Eastertide: looking for the living Lord.

Eastertide: looking for the living Lord.

On Good Friday some women "stood at a distance" on Golgotha Hill, watching the crucifixion and death of Christ (Lk 23:49; 24:10). Later, they followed Joseph, an influential man who received permission to bury Jesus, and saw the tomb and how Christ's body was laid in it by Joseph. (Lk 23:55). "They went home and prepared spices and perfumes." (Lk 23:56) As soon as he Sabbath is over, they decided, they would give their Teacher and Friend, a proper burial.

Then it is daybreak on Sunday. To their great surprise the tomb is empty. There is no body.
All of a sudden there is a bright light. Standing before them were two men in gleaming white robes (Lk 24:4). They were angels, sent by God. The women trembled in fear and fell to the ground (Lk 24:5). And then they heard the question, the message of the angels, the message of God: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" You hear the reproach: why are you doing something so foolish? Why are you doing something so unnecessary? "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"

But where should we look for Jesus? Where will we find the living Lord?
We see the living Jesus in the church at worship: a church singing, praying, praising, and testifying reveals the living Jesus. We see the living Jesus when, like the women, we spread the glad tidings that he has risen indeed. (Lk 24:9,10).

When believers are "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose," there you see the living Christ (Phil 2:2). When believers "do nothing out of selfish conceit, but in humility consider other better than themselves", there you see the living Christ (Phil 2:3). When God's children use their material and spiritual gifts to help others, there too you see the living Jesus.

Finally, we should be looking for Jesus — the living Jesus — in our heart. If only we believe, then Jesus lives in us, making and shaping and moulding us in his image.
How beautifully the old hymn expresses the need to have a relationship with the living Lord. When we do, we will find the living Christ - in our hearts, involved in every aspect of our lives!

I serve a risen Saviour, he's in the world today;
I know that he is living, whatever people say;
I see his hand of mercy, I hear his voice of cheer,
and every time I need him he's always near.

He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me
and talks with me, along life's narrow way.
He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know he lives?
He lives within my heart!!!