Easter: On Resurrection Sunday, look for Jesus among the living...

Read: Luke 23:55-24:12

Is there a household somewhere that is not looking for things? As a dad and adult son living in the same house, my shirts forever seems to be “lost”, but I know where to look for them – in my son’s cupboard! Now it would be very foolish to look for it in the pantry, or the kitchen cupboard, wouldn’t it? The chance of it being misplaced in my son’s cupboard is just too big for me not to look there first!!

When it comes to Jesus, I’m afraid, we far too often look in the wrong place for the risen Christ, for his conquering power and his saving grace! Here we see Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James searching for Jesus, but they are looking in the wrong place, and in hindsight, a very foolish place.

The wrong place to look for Jesus
On Good Friday, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women "stood at a distance" on Golgotha Hill, watching the crucifixion and death of Christ (Lk 23:49; cf 24:10). Later they followed Joseph, from the Judean town of Arimathea, an influential man, and saw how Christ's body was laid in Joseph’s tomb, by him. (Lk 23:55). "They went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Lk 23:56).

These women loved Jesus so much. Jesus had taught them everything they thought they knew about God and his Kingdom. He had shown them the love of the Father. He had opened to them the meaning of the Scriptures. He had healed them and their loved ones. Many times he displayed his divine power. Because of love, they wanted to honour and respect him, by providing a proper burial for him.

Then it is daybreak on Sunday. On the way they were talking to each other. According to St Mark's Gospel, they asked, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb?" (Mk 16:3).And just as they were starting to become concerned about this, they arrived at the tomb and found "the stone rolled away" (Lk 24:2). They entered and to their immense surprise, the tomb was empty! The body of Jesus was not there!

Then there was a bright light and two angels in gleaming white robes standing before them. (Lk 24:4). The women trembled in fear and bowed to the ground (Lk 24:5). Then the angels, the messengers of God, asked them: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"

You can hear the reproach in the question: Why are you doing something so pointless? "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" Do you not remember how he taught you that on the third day he would rise again form the dead?

If Jesus was dead, it made sense to look for him in the tomb where Joseph laid his body to rest. But the grave could not keep him. He is alive. He has risen. "He is not here," said the angels. "He has risen! Remember how he told you ..." (Lk 24:6).
But when the Easter gospel was preached to them by the angels, they remembered. They really should have known! Jesus had told them what was going to happen, didn't he? How could they have forgotten? How could they be so foolish? Why did they look for the living among the dead?

The women were mortified by the angels! They should have known better! They were ashamed because they were looking for Jesus in a place where they should have known he could not be. They were looking for Jesus in the wrong place, in a tomb – and he is alive! He is risen!!

Even today too many Christians look for Jesus in the wrong place. Not a place where his resurrection power is known, experienced and his true Kingdom is expected. Lets not be foolish! We have to look for Jesus in the right place!

The right place to look for Jesus
Jesus is not dead. He is alive. This means the women must have looked for Jesus in the place of the living: in Jerusalem, or in Galilee, or where his disciples were, but certainly not in a tomb.

Where must we look for the living Jesus Christ? We can start with his church. It is within the church, with the people of God, that we can find the Lord Jesus. His power, his life, his Spirit, his love, his care and concern, his grace, his holiness, his forgiveness - is to be found in us, his followers. People should be able to look at the Church and be able to find the living Jesus here.

We are to see the living Jesus in the church at worship: a church singing, praying, praising, and testifying brings the living Jesus into view. We find the living Jesus when, like the women, we spread the glad tidings that he has risen (Lk 24:9,10).

We also see the living Jesus when Christians live as brothers and sisters in God's family. When believers are "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose," (Phil 2:2). When believers "do nothing out of selfish conceit, but in humility consider others better than themselves," you see and can meet the living Christ (Phil 2:3). When Christians wash each other's feet, serving each other, you see the living Jesus. When God's children use their material and spiritual gifts for the service and enrichment of others, there too you see the living Jesus.

Jesus is in places where people — in his name — give cups of cold water to the thirsty, feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, look after the sick, visit the prisoner, and look not only to their own interests but also to the interests of others (Mt 25:34ff; Phil 2:4).

If the living Christ is present in the church, then she looks for ways and means to love people. Much broader than our own community! When we believe Jesus is alive, we should show everyone that nothing is impossible with God! People are in need of compassion, companionship, and human contact. In showing this love we, and they, again see the living Jesus, present amongst us. We can find him, and so can others through our witness and service!

But we should also look for Jesus — the living Jesus — in our heart. If we only believe, then Jesus lives in us, making and shaping and moulding us to be like him. It is in a personal relationship with Jesus, that we finally and conclusively find the living Christ. We find him through the gracious work of his Spirit in our heart! We find him in our hearts when we are willing to glorify God, the Father.

Through our personal relationship with Jesus, we certainly also find him in heaven, seated at the right hand of God. And we, since we have been raised with Christ, set our hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. We set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Col 3:1,2).

Conclusion
Our doubt and unbelief disappear only when we take God at his Word. Our questions may remain, but they will remain within the context of faith, hope and love.
Do not look for the living among the dead! Jesus has risen!