The Passion: Why Do You Seek The Living Among The Dead?
Study The Word
Luke 24:1–8
Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee.
It was very early in the morning on the first day of the week. The women came to the tomb bringing spices. They were coming to anoint a dead body. They were expecting to find Jesus where they had last seen Him — in the grave, wrapped in linen, behind a sealed stone. But when they arrived, the stone was rolled away. They entered the sepulchre and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. He wasn’t there! The tomb was empty! And as they stood there perplexed, trying to understand what had happened, two men in shining garments appeared and spoke the most powerful words in all of human history: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!”
ζάω zao living – to live, to be alive, to have life; the one who possesses life in himself and gives life to others
“Why seek ye the living among the dead?” What a question! What a declaration! They were looking for Jesus in a graveyard. They were looking for the Author of Life among the dead. They were looking for the Resurrection and the Life in a tomb. He had said “I am the resurrection and the life”. (John 11:25) And the angel said, “Why? Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here. He is not here! Jesus is not here.” He’s not in the grave. He’s not in the tomb. He’s not among the dead. “He is risen! Like He said.” Like He prophesied. Like the scriptures declared. He is risen!
φοβέω phobeo fear – to put to flight, to terrify, to be struck with fear; overwhelming awe in the presence of divine power
I wish I was there to hear that angel speak. Just think about it. The authority in that voice. The joy in that declaration. “He is not here, but is risen!” And then he reminds them: “Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” And the Bible says, “And they remembered his words.” They remembered! Everything Jesus had told them was now coming back. The prophecies, the promises, the declarations — all of it was true. He said He would rise, and He rose. Glory to God!
ανίστημι anistemi risen – to raise up, to rise from the dead, to stand up again; the act of resurrection from death to life
And here is something beautiful: the women were the first to receive the news of the resurrection. They were the first to preach the resurrection. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women who told these things unto the apostles. The women preached the resurrection first! And what did the men do? The Bible says, “And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.” The men didn’t believe! Peter even went and ran to the tomb and departed wondering. But the women believed. The women received. The women proclaimed. What a testimony!
And Matthew’s account adds another detail: when the angel descended from heaven with a great earthquake and rolled back the stone, the guards who had been posted by the chief priests — those soldiers who were supposed to keep Jesus in the tomb — “for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” The very guards who were there to prevent the resurrection fainted at the sight of the angel! All the seals, all the stones, all the soldiers, all the schemes of the enemy could not keep Jesus in the grave. He is not here! He is not here! He is not here! He is risen! Hallelujah!
Pray The Word
Heavenly Father, I thank You that Jesus is not in the grave. He is risen! I thank You that just as He died in my place, went to hell in my place, defeated Satan in my place – when He was raised from the dead I was raised together with Him, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Speak The Word
He is not here — He is risen! Jesus Christ is alive! I do not seek the living among the dead. My Savior has conquered the grave. No stone could hold Him. No seal could bind Him. No guard could keep Him. He is risen, just as He said! And because He lives, I live. I was raised together with Him. I walk in resurrection life. I walk in resurrection power, in the name of Jesus Christ!