While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:
Luke 24:4-6 (NIV)
Have you ever found yourself looking for something in the entirely wrong place? Like searching for your glasses while they’re sitting on top of your head or rummaging through the fridge for the ketchup that’s already on the table? It’s a bit of a funny moment when you realize where the thing you’ve been looking for is. This story from Luke 24:4-6 has a similar, albeit much more profound, “aha” moment.
So, picture this: It’s early morning, and a group of women are walking to Jesus’ tomb. They’re carrying spices, hearts heavy, probably not expecting much besides a quiet moment to grieve. But when they get there, the scene’s not what they expected. The stones rolled away, and Jesus’ body was nowhere to be found. Then, out of nowhere, two men in dazzling clothes stood before them. You can almost hear the gasp and feel their shock. And these men ask, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
Isn’t that something? They were looking for Jesus in the last place He’d be. He had moved on from the grave, just as He said He would. This makes me wonder, how often do we do the same thing? How often do we search for Jesus, or the joy and peace He offers, in places where they won’t be found? Maybe we dig into our past, our what-ifs, our if-only, thinking that’s where the answers lie. But just like the women at the tomb, we look in the wrong place.
Jesus isn’t in our yesterdays or the tombs of our past mistakes and regrets. He’s risen. He’s in the now, in the laughter of friends, in the forgiveness we give and receive, and in those quiet moments when we feel peace amidst chaos. He’s in the living parts of our lives, inviting us to experience the fullness of life that His resurrection promises.
So, why do we look for the living among the dead? Maybe it’s a habit, or maybe we’ve just forgotten that Jesus and the life He offers are found in the present, not the past. The empty tomb was a clear sign that Jesus had moved on to something new, something alive, and He invited us to do the same.
Reflecting on this, I’m reminded that the resurrection isn’t just a historical event; it’s a present reality. It’s a call to look for Jesus in the right places – in our everyday, walking-around lives where He’s actively at work.
Prayer
Lord, it’s so easy to get caught up looking for You in the wrong places, to get stuck in the past or caught up in what’s gone. Help us remember that You are alive and moving in our lives right now. Teach us to seek You in the living moments of today. And when we find You, help us to spread that life and joy to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- Have you been looking for Jesus in the “dead” areas of your life? How can you start seeking Him in the vibrant, living moments instead?
- What’s one way you’ve recently seen Jesus alive and active in your life? How did it impact you?
Step of Faith
This week, make an effort to notice Jesus’s living presence in your everyday moments. Maybe jot down where you see Him at work or share those moments with a friend. It’s all about shifting our focus to the living, risen Jesus who’s always with us.
