anywhere. No one will ever find the tomb of Jesus or the bones of Jesus. As the angel said, “He is not here.”
Nor will we find Christ in dead sinners or lifeless professors. Nor is life to be found among the dead works of the law, or to be obtained by lifeless performances on the dead letter of the law. But we will find Him among living saints, among the churches of the living God, and in worship and prayer.
One thing that people are searching for all over the world is life. They want to have a life that is fulfilled and successful. Most want to be happy and be able to really enjoy life.
In the process of looking for this type of life, people will search for anything and everywhere. There are few things that people will not try to get the life that they are seeking.
Searching for meaning, purpose, and life in this world, is searching among the dead. Everything that the world claims to bring purpose and life is dead. Those worldly things are focused on the here and now, the temporary, which is dead and will pass away.
The only thing that gives true purpose and life is seeking God through Jesus Christ. Instead of searching on the worldly level in this fallen, dead world, one must look up to God.
Some Christians let themselves fall into the ways of the world, seeking temporal life, rather than leaning on God for all life. Instead of looking among the dead, believers must get among other believers, the living, and with God to find real life.
One thing that people are searching for all over the world is life. They want to have a life that is fulfilled and successful. Most want to be happy and be able to really enjoy life.
In the process of looking for this type of life, people will search for anything and everywhere. There are few things that people will not try to get the life that they are seeking.
Searching for meaning, purpose, and life in this world, is searching among the dead. Everything that the world claims to bring purpose and life is dead. Those worldly things are focused on the here and now, the temporary, which is dead and will pass away.
The only thing that gives true purpose and life is seeking God through Jesus Christ. Instead of searching on the worldly level in this fallen, dead world, one must look up to God.
Some Christians let themselves fall into the ways of the world, seeking temporal life, rather than leaning on God for all life. Instead of looking among the dead, believers must get among other believers, the living, and with God to find real life.
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Consider the Daily Bread email message sent on 4/15/2000 and 11/15/2023 which says,
Luke 24:5 – and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? (NASB)
On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdelene brought the news of the risen Christ to the disbelieving disciples. Christ is risen and God brings life that death will not destroy. In Christ, we can all experience life that transcends even physical death.
To receive the Daily Bread email messages, free on Mon., Wed., and Fri., in your email inbox, just fill in the form below or send an email, and ask to be added, to jmikeh@jmhowington.com
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References
- David Guzik, Commentary on Philippians 3, (Enduring Word, https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-24/)
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