“Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

The beauty of new life in the Spring at Fletcher Moss Park, Didsbury. 

Scripture:

Luke 24:5

The women were terrified and bowed 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, but has risen.

Observation:

This is the great story of Resurrection Sunday. The women have gone to the garden tomb and discovered that Jesus is not there. The two men in “dazzling” clothes speak with the women and the begin their affirmation of Jesus’ life with a question. It’s that question that tells the women that Jesus is alive. He is living, and therefore, you will not find him here in a grave, among the dead. Then, just to add clarity they respond by telling the women the good news that “He is not here, but has risen.” It’s this news that changes everything, both that day, and today. 

Application:

This season of life is filled with a multitude of emotions as I experience the full cycle of life. Just a couple of months ago we said “good-bye” to my dear mother. She had lived a good, long, and full life. Yesterday I had the privilege of being present when we welcomed a new grandson into the world. There is that little moment after the baby is born when you wait with vivid anticipation for that first sign of life. Is the baby moving? Is the baby breathing? Is he okay? Then you hear that little cry and the tears begin to flow, for there is great joy in knowing that he is alive! There is a huge difference between life and death. 

This story about the life of Jesus is not just about his resurrection, but about ours as well. When we receive new life, we are born again. This is new life, and we are invited to be actively engaged in that new life. Why would anything alive, live among the dead? I think that’s the real question of Easter Sunday morning? If, as believers, we do not choose to dwell among the living, then we remain with the dead. Just imagine how morbid that would be in the literal sense, and yet, when we refuse to live our lives fully into our new life, that is exactly what we do. 

What would happen to our new grandson, Theodore, whose name means “God’s gift,” if he didn’t live into his new life? He could not have survived much longer in his mother’s womb. He had to be born and live into his new life, eating and breathing! He’s learning to do these things, and it will take time. He’s out of the comfort zone of his old life, but only by living in new life will he thrive. 

When we embrace the resurrection of Christ, we are invited into a brand new life. The community of faith must be the gentle mother who provides the nourishment for this brand new life among the living. The responsibility for the growth of the new babe in the Lord is much heavier upon the community than it is on the individual. No one expects a newborn to take care of himself! The church should carefully love, feed and care for her newborns so that they can thrive. The church herself, must be the land of the living! It’s a sad day when people think they have to try and find the living somewhere among the dead. 

We embrace the new life of resurrection. Christ is not among the dead, for he is risen! We are invited to journey among the living, because he is risen. This is the hope that is set before us; the joy that wells up inside when that new babe in Christ takes their first breath. The chasm of death to life has been crossed by the One who gave his life for us to live. 

Prayer:

Lord, I rejoice in you, and thank you for your gift!  Amen.