Luke 24:5 (NLT) The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?

When Jesus rose from the dead, everyone was in disbelief, starting with the women who first approached the empty tomb. They were wondering what in the world happened to Jesus’ body. The curious thing about this is that Jesus had told His followers many times that He would be killed but that He would be raised from the dead on the third day (Matthew 16:21, for example). They knew Jesus to be truthful and full of power. They saw the amazing miracles. Yet, they could not believe that He had really risen from the dead. These women who went to the tomb actually went to put spices on the dead body according to Jewish custom. They had zero expectation that His body would not be in the tomb because He rose from the dead, even though that it what He said would happen. So they found themselves looking for the living among the dead.

What is sobering about this passage of scripture is that many Christians do the same thing as these women did. Although now the whole world has heard that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day (although not everyone believes that He did), Christians continue to look for Jesus among the dead. What I mean is that Christians live as though Jesus is not actually alive. Many don’t pray or read their Bibles and many live as though they have no reverence for God. It’s as if Jesus’ death and resurrection is a really nice story that they sort of believe somewhere in the back of their mind but when it comes to how they live their everyday lives, Jesus may as well have stayed in the tomb. It really has not made a difference at all. Some church services seem more like a funeral service as opposed to what it should be: a celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus! It’s as if some look for Jesus among the dead because Jesus is not alive to them. They do not have a living, working, upfront and personal relationship with Jesus. They treat Him as a history figure that they have some good feelings about, but it has made no real impact in their lives and that is pretty sad.

But the fact is that Jesus is alive. He not only is alive, but He is life itself and His intention is to have that life come alive in each and every one of His children (those that have received Jesus as Lord and Savior). Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, is alive and wants to make you alive. Don’t look for Jesus among the dead because He is definitely not there. Where you should look is inside of yourself. Make sure that He is there because that is where He said He would reside if you invite Him in. He is risen and is alive in those that are truly His and that is cause for great joy!

Pastor Joey Vazquez