Day 8: RESURRECTION SUNDAY
Scripture
Luke 24:1-12 (NIV)
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! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.
When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Devotion
This passage is not unfamiliar to most of us, and is a happy and triumphant day but try to take away the familiarity and put yourself in the shoes of the women going to the tomb to prepare Jesus is body.
In the earthly mindset, this person whom you have come to love and believe is the Messiah has just been put to death. All of your hopes and dreams for the future and what you thought about the scripture seemed to be crashing down. You weren’t able to properly prepare Jesus’ body for burial yet because it was Sabbath – where you can’t do any work from sundown on Friday (for this weekend it is known to us as Good Friday) to sundown on Saturday (too late to go to the tomb); so now it is Sunday morning and you are bringing spices and materials to the tomb to prepare his body.
You are mourning, crushed and grieved at Jesus’ death, but you arrive and his body isn’t there! Was his body moved or stolen? What do you think/feel?
But then two angels appear and remind you of the words of Jesus. It starts with a rebuke – “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” and then they reminded them of the words of Jesus, foretelling of this very situation, and then they remembered.
They ran to tell the disciples, and they didn’t believe them! Peter ran to the tomb to double-check and found it as they said and still didn’t believe, even after being with Jesus for 3 years and hearing His teaching every day.
As I read this passage I was struck with a few different thoughts. When the angel says “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” It made me ponder - what do I do that to? Where am I seeking life among death? The things and pleasures of this world do not bring life but death – money, physical pleasure, comfort, security, etc… How often do I go to these things looking for life but it is death! The only place of true life is in Jesus – who is alive and not dead and seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven!
We need to shift our gaze to Him – the author and perfector of our Faith. It says in Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You”.
Another thing I reflected on was that for 3 years the disciples and the women were with Jesus almost 24/7. They heard all of His teaching and had intimate experiences and knowledge by walking with him closely. Yet just 3 days after he died, they had forgotten His words and His power through Father God.
They had seen Him raise several other people from the dead (Matt 9: 24-25, Luke 7:11:15, John 11:43-44), yet their faith fell short. How much harder is it for us who haven’t seen Jesus face-to-face! Yet we get the benefit of seeing the fulfillment of so many promises that they couldn’t yet fully know.
So REMEMBER that our God is the God of the impossible (Luke 1:37)! When things seem hopeless, remember that His words and promises are faithful and true (1 Thess 5:24), His Word does not return void (Is 55:11), His promises are Yes and Amen (2 Cor 1:20)!
We can cling to that because we have seen it true time and again in the Word—and if you look back over your own life, I believe you will see it there too.
Questions for reflection
So as we close out Holy Week, where are some areas that you are looking for life among the dead?
In places that feel hopeless or hard, recall to mind, where has He been faithful in the past? What promises can you hold onto as you wait in hope for Him to show up in your life and circumstances?
Prayer
Father God, thank you for the hope and peace we have in You our resurrected savior. Thank you that in You is life, abundant life filled with everything we need in You – peace, love, joy, comfort, provision, and hope. Help us not to look to anything else to find life and peace, but only You.
Thank you Father that Your Word and promises to us are Yes and Amen, that we can have complete confidence in You and Your plan for our lives. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and to run this race with endurance, knowing that You are with us always.
written by Grace Hecker
———
Family Devotional
There is no family devotional for today but we encourage you to take time to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.
We hope that you will join us for our Easter worship service at 10 am to celebrate. We’ll be gathering at Ladera Vista Jr. High School at 1700 E Wilshire Ave. Fullerton, CA 92831.
Additionally, consider reading the resurrection story in the Bible or a Children’s Bible and having a special meal to celebrate that Jesus is alive.