Bible Reading: Exodus 21; Job 39; Luke 24; 2 Corinthians 9
Luke 24:5 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?
Early the first day of the week the ladies went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus which was so hastily placed in the tomb because the Sabbath was coming on. Going into the tomb they found it empty. They were confused and suddenly two men suddenly stood by them in shining garments. This made the ladies fearful and not knowing what to do, they bowed down their faces to the earth. The angel's words are amazing – why seek ye the living among the dead? I imagine the angels were not trying to be sarcastic, they must scratch their heads at the foolish and inconsistent things we humans do at times. The angels do not understand why the ladies came here looking for Jesus. He already told him he would rise again!
Luke 24:6-7 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
The ladies are not being consistent. They are not acting as someone who believes what Jesus said. They would never go looking for a living man in a tomb! We need to hear this in our day as well! Where do we go looking for Jesus? Do we look to dead religious practices? What about ancient creeds and religious systems? Do we go on some trek to a 'holy site' looking for a religious experience?
Jesus told a woman from Samaria that there was no need to go to a holy mountain to worship him.
John 4:21-24 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Jesus is alive and he is not far from us. We need a relationship with him, not a religion! Do you know Jesus? Don't seek for the living among the dead! Jesus Christ is risen!
In Christ,
Rody
