Cheers

Why Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead?

Text: Matthew 28:2-4; Luke 24:1-8

I.         Introduction

A single battle can determine the outcome of an entire war. Like Gettysburg and the Invasion at Normandy, a telling battle of the future of England had came. General Wellington of the British Army represented the last formidable opposition to the French army under the command of Napoleon. To communicate the outcome of the battle, English towns from Belgium across the English Channle devised a system of flashing lights to be omitted from one church top to another. When the battle ended, England had proved victorious and the message was sent "Wellington Defeated Napoleon." As the message was received and sent by each church towards the island of Great Britain, the fog began to rise. By the time the message reached the island, the fog cut the message short as the church received the message "Wellington Defeated." For hours, the nation feared the eventual overthrow of their country until the fog lifted and they had the complete message. "Wellington Defeated Napoleon." On Good Friday, we are like those in England believing "Jesus Defeated." We must remember that that is not the complete message. When the fog lifts on Sunday, we see the rest of the message, "Jesus Defeated Death." Let us not live believing in an incomplete message

II.       Seeking the Living Among the Dead

A.    The most profound words uttered - “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”

        1.     His death shocked Heaven and Creation

        2.     His death pleased Hell

        3.     The anticipation waiting for the third day to pass But as the third day waned and the earth shook and the tomb rolled away their doom had been secured – for the One they sought to destroy had conquered them and there greatest tool – death.

B.       They did not realize what had happened

Jesus was no longer dead He was alive! The two women, however, did not know this. They should have, but they did not. The angel had to remind them of Jesus’ words. They went looking for the body of the resurrected Lord. They did not realize the words He had spoken had come true. They did not know that He had done something greater than just coming back from the dead. He had delivered them from their sins, just as the Messiah was supposed to do.

C.       We are too much like the women

1.        Followers of Jesus are like them - We are looking for a dead prophet instead of the living Lord. Followers of the Lord Jesus too often believe in Jesus but do not believe Him. We like to think about what He has done for our sins and eternal lives but not for this life. It is almost as if He died and stayed that way. His words are distant to us. We cannot recall the words spoken by our Savior.  His presence is far from us. He is known only as many of us know a politician or dignitary. They are real but most people cannot really know them. We can know a great deal about them, but not know them personally. So, in some sense, Jesus has become dead to us. But He is not dead, He is alive!

        It is time the body of Christ remembers the words of its Head. Only when we make His words real in our lives will we see the body of Christ become fully like our Savior. Only when the children of God recall and live out the holy lives we were created to live will we impact the world. Only then will the church become the resurrected body of Christ.

2.        All are like them – There is within every person a yearning or desire to have or to be more than we are. We are seeking life!

We seek the pleasures of this life that lead to death. We seek to find Him in our own forms of pleasures, happiness, and beliefs. We look for Jesus to be part of our plans and will. We ask Him to bless our efforts and actions. We implore Him to accomplish our goals and desires.

Proverbs 14:12 - There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Why seek the living among the dead? He is not with the dead things of this world. He has risen just as He said. When we seek the pleasures this life has to give, we seek the Living among the dead. When we turn to the wiles of this life instead of the truths of God, we seek the living among the dead. When we seek the happiness this world has to offer instead of the joy that is unspeakable, we seek the living among the dead. When we seek the comforts of this world instead of the peace that surpasses all understanding, we seek the living among the dead.

III.     Living Power over the Dead

A.    The power that brings resurrection - It was an event that shook the earth like no other. The resurrection of Jesus Christ was like no other event in all creation. There had never been a person who came back to life like this. There had been several who had been raised from the dead. Elijah raised a boy from the dean in 1 Kings 17. Jesus raised the ruler’s dead daughter in Matthew 9. Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead in Luke 7. Jesus raised Lazarus after 4 days in the tomb in John 11. The Law of Moses had spoken of the resurrection of the dead and some pagan religions believed in forms of resurrection. This resurrection was like no other.

     One reason is this resurrection was to eternal life. Every other man, woman, or child who had been raised from the dead would face death again. All of those who came back to life departed this life. Jesus, however, never faced death again. Unlike all who have sinned and must die, Jesus, who never sinned did not face death again. He did not face death again because He conquered death. No other resurrection accomplished this fete. It could only be accomplished through one who is eternal. Because He is eternal, He has overcome death for eternity. No other death and resurrection could accomplish it.

     Another reason this resurrection is different is because of what Jesus did to our sin. Overcoming the penalty for sin is part of conquering death. Death is the penalty for sin. It is a price we all have to pay. The penalty, however, is limited by the One who paid the price for you and for me. Because our sacrifice would not pay the full price for our offense, the sinless life Jesus gave secured our ransom. Jesus not overcame death but sin as well. He lived a sinless, blameless life. He should not have had to face death because He was without sin. Yet, because He did face death (and overcame it), He overcame the cause of death – sin. This is unique to the resurrection of Jesus. No other resurrection has the power to overcome sin and death. The import of this today is that power is given to each believer. It goes beyond the ability to heal the sick, drive out demons, and raise the dead. It allows Christians to break the bonds of sin in their lives.

Romans 6:4-5 - We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection

Hebrews 2:14-15 - Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death --that is, the devil--  and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

IV.   Conclusion

This means that today you do not have to be held captive to sin. You can find deliverance. It is resurrection power. You do not have to live life in the same rut and routine, but can live a life of meaning and purpose. It is resurrection power. You do not have to be satisfied with the temporal things of this world, but can live with an abundant hope. It is resurrection power. You no longer have to live in the poverty of this world. You can be a heir to the kingdom of God. It is resurrection power. This power also secures for us eternal life. It gives to us that which we could not get on our own. Our own strength comes up short, but the resurrection power of Jesus gives eternal life. We have a guarantee of that eternal life. As the Holy Spirit of God makes His dwelling in your life, you have access to the greatest force in all creation, the redeeming resurrection power of Jesus Christ. 

Revelation 1:18 - I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.