WHY LOOK FOR THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?

Passage: Luke 24:1-12

Key verse: 5b,6

NIV

Jesus Has Risen(A)

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared(B) and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.(C) 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning(D) stood beside them. 5 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? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:(E) 7 ‘The Son of Man(F) must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”(G) 8 Then they remembered his words.(H)

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them(I) who told this to the apostles.(J) 11 But they did not believe(K) the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves,(L) and he went away,(M) wondering to himself what had happened.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Resurrection

24 (A)But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, (B)taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found (C)the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, (D)two (E)men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were (F)frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, (G)while he was still in Galilee, 7 (H)that the Son of Man (I)must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and (J)be crucified and on (K)the third day rise.” 8 And (L)they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they (M)told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was (N)Mary Magdalene and (O)Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and (P)they did not believe them. 12 But (Q)Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw (R)the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Why look for the living among the dead?

The women who loved and had followed Jesus wanted to put the spices they had prepared on his dead body. They went to the tomb before dawn Sunday morning with the spices. They found the body gone. 2 angels told them the good news that Jesus had risen, and reminded the women of the basic facts of the gospel--facts which Jesus himself had taught them. Then the women remembered Jesus' words. Resurrection faith must rest on God's word.

2. The Eleven did not believe

Jesus' eleven apostles were still in a state of shock because of the horror and tragedy of the crucifixion. They had forgotten Jesus' words. So the woman's message of good news seemed like nonsense. Peter went to see and found the tomb empty, but he only wondered what had happened. The joy and power of the resurrection can only be catalyzed by faith.

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember Jesus' words and live by his resurrection power.

One Word: Jesus has risen! He is alive!