Why do you look for the living among the dead?

 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 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.

I have been pondering these very words, in light of all that is going on in our world today - where death tolls are rising daily and stay at home orders continue to be extended, where the balance between fear and wise counsel can easily be intertwined. 

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

How often do we look for the living among the dead,

  Seeking things that do not bring life,

     Looking for fulfillment in things that only bring more emptiness,

               as if dead things can bring life.

How often do we focus on our current circumstance, trial or situation,
   seeking answers from endless news briefs, data or statistics,
        which can bring more questions, discouragement, fear or hopelessness.

Why do we look for the living among the dead?

     when all along the living one, the resurrected one, our living hope
             is the only one,

  to bring life to those dry places,      
            those thirsty places,

                     those dying and dead places.
  

He is the only one that fills those empty places.
        His resurrection life breaths hope into our present circumstances,
            His presence covers those discouragements and fears.

Sometimes we can live in the in-between place, 

    that place between His resurrection and the power of His resurrection,

               that place of knowing  He is alive and the place of living in that truth.

^{After he had resurrected -}

Jesus said to His disciple, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

His very breath of life covered them,
    In that very moment He filled them with His presence,
         Life giving salvation, eternity set in them.

But before He send them out,

   He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

       Imparting and reminding them of all He had taught them,

           head knowledge now becoming heart knowledge,

               the living word not only living with them, but now dwelling in them.

This Easter as we celebrate His resurrection, rest in the power of His resurrection, rest in His life giving presence...  

He has risen, He has risen indeed.